A CCIE Student Story

This is my CCIE story…

I am just embarking on completing and hopefully finishing my Cisco CCIE lab exam and thought I would keep a record. I?ll try not to write a really boring story but it will be honest stuff.

So here goes….ok, after a very very slow start, I found the keyboard and started to look at the detailed requirements for passing the lab exam. Up until this point, I honestly struggled with motivation as I had been working as a senior engineer for many years and felt I didn?t really need it. I mean, I was working, get paid and no-one was asking me for a CCIE certification, so why bother. Experience is what counts in the UK but nevertheless, I still wanted a CCIE as it always was a career ambition of mine; more of a personal achievement than professional; a challenge I couldn?t resist. Initially, I spent a few hours reviewing the lab exam blueprint, technical requirements and all things related such as training courses, workbooks and I even read a few blogs on the subject. It wasn?t that exciting, even boring at times. I don?t know why it seemed so hard but I suspect it was because I?d been a network engineer for many years and maybe my motivation was lacking or it could be because I was scared of failure knowing there is only a 7% passing rate on the first lab attempt. Whatever the reason, I?ve started now and I hope by the end of this article, I achieve my career goal!!!

The first item on the agenda to resolve was choosing which books to purchase and what one?s are recommended by other CCIE candidates. Everyone seems to recommend these books:

• TCP/IP Routing Vol 1 by Jeff Doyle
• TCP/IP Routing Vol 1 by Jeff Doyle
• CCIE Routing & Switching Certification Guide – Version 4

The second thing I wanted to address was finding a CCIE boot-camp course and Workbooks. However, I noticed very quickly that there aren?t many training providers who offer and meet the training requirements for a CCIE candidate. I browsed for a several hours and I finally noticed that the two big players in the CCIE training industry are Internetwork Experts (INE) and IP-Expert. They both look good; their websites hold ground; they look impressive, they are full of CCIE training material and most personal blogs discuss these two providers with their readers. I also mentioned these providers to work colleagues and friends (fellow networker types) and one friend said he knew someone from Cisco who recently just pass his CCIE lab and would give him a call. I instantly thought that?s handy and waited for a reply. When the guy called back, he said he works at Cisco and used INE workbooks which he found to be excellent. He also mention that their video series companion guides, class-on-demand video?s helped immensely and would definitely recommend INE and their video material if your preparing for your CCIE lab exam.

The Choices

I contacted both companies to find-out who was offering the best package. I had already decided that I wanted workbooks and a boot-camp and enquired about who was offering the best package to suit my requirements. After speaking to both companies, I finally decided on purchasing Internetwork Experts for one main reason; they were running a Boot-camp; class-based training course in London, England at the perfect time for me and IP-Expert didn?t seem to offer any training outside the US. (They do, I just couldn?t find the dates)

I now have the training course booked and all I need now were the workbooks. This was a fairly easy decision; I bought the workbooks from INE as I had booked the boot-camp with them. The good thing here was INE decided to include the workbooks for free with the training course as I spent a lot on the boot-camp. Very good deal!!!

In addition to the Boot-camp and Workbooks, INE also gave me access to their Class-on-Demand training material. I didn?t know what it was but it sounded good. I now had all the training material I needed and a class-based training Boot-camp booked and it was now down to me to self-study until the Boot-camp.

GNS vs Rack Rentals

A friend of mine kindly just built a home lab with a brand new PC with 12 NIC’s, a 22in monitor and four physical switches. Really, I didn?t ask, he offered it to me for free as he wasn?t ready to start his training and he knew I needed something straight away. We set it up but I hit problems straight away. When I started to use GNS, I had numerous problems and gave-up within three days as it seemed so unreliable and I couldn?t wait or spend anymore time trying to resolve problems with the setup. I know GNS-3 does work but I just wanted to get started and I felt it was holding me back. So as an alternative solution or panic, I decided to rent a rack for 30 days. There are many rack providers out there but I need a rack that was compatible with the INE Workbooks or I?d have many hours of pain. I browsed the internet and looked at all the companies but couldn’t find what I needed – nothing felt good. I then went back to INE and asked if they could do a deal on the rack rental and was pleasantly surprised to get a great deal (bargain in fact). The good thing to note about the INE rack rental package is that it?s fully integrated into the MEMBERS portal and obtaining training video, Workbooks and the rack is really easy and all managed under one roof.

The INE member?s portal provides access to workbooks, videos and rack scheduling in one easy portal.

