From: Arin and Rachel Richmond (therichmonds@gmail.com)
Date: Thu Jun 28 2007 - 03:41:12 ART
Hi Ramya,
I would say about 30 hours per week while I was working and 70 hours per
week when I was on leave from work.
Regards,
Arin
On 28/06/07, Ramya S <ramya_1975@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Arin,
>
> Congratulations.
> How many hours a week did you practice the workbook labs?
>
> Regards,
> Ramya Sen
>
> ------------------------------
>
> > Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:14:44 +1000
> > From: therichmonds@gmail.com
> > To: mpurple7@yahoo.com
> > Subject: Re: Passed R&S Lab in Sydne
> > CC: ccielab@groupstudy.com
> >
> > Narbik is correct.
> >
> > The lab has been relocated from Chatswood to St Leonards.
> >
> > On 28/06/07, Moses Polalysa <mpurple7@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > Congrats Arin for the great achievement.
> > >
> > > Where did you go for the lab? Chatswood or St. Leonard?
> > >
> > > How was the new lab there in St. Leonard?
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Moses
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----
> > > From: Arin and Rachel Richmond <therichmonds@gmail.com>
> > > To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
> > > Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 11:37:31 AM
> > > Subject: Passed R&S Lab in Sydney
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I apologise in advance for the length of this email. It has been a lot
> of
> > > blood sweat and tears gone into the passing of this exam, and it's
> > > difficult
> > > to describe the experience with brevity.
> > >
> > > I have been a silent reader of GroupStudy for around six months now,
> and
> > > have found many of the posts both informative and thought provoking.
> Some
> > > of
> > > the most inspirational posts have been reading the stories of others
> who
> > > have tackled this mighty exam. In kind I thought I would share my
> > > experience
> > > and return the favour to other aspiring CCIEs on the list.
> > >
> > > My story is similar to Blaine's (congratulations by the way!) in that
> I
> > > used
> > > one vendor's products to prepare, namely InternetworkExpert.
> > >
> > > My preparation for the lab began in mid 2005 when I decided my goal
> was to
> > > attain the top Cisco certification. I've been working in networks for
> many
> > > years however I decided to start out slowly and follow the stepping
> stone
> > > path by taking the CCNA, CCDA, CCNP and CCDP exams. I finished these
> mid
> > > 2006 and studied for the CCIE written exam using predominantly the
> Wendell
> > > Odom cert guide.
> > >
> > > After passing the written in November 2006 I began a wider reading
> > > program.
> > > In hindsight I could and probably should have done this before taking
> the
> > > written. It would have made it a lot easier. I read the usual
> recommended
> > > texts; TCP/IP Illustrated, Inside Cisco IOS Architectures, Routing
> TCP/IP
> > > Vol 1 and 2 (brilliant books!), Internet Routing Architectures, Cisco
> LAN
> > > Switching, BCMSN Cert Guide, QoS Cert Guide and Developing IP
> Multicast
> > > Networks.
> > >
> > > After reading the theory I followed InternetworkExpert's recommended
> study
> > > plan. I watched the first week of the Advanced Technology Class on
> Demand,
> > > which is an excellent product, followed by their Advanced Technology
> Labs
> > > then the second week of the Advanced Technology Class on Demand. The
> > > Brian's
> > > do an excellent job of explaining the technologies and then showing
> you in
> > > these videos. I would definitely recommend them to an aspiring
> candidate.
> > >
> > > After this I worked through the first three labs of the Core Lab
> Workbook,
> > > followed by the "easy" labs (difficulty 6 or less) from the Main Lab
> > > Workbook, then back to the Core Book to finish it off and then through
> the
> > > rest of the 20 full scale labs. At any stage if I wasn't sure about a
> > > technology I would read up on it, primarily in the DocCD, but also by
> > > referring back to the books I had already read. As I progressed
> through
> > > the
> > > labs I found myself relying less and less on the DocCD, but at the
> same
> > > time
> > > became quicker at locating material should it be required. Again,
> while
> > > not
> > > without their faults, the Core and Main Lab workbooks (now called
> Volume
> > > II
> > > and III I believe) were excellent products, and the Brian's cover off
> the
> > > vast majority of the blueprint in these 30 labs.
> > >
> > > I took two weeks off work prior to my lab date and finished all the
> labs
> > > with four days to go until the big day. My preparation ramped up from
> > > steady
> > > at six months out to intense (getting up early, labbing before work,
> > > labbing
> > > on getting home from work, labbing on weekends) for the last four
> months
> > > and
> > > about 10 hours every day for the last two weeks. I think this gradual
> ramp
> > > up helped me greatly in that I built the theory foundation and then
> > > polished
> > > it with hundreds of hours of practical labbing which ramped up in
> > > intensity
> > > and consequently my speed followed suit. Practice is very different to
> > > theory. You need to know the theory to know what and how implement it
> on
> > > the
> > > command line, but you will also learn a lot from doing it.
> > >
> > > To practice I built a lab at home rather than use remote rack rentals.
> I
> > > decided that it was going to suit me best to have instant access to a
> lab
> > > so
> > > that I could fit in as much lab time around work when it suited me. My
> > > home
> > > lab consisted of 1 x 3550 and 3 x 3560 switches and two PCs with quad
> port
> > > ethernet NICs running Dynamips and Dynagen emulated 7206 routers.
> > >
> > > The day before the lab I tried not to study, though I will admit I
> read my
> > > notes from the Class on Demand on the plane and train journey to
> Sydney.
> > > Other than this I spent my time watching a movie, TV and trying to
> relax.
> > > I
> > > got a good nights sleep the night before. I think sleep and good
> nutrition
> > > are essential to your mental state on the day.
> > >
> > > I got the dreaded email very late the same evening of the lab and was
> more
> > > nervous waiting to log in to the CCIE website than I had been during
> the
> > > exam itself. Fortunately the nerves became joy and relief.
> > >
> > > I'd like to thank a few people without whom I could not have passed
> this
> > > exam.
> > >
> > > Firstly, my wife for her endless encouragement, support and patience.
> > >
> > > Next, the guys at work for their support, encouragement and
> willingness to
> > > discuss the inner workings of OSPF, STP etc.
> > >
> > > Brian Dennis and Brian McGahan from InternetworkExpert as well as all
> the
> > > others behind the scenes for their excellent products and well thought
> out
> > > study program. You guys are legends!
> > >
> > > My proctor Stefaan for putting up with my inordinate number of
> questions,
> > > thank you for your courteous and professional approach.
> > >
> > > The people on the InternetworkExpert forums for providing
> clarification,
> > > alternative approaches and discussion on the IE labs.
> > >
> > > Christophe Fillot and Greg Anuzelli for producing the worlds greatest
> > > Cisco
> > > router emulator and front end respectively, and doing it for the
> greater
> > > good under the general public license.
> > >
> > > Lastly, thank you to everyone at GroupStudy for your insight and
> > > inspiration.
> > >
> > > Best of luck to you all.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Arin Richmond
> > > CCIE #18318 (R&S)
> > >
> > >
> _______________________________________________________________________
> > > Subscription information may be found at:
> > > http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------
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> > > <
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> >
> > _______________________________________________________________________
> > Subscription information may be found at:
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>
>
> ------------------------------
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