From: Farrukh Haroon (farrukhharoon@gmail.com)
Date: Tue Aug 14 2007 - 04:28:23 ART
Congratulations HImawan, Great Going :)
On 8/14/07, Himawan Nugroho <hnugroho@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I passed! I passed! I passed!
>
> With only a couple of months preparation, with only 240 lab hours
> practice, with all the tight schedule, with all the projects, with all
> the flying-the-friendly-skies kind of life style, with study time that
> is only In Between, with only few hours sleep everyday,
> against-the-all-odds yesterday I passed CCIE Service Provider Lab in
> first attempt!
>
> Thanks, God.
>
> I was quite speechless when the first time I saw the result. I really
> passed. Exactly 6 years after my first moment stepped in to CCIE lab
> in Brussels to take my Routing & Switching track, I finally passed and
> completed all the three tracks that I wanted to have.
>
> I still don't know what to say.
> There is no word that can describe my feeling right now.
>
> I guess I will start making a list of all the things that help me
> achieve my final target. I'm planning to re-write my 'How to become a
> CCIE' to update with latest information. But in short, following is
> how I did it with only 2 months preparation:
>
> - There was no time to study or attend any training so I really depend
> on Internetwork Expert SP Advance Technology class-on-demand to get
> the strong base. I can't say nothing regarding this material except:
> it's gold. If you can't afford to go for a training, just make sure
> you get this material.
>
> - Then I tried to learn and practice specific topic using IE Tech
> Labs. It's far than enough for sure but at least can give you some
> ideas about each technology. Expect to drill down by yourself by
> modifying the original scenario and by adding more complexity
>
> - The Internetwork Expert SP Lab II is a must. If you can buy only a
> single workbook just make sure you get this one. I have no affiliation
> with them and actually I have some workbooks from different vendor as
> well. But there was no time. So I placed a bet by relying on this
> workbook 100% and I spent 240 lab hours to complete it two times.
> Obviously, just like in Tech Labs we need to be creative and expand
> the workbook. Always ask the question: why did Brian answer it this
> way? How if I do it that way? And really tested all of the possible
> options.
>
> - If you are in tight schedule like me, then you have to bet on few
> things. I mean, I know we are supposed to learn all the technology
> listed in CCIE lab blueprint. But that's what CCIE is all about.
> Strategy. You may not need to learn all of them since only based on
> looking at the hardware being used in the lab, for example, you can
> figure it out easily that some topics won't be tested. So it's really
> a thin line between strategic thinking and betting. For me, I just
> took my chance and choose material that I really need to focus on.
>
> - Unlike CCIE R&S, documentation CD is not our best friend anymore. In
> CCIE SP, MPLS VPN with all the MP-BGP and underlying IGP technology is
> the main focus. If we screw up in this section, obviously we will
> fail. Especially since all the things are connected to each other. The
> decision you make earlier might affect the technology on top of it.
> And even if we can make it works from beginning, it doesn't mean we
> pass straight away. But probably we will get all the points to pass
> from Multicast, and the remaining sections of the lab are just like a
> safe net. Some of them are quite easy to add more points and guarantee
> our passing score.
>
> - We need to get real world pressure, perhaps from work, to build our
> character and make us ready to face any surprises in the lab . We need
> to have a good troubleshooting mindset to pass the lab. I can't
> emphasize enough about how important those two are.
>
> - Reading a CCIE SP related discussion, just like in this SP
> groupstudy and Internetwork Expert forum, is a very good way to avoid
> fighting this battle alone. There was no time for me to get involved
> into any discussion, but everytime I had time I always spent time to
> read the forum. You may even find a study partner there
>
> - In the end, I believe CCIE SP is very fair compare to the other
> tracks that I have. I mean, in SP they don't test any fancy features
> that I have never heard before and everything is straight to the
> point. If you understand the technology than you should be able to
> bring the network up. And most of those technologies can be tested. SP
> lab doesn't put specific requirement how to do stuff, so I guess as
> long as we can achieve the result without violating the rules, it
> should be fine. There is no hard rule to do stuff that I should follow
> just like in other tracks.
>
> I really need to thanks everyone that has been helping me to achieve
> my goal. To my family. To all my team mates in Cisco Advanced
> Services. To Internetwork Expert, thank you for all the best
> materials. Brian Dennis and Brian McGahan, you guys are the Twin
> Towers. The two Brains. The real Kungfu Masters. I spent more than 100
> hours just to listen to both of you. Always laugh everytime you made
> those small jokes. There is no doubt about the materials and I
> recommend to anyone who's planning to take CCIE SP to get them.
>
> Regards,
> Himawan Nugroho, CCIE#8171 (R&S,SP,Sec)
>
> --
> Watch the history in the making: http://brokenpipes.blogspot.com
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
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