To recap, INE are now providing me with the following:

• CCIE R&S Workbooks Vol 1, 2, 3 & 4
• Boot camp – Class-based training course
• COD – Class-on-demand training material
• Rack Rental

When purchasing the rack rental, I also spoke to their training coordinator who was just brilliant. We discussed my training requirements and he was able to provide me with a clear plan and training schedule to ensure I didn?t miss anything. He’s contribution allowed me to set a clear plan and I would highly recommend you do the same.

********Several weeks have passed*********

Wow, what a roller coaster I?ve been on!!!

I have now been studying at home for nearly 6 weeks and I?ve had mixed feeling regarding my progress and I even considered whether it is worth all the effort. I never thought I would be the one to wobble and think whether the CCIE was worth pursuing but I was and it stunned me. I am fairly sure I underestimated the requirements of the CCIE and found out it to be harder than I expected and might have been looking for excuses. I mean you must have had a colleague or some idiot telling you ?the CCIE is not what it use to be? or ?its easy now, anyone can pass if they read a book or two?. I love talking (or shouting) at these people. I would just ask them if they had a CCIE or any Cisco qualifications. It would also put a smile on my face when they say ?I don?t need any; I know everything about this place?. I would just think to myself ?Yes, you?re an awesome engineer; now **** off, you idiot.

That reminds me of a person I once knew who would just provoke colleagues to satisfy his ego. In my option, anyone can learn a job if they do it long enough but it takes an experienced/qualified engineer to walk into a new company and hit the ground running, identify design flaws or configuration issues and recommend solutions. I say this from experience where I?ve faced idiots with little experience who were able to fool management into thinking they was great. These guys are everywhere and had day release from the school of arseholes. I?m digressing, back to training.?

I started on Workbook (1) and spent everyday except weekends studying the various technologies. Starting at the beginning on “LAN switching technologies” was the most sensible place as it?s a core component that must work in order for the rest of your lab to work or don?t be surprised when you fail.

I just blasted-off going through Volume (1) and didn?t stop for 3 weeks solid. I was doing 12 hours a day on the racks with reading either side of that and after 3 weeks; I had covered a lot in the workbook and watched several technology videos. In my excitement, I didn?t notice how tired I was becoming, totally exhausted and brain dead. At the end of 3 weeks, I couldn?t take anything-in and no mater how many times I practiced or read the technology, I just couldn?t absorb the information.

Inevitably, I started to cut corners, complain and bitch about whether I should bother or not. I asked colleagues who passed their CCIE what pain and stresses they went through and they all had a similar story. When they wanted to give-up or were struggling, they took a few days off. I didn?t feel great; something was wrong. I didn?t know what it was, I just started to cut corners and finish earlier to a point where I studied for about an hour and thought ?that?ll do?.

I recognised that something was wrong so I paused for a few days to recap, go through my plan and reassess to confirm if I was on target and was progressing at the right speed and correct direction.

I was on target but I also realised that the CCIE lab exam requires more than just knowing technology, I must also understand and practice time management, psychological and physical wellbeing and lastly, define a killer strategy for the lab test itself.

Is the CCIE an impossible dream!!!

However, my home study plans must be put on-hold as I had booked my Boot-camp and I didn?t want to miss it. The Boot-camp training was due and I needed to be at the training centre in four days time. Some drastic action is needed as I hadn?t even started Workbook (Vol 2) or even completed Workbook (Vol 1). I think in hindsight, I shouldn?t have been going on the boot camp. Nevertheless, the last thing I did before leaving for the Boot-camp was to try and complete a lab from Workbook (Vol 2). I suppose I did this to gauge where I was technically and if the complete labs from Workbook (2) were hard or not.

Oh, it was hard, and obviously, it wasn?t a great confidence booster just before a Boot-camp!

I?m not saying the easy stuff like Switching, trunking, channel-groups, Frame-relay, OSPF or BGP or even firewalling is difficult, it was the less glamorous features such as Multicast v4/6, RMON and IP Services or really unusual often never used commands that caused the pain.

Who has actually configured EEM on a router or used the new Zone-based firewall feature. (No smug comments please)

Admittedly, anyone can configure these features if you have enough time but I put myself under test conditions and only had 8 hrs to complete the whole lab. As you can imagine, I didn?t score great and was fairly annoyed by the little mistakes I made that resulted in a poor score. I mean really silly tiny mistakes that seemed a bit unfair.

Boot-camp or Hell-camp

I am now at the Boot-camp, waiting enthusiastically to learn and be taught everything I needed to know about the CCIE.

