Me again, Carlos, I realize that everyone has their own way to prepare for the lab, and for a professional career. I am not a CCIE, in fact I've failed the lab twice. While I agree with you that I wish I had studied for the lab and the written simultaneously I don't agree with jumping straight to the volume 2 labs. I tried that for my first time around. It didn't work well for me. The foundation is what will ensure you can pass the test. The multi-protocol labs are great but starting there is like reverse engineering a house. I dismantle a cape cod, and learn everything there is about it. Then I turn around and build a cape cod. That doesn't mean that I can then turn around and build a Victorian. There are components in each that are common of course but after a point the similarity ends.
My point is that for me doing it the way you suggest meant that my critical and analytical thinking was constrained by what I had seen others do. That being my only frame of reference. Thus my creativity was limited by that of others. If you build a solid foundation the layer 2 labs are refining your understanding of how the technologies are working (or not working) together. The last thing I want to see is someone choke on the first bite like I did! With Respect, Terry On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 10:09 AM, Carlos Valero <[email protected]>wrote: > Hi Nicholas, > > This is my take on this. > > First of all, you seem to have enough equipment. > Don't worry about the 3560. At least not for now. > 3550's are enough to get you going. > > You won't be able to do all of the tasks, but you Switching is only a > fraction of the exam. > > You you'll have enough things to worry about ... for now. > > Regarding the exam itself, this is my recommendation: > > 1. Forget about the Written Test! > > Dive into the Labs and the Written will be so natural for you, that later > you'll be able to pass it in a breeze! > > By doing so, you don't impose yourself the silly "18 months" limit to take > the Lab Exam. > > So don't worry about it! > > 2. Go straight to Volume II > > Although BLS Volume I is an "excellent reference", believe me, > you'll "waste" too much time trying to digest Volume I Labs. > > But the time you are done with the last focus Labs of Vol I, probably you > would have forgotten the first ones! So why bother. > > Go ahead and dive into Vol 2! > > And if you don't know something, then use Vol I as a reference, > although as you know, Google is your BEST FRIEND when you don't know > something. > > If somebody had given me this same advice a while ago, > I think I would have my CCIE number by now. > > But most people (and even Cisco) tell you to pass the Written Test first. > > That's definitely the wrong approach! > > I guess Cisco is just interested in collecting $400 for the Written Test. > They don't really care whether you get your CCIE or not. > > That's my honest feedback. > > Take care! > > --- On *Mon, 9/14/09, nicholas golden <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > From: nicholas golden <[email protected]> > Subject: [OSL | CCIE_RS] Ye Old Timeless Question - The beginning. Where to > start? > To: [email protected] > Date: Monday, September 14, 2009, 2:15 PM > > > So here's the scoop and the timeless question where to begin? I've sifted > through posts and this question is somewhat common but maybe I need a fresh > view on it. What I mean is I went from the CCNA in March 09, to the CCNP > just last week. I got laid off right when I finished my CCNA and said "Screw > this, I'll show you and go for my CCIE" so I went the path of the CCNP to > learn things along the way going towards the CCIE. I have not passed the > written *yet* but that's coming. > > Now, I am sitting here with a ton of material and feel frozen on what to do > next. I just passed the CCNP on Sept 2 2009 and took some time off, enjoyed > labor day went wake boarding caught some air had fun etc. Now I am back and > paralyzed on how and where to start. For the CCNP I have a close to CCIE > level lab,(Lots of 3640's, one 3550 and 2522's, 2511 etc but missing the > 3560s = $$$) but not enough really so I am renting rack time. Before I dive > into the rack time I want to know opinions on what to do before that point. > > I have the following materials as of now: > > CCIE R&S guide 3rd edition (Pre ordered 4th edition which comes out this > oct) > Jeff Doyle Volume 1 and 2 (The bible I hear) > IPExpert BLS (Of course!!) > Some other material I am eyeballing, Qos Exam guide, some mpls books etc. > > At the moment, Im just identifying weak areas for me like BGP and Multicast > and *some* QoS etc(I found QoS not that hard in comparison to BGP, maybe im > crazy) so I know I need to work on those along with other areas to find out > where I will get bit in the ass on. > > So the question is, assume I ID the weak areas and move on and I have NOT > passed the written *yet* but at same time keeping skills sharp on my rack > for my next job (crosses fingers, market is craptastic right now) how should > I approach the written? Should I just read, practice what I read on the rack > and re read to confirm move on and revisit it later for light review and to > keep it fresh? > > I know when I passed the CCNP it was I would read something, go find a > config for it set it up and see how it worked then re read it again and see > if I could remember to set it up on my own and then break it to see what > happens. Maybe it's just the allure and scariness of the CCIE but I need to > know what others are doing and maybe adapt to it as I know I am embarking on > truckloads of information about to descend on my brain to issue deep > psychological abuse of memory cells. > > So, how does everyone do it? > > Longer post than I expected, but been contemplating it for a while and need > some direction. > Thanks, > Nick > > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > For more information regarding industry leading CCIE Lab training, please > visit www.ipexpert.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > For more information regarding industry leading CCIE Lab training, please > visit www.ipexpert.com > > -- Favorite Quote: "What you do not know doing will quickly teach you." -- Master Po
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