BGP cleared

jadoukingjadouking Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
Today I have passed the BGP exam.

It took me arround one month and a half to prepare.



I have used these materials:

- Routing TCP/IP Vol2 (only BGP chapters of course) ==> Very well written, comprehensive and concise! It's a must!

- Internet Routing Architecture ==> Very good but really needs an update. A new updated edition will make it the best Internet routing book ever!

- BGP Labs from Narbik's "the Gap" workbook

- Practice questions from Boson and Transcender

- Cisco's BGP case studies

- Cisco.com



How the exam went:

- I almost run out of time :) (even with the extra 20 min (or 30) additional time for non native english speakers. I have never been in this situation before. You just cannot focus when the time is nearly up.

- As always. I have got my portion of the "weirdly asked" questions :):).

- As NOT always. I got some questions where I asked myself "Are these topics on the blueprint?" ==> Solution: tried to eliminate the weird choices then followed (sheepishly) my feelings for the ones left :D:D. I still have no clue if my answers were correct or not.

- At the end, I said that I will not be surprized if I do not pass as I did not feel in control of this exam as previous ones, but the result was good. A very good score! Relying on feelings helped maybe... Or just some luck points I had left from a previous challenge lol


Next. MPLS!

I have already ordered MPLS Fundamentals and will maybe start next week.
Currently reading: Routing TCP/IP vo1, CCIE OCG 4th Ed, INE ATC videos.
CCIE R&S written ==> Mar 2012
CCIE R&S Lab ==> ??
Getting married ==> ??
Having children ==> ??

Comments

  • networker050184networker050184 Mod Posts: 11,962 Mod
    Congrats!
    An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made.
  • mikej412mikej412 Member Posts: 10,086 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Congratulations!! icon_cheers.gif

    The questions with exhibits and configurations can really suck down the time. Plus I think BGP was the first Cisco exam I took where the SIMs were more than just a few commands. icon_eek.gif

    The BGP blueprint exam description mentions some things that aren't repeated in the topic list -- but can still be on the exam. If you don't research those then you could have a few questions that are a "surprise." icon_study.gif
    :mike: Cisco Certifications -- Collect the Entire Set!
  • instant000instant000 Member Posts: 1,745
    Congratulations!
    Currently Working: CCIE R&S
    LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lewislampkin (Please connect: Just say you're from TechExams.Net!)
  • jadoukingjadouking Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    jadouking wrote: »
    Today I have passed the BGP exam.

    ...

    ... MPLS done!

    Today I have passed the exam.

    I have used these materials:

    - MPLS Fundamentals ==> Everybody seems to be happy with it. I just was not.
    True. It is the most complete book for the exam. it is also newer than other good books (Ivan's book...). But, I just did not like the author's lengthy way of explaining things (and re-explaining them). Sometimes I get lost between the lines and engage in daylight dreams :D:D... Well... It is a strictly personal opinion.
    Anyways... it did its job!

    - MPLS and VPN Architectures ==> Used it only to re-read some specific topics. especially, the ones that I did not grasp well from MPLS Fundamentals book.

    - Cisco website.

    - Labbing and Labbing!!! I did not look for fancy big labs. I just made small and concise labs with minimum routers possible to validate my knowledge on most of the "Labbable" topics.

    - did also some wiresharking. It is really fun to see stuff happening in action (ttl propagation, ldp operations, ext-communities & vpnv4 NLRIs being carried by bgp updates).

    - Practice questions from Transcender


    How was the exam:

    - The questions were not difficult compared to what you would have learned from MPLS Fundamentals and other MPLS books.


    Next. QOS!
    I hope I will manage to get it quickly. I am fairly familiar with the topics.
    I had already studied for the exam last year (stopped at FRTS :):) ) but had to stop because of some personal reasons. QOS was also in the ONT blueprint.
    Currently reading: Routing TCP/IP vo1, CCIE OCG 4th Ed, INE ATC videos.
    CCIE R&S written ==> Mar 2012
    CCIE R&S Lab ==> ??
    Getting married ==> ??
    Having children ==> ??
  • shecoolshecool Member Posts: 33 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Congrats! Can I ask, how long did you spend on studying for MPLS?

    Good luck with QoS!!!
    Up Next: CCDA, CCDP
  • jadoukingjadouking Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Thanks!

    I spent about a month and a half. studied most days. Including the weekends.
    I do 2x 45min train journey to and back from the office every working day. I always try to do some reading in it.

    If I'm not mistaken. I see (from your signature) that you would start CCIP or CCNP track.
    Just a small advice. In case you have chosen CCIP, do BGP before MPLS.
    Currently reading: Routing TCP/IP vo1, CCIE OCG 4th Ed, INE ATC videos.
    CCIE R&S written ==> Mar 2012
    CCIE R&S Lab ==> ??
    Getting married ==> ??
    Having children ==> ??
  • QHaloQHalo Member Posts: 1,488
    What's your previous overall neworking experience level?
  • whatthehellwhatthehell Member Posts: 920
    Congratz and thanks for posting the resources used! :)
    2017 Goals:
    [ ] Security + [ ] 74-409 [ ] CEH
    Future Goals:
    TBD
  • SteveO86SteveO86 Member Posts: 1,423
    Congrats!
    My Networking blog
    Latest blog post: Let's review EIGRP Named Mode
    Currently Studying: CCNP: Wireless - IUWMS
  • nelnel Member Posts: 2,859 ■□□□□□□□□□
    congrats man! well done.