Sh**, damm, what just happened!!! ? (My thoughts of the course)

The Boot-camp is fast, really fast. A pace not to be taken lightly and you better be ready or your toast. I?m not sure why I was on this course so early in my preparations; I hadn?t even finished Workbook (Vol 1) and found the whole experience bruising and a real confidence killer. I?m not a bad engineer but I felt like a kitten in a Lion Park. I mean, a lot of the students were strutting around roaring and telling anyone who?d listened how great they were, how easy this was and blowing there own trumpet. This wasn’t a problem in itself but interrupting the instructor all the time so no one really got anything from the sessions was just annoying. I thought ?If this continued, I was going to tell the network super hero?s to **** off and save the world on their own time?. I mean these guys were just idiots that needed to shut up and get on with the course. For the record though, there were a few guys on the course that didn?t act like this, were knowledgeable and great to be around. The prefect study partners!!

I am pleased to say it settled down after 4-5 days and we were just working through the specially designed labs at a pace that would scare Jeremy Clarkson (Top Gear). The practice labs finished on the Saturday and the all important Mock labs were scheduled to start the following morning at 9am sharp (Mock labs are 8hrs long and designed to put you under lab test conditions).

The Mock labs were a highlight for me. After enduring the incessant noise of the super hero, raw meat eating network Lions all week, I couldn?t help but laugh my tits off at some of them now. Some were dribbling like a babies while they walking around confused, dazed and almost shocked by there failure to score highly in the Mock labs.  It was really funny!!!

After the first Mock lab, most if not all the students came off their high horse and the course really got going and I finally ended up scoring better than some of the network god?s but I was exhausted and my confidence had been kicked out of the building. The lesson I got from this course was to be fully prepared for a Boot-camp and know the technologies or you are just wasting your money and time.

After attending the CCIE Boot-camp, I reviewed the technologies I?d covered so far and crossed-referenced them against the blueprint. This helped me identify any technologies I missed and also allowed me to determine whether to move onto the next subject or not. I was doing okay but was getting bored with workbook (Vol 1). The same format and procedures every day was relentless and I needed to change my study plan or I was in danger of steering into a brick wall. I did this by turning and completing several labs from Workbook (Vol 3). This workbook only focuses on the core technologies so I was able to gauge fairly quickly if I?d progressed since I initially started on the road to CCIE stardom. I am pleased to say that completing these labs really gave me a confidence boost as I was able to complete it unaided and in the recommended time frame scoring 85-95% for each lab. Needless to say, I was jumping up and down and back flipping down the garden.

Soon afterwards, I also introduced Workbook (Vol 4) into my regular and weekly training schedule in order to practice troubleshooting technologies. Troubleshooting seemed to be harder than I expected and I am still trying to come to terms why I struggled so badly in troubleshooting labs. At times, I was just looking at the screen after trying everything in my arsenal but I still couldn?t find the answers to resolve the fault. When I reviewed the solution guide, I would not be impressed with my ability after seeing the answer and trying to figure out why I couldn?t find and resolve the fault since I knew the answer. It was just tricky and it opened my eyes to looking at faults from a different angle. They tell you not to use the ?Show Run? command but you quickly realise how dependant we are on this basic command. I now try not to use the ?show run? command and instead use ?interface? or ?system? level commands where possible. What I can say for certain is that my core knowledge has greatly improved after completing Workbook (Vol 1) but I still need to practice the secondary technologies such as “Security”, “IP Services”, MPLS, Multicasting and IPv6. Anyone who has completed the exam will tell you than you need to know these technologies as well or it will just be an expensive day trip to Brussels.

I?ve concluded that I struggled in the Troubleshooting labs because I hadn?t covered the secondary technologies in enough detail to fully understand how to fix the problems in the lab scenario?s and therefore struggled to the point of frustration. I have now adapted my plan and moved troubleshooting lab training to the end of my training schedule so I can study the technologies in more detail and once completed, I will reintroduce troubleshooting lab training into my weekly training schedule.

At this stage in my CCIE preparations, I decided to completely finish Workbook (Vol 1), watch all of the technology video?s and read-up on my weak technologies. This took months of studying and was key before moving onto the other workbooks.

After finishing Workbook (Vol 1), I started Workbook (Vol 2) and I found that I was enjoying these labs a lot more than the first time. This was mainly because I felt I understood the technologies better and what was being asked of me. I still made a few silly mistakes that ultimately equated to a failure for the task but I was feeling good. This is also the point where everything changed for me and this is where I really noticed a second level to the CCIE training. I?m not sure if I can explain but I will try?

