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.

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Comments

jamesp1983

Last week of studies until my test on Saturday. I've been reviewing mnemosyne and reading over some weak spots. I think I'm going to read Chapters 1-4, and 6-7 in MPLS Fundamentals so I feel a little more confident in my MPLS.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

Last week of studies until my test on Saturday. I've been reviewing mnemosyne and reading over some weak spots. I think I'm going to read Chapters 1-4, and 6-7 in MPLS Fundamentals so I feel a little more confident in my MPLS.

I wouldn't get hung up on MPLS only a sprinkling of questions there. My advice now James is as follows..

It's an R&S test so really hammer your IGP/BGP and Switching.
Go easy on the reading now, concentrate on Odom and Boson test questions and study the explanations until you are sick of them.

Then take the exam. Know your full mesh calculation, understand route reflector peering, be able to follow a configuration of most things. Know switching well.

jamesp1983

jamesp1983

Turgon wrote: »

I wouldn't get hung up on MPLS only a sprinkling of questions there. My advice now James is as follows..

It's an R&S test so really hammer your IGP/BGP and Switching.
Go easy on the reading now, concentrate on Odom and Boson test questions and study the explanations until you are sick of them.

Then take the exam. Know your full mesh calculation, understand route reflector peering, be able to follow a configuration of most things. Know switching well.

Okay, sounds good. I will continue hammering away on Boson and reading the explanations. I am trying to go through all of the Cisco docs that Boson recommends for various topics as well.

jamesp1983

My eyes were burning from reading so much yesterday that I decided to watch some of the INE ATCoD videos on Security. I've read about 30 Cisco docs recommended by the Boson tests and beat up the questions as well.

jamesp1983

Has anyone seen this yet?

Amazon.com: CCIE Routing and Switching v4.0 Configuration Practice Labs (2nd Edition) eBook: Martin J. Duggan: Kindle Store

jamesp1983

I've been reading more Cisco docs today in addition to going over the IPExpert Written Test Quizzer. It is pretty in depth. I have averaged around an 86-92. Has anyone else used this product? What were your thoughts?

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

I've been reading more Cisco docs today in addition to going over the IPExpert Written Test Quizzer. It is pretty in depth. I have averaged around an 86-92. Has anyone else used this product? What were your thoughts?

I wouldn't read anymore docs now. Practice tests. Study the solutions carefully. Haven't used this quizzer myself. Boson and Odom are best IMO but dont cover everything.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

Some useful links:
Cisco IOS IPv6 Configuration Guide, Release 12.4 - Implementing RIP for IPv6 * [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.4 Mainline] - Cisco Systems
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/12_0/qos/configuration/guide/qcgts.pdf
Cisco 7600 Series Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide, 12.2SX - Configuring Local SPAN, Remote SPAN (RSPAN), and Encapsulated RSPAN (ERSPAN)* [Cisco 7600 Series Routers] - Cisco Systems
OSPF Design Guide - Cisco Systems
OSPF Point-to-Multipoint Networks with Neighbors - Cisco Systems
IPv6 for Cisco IOS Software, File 1 of 3: Overview
Configuring Context-Based Access Control* [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.2 Mainline] - Cisco Systems
SNMPv3 - Cisco Systems
Bidirectional Forwarding Detection - Cisco Systems
Anycast RP - Cisco Systems
The Traceroute Command in MPLS* [MPLS] - Cisco Systems
Implementing Quality of Service Policies with DSCP* [QoS Packet Marking] - Cisco Systems
OSPFv2 Local RIB* [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.4 T] - Cisco Systems
Cisco IOS Quality of Service Solutions Configuration*Guide, Release*12.2 - Classification Overview* [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.2 Mainline] - Cisco Systems
Part 1: First Hop Redundancy Protocols - Configuring GLBP* [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.4 Mainline] - Cisco Systems
DiffServ -- The Scalable End-to-End QoS Model* [Differentiated Services] - Cisco Systems
Cisco IOS IP Command*Reference, Volume 3*of 3: Multicast, Release*12.2 - IP Multicast Commands: ip multicast cache-headers Through ip sap cache-timeout* [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.2 Mainline] - Cisco Systems
Comparing the bandwidth and priority Commands of a QoS Service Policy* [QoS Packet Marking] - Cisco Systems
Cisco IP Solution Center MPLS VPN User Guide, 3.1 - IP Solution Center - MPLS VPN* [Cisco IP Solution Center] - Cisco Systems
MPLS/Tag Switching - DocWiki
Understanding and Troubleshooting HSRP Problems in Catalyst Switch Networks - Cisco Systems
BGP Case Studies - Cisco Systems
Cisco IOS Quality of Service Solutions Configuration*Guide, Release*12.2 - Configuring RSVP* [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.2 Mainline] - Cisco Systems
Remote Monitoring - DocWiki
RFC 5171 - Cisco Systems UniDirectional Link Detection (UDLD) Protocol
Cisco IOS Quality of Service Solutions Configuration*Guide, Release*12.2 - Configuring Traffic Policing* [Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.2 Mainline] - Cisco Systems
Traffic Policing
Cisco IOS Release 12.0 Network Protocols Configuration Guide, Part 1 - Configuring BGP - Cisco Systems
Security Configuration Guide: Zone-Based Policy Firewall Cisco IOS Release 12.4T - Zone-Based Policy Firewall [Support] - Cisco Systems

