From: DAve Diaz (ddiaz106@xxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Mon Apr 29 2002 - 03:33:12 GMT-3
I did some searching and for $1.00 Australian ( I am in Singapore so thats
about the same in local currency) everyone on this alias please send me
1/10000000 of an Aussie dollar, just kidding :) ), this was the artilcle, I
also emailed the author at benjamin@cisco.com and he confirmed he was the
author and chatswood lab proctor, see other email for reponse,
--------------------------------------------
**********Article***************************
An insider's guide to the Cisco challenge
Author: ERIC WILSON
Date: 09 Apr 2002
Words: 766
Publication: The Age
Section: Computers
Page: 11
The value of vendor-based IT certifications is a perennial issue in this
industry. Next-version marketing and the laws of supply and demand have as
much to do with their value as what is actually being tested and how these
tests are carried out. One year a particular certification almost
automatically leads to a high-paying job, the next it gets an interview and
the year after it could be irrelevant.
The exception seems to be Cisco Certified Internetworking Experts (CCIEs).
As previously mentioned in this column, the CCIE certification features a
practical examination at the end, aimed at breaking engineers as they
attempt to fix networks. Henry Benjamin, one of the world's nine full-time
CCIE practical lab examiners, is the first Australian to have written a
textbook to prepare students.
"People who pass a written test aren't really qualified," he says. ``But
those who pass a practical exam really are qualified. So, in 1991, Cisco
started certifying people so if you have a router, they can do anything you
ask of them with it. It's the most difficult IT certification in the world
and most folks take several attempts to pass it."
But recent changes to the way CCIEs are assessed have led some in the
industry to believe the certification is being weakened to help get people
across the line. Cisco's old two-day practical exam covered cabling, IP
addresses plus user names and passwords. Only when candidates passed these
elementary tasks did they get to see what they were up for next.
While this approach ensured quality, it also made the leading certification
costly for both Cisco and its students, with first-day failures often
breaking travel and accommodation arrangements. The answer has been to
reduce the practical test to a one-day affair.
Cisco's official line is the CCIE's first day of practical tests could be
sacrificed because knowledge of cabling techniques, IP addressing, user
names and passwords can be adequately covered using traditional methods.
However, the famous troubleshooting topic has also been ditched, upsetting
some tech-heads within the company and among its customers.
I, too, believe testing troubleshooting skills is fundamental to the IT
industry.
But according to Cisco, the new one-day practical test still covers all the
hard tasks found in the old exam. ``Now they are given a network topology
they have to configure," Benjamin says. ``And they've only got eight hours
to get an expert network up and running."
Meanwhile, the company's Certified Network Associate and Certified Network
Professional tests are being beefed up with computer simulations. ``With the
simulated model, you hit a button and a console comes up and you have to
enter the right commands," Benjamin says. ``There is talk this technology
will flow to the CCIE theory tests as well."
Passing these theory tests are perquisite to attempting the hands-on lab
assessment. Because the lab assessment is fundamentally different, Benjamin
believes the best way to prepare is to examine the inner workings of
multiple case studies, filling in knowledge gaps that may be tested on the
day. This is the method behind his latest CCNP Practical Studies - Routing
(Cisco Press, $105.95), to be launched in the US on May 12 and available in
Australia early next month.
"There's a lot of books out there that just teach you stuff assuming you
already have the hardware to learn it on," he says. ``What I've done is give
everything in detail with the full working solutions provided."
Benjamin has spent the equivalent of four months full-time pouring his 10
years of networking experience into the text. He includes five real-life
scenarios in each chapter, starting off from the very simple to the CCIE
level. Although this is designed to get people through the practical lab
tests, he believes the volume has plenty of real-world application.
``There are books aimed at cramming knowledge in to pass exams," he says.
``But this has so many real-life examples, it spoon-feeds people with
knowledge they can build upon.
``And I've got a sample CCIE lab in the back to let people know what to
expect."
Despite this, Benjamin believes people should not attempt the CCIE without
adequate real-life professional experience.``There 's no substitute for
hands-on experience, he says."
-------------------------------------------------------
******************end of news artilce******************
Dave
>From: kris.keen@aon.com.au
>Reply-To: kris.keen@aon.com.au
>To: "Ludwig Morales" <lud.morales@codetel.net.do>
>CC: ccielab@groupstudy.com, "DAve Diaz" <ddiaz106@hotmail.com>,
>nobody@groupstudy.com
>Subject: Re: Sample CCIE lab finally one that is good indication of what
>to expect
>Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 15:34:38 +1000
>
>This book was written by an Australian CCIE protocor I do believe, he tests
>out of Chatswood.. There was a piece in the local paper about him. I heard
>the book was more geared towards CCNP level but in any case, who knows
>until you've read it!
>
>
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Kris Keen - CNE, CCNA, CCNP
>Network Support Specialist - Network Systems
>Aon Risk Services Australia Limited
>(612) 9253 7272
>0404862970
>E: Kris.Keen@aon.com.au
>
>
>
>
>
> "Ludwig Morales"
> <lud.morales@codet To: "DAve Diaz"
><ddiaz106@hotmail.com>
> el.net.do> cc:
><ccielab@groupstudy.com>
> Sent by: bcc:
> nobody@groupstudy. Subject: Re: Sample CCIE
>lab finally one that is good indication of
> com what to expect
>
>
> 29/04/2002 03:08
> PM
> Please respond to
> "Ludwig Morales"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Do you think this book labs reaches CCIE level? im impress with the fact
>that the review says it has more than 40 scenarios.
>If it challenges a CCIE i think it the kind of book we been waiting for.
>
>Regards,
>
>Ludwig
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "DAve Diaz" <ddiaz106@hotmail.com>
>To: <ccielab@groupstudy.com>; <ccnp@groupstudy.com>; <ccna@groupstudy.com>
>Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 11:07 PM
>Subject: Sample CCIE lab finally one that is good indication of what to
>expect
>
>
> >
>http://www.ciscopress.com/catalog/product.asp?session_id
>={6793882F-9FC5-48A2
>-8BE
> >
> > Just my hands on this book and it has a sample ccie lab and it is
>superb,
> > check this out,
> >
> > "Practice for the CCNP Routing exam with hands-on, networking lab
>scenarios
> >
> >
> > Test routing connectivity using accepted troubleshooting techniques
> > Take your preparation to the next level with a bonus CCIE lab, written
>by
>a
> > prominent member of the CCIE team at Cisco Systems"
> >
> > Its a great book on routing as well,
> >
> > Dave
> >
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