From: jeffkesemeyer (jeffkesemeyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Wed Jan 10 2001 - 15:59:41 GMT-3
You make an interesting point on attempts.
I am getting ready to make my first attempt and I really an not sure as what
to expect on the difficulty of the lab. I am practicing and reading and
hopefully I will make it to the second day. My only thoughts can be that the
first time will have to be a practice run so I can learn what I am weak at.
Seems everyone makes second attempts so the level required must be more than
anyone can estimate.
I would be interested in here about the personal weak spots others had on
their first attempt.
Giving others a way to test their abilities before the lab. Someone once
mentioned that they could configure six routers in 20 minutes with 3-IGP's,
FR, and ISDN. They passed the lab so that is a goal that I must be able to
do as well. This does not guarantee I will pass, but I will certainly limit
myself if I can't do it.
I think if everyone knew the difficulty in the beginning that there would be
more passing on the first attempts and less of a lab back log. I been
wanting to take the test since the beginning but my only books on Cisco were
the 9.12 IOS manuals, now there are only three Cisco Press books that I
don't have.
Jeff Kesemeyer
CCNP, CCDP, MCSE, CNE
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com]On Behalf Of
Michelle T
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 1:23 PM
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: Second Attempts
If anyone is feeling so inclined to, I would be interested in hearing about
second attempts. I am about to take mine and have been wondering a lot about
what it will be like. I took my first attempt in March of last year, so it
seems like it has been a long time. I remember being really surprised at how
un-prepared I was. I thought I knew routing and switching very well and had
a chance at passing the first time. Well, I was surprised to find that
routing and switching really were not my biggest problems, though I did not
know them as well as I thought I did. There is a big difference between
knowing how to get a protocol up and working and understanding the inner
workings of that protocol and the gotchas and rules. Most importantly, I
discovered that you will never get to the layer 3 stuff you feel comfortable
with if you can't get Layer 1 and 2 working flawlessly. I did ok on L1, but
layer 2 issues caught me very much by surprise. I felt I encountered just
about every frame format that exists in that lab on that day. And as I
frantically searched the CD and watched the time tick away at a surreal
speed, I realized I had a long way to go.
That night, knowing I would not make it the next day, I seriously
contemplated giving up. I think I knew deep down just how much time this was
going to take and had myself nearly talked out of it. Lucky for me I have an
understanding and encouraging spouse who gently kicked me in the butt and
got me going again.
I just looked back at a lab I had practiced on a lot before that first
attempt. It's from the U of M practice lab and I remember spending an entire
weekend on it. I think I could do it now in a couple of hours. But at the
time, I thought I was doing pretty well. Now I realize that it is so
important to know things right off the top of your head so you can have some
time for the things that don't quite make sense or for which there isn't an
obvious answer jumping out at you. Anyway, regardless of the outcome, I just
believe this will be a completely different experience and know that if I
pass, I will have earned it and if I don't pass, I don't have nearly as far
to go as I once did.
Thanks for your thoughts in advance!
Michelle Truman
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