Re: CCIE R&S v4.0 results on as good as I hoped

Here is how core vs non-core topics have been explained to me by an
individual who should know:

Core topics are those that are required to build universal connectivity.
Frame-relay, catalyst, RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, BGP and redistribution. This goes
through section 2 on the blueprint.

Everything else is non-core. I admit there are a lot non-core topics I
consider useful to know especially sections 6 and 7.

In addition to the regular R&S books I would recommend reading: Network
Security Architectures, Designing Network Security and Router Firewall
Security.

Justin

On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 4:44 PM, Paul Cosgrove <
paul.cosgrove.groupstudy_at_gmail.com> wrote:

> I doubt that is the intention. They expect you to know enough to be able
> to get 80% of the marks, using the doc dvd or trying things and
> troubleshooting to finally get there if necessary. Personally I think broad
> is good - provided the topics being covered are representative of what
> employers are looking for, or things that many candidates are likely to need
> in their careers.
>
> As far as I know the blueprint did not previously designate topics as
> core/non core, or show their associated points values; however a general
> understanding developed amongst candidates based on the contents of vendor
> practice labs (and perhaps candidates comments about the actual lab).
>
> So if someone previously (naively) prepared for the lab without buying
> workbooks or receiving good advice, they might have been disappointed not to
> see much of particular blueprint topics they had studied thoroughly and knew
> well. That may sound stupid but for my first attempt I studied almost
> entirely using the doc dvd and RFCs, thinking they would hold all the
> answers (so I had a rude awakening when I found out too late that they did
> not). At the time I thought that workbooks were a shortcut, just
> summarising the doc dvd, and being younger and much more foolish, stayed
> away from them. There were many quirky configs in the lab which would never
> been seen in a live network, and perhaps they are moving slightly away from
> that with the more recent tests.
>
> To my mind the blueprint should be the authoritative source of the
> information, so if the v4 blueprint and balance of tested lab topics are now
> more closely aligned, that sounds great. I also know from experience though
> that it is difficult for candidates who enter the lab with very different
> expectations, but you will be much better prepared the next time you go.
>
> Paul.
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 7:44 PM, Dark Fiber <darkfiber08_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> How could anyone be a "Master" on every item in the blue print... It is
>> way
>> too broad...
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 9:33 AM, Christopher Copley
>> <copley.chris_at_gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>> > Narbik,
>> >
>> > I think you hit the nail right on the head! The new format will really
>> > expose ANY weakness in a CCIE candidate. You really have to learn every
>> > technology on the blue print and be an expert on them with out the
>> DocCD.
>> > Once you can do that you will be able to pass the V4 exam with no
>> problem.
>> > Just my 2 cents.
>> >
>> > Chris
>> >
>> > On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 11:13 PM, Narbik Kocharians <narbikk_at_gmail.com
>> > >wrote:
>> >
>> > > Guys,
>> > >
>> > > I am sorry for the late reply, i am still waiting to get a flight back
>> > > home.
>> > >
>> > > But mate you are ready when you can look at the blueprint and answer
>> all
>> > of
>> > > your questions.
>> > > I am a very conservative person, I WILL NOT take the lab unless i can
>> > > answer
>> > > all of my questions, for example, look at LDP and L3VPNs, can you
>> close
>> > > your
>> > > eyes and see the commands? Can you do a "?" in your head and see all
>> the
>> > > options? Do you know what they are?
>> > > I DO NOT MEAN MEMORIZE, please do not get me wrong, you should NEVER
>> > > memorize, the only reason you will see the commands and their options
>> is
>> > > because you have configured them so many times its NOT funny. You
>> should
>> > > run
>> > > IOS in your head instead of what ever it is that you are running. As
>> long
>> > > as
>> > > its NOT the 12.4(15)T11 on 3725s (JK).
>> > >
>> > > But do you guys see what i am saying? Go through the entire blueprint
>> and
>> > > write down your weak areas, and hammer them out one by one, face them