Far too much detail

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

Has anyone seen this yet?

Amazon.com: CCIE Routing and Switching v4.0 Configuration Practice Labs (2nd Edition) eBook: Martin J. Duggan: Kindle Store

I used the 1st edition book back in 2008-2009. I did the labs and was probably the only person in the world doing so at that time. I also did a good deal of the Karl Solie labs, a guy who took three attempts to pass the lab exam. To be fair to both writers I actually think they were pretty good books and worth picking up if you are serious about building the topology and working through the exercises.

In the end, Cisco Press gave up on trying to provide lab based books to prepare candidates for the lab exam as the vendor market has this covered and there was no money in it for Cisco Press. It would require volume 1 - 10 to do it the way the books are laid out!

jamesp1983

Turgon wrote: »

Far too much detail

For the Written?

jamesp1983

Turgon wrote: »

I wouldn't read anymore docs now. Practice tests. Study the solutions carefully. Haven't used this quizzer myself. Boson and Odom are best IMO but dont cover everything.

I will just beat up the Boson then. I am feeling pretty good about my knowledge level. If work was dead I would take this test Friday, but it's not so I'll leave my date set for this Saturday.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

For the Written?

Yes. You either should have read some of this by now or on test day it really wouldn't help you. Only 100 questions after all. Be strong on what you are good at now, disregard the rest. Practice tests for you now.

jamesp1983

Turgon wrote: »

Yes. You either should have read some of this by now or on test day it really wouldn't help you. Only 100 questions after all. Be strong on what you are good at now, disregard the rest. Practice tests for you now.

I'm basically rereading a lot of it. I am so scared of not reading enough. I just need to relax and beat up the Boson.

Roguetadhg

Good Luck James!

jamesp1983

Roguetadhg wrote: »

Good Luck James!

Thank you! I'm hoping to have good news for everyone on Saturday.

Turgon

jamesp1983 wrote: »

I'm basically rereading a lot of it. I am so scared of not reading enough. I just need to relax and beat up the Boson.

Ok. You have done enough reading now. The tests are where it is at. Spend 4 hours a day attacking the Boson and Odom test engine and read the entire solution for any question you get wrong.

Then go and take your exam. On exam day, it's kill zone time. Nobody scrapes through the written, although I will confess I got a 700 once which is a perfect score in a way

It's either your day or it isn't. You will know inside 20 questions..

Either way your approach is the same. Get through half the questions inside the hour and half mark. Dont mark any questions. Make an attempt and move along. The written is a killer if you are running out of time, the questions are too much information to process when you are up against time pressure later in the exam. Keep answering questions...

Half way through the test, assuming you have time on the clock, take a bit more time, but keep moving. Dont mark questions and revisit. It's no good pouring over them a second time later on. Answer every question as it comes along. If you dont know, you dont know, make an educated guess. Advance. 100 questions. If you get it wrong its only one mark..

It's a 3 hour test. Nobody can concentrate for that long so hammer the first 50 questions when you are at your best, leaving you time on the clock for the second half so you can ponder a little more. You will be fatigued in the second half of the test so you want a good pace for 50 questions.

Sleep well the night before, with no alcohol. Have a good breakfast. Do not study the night before the test, but beast yourself the previous night before the test.

During the exam, make a quick note of the topic on questions you think you struggled on as you went along. 'OSPF cost' is enough. Once you finish the test and before you leave the centre, if you fail, have a look at the notes you made to commit the rubbish you struggled on to memory so you can study those things.

I have passed the written 3 times in my life. Everytime I did I was prepared. When I didn't I wasn't but got it later with this approach!

