From: Andrew B. Caslow (abcaslow@netmasterclass.net)
Date: Mon Apr 04 2005 - 07:04:52 GMT-3
Jongsoo,
I am glad to see you are taking the "checklist" approach to CCIE preparation
to heart. I like how you are attempting to list out all of the possible
configuration options you might encounter for a given technology in your
Checklist. Here are some suggestions to further enhancing your checklist:
Consider performing this step either immediately before or after you enter
your alias commands: Inspect and validate your access to each router and
switch. Once access is validated, inspect each router/switch's IOS version,
image type, and base configuration. Make sure that the interfaces found on
your actual routers and switches match what is displayed in your Exam's
diagrams. Also, make sure that the IP address's included in the initial
configuration of each router and switch also match the IP addresses in your
Exam diagram.
Here is a suggestion to elaborating on your step 2, your "understand the
topology" step. I believe this step is performed to "size up" the
redistribution challenges you may encounter when you reach the Golden
Moment. Correct me if I am wrong, but this step sounds like one of the
opening steps we discussed in our recent Saturday study group. If this is
not the same step, then disregard the following suggestions. If it is the
same step we discussed in the study session, consider elaborating this step
with the following three sub-steps: (1) determine whether there are any
loops in your exam's topology, (2) If there are any loops, does each loop
reside within a single IGP or does a given loop reside in multiple IGP's? If
the loop resides entirely in one IGP, then the loop should present zero to
little redistribution challenges. (3). If the loop is spread over multiple
IGP's, then you need to determine which routing domain will be the transit
domain and which will be non-transit. You do not need to get into the heavy
details at this time since you are at the very beginning of the Exam. It
should take you no more than a minute to perform this 3 step initial
assessment to determine what challenges you may encounter in getting to the
Golden Moment. For more information on strategies to attack CCIE lab
redistribution requirements, read the following e-mails I posted early last
year:
http://www.groupstudy.com/archives/ccielab/200406/msg00335.html ,
http://www.groupstudy.com/archives/ccielab/200406/msg00544.html and Also,
the NMC Technical Library extensively discusses this topic.
Between your listed steps of "understand the topology" and "Attack F/R", I
suggest you add an interface classification step. While you have a section
for Frame-Relay, CAT 3550, ATM and ISDN, you make no mention of the
following logical interface types: GRE tunnels, IPinIP, BVI, PPPoE based
interfaces, etc. All of these logical interface types could be encountered
on the CCIE lab. While you know you are going to have a Frame-Relay,
Ethernet, ATM and ISDN configuration requirement, you might also encounter
these "logical" interface types. Many of the CCIE candidates that need to
configure these "logical" interface types in their actual CCIE lab overlook
these interface options. If you need to configure these "logical"
interfaces, you will need to do this early in the test. Candidates that
overlook these interface options, begin to fail the Exam within the first
hour of the Exam. Furthermore, if you encounter these "logical" interfaces,
more than likely they will not be explicitly mentioned. More than likely,
you will be directed to configure these interfaces with seemingly vague and
confusing wording which will force you to "spot the issue" on which specific
logical interface(s) need to be implemented. Also, related to this same
subject of interface classification, you must also determine which
interfaces are performing Layer 2 forwarding and which are performing Layer
3 forwarding. All of this is represented in the interface classification
decision diagram found in the NMC Technical Library. In reviewing our access
logs, I noticed you were reviewing the page where this decision diagram
resides recently. I suggest you include this interface classification step
in your Checklist. For those in the GroupStudy community, I will PDF this
decision diagram so that they can review it. Remember, for any
configuration task, consider all options and make no assumptions!!!
Everything that is written above is included in the NMC Technical Library.
In the Technical Library, we have checklists for:
Frame-Relay, Catalyst 3550,ATM, ISDN, PPPoX (PPPoFR, PPPoA, PPPoE),GRE.
IPinIP, IRB, RIP/OSPF/EIGRP/ISIS, Redistribution, BGP, Multicast, QOS,
Security, IPv6, DLSw+, NAT, DHCP,
And a range of IP services.
Furthermore, checkout these other checklists in the Technical Library:
Pre-Exam Checklist Beginning of Exam Checklist, End of Exam Checklist,
General Practices Checklist and a Desperation Checklist (AHHHH!!! OH NO!!!!
:-) )
If you have the time, I suggest you review these Checklists.
It is our belief at NetMasterClass that much of the CCIE lab comes down to
how well prepared and refined is a candidate's set of checklists are. At
NMC, we see the CCIE lab as a duel between a CCIE candidate's checklists and
the contents contained within a CCIE lab. The CCIE candidate's checklists
should take into account all configuration options and all configuration
assumptions that may be relevant to configuring a given internetworking
technology. For any given technology, a CCIE candidate must consider all
options and make no assumptions!!!
