Hello all,
I have taken the initiative to finally begin my CCIE studies officially after finishing my BS degree earlier this year as well as accomplishing some needed certs for work as well as bettering myself in the packet analysis area, using Wireshark and Riverbed Pilot. As everyone else on this forum has noted, this certification is a journey, and I intend it to be just that.
My distractions post BS have primarily been packet analysis as well as python scripting to understand that side of things a bit better, as it never hurts to automate repetitive tasks around the network. The packet analysis helped me troubleshoot some of the more obscure problems found within a network, primarily at the application end of the spectrum, as well as driver bugs that could affect transactions in a negative fashion. I spent some time on the network security side a bit to understand common network attacks and the mindset behind some of these aspects.
My efforts initially are understanding what I need to study and recommended books on the reading list. I will begin with the written portion of it, and then proceed to the lab when completed. Labbing will still be a component of my initial study to understand certain solutions, but I will start with lots of reading, notes, and flash cards. My study tools include:
SOFTWARE for notes and reading:
-Onenote for note taking
-Anki for flash card study
-Kindle for Ebook reading
-Calibre for epub formatted docs
-CCIE study tracker courtesy of feralpacket.org
SOFTWARE TOOLS for lab:
-ESXi server with CSR1000Vs and VIRL
-Wireshark for packet analysis
-Mobaxterm for ssh client program
-Raspberry PIs for client testing
-Cisco Switches for switching technologies (3750X, 3850, 2960s)
-Physical router 2921 with Sec package
-Terminal servers in case I lock myself out remotely
-OpenVPN on home router to easily access lab equipment
BOOKS (Currently Reading)
-TCP/IP Illustrated Volume 1, Second Edition
-Routing TCP/IP Volume 2 Revision 2
BOOKS (Not reading yet)
-Routing TCP/IP Volume 1 Revision 2
-MPLS Fundamentals
-EDIT: Was going to read End-to-End QoS design, but fredrikjj made a good point its breadth is greater than I need, so I'm going with the Cisco QoS Exam guide on this one
-IPv6 Fundamentals
-CCIE cert guide Vol 1 and 2
-IP Routing on Cisco IOS, IOS XE, and IOS XR_Essential Guide to Understanding and Implementing IP Routing Protocols
-IP Multicast Vol 1
-Optimal Routing Design
-Cisco Express Forwarding
-CCNP Switch Simplified
-Doc CD on Cisco's Website
-Various RFCs
-Internet Routing Architectures
-Safari Books Online (Got a 50% off at the time, and it's nice it can be read on mobile too).
-Interconnections: Bridges, routers switches, and internetworking protocols (Parts)
-Cisco CEF book by Russ White
-BGP Design and Implementation (Per fredrikjj's recommendation)
VIDEOS:
-INE Advanced Technologies
-INE Advanced Troubleshooting
The cloud section (Evolving Technologies Section) I am still looking for good material for since that is a new addition to the written component. UPDATE: Reference per Mbarrett's post:
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-29253
My current Daily Schedule Looks like the following:
Monday-Friday:
7 am: Wake up (Probably going to push this back a bit for study purposes)
730 am: Gym time (Mon-Wed,Fri), Thursday study time
900 am: Work
1100 am: Lunch, study
1200 - 500 pm: Work
500 - 730: Varies. If wife goes to gym, I get some time to study as there's daycare at our gym. If not, I'm usually watching the kid/spending time with him.
730 - 800 pm: Kid's bedtime
800 pm - 1100 pm: Study
Saturday and Sunday I tend to get a lot more time to study, but family events, gym time, grocery shopping, etc fall in there somewhere.
