From: steveaggie@gmail.com
Date: Wed Apr 02 2008 - 11:24:23 ART
I didn't think I would get to write this email today, but praise God!  I
passed on my first attempt yesterday in San Jose!!
 
So it's time for me to share my story as encouragement to the rest of you
who are seeking.
 
Just briefly, I got my CCNA in 2003 and my CCNP in 2004.  I worked for a
gold partner and decided to pursue the CCIE in October 2007.  I had 3 years
of basic routing/switching experience but nothing advanced.  I mostly did
wireless and some voice.  
 
I used the following tools to study:
Internetwork Expert products - I can't say enough about these.  I could not
have passed without them!
Cisco ASET labs
The usual books (especially Routing TCP/IP Vol 1,2)
Lots of DocCD
Group Study 
Dynamips
Rack rentals
Lots of prayer
 
I hit it hard and heavy in October and didn't plan to stop until I got it.
I averaged 25 hours per week and logged about 600 hours total.  One piece of
advice that I want to give is to just go take the exam when you have put
your time in.  The lab was challenging but not impossible.  The Brians say
it's between a 7-8 difficulty.  I would agree with that.  You definitely
need to know your stuff because you don't know what they're going to throw
at you.  While I had done my homework and felt like I knew a lot I was
always humbled by some of the people on this board.  
 
I was less nervous than I thought I would be for it.  Maybe that means I was
prepared.  I spent the first 45 minutes reading over the lab, making my
diagram, point table, etc.  I knew that I had a decent shot at it.  
 
Thank you to Paul for this awesome list and to the other CCIEs that don't
really have to be here, but do so anyway.  A special thanks to Scott Morris,
Sadiq Yakasai, and Joe Brunner.  I always read your posts when I wanted to
know what the real solution was. J
 
Steve
CCIE #20416
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