Re: Anthony Sequeira's CCIE Security Lab Challenge

Thank you so much Routing Freak.

Here are a couple of things that I do from a psychological perspective:

* Put the exam in perspective - it is not a matter of life or death - you
certainly cannot make it bigger than it is or you can really psych yourself
out and fail on nerves alone
* Understand that once I am committed to pass it - it is going to happen -
it is only a matter of when that will occur
* Find a role model and do what they do - my role model for this exam is
Keith Barker - he passed within three attempts and outlined some excellent
preparation strategies for me
Was I over-confident about this attempt? The answer is yes. I did lean too
heavily on my success with R&S and my strong use of strategy when in an
exam. I did not tear up the technologies enough and was far too weak
technically to pass. The GREAT news is - this is actually the easiest fix
for my next attempt. It might take the most time - but it is very
straightforward to fix.

Thanks again for the kind words!

And - oh yeah - the Tough Mudder was not prep for the lab per-se. It was
just one more thing that I might have considered impossible one year ago,
that I was able to conquer and make possible this year.

From: Routing Freak <routingfreak_at_gmail.com>
Date: Sunday, October 28, 2012 11:24 AM
To: Anthony Sequeira <terry.francona_at_gmail.com>
Cc: Jay McMickle <jay.mcmickle_at_yahoo.com>, marc abel <marcabel_at_gmail.com>,
Steve Di Bias <sdibias_at_gmail.com>, ccie99999 <ccie99999_at_gmail.com>,
"ccielab_at_groupstudy.com certification" <ccielab_at_groupstudy.com>
Subject: Re: Anthony Sequeira's CCIE Security Lab Challenge

U r the dude Anthony. I like ur spirit big time.
U never give up man.
U know u have a great talent within u and u back them bigtime with some
great amount of confidence.

U will nail watever version of Security man. I bet 1000k $ man. next time u
r nailing it man.

Share ur thoughts on the mindset before the exam honestly

I saw ur pictures before the exam with Scott and Ryan . Physically draining
urself after draining mentally for training . Is that a strategy ?

Did u feel a bit overconfident after the exam or else it just a matter of
time management in the exam.. Want to hear it from u .

Once again, loving ur attitude man.

U made my india.