    I see you studied around 1 and a half months for each exam. how much experiance do you have with these technologies? im thinking of doing them after NP but have little experiance in bgp and no experiance in mpls.

    Thanks
    Xbox Live: Bring It On

    Bsc (hons) Network Computing - 1st Class
    WIP: Msc advanced networking
  • jadoukingjadouking Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    I've been working as Network Engineer for almost 7 years now.
    Oh yeah! I still remember my first job like it was just yesterday :)... Time flies.

    I worked in different places using different Technologies, vendors...

    For MPLS. I did not have that much contact. It was mainly self study (when I was studying for ISCW or MPLS exam).

    But, you know. You do not need working experience to answer 60 questions correctly as you do not need a "piece of paper" to be a good engineer and to do your job correctly. Not knowing where the B/S bit located in a label does not mean that you cannot operate an MPLS network! However, for an exam, it counts...

    And... One and half months are long enough to know where that B/S bit is located :)
    Currently reading: Routing TCP/IP vo1, CCIE OCG 4th Ed, INE ATC videos.
    CCIE R&S written ==> Mar 2012
    CCIE R&S Lab ==> ??
    Getting married ==> ??
    Having children ==> ??
  • jadoukingjadouking Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    QOS done yesterday. Kinda dry topic (but good anyways :))

    CCIP completed :)
    Fairly easy exam.

    Now the real stuff is about about to begin :):).
    Currently reading: Routing TCP/IP vo1, CCIE OCG 4th Ed, INE ATC videos.
    CCIE R&S written ==> Mar 2012
    CCIE R&S Lab ==> ??
    Getting married ==> ??
    Having children ==> ??
  • down77down77 Member Posts: 1,009
    Congrats!

    Time to join in the hunt for your 5 digit #?
    CCIE Sec: Starting Nov 11
  • jadoukingjadouking Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    down77 wrote: »
    Congrats!

    Time to join in the hunt for your 5 digit #?
    Thanks :)

    Yes it is time!
    I´m starting this week with routing TCP/IP vol1.
    I bought the INE ATC vids.

    I´m fully aware that it´s gonna be PAINFUL but fun also.
    Currently reading: Routing TCP/IP vo1, CCIE OCG 4th Ed, INE ATC videos.
    CCIE R&S written ==> Mar 2012
    CCIE R&S Lab ==> ??
    Getting married ==> ??
    Having children ==> ??
  • gaby_978gaby_978 Member Posts: 222
    Congratulations!!!!

    I just started studying for the MPLS exam. I know you said to go for the BGP first but for work reasons I need to learn or become familiar with MPLS fairly quicly. So far I have been reading MPLS Fundamentals and plan on doing some labs in GNS. Hopefully I will be able to know out this test by the end of january.


    Again Congratulations on your CCIP.
    ‎"If you spend too much time thinking about a thing,
    you'll never get it done"
  • nelnel Member Posts: 2,859 ■□□□□□□□□□
    congrats man!
    Xbox Live: Bring It On

    Bsc (hons) Network Computing - 1st Class
    WIP: Msc advanced networking
  • jadoukingjadouking Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Thanks Gaby!

    Good luck for the MPLS exam.
    I used the same book for MPLS preparation.
    Indeed. It is suitable to start with BGP but itś not impossible to go straight to MPLS.
    Basic BGP knowledge is still highly recommended if not mandatory.

    You will still need to figure out how to:
    - Configure PE-CE EBGP
    - MBGP to IGP redistrib
    - BGP SOO
    -...

    Do not hesitate to read/review any BGP topic when you feel that not knowing/understanding it makes grasping an MPLS related topic more difficult.
    Currently reading: Routing TCP/IP vo1, CCIE OCG 4th Ed, INE ATC videos.
    CCIE R&S written ==> Mar 2012
    CCIE R&S Lab ==> ??
    Getting married ==> ??
    Having children ==> ??
  • jamesp1983jamesp1983 Member Posts: 2,475 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Congrats man and good luck on the IE.
    "Check both the destination and return path when a route fails." "Switches create a network. Routers connect networks."
  • tomaifauchaitomaifauchai Member Posts: 301 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Congrats on the pass!
  • MrBrianMrBrian Member Posts: 520
    Late congrats on the CCIP!! Nice to see your progress. Good luck on your trip up Mt. Everest!! (ccie) I'm sure with the same work ethic it will be no problem
    Currently reading: Internet Routing Architectures by Halabi
  • jadoukingjadouking Member Posts: 16 ■□□□□□□□□□
    A late Thank you for the nice words :)
    Good luck on the Route exam! It's full of fun!
    Currently reading: Routing TCP/IP vo1, CCIE OCG 4th Ed, INE ATC videos.
    CCIE R&S written ==> Mar 2012
    CCIE R&S Lab ==> ??
    Getting married ==> ??
    Having children ==> ??
Sign In or Register to comment.