From: Ravi (s_ravichandran@xxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Wed Feb 06 2002 - 06:07:17 GMT-3
Guys,
I made it . It gives me a nice feeling to be a CCIE. This is the mail the most
I dreamed to write. I am so happy to see the four-digit number behind my
name.
I passed the lab on 22nd of last month. As everybody said, current lab format
is tougher than the two-day format, though the contents are the same but one
has to be extremely fast, not only in typing but also in finding right
solutions for each question.
It would have been an impossible task without my Instructor Harith. All
credits goes to him. I took all my Cisco certification courses CCNP, CCDP,
Voice, Security etc. at his school called Winnet Systems at Toronto location.
It is an excellent place to learn.
I used my home lab with 10 routers, and I had unlimited access to routers and
switches at my School Winnet Systems (about 40 routers, ATM switches, Cat
3920, Cat 5500, ISDN simulators, POTS simulators etc.) I would highly
recommend Winnet Systems to anyone who is looking for a school that can
prepare well for CCIE certification.
I concentrated only on CCIE preparation for last 6 months. Spent about 10 to15
hours a day on either lab or books or Cisco site. Cisco.com was more useful
than any books in the final stage. I am a book lover; bought most of the books
that has CCIE written on them. But liked Jeff's TCP/IP vol I and II, Parkhurst
BGP, Caslow's Bridges, Routers and Switches and Internet Architecture by Sam
Halabi. My advise you guys to go thru Cisco site until new books come. Most
books have old information and that can mislead in some cases example new ios
features does something totally different than what the book says.
When I came out from the lab, felt pretty confident of passing but still could
not be so sure, it was the most stressful day. Next day I started checking
mail every minute from morning, finally the mail came about 5.00 P.M. It is
very hard to explain my feeling when every minute I waited for the mail and
after receiving the mail. Now I forgot all the stress and pain, everything I
did to achieve this is wonderful. I did not realize that two of my fingers
does not work after coming from the lab, the doctor says, it is due to stress
and will take about six months to get cured and no medication for that. Still
I feel it is worth. My wife is the one more worried about my fingers. With the
joy I don't feel any pain at all.
I took a week rest, slept well without any configuration problem dreams; no
access list prevented my sleep. This week arranged visas and ready to fly to
India to see my parents and relatives and spent some time far away from
routers.
I see a lot of openings for CCIEs, it is going to be a tough job to choose a
best one when I come back from vacation. Already I received 2 solid offers.
Thanks to all members of this list and special thanks to members who answered
my questions. Undoubtedly this list is a great tool for CCIE preparation.
Good Luck to everyone. You can do it.
Regards,
Ravi
CCIE # 8671
ravi_ccie@hotmail.com
Cell: 416 837 9886
Tel: 416 2897411
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