In closing, here is a brief roadmap/checklist to taking the CCIE lab:
First, view the entire CCIE lab as being divided into three major
categories:
Category #1: Topics Related to Attaining Universal UNICAST reachability.
This category includes all link-layer technologies (Frame, CAT 3550, ATM,
ISDN, logical interfaces), all IGP's, redistribution, BGP and any other
topics related to attaining universal UNICAST reachability. This topics will
make up about 40-45% of your Exam. In order to have a chance at passing the
CCIE lab, you must complete all of these topics by lunchtime.
Category #2: "The Big Three Topics that Build Upon Universal UNICAST
Reachability": QoS, Multicast and Security. Each of these topics will
possess an average point value of 6-10 points. These topics make up about
25-30% of your Exam.
Category #3: "The Remaining Topics: IPv6, DLSw+, NAT, DHCP, HSRP, VRRP. IP
Services and IOS Features. Each of these topics will possess an average
point value of 3-5 points. These topics make up about 30-35% of your Exam.
Now, here is a general step-by-step test taking strategy:
Step 1.1: After the proctor says "You may begin", open your exam workbook,
briefly review all topics in the lab and locate the diagrams in the exam
workbook.
Step 1.2: Go to the pages that include the Exam diagrams and perform the 3
step analysis of the exam's topology that is described above to attain a
general determination of what redistribution challenges you might encounter
just prior to the Golden Moment.
Step 1.3: Perform the interface classification mentioned above.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEPS 1.1-1.3: 5 minutes
Step 2: With your exam workbook open to the pages with the diagrams, inspect
your Exam racks hardware access, check that the interfaces and addresses
displayed in your workbook's diagrams match up with what is in your
workbook.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 2: 5 minutes
Step 3: Install your exam housekeeping and shortcut commands: no ip
domain-lookup, alias commands, etc.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 3: 5 minutes
Step 4: Transpose the diagram(s) in your exam workbook onto a separate sheet
of paper. If you can, provide a rough trace of the exam diagram in your
workbook onto your personal worksheet. This step will result in drawing a
"bare bones" Exam diagram. You will enhance this base diagram in the next
step.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 4: 5 minutes
*****STEP 5: THIS IS A BIG STEP!!!! Now, you begin to apply all of your
technology specific checklists. During this Step, you enhance the base
diagram you created in Step 4. Starting with the link-layer configuration
tasks, read carefully and consider all configuration options and explicitly
identify and reflect on all configuration assumptions. Pay very careful
attention to words/phrases such as "Do not", "only" and "default". Do not
simply interpret these words/phrases as directing you to the correct answer.
Think of these words/phrases as taking options away from you. Also, read
ahead to determine if tasks in one section impact how you configure
something in another section. It is during this Step, that you determine
how you are going to configure a specific Exam tasks.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 5: 25 minutes
YOU ARE NOW 45 MINUTES INTO THE EXAM. NOW, BEGIN TO PERFORM THE HANDS ON
CONFIGURATION TASKS OF YOUR EXAM.
Step 6: Attaining Universal Reachability on a Per Link/Network Basis.
Configure the Frame-Relay and the Catalyst 3550 VLAN's/trunks first; then
configure the ATM, ISDN, p2p and logical interfaces (if any) second.
Regarding ISDN, I would perform an ISDN test call (isdn test call interface
bri0/0 xxxxxx) at this time and configure ISDN for link layer/basic IP
connectivity only at this step. Do not configure any routing or dial backup
solutions for ISDN at this time. AT THIS TIME, YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL OF THE
INTERFACES INCLUDED IN YOUR LAB CONFIGURED AND REACHABLE ON A PER NETWORK
BASIS ONLY. ALSO, NO INTERFACES SHOULD BE FLAPPING. This last statement is
of particular relevance to ISDN. ALSO REMEMBER: DO NOT GO DOWN A RATHOLE
EARLY. If you encounter a configuration requirement that involves some type
of non-essential enhancement feature AND you don't know how to configure the
feature, it is recommended that you make spend time attempting to configure
the task at this time. Consider skipping the task and returning to it later.