On Sun, Oct 28, 2012 at 11:50 AM, Anthony Sequeira
<terry.francona_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> Yeah - great stuff.
>
> Notepad can be worth its weight in gold here.
>
> This is what I plan on doing next time.
>
> Grab the "perfect practice" configuration example from the DOC-CD and place
> it in Notepad. Then grab the configurations from the devices and place them
> in Notepad. Organize side by side with the Doc-CD and several of Cisco's
> misconfigurations are going to stick out like a sore thumb.
>
> Now that is the easy part. Once complete, you need to read the task very
> carefully and modify the configurations so they accomplish the desired
> objective. Here is where the "rubber meets the road" for your knowledge of
> VPNs.
>
> Anthony Sequeira, CCIE, CCSI, VCP
> http://www.stormwind.com
> Twitter: @compsolv
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/compsolv
>
> From: Jay McMickle <jay.mcmickle_at_yahoo.com>
> Reply-To: Jay McMickle <jay.mcmickle_at_yahoo.com>
> Date: Saturday, October 27, 2012 7:38 PM
> To: marc abel <marcabel_at_gmail.com>
> Cc: Steve Di Bias <sdibias_at_gmail.com>, ccie99999 <ccie99999_at_gmail.com>,
> Anthony Sequeira <terry.francona_at_gmail.com>, "ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
> certification" <ccielab_at_groupstudy.com>
> Subject: Re: Anthony Sequeira's CCIE Security Lab Challenge
>
> Good questiono Marc. Anthony and I talked about this on the phone earlier
> this week and how important it is to KNOW, I mean really know the DocCD for
> any lab. You and I (Marc) know these links front and back for the RS lab.
> For Security however, it's actually one of the worst navigation paths to
try
> to find. It's almost like the DocCD was written for R&S and Voice, with
all
> other technologies mixed in. The fact that "Security" can live in
different
> platforms is the reason for this. Cisco Security documentation on the
DocCD
> LIVES in most of the ASA links. But, with the Security lab, you must be
> able to perform it on just about anything. Even your Mom's toaster (it
> seemed like, at least). ;)
>
> If you haven't found it, about 40% of the Security documentation (that I
> used) is found in the same place that you and I used for R&S.
> Cisco.com, documentation, Products, IOS..., IOS, 12.4, 12.4T, Configuration
> guides, scroll to Security-
>
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6441/products_installation_and_configu
> ration_guides_list.html
>
<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6441/products_installation_and_configu
%
> 0Aration_guides_list.html>
>
> Clicking on "Secure Connectivity...." is where I lived for most of my VPN
> issues, but that's only for an example guideline.
>
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios-xml/ios/security/config_library/12-4t/se
> con-12-4t-library.html
>
<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios-xml/ios/security/config_library/12-4t/se
%
> 0Acon-12-4t-library.html>
>
> For technologies I wasn't well versed in, I would compare a working example
> to see where something was missing. This is NOT the advised approach as it
> took me waaaaay too long for a simple issue (that was self imposed). Don't
> forget to live in the simple stuff. As IE's, we tend to live where we look
> for the complex. However, that's where I get hung because I forget to look
> for the easy fruit!
>
> Now for the kicker-
> The most common VPN troubleshooting link is found in the ASA section.
> However, for routers, this will only partially help you.
>
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6120/products_tech_note09186a00807e0ac
> a.shtml
>
<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6120/products_tech_note09186a00807e0ac
%
> 0Aa.shtml>
>
> For straight IPSEC troubleshooting, I use this one at work on a daily
basis-
>
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk583/tk372/technologies_tech_note09186a0080
> 0949c5.shtml
>
<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk583/tk372/technologies_tech_note09186a0080
%
> 0A0949c5.shtml>
>
> If you need something further, give me a call, Marc.
>
> Cheers.
>
>
> Regards,
> Jay McMickle- 3x CCNP (R&S,Security,Design), CCIE #35355 (R&S)
>
>
> From: marc abel <marcabel_at_gmail.com>
> To: Jay McMickle <jay.mcmickle_at_yahoo.com>
> Cc: Steve Di Bias <sdibias_at_gmail.com>; ccie99999 <ccie99999_at_gmail.com>;
> Anthony Sequeira <terry.francona_at_gmail.com>; "ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
> certification" <ccielab_at_groupstudy.com>
> Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2012 5:13 PM
> Subject: Re: Anthony Sequeira's CCIE Security Lab Challenge
>
> Jay or Anthony,
>
> Do either of you have a good read on troubleshooting VPN's? I get by, but
> I would like to get better.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Marc
>
> On Sat, Oct 27, 2012 at 1:06 PM, Jay McMickle
<jay.mcmickle_at_yahoo.com>wrote:
>
>> > Rock on, Anthony. I'll be following and studying with you for Security