Honestly, I still think if you can pass the written without **** that's not bad going at all for any networking professional and puts you above the average at least theoretically. When I passed my first back in 2001 I had it framed. 11 years on and I still haven't done the lab but so what, hundreds of thousands of people have passed the written by fair means or foul over the years.

Good Luck.

Roguetadhg

actually, I like your recommendation for how to approach tests. A three hour test is rough.

Although, I have a question that's the most important of all: Whose that girl?

10000000 posts!

Turgon

Roguetadhg wrote: »

actually, I like your recommendation for how to approach tests. A three hour test is rough.

Although, I have a question that's the most important of all: Whose that girl?

That is routergirl. An iconic look from the late 90's when the Catalyst 5000 was king, the money for handbags and shoes for geek girlfriends was flowing and sexy women just loved geeks..

They chase managers these days, and managers are soooo dull.

reaper81

Just one note. You can't mark questions and revisit them. Once you click next you're done and you can't go back. Time was not really an issue for me on this test but still try to keep a decent pace.

Turgon

reaper81 wrote: »

Just one note. You can't mark questions and revisit them. Once you click next you're done and you can't go back. Time was not really an issue for me on this test but still try to keep a decent pace.

A good update to know Daniel. I always thought the mark option was a curse on the written anyway.

jamesp1983

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I'm hoping I get some more studying done tonight, but we'll see. I'm staying at work late tonight because we had to install new modules in our 6500s as well as wait with our ISP who is installing a DS3. We're going to need an OC-3 soon if this growth keeps up. I studied for about 5 hours today so that should be a huge help.

ipSpace

Good luck James!
2 more days. Hope you will come with good news!

How many questions does the CCIE exam has and how many questions ?
Also, does it have a 30minutes extension for Non-native english users?

Thanks.

Roguetadhg

jamesp1983 wrote: »

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I'm hoping I get some more studying done tonight, but we'll see. I'm staying at work late tonight because we had to install new modules in our 6500s as well as wait with our ISP who is installing a DS3. We're going to need an OC-3 soon if this growth keeps up. I studied for about 5 hours today so that should be a huge help.

You say that being in a business with growth is a bad thing. It's a lot nicer to hear that seeing people laid off

jamesp1983

Roguetadhg wrote: »

You say that being in a business with growth is a bad thing. It's a lot nicer to hear that seeing people laid off

Oh, not how I meant it at all. We are just upgrading our bandwidth constantly so I was stating a fact. We have merged with another HUGE company and all of our resources are being exhausted so we're playing catch up. I'm lucky to have a job.

jamesp1983

From cisco.com:

CCIE Routing and Switching Written Exam #350-001, v4.0
The CCIE R&S written exam is a two-hour qualification exam with 90-110 questions taken online at a Cisco authorized Pearson VUE testing center. The questions are a combination of multiple choice and more complex, interactive items that assess technical knowledge on topics such as IP, IP routing, bridging and switch-related technologies, and some equipment commands. The exam is closed book and no outside reference materials are allowed.

From Anthony Sequeira with IPExpert on 1/12/2012:

Number of Questions: 77
Required Passing Score: 790
Total Time Allotted: 2 hours
Exam Question Types: Single Response-Multiple Choice, Multiple Response-Multiple Choice (Correct Number of Responses Stated), Drag and Drop, Exhibit-based Scenarios
Overall Level of Difficulty (1 to 10 Scale): 5
Overall Time Pressure (1 to 10 Scale): 2

jamesp1983

ipSpace wrote: »

Good luck James!
2 more days. Hope you will come with good news!

How many questions does the CCIE exam has and how many questions ?
Also, does it have a 30minutes extension for Non-native english users?

Thanks.

Thanks very much! I'm not sure about that 30 minute extension. Cisco says 90-110 questions over 2 hours.

jamesp1983

Good QoS readiness test:
Questions: Do You Need the New INE QoS Class?
Answers: Do You Need the New QoS Class? Answers and Explanations

jamesp1983

Beating up Boson on the final day along with my notes.
Came up with a new way to remember the EIGRP K value order in the "metric weights" command:
Big Llamas Don't Run Much
K1=Bw K2=Load K3=Dly K4=Reliability K5=MTU

Remember tos is always set to 0. Default values= tos=0, k1=1, k2=0, k3=1, k4=0, k5=0.

Influence routing decisions via Dly.

"metric weights 0 1 0 1 0 0"

ipSpace

Or, the weight are 20. 16 + 4:D