Re: What are you weak on?

Keegan,
QoS was never my strong too. In fact, the only task I left blank on my R&S
lab was related to QoS.

I help a few people with their CCIE studies and one thing I always tell
them, and I'd tell you too, is: You do not need to know everything and you
definitely do not need to MASTER everything. It would be perfect to have all
bases covered and know everything, but it would take forever, lab would
change, etc, so it is just not practical (unless you have superpowers or no
life).

Anyway, a good strategy is to master the basics/core (Layer 2, Layer 3,
IGPs, EGPs). Considering it is (and you are talking about) a R&S test, it is
wise to have a really good grasp at it. Tasks related to these topics should
be no-brainers and should flow from the tips of your fingers. That is the
kind of thing you should be able to configure while paying attention to
something else.

With that said and done, you should then know (and have practiced a few
times so you can see some of the nuances) of advanced topics, like
Multicast, MPLS, Security, QoS, etc. You do not need to know every single
option and switch for those topics by heart, but you do need to have a basic
understanding on them, use them quite a few times under different
circunstances to see different approaches and usages. It is important,
however, that you know how to look up these topics on the Support page.
Another good tip on them (and in general) is: Question mark is your friend.
Use it. You can same research time if you question mark on commands you are
not sure or that you think have something to do with what you are doing.
(Close to my lab I spent a whole day going through every single command on
the IOS question-marking them at the end of each option, just to check what
was where.)

And last but not least, you should at least try to read about, try once or
twice, and if possible, know where to look up specific topics and IOS
features. You never know what is coming towards you (even if it is coming or
not), and there are so many things that is is somewhat impossible to know
them all.

Of course, the more you study and research, the better you will be prepared.
But just like Darby likes to say, after the lab you have your peers,
co-workers and even TAC to help you on stuff you never seen before (and they
might have).

Just my 2c....

Persio

On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 8:53 PM, <Keegan.Holley_at_sungard.com> wrote:

> Hello fellow hopefuls. I'm kind of taking a break from studying. Maybe
> I'll actually eat today. That'd be nice... Anyway, I'm going through
> various books and practice labs and I'm starting to realize how little I
> know about the stuff I thought I was strong on and how many things are out
> there that I never knew existed. I was just curious how everyone else is
> dealing with and what they are weak on. I'm pretty weak on QOS especially
> on the 3550/3560, also security. I'm R&S but feel free to post if your
> not. Just killing the time until todays headache goes away.
>
> Keegan
>
>
> Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
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Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
Received on Fri Jul 31 2009 - 21:16:16 ART