My CCIE Journey Has Officially Begun.

jamesp1983

I have decided that it is time to pursue the first goal I had when I entered IT, the CCIE. I know its going to be an EXTREME challenge, but I'm just pushing forward and trying to stay confident. I'm going to use this thread for tracking my progress throughout my CCIE journey. I purchased the INE Ultimate bundle last week and have been studying and labbing ever since. I'm still trying to figure out what the right balance of lab vs study is at this point, but I'm just reviewing all of the ATVOD material now (over 80 hours), to refresh myself. I'm open for any suggestions on how I should balance lab vs study time. I've been running Dynamips and working with my home switches while watching the videos as a way to get more hands on. I passed BCMSN, BSCI, and ISCW back in 2008, and wrapped up ONT in August of 2010. I have been working with the equipment at my job so that has kept me fresh on a lot of the info, but I'm still studying like I'm just starting out. I research topics in the videos that I don't really remember and that seems to be really helping. I will keep this updated as a motivator and also as a way to keep track of all that I have studied when it comes time for my final review. It feels great to finally get started on this path. My wife and I worked out a schedule and I'm going to try to hit 30-36 hours a week.

My resources:
-INE Virtual Lab
-The INE workbooks
-INE Written VOD
-Routing TCP/IP, vol I.
-Home lab (a few routers and some 3550s.)
-Cisco LAN Switching by Ken Clark
-Routing and Switching, Time of Convergence?
-My CCNP Library.
-Dynamips
-Cisco.com
-INE ATVOD 4.5

Should I buy Odom's exam guide? I think the Boson Exsim for CCIE will be the next addition.

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

jamesp1983

I agree. I need to wrap this up. I am feeling pretty good about the test.

jamesp1983

Just heard a good analogy for multicast... Multicast is like a radio frequency. PIM-DM is like a normal radio station that you tune into (and can be rough on your network at first...push technique), and PIM-SM is like pay-per-view (and is easier on your network...pull technique). I hope that helps someone. Thanks Jeremy Cioara!

Another analogy- Rendezvous points are like a dating service. Men are the sources, and women are the receivers... (*,G)...i.e.; *= anyone (any man), but I want to make sure he's a banker (that's the group).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x69Rck-kfss

Sirsamon

one of most fav subjects, i don't know why but

I have just started my section on Multicast for the second time.
My MAC still has Alvin and the chipmonks along with an episode of the universe, that i use to stream with VLC.

jamesp1983

Sirsamon wrote: »

one of most fav subjects, i don't know why but

I have just started my section on Multicast for the second time.
My MAC still has Alvin and the chipmonks along with an episode of the universe, that i use to stream with VLC.

Nice! What else do your multicast studies consist of?

Sirsamon

If you are talking about books,

Routing TCP-IP volume II
CCIEv4 (only 2 chapters, i hope to Finnish tonight)
Developing IP multicast networks volume 1 (Cisco press)

In that order, this is my second time round for TCP-IP and the multicast book, if there were anything else i Google.
I have access to all the videos and cbts, but i feel i am wasting time or i get bored when i can say the commands before they get to it, feels like it drags on.

Although i have started to play INE vids while on my bike, as i have nothing else i can do at that time

jamesp1983

Sirsamon wrote: »

If you are talking about books,

Routing TCP-IP volume II
CCIEv4 (only 2 chapters, i hope to Finnish tonight)
Developing IP multicast networks volume 1 (Cisco press)

In that order, this is my second time round for TCP-IP and the multicast book, if there were anything else i Google.
I have access to all the videos and cbts, but i feel i am wasting time or i get bored when i can say the commands before they get to it, feels like it drags on.

Although i have started to play INE vids while on my bike, as i have nothing else i can do at that time

Oh, okay. I need to pick up Developing IP multicast networks. I've read a ton of docs on multicast, but I just want to have it down cold. Do you lab much? The INE videos have been pretty helpful. Anthony Sequeira has some good Youtube videos on Multicast.

vinbuck

jamesp1983 wrote: »

Just heard a good analogy for multicast... Multicast is like a radio frequency. PIM-DM is like a normal radio station that you tune into (and can be rough on your network at first...push technique), and PIM-SM is like pay-per-view (and is easier on your network...pull technique). I hope that helps someone. Thanks Jeremy Cioara!

Another analogy- Rendezvous points are like a dating service. Men are the sources, and women are the receivers... (*,G)...i.e.; *= anyone (any man), but I want to make sure he's a banker (that's the group).

IP Multicast Gotchas - YouTube

That's a great analogy and I wish i'd had it when I first dived into multicast for an IPTV network I do support for. Multicast is so much easier to figure out when you've got production stuff to use it for like video.

And yes PIM-DM is rough to the tune of a few hundred Mbps if you're carrying a full load of SD and HD channels.

Sirsamon

A view of my home study/lab, i have 2 2821s about to go in the rack, my other bits phones and the likes are in boxs.

i do a lot of labbing, it also helps the wife is very supportive.

Hah. Cool. I believe the most impressive part is the library. You appear to be a very loyal Cisco press customer

jamesp1983

Sirsamon, wow! I am drooling over your lab. I am confined to the basement of our house. Your Cisco Press library is extensive! It puts mine to shame. (I have about 25 Cisco Press books) I'll have to post up some pictures of my lab. You are lucky that your wife is onboard. My wife knows what it means to me so she has been extremely helpful. She even named our dog Cisco. That is 100% true.

Sirsamon

damn my dog is to old to rename

maybe rename my wife ??

jamesp1983

Sirsamon wrote: »

damn my dog is to old to rename

maybe rename my wife ??

