From: Eric.Stuhl@ferguson.com
Date: Tue Mar 21 2006 - 16:36:21 GMT-3
While I am in no way an expert, I'll be more than happy to share
my techniques for studying for the R&S Lab portion. I've had several
years of real world experience as a Senior Network Engineer and have
been responsible for the design and rollout of core networks, so my
approach may not be the best for all.
I originally began the process several years back and progressed
with book knowledge to the CCNP level. At that time, I fell off the CCIE
track. Several months ago, I decided I wanted to complete this goal and
began my preparation. I looked for a local class to provide a baseline
for my knowledge and to give me some direction in my studies. Per
recommendation of some of my peers, I took the NMC-1 class offered by
netmasterclass.com. There I strengthened my foundational knowledge and
learned some basic strategies towards test taking techniques. I would
admit to a bias to their methodology. For the past three months, I have
focused equally on reading the Cisco documentation and familiarizing
myself with where specific technologies live and learning their command
syntaxes and completing lab scenarios. Currently, I use both the DoITv2
and IEWB-RSv3 workbooks. Again, I personally prefer the DoIT labs, as I
have enough hardware to fulfill their requirements. Both products are
excellent, however, and provide a number of different scenarios. I would
estimate that I spend between 4 and 6 hours a day during the work week
reading/studying and 8 to 12 hours on the weekends, and I complete at
least 2 full lab scenarios a week in actual practical configurations. My
wife hasn't seen me much, but as she's in medical school, our schedules
are not so incompatible. I would not suggest this undertaking to someone
who does not have the ability or desire to devote a large portion of
their life towards this goal.
Now that I'm closing in on my actual lab date (4/28/2006), I've
turned to practice lab scenarios, as I alluded to in a previous post. I
would definitely suggest the practice labs as a method to help determine
one's readiness.
Really, using the tools available to me to learn about possible
topics has been the most useful. I'd also strongly suggest becoming
intimately familiar with the Cisco documentation. Now that they've
removed the ability to use the search function, being able to rapidly
access a problem and understand where the solution could be found is a
rather important skill. Realistically, that is all excellent information
anyway. Since I bothered to start RTFM, I've noticed I hardly use the
search functionality for Cisco's site at all and I just browse to the
appropriate configuration guide/command list.
Anyway, that's what I've been doing. I also a large portion of
my time communicating with former classmates/coworkers discussing lab
scenarios/technologies in general. Recently, I've been pointed to this
list as another possible resource.
Good luck!
Eric Stuhl
CCNP, CCDP, CCSE-NG
Ferguson Enterprises
eric.stuhl@ferguson.com
(757)-969-4146
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
simone.ciscolab@gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 1:20 PM
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: Best way to prepare lab
I'm trying to organize myself and my time for the lab preparation. I was
wandering what would the right approach to it, in order to learn the
right way without buring unusefully.
I was thinking about picking up every technology such as Frame-Relay,
RIPv2, OSPF ecc. and try to try to configure them from ground up. With
from ground-up I mean from the basics to every advanced and
not-well-known feature.
After that big survey on every technology I would try to put everything
together with redistribution, tunneling and so on...
What do you think? Please more experinced people give your advice!
Thank you
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