From: McLaughlin, Jeffery (JMcLaughlin@sfchronicle.com)
Date: Thu Jan 20 2005 - 22:00:38 GMT-3
Anthony,
I think time management is as important as technical skills in passing. I did
Internetwork Expert's mock-lab class, and doing 4 timed labs in a row is a
good way of honing your non-technical skills, such as time management and
planning. (Of course, it's also good for technical skills too.)
In answer to your questions:
1. I think being done w/ Layer 2 and IGPs by lunch is a pretty good idea. I
would even finish them sooner if possible.
2. I intended to (and did) finish two hours early, on the advice of a CCIE
friend. For non-core stuff I'd recommend doing a quick initial appraisal and
config, but don't spend too much time thinking though the non-core stuff.
Then, take the two hours and test full reachability, then non-core stuff.
Even with two hours to check stuff over, I only got out five minutes early.
3. I only diagrammed things that were not provided, like BGP peering. I found
their diagrams to be confusing, so it probably would have saved time to
re-diagram the main IP subnetting diagram.
4. Yes, skip a task you're not sure about, absolutely, as long as it's
non-core. I wouldn't skip a BGP peering that's not working, or a critical
NBMA adjacency. But if they're asking you to configure, say, custom queuing,
and you don't know how, skip it and come back if you have time. **
Important: Make sure you have a way to keep track of things you've skipped!
Another responder mentioned tcl scripts. I would actually disagree with him
on that. I found it took fifteen minutes to systematically ping everything,
and I've spent far more time in the past getting tcl scripts to work. (I also
have a hard time sorting through the output.) However, if you're a great tcl
scripter, you might be able to ping everything in the same time or less. The
point is, you have to do at least four or five timed labs to figure out what
works for you. Some guys like tcl, some don't; some like to re-diagram, some
don't. It's very personal. I would still recommend finishing two hours early
no matter what...
And believe me, you will be that fast, even if you don't think it possible.
As my optician said to me a couple months ago when I couldn't figure out how
to get my new contact leses in, "If I could do it, you can."
Jeff McLaughlin
CCIE #14023
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
Anthony Sequeira
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 1:04 PM
To: Cisco certification
Subject: Time, Time, Time, It's NOT On My Side!
A definite factor in the failing of my first lab attempt - was -
without a doubt - time.
I could confirm that I was getting all points in the sections that I
was completing, but I could tell that many of them were taking too
long.
One idiotic mistake that I had made in my initial preparations was
that I never took a practice lab in an eight-hour timed fashion - so I
never realized just how slow I go when configuring the gear. I also
did not realize the sheer mental stamina you need to sit there and
rack your brain for eight hours straight!
I have since purchased the (superb) InternetworkExpert WB and I am
using it against their rental racks in a timed environment. Sure
enough - I seem to be getting faster.
But I do have some questions for the group on this subject of time....
1) I have heard that with the one-day lab format - a great benchmark
that you are doing OK is that you are done with all Layer 2 and with
all IGP business by the halfway point. Does everyone agree with this
benchmark estimate?
2) I have also heard that to pass the lab - you should actually be
done at least one hour early! This allows you time to check all your
work. Is this true???? I hope not . . .because I get a sense that I
will never be that fast.
3) I have been trained by several multi-CCIE's that I need to
re-diagram almost everything in order to configure things correctly
and efficiently. Again - does everyone agree . . . .this certainly
takes time off the clock.
4) Finally - does everyone agree that you SKIP a task that you do not
know how to do right off if you realize that it will not impact other
tasks?
Thanks for reading this long post - I hope you feel I have not wasted
your TIME!
Thanks also to everyone in this incredible list - I will NEVER
unsubscribe and will forever lurk - until I get smarter that is.
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