From: Chuck Larrieu (chuck@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Sun Dec 24 2000 - 02:23:36 GMT-3
Having spoken to several CCIE's about the lab, having collected a number of
e-mails containing lab strategy from CCIE's, I am convinced that one major
component of the CCIE Lab is time management. It is about putting first
things first, leaving one room to research what one doesn't immediately
know.
That said, one important part of my study and practice is my routine. These
are things I do every time I sit down to do anything that involves the
actual configuration of routers.
1) Write a short note about the work to be done. What I hope to show. What I
am investigating. This will come in handy for later review.
2) Draw a diagram. Lay out the logical network diagram in a manner that
facilitates all of the following steps.
3) On the diagram, label all interfaces. Note which serial interfaces are
DCE, if applicable. It continues to surprise me how easily I overlook
something as simple as applying the clockrate appropriately.
4) Fill in the IP addressing scheme for each interface
5) Note the routing protocol to be involved
6) Note extra virtual interfaces, such as tunnels, to one side. Use a
notation that facilitates quick visuals and pneumonics to associate those
virtual interfaces with their physical counterparts
7) Open notepad, and create the file containing the standard commands that
will appear on all routers. Refer to the separate note below.
8) When all of this has been completed, only then attach to the routers and
begin the work. This should be true for quick and dirty checks of things as
well as for complex exercises.
9) Always, one should follow a predictable pattern of work. For me, this
means cutting and pasting the standard commands into each router, and then
going through my documentation / configuration matrix and configuring all
layer two, and layer three address, along with the basic routing process
configurations.
10) Check the show run, and the IP routing table at this point
11) Move on to the next router, and repeat steps 8,9, and 10
At this point in time, I have the following as my standard commands. I type
from scratch in notepad, and cut and paste into each router. I watch
carefully for indications of types. If I see an error, I check, and then
rewrite the notepad configuration where necessary.
no ip domain-lookup
ip subnet-zero
ip classless
ip tcp synwait-time 7 ( the no ip domain-lookup probably renders this one
unnecessary, but it can't hurt! )
line con 0
exec-timeout 0 0
privilege level 15
line vty 0 4
password [whatever my chosen password is]
login
exec-timeout 0 0
privilege level 15
line aux 0 ( may be unnecessary on all lines, but
again, it can't hurt )
exec-timeout 0 0
privilege level 15
exit
hostname
at this point I can enter an appropriate hostname, and get on with my layer
two and layer three configurations
I'm offering this as one way of augmenting one's practice. Comments are
certainly welcome.
Chuck
----------------------
I am Locutus, a CCIE Lab Proctor. Xx_Brain_dumps_xX are futile. Your life as
it has been is over ( if you hope to pass ) From this time forward, you will
study US!
( apologies to the folks at Star Trek TNG )
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