From: ccie2be (ccie2be@nyc.rr.com)
Date: Tue May 18 2004 - 08:41:38 GMT-3
Hi,
I can't comment specifically on this course, however, I have both the
IPExpert WB and the InternetworkExpert Workbook, and the differences are
dramatic.
Although there are many differences, the most important from the point of
view of how much you'll learn, is that the IE practice labs include a
Solution Guide at no additional cost. This Solution Guide is fantastic.
It's about 800 pages or so and explains in detail why each command is needed
to accomplish the tasks given you in the practice labs. But, not only that,
it also shows you and tells you about commands that can be used to verify
things are working as they should be.
I've taking the lab 3 times in the last 6 months and although I haven't
passed yet, I can tell you that the IE practice labs are organized and as
well written as the real lab and that the level of difficulty is about the
same as the real lab.
The Solution Guide is organized to follow the practice lab workbook. For
each set of tasks in the practice labs assigned a point value, you'll find a
corresponding section in the Solution Guide. But, not only does the
Solution Guide provide a comprehensive explaination of the require
configuration and show what commands to use to test and verify your config
along with the output you should see from that, it also points out the
pertinent information in the output of show and debug commands that you need
to pay attention to and how to interpret that info.
In addition, (and I really like this), the Solution Guide highlights many of
the pitfalls, mistakes and Gotcha's that cause people to lose points related
to those tasks.
You can see exactly what I'm talking about by downloading for free IE's
sample lab form their site, www.internetworkexpert.com
One concern I had before getting the workbook was whether the sample lab was
representative of all the labs in their workbook. I figured (being the
skeptical person I am), "OK, the sample is excellent, but are the other labs
just as good?" As it turns out, the other labs are every bit as good as the
sample lab.
Another aspect I liked was that as you go through each lab, you many, if not
all of the major variations, of a technology. For example, consider ATM.
There are about 8 major different ways that ATM can be configured in the
lab. After going though all the practice labs you will have covered each of
those methods and understand the differences between each method and why you
needed to use one method or another.
Because the sample lab was so good, I decided to go the IE's ccie bootcamp.
It was excellent. We spent about 10 hours a day for 5 and half days going
through all the things that cause people to lose points and fail the lab.
But, again, like the Solution Guide, it wasn't an endless stream of facts,
it was geared to providing an understanding of the underlying processes so
that you know how to approach a problem and apply that knowledge to create a
working solution. Both Brian's, besides being networking guru's, are very
articulate and do an excellent job of explaining the concepts you need to
know to pass this lab.
As I've said, I haven't gone to IPEpert class so I can't comment on it, but
I do have their practice labs workbook and e-scenario's. By way of
comparison, it's my personal opinion that the IPExpert product is far
inferior to that of IE's. First of all, while the solution configs are
included, there's no solution guide to explain why the solution is the
solution. And, in many, many cases, it's extremely difficult and
exceedingly time consuming to come to an understanding of the solution
config. And, it's my feeling that if you don't understand why soemthing is
done in a certain way, what good is it? Typically, what I had to do, is
post the scenario on Group Study and hope somebody could explain the issue.
Sometimes, I would get a accurate and complete explanation, but usually, it
would take several days before I really understood the "why" for the
solution. I also, of course, tried using IPExpert's forum, but that was
nearly useless expecially for their e-scenario's. If you ever did actually
get a response which was rare or several days later, it was typically
incomplete, inaccurate or unclear.
But, that's hardly my only issue with IPExpert's workbook. Besides,
suffering through massive frustration in working through the labs, the labs
are riddled with errors of all sorts. Not only are there lots of typo's,
there are problems of logic and grammar. One example I recall has to due
with protecting data from being hacked as it transits a F/R cloud. The
"solution" according to IPExpert is to use compression. You can judge for
yourself the appropriateness and reasonability of that "solution". Needless
to say, it didn't figure that out on my own. But, then, how many ccie's
would have?
The last I looked, IPExpert is coming out with a Solution Guide, but I don't
know if it's available yet. And, I think, IPExpert intends to charge extra
for it.
One final point regarding cost. The IE workbook of 20 practice labs along
with their Solution Guide costs $200. The IPExpert workbook costs about $500
and doesn't include a Solution Guide. No doubt with either product you'll
learn more about configuring cisco routers and 3550 switches, but with the
IE workbook, I believe you'll learn much more and in a much shorter amount
of time compared to the months of frustration you'll have to indure with the
IPExpert product.
Besides having bought both products, I have no commercial interest in either
company.
HTH
----- Original Message -----
From: "hany 2004" <hany41177@yahoo.com>
To: <ccielab@groupstudy.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 6:11 AM
Subject: IPexpert CCIE academy
> Hi all,
>
> Does any body know if this course deserve the money!
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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