DO NOT GO DOWN A RATHOLE EARLY! You must make this decision on a case by
case basis. However, it is strongly suggested to not begin wrestling with
topics you do not feel very comfortable with early in the exam. It is
recommended to reserve this mental wrestling match for later in the Exam.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 6/Attaining Universal Reachability on a Per
Network Basis: 40 minutes
Step 7: Attaining Universal Reachability on a Per IGP Basis. Configure your
IGP's. Focus on base connectivity first. Then focus on topics such as metric
adjustment, summarization, timer adjustment and authentication.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 7/Attaining Universal Reachability on a Per IGP
Basis: 30 minutes
Step 8: THE GOLDEN MOMENT: Attaining Universal Reachability on an inter-IGP
basis via Redistribution. It is recommended to configure only as much
redistribution you need to in order to fulfill the configuration
requirements of the Exam. Remember to test your redistribution configuration
with the TCL script we discussed. It sounds like you have become comfortable
with it. You mention it in your posted Checklist.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 8/Attaining the Golden Moment: 30 minutes
YOU ARE NOW 145 MINUTES (2 hours 25 minutes) INTO THE EXAM. To give yourself
a time buffer as you approach the Golden Moment, add an additional 35
minutes. Therefore, your target timetable for getting to the Golden Moment
should be 3 hours.
Step 9: Attaining Universal Reachability on an inter-AS Basis: BGP. The
general points in your posted Checklist provide a good outline for attacking
BGP.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 9: 60 minutes
It is now lunchtime. This is a suggested goal. Have all configuration tasks
performed up to BGP by lunchtime.
Right before you leave for your lunch break, it is suggested that you save
all of your configurations and reload your routers.
LUNCHTIME: During lunchtime, review what configuration tasks you may have
skipped in the morning. Remember, you don't want to go down any ratholes
during the morning of the Exam. Also, review what topics are remain to be
configured in your Exam. Lunchtime allows you to get out of the time
pressure of the Exam and plan your test taking strategy without having time
pressure impacting you. Many CCIE candidates like to identify and select
what remaining topics they feel very comfortable with and prepare to
configure these topics as soon as the lunch break ends. This is called the
"grab the low hanging fruit" step in the CCIE lab. Candidates plan their
"grab the low hanging fruit" step during lunch time.
END OF LUNCH
Step 10: As soon as lunch has ended, you return to your equipment rack that
you reloaded right before lunch. Immediately after lunch, perform a
comprehensive verification of your morning configuration with a TCL script
similar to the one provided at the very end of this e-mail. For more details
on this TCL script, go to the NMC technical library. Once you have performed
your comprehensive verification, "grab the low hanging fruit" configuration
sections in your lab. Perform all sections in the lab that you feel very
comfortable with. There is one exception to this suggestion: Keep all
Security/ACL based tasks towards the end of the lab. These types of tasks
can create additional complications of configuring and verifying the
non-security/ACL related tasks. Remember your experience with the Catalyst
VLAN ACL's and their impact on RIP routing in the CHECKiT practice lab you
performed last Monday.
TOTAL ELAPSED TIME FOR STEP 10/GRABBING THE LOW HANGING FRUIT: 90 minutes
Step 11: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH/THE MOMENT OF RECKONING!!!!! At this moment in
your Exam, you have performed all of the configuration tasks you felt
comfortable with. You now must go back and perform all tasks you have
skipped. The big question will be, how much of the Exam have you skipped up
to this moment? Is it 10%, 20%, 40%, 60%? It is at this moment, when you
know what chances you have at passing the Exam. For configuration sections
that you have skipped and have confused you, apply your Desperation
Checklist to these topics. See the Desperation Checklist in the NMC
Technical Library. Remember to use the +univercd and +122newft search
options. For more details, see Appendix C of the NMC Technical Library.
Step 12: Perform any security related tasks last. At no later than 45
minutes before the end of your Exam, save all of your configurations, reload
your routers and check your work!!!!
I hope these points are of some use to you. They are a general compilation
of steps that our students have applied over the last 7 seven years. You may
want to apply a different strategy. Apply whatever strategy that you feel
comfortable with. What is very encouraging is THAT YOU HAVE A DETAILED
STRATEGY!!!! Many candidates do not have a well thought out end to end CCIE
lab strategy.
In closing, best of luck in your lab tomorrow. May your Checklists guide you
well in your Exam, please consider all configuration options, and explicitly
reflect on all configuration assumptions. You are one excellent CCIE
candidate!
If anything else should come to mind, I will e-mail it to you. I hope all is
well.
BEST OF LUCK!!!!!
-Bruce
Here is a a Sample Comprehensive Verification TCL Script:
tclsh
sh fram pvc | i ST
sh atm ilmi-stat | i IF
sh cdp neigh
sh ip o n
sh clns is-neigh
sh ip eigrp neigh
sh ip bgp summ | b ^Nei
sh ip pim neigh
sh dlsw peer
sh ip ro | i
sh ip bgp | i
sh ipv o n
sh bgp summ
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