That works. I'm sure she won't mind.

jamesp1983

I only got about an hour of studying done last night. We were having an additional DS3 installed last night and while the ISP techs were installing it they fried our ONS. Let's just say it was a long night.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

I only got about an hour of studying done last night. We were having an additional DS3 installed last night and while the ISP techs were installing it they fried our ONS. Let's just say it was a long night.

Sounds like it James. How long to your written test now?

jamesp1983

Turgon wrote: »

Sounds like it James. How long to your written test now?

10 days...

jamesp1983

9 days until my written and I'm feeling pretty good about it. I am doing practice tests and reviewing some of my weak spots (multicast, qos, ipv6, wccp, and mpls). I studied for about 3 hours last night since it was another late night at work. (A ton of rewiring and port configs had to be done last night and I was the only one around to do them.) I went to the gym for a run and then forced myself to stay awake until 12am. 5:30 comes early, but I had to keep studying.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

9 days until my written and I'm feeling pretty good about it. I am doing practice tests and reviewing some of my weak spots (multicast, qos, ipv6, wccp, and mpls). I studied for about 3 hours last night since it was another late night at work. (A ton of rewiring and port configs had to be done last night and I was the only one around to do them.) I went to the gym for a run and then forced myself to stay awake until 12am. 5:30 comes early, but I had to keep studying.

Its all good. The last few days before we work hard on the routing and switching questions in the tests. Concentrate on understanding how things work as the test will throw scenarios and configuration your way where you will need to demonstrate understanding of what is going on in a network.

jamesp1983

I'm averaging 85s on the Boson (picking the Random Quiz mode). I have been using Mnemosyne and looking over my notes as well. Routing TCP/IP Vol II really has helped to drive home a lot of the multicast topics. I want to make a small study sheet with all of the timers, messages, and basic functionality for all of the routing protocols, IGMP, PIM, STP, etc so I have it all at a glance.

jamesp1983

I've been watching the new INE Written videos in addition to reading some Cisco Docs on my weaker areas. I completed both of the INE written practice tests as well. Ive also been doing Boson tests daily. I compiled a list of areas that I could use a little refresher on so I plan on researching those before the 28th.

jamesp1983

3 days... I'm thinking I might push it back a day due to the fact that I lost a day of review due to a stomach bug. I slept pretty much all day yesterday. We also had a death in the family on Sunday so it's been a tough week. I compiled a list of all topics that worry me and will move through it one by one to close any knowledge gaps.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

3 days... I'm thinking I might push it back a day due to the fact that I lost a day of review due to a stomach bug. I slept pretty much all day yesterday. We also had a death in the family on Sunday so it's been a tough week. I compiled a list of all topics that worry me and will move through it one by one to close any knowledge gaps.

Push it back two weeks. You are having a difficult time.

jamesp1983

Turgon wrote: »

Push it back two weeks. You are having a difficult time.

I followed your advice and did that exact thing. I will just continue to study through it.

jamesp1983

I rescheduled for 2/11/2012. I had a death in the family and was sick for most of last week. I took it easy and spent time with my family. I am going to start studying nonstop for the next two weeks and hopefully I'll pull out a pass on test day.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

I rescheduled for 2/11/2012. I had a death in the family and was sick for most of last week. I took it easy and spent time with my family. I am going to start studying nonstop for the next two weeks and hopefully I'll pull out a pass on test day.

You will be fine James. Very sorry to hear about your loss.

jamesp1983

Started reading my notes again, looking over Cisco Docs on WCCP, routing protocol FAQs, and RSTP. Those docs answered a lot of my questions within the first 3 minutes of reading them. I have been doing Boson tests as well as reviewing my Mnemosyne flash cards to keep the information fresh. I feel like I'm just in a holding pattern where I'm constantly refreshing the data in my brain until I take the test. I don't want to miss work, but I wish I didn't have to wait 2 weeks at this point.

jamesp1983

Turgon wrote: »

You will be fine James. Very sorry to hear about your loss.

Thanks Turgon. I appreciate it. It was a rough week.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

Thanks Turgon. I appreciate it. It was a rough week.

No problem. A tough year for you 2012 so pace yourself. You will clear the written this year. A lot of lab practice ahead of you the next 12 months.

jamesp1983

While I haven't passed my written yet, I thought it would be a good idea to plan out my labbing routine. I'm going to aim for at least 3 hours a day during the week (lab 7-9pm after work, gym from 9:15-9:45pm, shower, and then lab again from 10:15 until 11:15pm), and then 8 hours per day on the weekends. I should hit 1000 hours in around 8-9 months. I might not have to study as much on my own time if I get buy in from my employer. They discussed that they really want to help me with it towards the end of 2012. Maybe even a Narbik bootcamp...

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

While I haven't passed my written yet, I thought it would be a good idea to plan out my labbing routine. I'm going to aim for at least 3 hours a day during the week (lab 7-9pm after work, gym from 9:15-9:45pm, shower, and then lab again from 10:15 until 11:15pm), and then 8 hours per day on the weekends. I should hit 1000 hours in around 8-9 months. I might not have to study as much on my own time if I get buy in from my employer. They discussed that they really want to help me with it towards the end of 2012. Maybe even a Narbik bootcamp...

Good luck with that schedule! While the maths adds up, in reality sticking to those projections is very difficult. Neither daniel or NOC-Ninja have hit 1000 hours in that timeframe and they are both working regularly and very hard. Try by all means but dont get disheartened if life means you dont rack up those lab hours as fast as you had hoped!

jamesp1983

Turgon wrote: »

Good luck with that schedule! While the maths adds up, in reality sticking to those projections is very difficult. Neither daniel or NOC-Ninja have hit 1000 hours in that timeframe and they are both working regularly and very hard. Try by all means but dont get disheartened if life means you dont rack up those lab hours as fast as you had hoped!

I'm going to try, but we shall see. Life can get crazy sometimes, but I'm going to give it all I've got.