From: Peter Van Oene (pvo@xxxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Wed Jan 10 2001 - 16:58:29 GMT-3
For what its worth, I timed myself on diagramming, addressing and fresh start c
onfiguring 6 routers with most layer two technologies and worked toward getting
things done in 30-60 minutes. I could do the pure config about as fast as hum
anly possible :) The end result generally included multi area OSPF over partia
l mesh frame.
This involved the use of notepad to preconfigure all my command aliases and to
setup my general paste material for each router (no ip domain, ip subnet-zero e
tc). I had likely 20 aliases that I used for key shortcuts. I also had a very
refined methodology for installing and checking the configurations. You reall
y need to almost configure them in parallel (ie one aspect at a time, move to t
he next right when you trigger a save on the last)
In the lab, this really helped as it bought me a lot of time when I needed it t
o figure out the weird stuff. I passed on the first go mostly because I had th
e time I needed to fix the (HUGE) mistakes I made :)
Pete
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 1/10/2001 at 1:59 PM jeffkesemeyer wrote:
>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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