Being asked to implement OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, RIP became second nature and I was able to build and meet the primary task objectives very quickly without referring to the Cisco support documentation. These tasks include advanced features such as Route-map, off-set lists, virtual links.

Completing each task becomes a ?bit of a routine? and you implement in order. If you?re not fully awake, you?ll believe you have met the requirements of each task but you?ll be wrong. As you progress through the tasks, you are automatically changing the dynamic of the lab. Implementing OSPF and RIP on the same router will generally result in OSPF being preferred. I know this doesn?t seem difficult but when you?re under pressure, you?ll forget the requirements of tasks already completed and assume they are configured as requested.

This is a big mistake even though you met the task requirements for RIP but when you implemented OSPF, you affectively failed the task by the default behaviour of OSPF.

It is only when you understand the technologies that you realise that the task being asked is in two parts. The first part relates to enabling and configuring the key technologies. The second part of the question relates to the impact of the task on other technologies/features. I know this is a very simple analogy but it?s an important one.

I found this out by completing several workbook (2) labs and then fully reviewing every task and if I failed the task, I would then go over the task in detail until I understood where I went wrong. I often found I knew I used the correct technology but I only applied 95% of the solution and was getting angry; more annoyed by the trickery I thought INE injected into Workbook (2). It was the trickery that highlighted the other layers of the questions/tasks and taught me to ensure that my changes didn?t impact other technologies already enabled. While completing the workbook (Vol 2) labs, I also found a lot of crossover in the technologies. Understanding the available options in the technologies translates to easy points in the lab exam.

To Recap, I have completed:

• Workbook (Vol 1) ? 100%
• Workbook (Vol 2) ? 60 %
• Workbook (Vol 3) – 100%
• Workbook (Vol 4) ? 90%
• COD Video Series ? 100%
• INE Boot camp ? 100%

It was at this stage I decided that I would like to attend another boot camp before attempting the lab exam. I wanted to know how far away I was from meeting the course prerequisites and understanding the technologies. Feeling good, I started to look for a boot camp. I really looked hard but there wasn?t much on offer and after many hours of internal debate, I based my choice solely on price.  I booked a CCIE boot camp at Netmetric Solutions.

The first day on the boot camp was interesting and the thought still brings a smile to my face. As expected, the instructor was doing introductions and everyone was asked to provide details of there work experience and course expectations. There was one guy that was louder than everyone else from the moment we entered the classroom. It was his turn and he proudly and loudly stated that he had limited experience with Cisco but was going to attend the course and then study for a couple of weeks before sitting the exam. He was so confident and loud that I and the instructor were just smiling. It didn?t stop there, he went on to tell us all how quickly he wanted the certification and didn?t relent for 2 days. It was because of this guy, the course was initially painful as he clearly didn?t know the basic and was therefore asking very simple questions that the instructor was obliged to answer.  The course pace was fast but I found the whole experience fairly manageable and felt at ease throughout the whole 10 day boot camp. The instructor managed to address the needs of the various levels of students while also answering my questions. In my opinion, I wish I could have swapped the boot camps around and attended Netmetric first as this seemed and catered for engineers who are starting their CCIE studies and the INE boot camp is more for students who have completed all the workbooks and are ready to attempt the lab. I think the Netmetric instructor actually said the course was designed to introduce students to the requirements of the CCIE lab exam. This was not good news for me to hear but made sense since it seemed fairly straight-forward.

There is not much more I can say about the Netmetric boot camp. In summary, the course was okay but it was held in low quality facilities. The instructor was awesome and would happily attend another course with the instructor as long as it?s not in India. The power-cuts, facilities and food were all an issue that I don?t want to repeat. Consider yourself warned if you are planning a trip to India!!!

With the boot camp over and my confidence at an all time high, I booked my CCIE R&S lab exam in Brussels. I went over everything but mainly concentrated on completing the Workbook (2) labs and where I struggled, I would spend time on that issue until I really understood it. If I?m honest, I mastered all the core technologies and was very familiar with the other technologies but knew how and where to find configuration information on the Doc-CD. I technologies I still have problems with today are EEM and OER. I need more time to master these but I am not sure if I will ever get the chance to utilise these technologies.

I had 25 days left to study and practice before leaving on the Eurostar train to Brussels. So far, the CCIE training had cost me a lot. Not only money, but more importantly – time. I spent over 1200+ hours on a lab/rack working through the CCIE workbooks, I had watched over 100+ hours of videos, I had completed two boot camps and I still hadn?t passed my lab exam. The day of reckoning is looming and had I prepared enough; had I studied enough; was I ready?

