From: Scott Morris (swm@emanon.com)
Date: Fri Jul 09 2004 - 22:14:15 GMT-3
Congratulations! A journey well-travelled from the sound of it! :)
Scott Morris, CCIE4 (R&S/ISP-Dial/Security/Service Provider) #4713, CISSP,
JNCIP, et al.
IPExpert CCIE Program Manager
IPExpert Sr. Technical Instructor
swm@emanon.com/smorris@ipexpert.net
http://www.ipexpert.net
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
Justin Slocum
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 7:58 PM
To: Group Study (E-mail)
Subject: CCIE# 13597
Well, it was every bit as tough as it was alleged to be, but yesterday I
passed the R&S lab in RTP. It was my first attempt. The doc CD worked fine,
the facilities were excellent and the proctor was helpful.
Even so: what a day--unlike any other.
First of all, I've got to thank God, Cisco Systems and then myself for lots
of hard work. It was truly a team effort. "You've got to see it to believe
it." I didn't say this first, (and neither did U2/Bono) but I too sing it
loud now.
I also want to thank Paul Borghese for Groupstudy, no doubt the best
listserve for R&S out there. I also attended both of his Global Knowledge
training courses last year. They were quite good, and reflective of the
exam, but as everyone knows, there is no class you can take to make this
happen. For me it was a culmination of years of work, and faith in the final
outcome. Faith takes a lot of effort too, believe me: but it's absolutely
worth it, and essential as well.
Thanks especially to Scott Morris and the Brians of IE. They are truly the
experts' experts. I know them only through groupstudy and TCPmag.com, but
they've contributed many helpful articles, documents, workbooks, and the
like.
Excellent individuals.
And thanks to Caslow/Pavlichenko and the folks at NetMasterClass for an
excellent workbook.
I know I was always interested in the groupstudy e-mails that had CCIE# in
the subject, because after all, we all want to know what we're facing. So
here is my contribution:
Books on my bookshelf:
All the Cisco Press CCNA, CCNP books (I started by getting CCNA in '99, then
CCNP, CCIE written 10 mo. ago (also 1st attempt), then had to re-cert CCNP!
then lab yesterday)
Cisco ATM Solutions: Pildush
Cisco Certification: BRS for CCIEs -- Caslow/Pavlichenko Cisco LAN Switching
Clark/Hamilton Routing TCP/IP Vol.1 and 2 - Doyle, Doyle/Carroll Internet
Routing Architectures--Halabi Cisco DQOS Exam Cert Guide: Odom/Cavanaugh
(excellent) Cisco Catalyst QOS: (3550 chapter) CCIE Practical Studies, Vol 1
& 2: Solie/Lynch Other tech books too, but above listed were main resources.
The Cisco Bible: CCO Univercd
And of course, the actual Bible
Apart from the above, I haven't read any other books in more than two years.
Lab:
I built a 'home lab' at work and VPN'd into it:
(2) 7206 routers (ATM, FE, Serial, BRI)
(2) 2610 routers (Voice FXS, Serial, Ether)
(1) 2520 routers (Serial, Ether, BRI)
(3) 2514 routers (ether, serial)
(2) 3550 switches
(1) 4500 router (frame switch, & FE)
(1) LS1010
Most equipment had full complement of RAM/Flash.
Other assorted routers, but above listed were essential
(note: I probably could have made do w/o the LS1010) I was fortunate to have
my company provide about 40% of the boxes, our Cisco AM and SE provided
another 40% (ask your account team! -- you might get lucky) And I bought
about 20% of it on E-bay. (renting rack time can work too: the fact is, you
can go thru a whole workbook w/o touching or seeing the
equipment)
Workbook:
NetMasterClass DOiT Lab workbook: I went through all of this one: quite
good-- definitely made the difference; actually, I guess a lot of things
made the difference.
Basically, I tried to do everything you're supposed to do: take notes on
what you're reading, know the doc CD, practice, practice, practice.
Read Groupstudy e-mails every day. I'm sorry guys, but there is a quote in
one of those books (Solie?) that says it best: "There are no shortcuts to
success--and don't waste time looking for them." - Colin Powell Like
Kennedy's generation, we choose to do the CCIE and do the other things, not
because they are easy, but because they are hard.
And finally, to those who are just starting out:
CCIE may be the hardest thing you'll ever do, but if this networking thing
is what YOU are supposed to be doing, you'll make it. This is absolutely
achievable. Just keep at it, and believe.
-Justin
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