>> > head
>> > > on.
>> > > Sometimes to satisfy our conscience, we go out there and purchase
>> every
>> > > bloody book we can get our hands on, and i bet there are lot of us
>> that
>> > do
>> > > that. But have we read all of them? I bet NOT even 15 percent of them.
>> > > When we read a hard or a complex documentation, we normally bypass the
>> > > areas
>> > > that we do not understand, because we feel that if we don't understand
>> > them
>> > > ITS PROBABLY NOT IMPORTANT, this is the philosophy that costs us few
>> > > retries.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 5:42 PM, Evan Weston <evan_weston_at_hotmail.com>
>> > > wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > I'm a fan of booking a date a long way out and sticking to it, it
>> will
>> > > make
>> > > > you work as hard as you need to. Just keep addressing weaknesses as
>> > they
>> > > > arise and hopefully you will peak on the week of the exam.
>> > > >
>> > > > I booked my lab date 9 months ahead. Cancelled my social life,
>> booked
>> > > > Narbik's bootcamp for 4 months out and just went for it. Also do
>> what
>> > the
>> > > > trainers say, for example if Narbik says to get the most out of his
>> > > > workbooks "go through them at least twice and once along side with
>> the
>> > > > DocCD" then make a schedule and get it done. No point paying for
>> books
>> > if
>> > > > you don't use them the way the author says to. Same for INE mock
>> labs,
>> > > aim
>> > > > to do them in the time limit, take the same amount of time as the
>> real
>> > > lab,
>> > > > treat them seriously and don't be soft on marking yourself.
>> > > >
>> > > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > > From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On
>> Behalf
>> > Of
>> > > > Pach
>> > > > Sent: Tuesday, 3 November 2009 10:18 AM
>> > > > To: 'Justin Mitchell'; pocjamin_at_gmail.com
>> > > > Cc: ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
>> > > > Subject: RE: CCIE R&S v4.0 results on as good as I hoped
>> > > >
>> > > > Those 70 days are going to come up on your fast. 'Specially with the
>> > > > holidays coming up.
>> > > >
>> > > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > > From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On
>> Behalf
>> > Of
>> > > > Justin Mitchell
>> > > > Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 3:06 PM
>> > > > To: pocjamin_at_gmail.com
>> > > > Cc: ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
>> > > > Subject: Re: CCIE R&S v4.0 results on as good as I hoped
>> > > >
>> > > > I've got 70 days: January 12, 2010 in San Jose.
>> > > >
>> > > > On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 5:00 PM, BPoch <pocjamin_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > > When are you taking your exam?
>> > > > >
>> > > > > -----Original Message-----
>> > > > > From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On
>> Behalf
>> > > Of
>> > > > > Justin Mitchell
>> > > > > Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 2:23 PM
>> > > > > To: Narbik Kocharians
>> > > > > Cc: Nathan Richie; larryh_at_ine.com; redkidneybeans_at_gmail.com;
>> > > > > ttuner_at_gmail.com; jbccie_at_gmail.com; ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
>> > > > > Subject: Re: CCIE R&S v4.0 results on as good as I hoped
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Feeling 100% ready is a tricky thing. If I waited to feel 100%
>> ready
>> > to
>> > > > > take
>> > > > > the exam I doubt I would ever register and then would have second
>> > > > thoughts
>> > > > > when I finally did register.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Everything I have heard from the CCIEs I work with is it is as
>> much a
>> > > > > mental
>> > > > > thing as anything else. To me it is just another test, albeit an
>> > > > expensive
>> > > > > one with an airplane ride and some delicious food in San Jose.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Justin "ready to fail the exam" Mitchell
>> > > > > =)
>> > > > >
>> > > > >
>> > > > > On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 4:10 PM, Narbik Kocharians <
>> narbikk_at_gmail.com
>> > >
>> > > > > wrote:
>> > > > >
>> > > > > > Nathan,
>> > > > > > Only you know if you are ready, if you are shoot, if you are
>> NOT,
>> > > ONLY
>> > > > > > register for the test when you are 100 percent ready.
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > my 2 cents.
>>
>>
>

-- 
Justin G. Mitchell
http://www.google.com/profiles/jgmitchell
Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net