The big day is here, I made it to Brussels and I am at the hotel the night before the exam. I felt good, confident that I knew I?d prepared for my exam; I slept comfortably and was keen to get started and just finish the exam whether it?s a pass or fail. I had prepared myself for failure but thought that I was going to give it my best shot and see what happens. I had invested a lot of time on the CCIE and wasn?t that bother if I failed as I knew I would just get back into it the following day and study for another 30 days before attempting the lab exam again.

Walking into Cisco, my feeling changed as I suddenly felt the pressure of the exam. I registered with reception and was directed to sit down and wait for the proctor to collect me. As I sat down, there were several engineers sitting, waiting for the proctor. I could see everyone felt the pressure but I?m here now and there?s no going back.

We are allocated our pods and told the rules before starting. To my horror, I couldn?t login even though everyone else was working and the clock had started. It only took a few minutes to sort out but I started to panic. Just when I logged-in, there was a major problem in the building (unrelated to us) that stopped everyone from continuing. The proctor asked everyone to stop and leave the room. We waited nearly 45 minutes before we were allowed back into the room and continue our lab. The bad start really messed with my head and I felt the extreme pressure of time was against me. I completed the troubleshooting section but due to the earlier issues, I felt nervous with my answers even though I double checked everything before moving onto the next question. Then came lunch; which was good but everyone just wanted to get back to the lab. On returning to the lab, we continued with the exam. The lab tasks and even the day itself were ?a bit of a blur?. I went through every task and question to check if the configuration was correct and completed as required. I tried to confirm whether there were any hidden issues that may cause me to lost points for a task. I had decided earlier that my approach to each task was to apply the appropriate configuration and then double check if there were any issues with the existing topology, that were caused by my changes. I didn?t waste time if I was unsure, I moved forward all the time until I finished or attempted every task. This strategy allowed me to obtain a view of the entire lab and consider the implications of each task and whether it was relevant or not. I can tell you that I changed the configuration after initially finishing the lab as I found errors. I checked and I had made errors and these little mistakes were because I didn?t read the question correctly.

I completed my lab with 2 minutes to go but didn?t know if I had passed or not. The relief was immense and I didn?t turn-on my mobile until I got home to England. The pressure of the exam was such that I needed a bit of time to myself and didn?t need the hassle of explaining myself to everyone.

The next day I awoke to find an email from Cisco asking me to login and obtain my test result. This is it, I had worked hard for months and now it?s the moment of truth????.PASS

**** me, what a journey!!!

I had passed and even though I was extremely happy, I also felt a massive relief. Needless to say, everyone close to me was ?over the moon? and the party still has stopped.

Conclusion

I have achieved a personal and professional goal; an ambition to get to the top. I?ve done it and I?m proud. I underestimated the requirements of the CCIE and learnt the hard way. I should have known the CCIE was hard otherwise everyone would have one. During my studies, I heard that Cisco want 50,000 CCIE by 2050. I am not sure if that is possible based on the current exam blueprint. You need many years or operational experience to pass the exam or an awful lot of spare time. They say that on average, each CCIE student clocks-up about 1200 ? 1500 hours of rack time in the pursue of a CCIE. That?s a lot of time that should not be underestimated like the CCIE lab requirements.

Studying for a CCIE is not going to be easy as you need to give-up a lot of
spare time. In addition to spare time, you need to learn about technologies you may never use. In mu opinion, a blended learning approach to your studies is the best way forward.
Start with Workbooks and DVD?s. Once completed, attend a boot camp to reinforce your knowledge of the subjects.

• Workbooks
• Boot camps
• Technology DVD

I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have passed the lab without the blended material.  You are expected to know the core technologies (Layer2, OSPF, RIP, EIGRP, BGP, Frame-Relay) inside-out. There are no exceptions relating to the core technologies.   All the other technologies are secondary and therefore you can choose to skip them if you?re unsure but not too many though. I still struggle with OER/ODR.

The INE workbooks are very good; especially volume 1 & 3. These workbooks break-down the technologies into digestible chunks and with detailed explanations that follow every task; you will quickly master the technologies.  The only problem is there are so many technologies to master and its takes long than you expect. I spent more than 50 hours on OSPF alone and I thought I was pretty
hot on OSPF before starting the workbook. Completing the workbook doesn’t necessarily mean you are a CCIE or can fully utilise all features and implement anything, it just means you are aware of the available options and how to use the commands successfully.

The last thing before signing-off is to wish you success with your lab attempt and thanks for reading.

This is my CCIE story

CCIE Engineer