v4.
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> > Jay McMickle- CCIE #35355 (RS), 3x CCNP (RS,Security,Design)
>> > Sent from my iPhone
>> >
>> > On Oct 27, 2012, at 10:42 AM, Steve Di Bias <sdibias_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>>> > > Anthony i Echo CCIE99999 and I'm very proud of you. You gave it your
>>>
all,
>>> > > and you're a great inspiration to others Thanks for sharing!!
>>> > >
>>> > > On Saturday, October 27, 2012, ccie99999 wrote:
>>> > >
>>>> > >> Wow. Such a great spirit man!
>>>> > >>
>>>> > >> @ccie99999
>>>> > >> Il giorno 27/ott/2012 15:26, "Anthony Sequeira" <
>> > terry.francona_at_gmail.com<javascript:;>
>>>> > >> ha scritto:
>>>> > >>
>>>>> > >>> Hello everyone! Thank you so much for following my CCIE Security
>>>> > >> Challenge.
>>>>> > >>> I sat the CCIE Security Lab Exam Version 3.0 in RTP North
Carolina,
USA
>>>>> > >>> yesterday.
>>>>> > >>> Overall - what an amazingly enjoyable experience. I hit the Angus
Barn
>>>> > >> the
>>>>> > >>> night before with David Blaire, the RTP proctor. What an
amazingly
>>>> > >> awesome
>>>>> > >>> person he is. You will be very fortunate if you test at RTP -
VERY
>>>>> > >>> FORTUNATE. He will make you feel relaxed and well cared for, and
is
>> > very
>>>> > >> up
>>>>> > >>> front and clear about the ways in which he can help you try and
pass.
>> > My
>>>>> > >>> only complaint was that the night before at Angus Barn - he made
me
try
>>>>> > >>> ostrich. Those poor giant birds. Even they could not escape our
>>>>> hunger
>>>> > >> for
>>>>> > >>> meat! I am complaining because the meat was really good. I am
>>>>> thinking
>>>>> > >>> about
>>>>> > >>> heading to the Lowry Park Zoo here in Tampa Florida with a really
big
>>>>> > >>> knife.
>>>>> > >>> I figure I can get away with it since we are celebrating
Halloween
in
>> > the
>>>>> > >>> USA this weekend.
>>>>> > >>> So if you are reading this, it is at this point where you are
>>>>> probably
>>>>> > >>> wondering if I am ever going to speak about my results...well -
here
>>>> > >> goes:
>>>>> > >>> I must have failed - by a few points - probably 8 to 10 points. I
was
>> > not
>>>>> > >>> able to complete three 6 point tasks, so my chances of passing
are
slim
>>>> > >> to
>>>>> > >>> none. Yes, I fell into the classic case of needing just one more
hour
>> > and
>>>>> > >>> being able to pass the exam with relative ease! As you will see
from
my
>>>>> > >>> rating scale below - it was indeed my technical knowledge (lack
>> > thereof)
>>>>> > >>> that failed me.
>>>>> > >>> So now I am on to my new challenge! I will be one of the first to
pass
>>>> > >> the
>>>>> > >>> new Version 4 blueprint. I am so incredibly excited. So excited
in
>> > fact,
>>>>> > >>> that I started studying on the flight back! (FlexVPN).
>>>>> > >>> By the way - here is how my four Cornerstones of Success held up
for
>> > me.
>>>>> > >>> This is my self rating of how I did on those on a 10 point scale.
>>>>> > >>> 1 - Technical Knowledge - 4 (yes, this was indeed my big issue)
>>>>> > >>> 2 - Strategy - 8 (I almost passed the lab when I was truly ready
>>>>> > >>> technically!)
>>>>> > >>> 3 - Psychology - 9 (my head was "on straight" for this attempt -
again
>> > it
>>>>> > >>> drove me to almost pass)
>>>>> > >>> 4 - Physical Wellness - 10 (I slept like a baby the night before
-
and
>>>> > >> felt
>>>>> > >>> amazing throughout the exam!)
>>>>> > >>> It was so flattering to be recognized for my Cornerstones of
Success
>>>>> > >>> lecture
>>>>> > >>> at Cisco Live by many of the candidates in the lobby waiting to
test!
>>>>> > >>> Another candidate was thanking me vigorously for teaching him QoS.
I
>>>> > >> never
>>>>> > >>> cycled back with him after to see if he actually got those
points!
:)
>>>>> > >>> So - you are going to watch me here at the blog
(blog.ipexpert.com
>>>>> <http://blog.ipexpert.com> )
>> > as
>>>> > >> I
>>>>> > >>> prepare for Version 4. And watch how technical we dive. Get your
scuba
>>>> > >> gear
>>>>> > >>> ready my friends! I am going to get crazy technical (for me) and
>> > present
>>>>> > >>> challenges that are in the spirit of how Cisco would present them.
I
>>>> > >> have a
>>>>> > >>> better sense for that than ever!
>>>>> > >>> I am so glad that there will be plenty of seats for Version 4 in
the
>> > near
>>>>> > >>> future at RTP- now I can go back to the strategy that works best
for
>> > me -
>>>>> > >>> booking the lab the week before I am ready to crush it. I
realized
time
>>>> > >> how
>>>>> > >>> much I dislike the approach of booking and then trying to prepare
for
>>>> > >> that
>>>>> > >>> date. Yuck. Not my style.
>>>>> > >>> Here are some nuggets for those preparing for their version 3
still:
>>>>> > >>> * The exam consists of 3, 4, 5, and 6 point tasks
>>>>> > >>> * Task value does an excellent job of conveying difficulty or
>> > conveying
>>>>> > >>> the
>>>>> > >>> time it will take you if it is easy
>>>>> > >>> * Troubleshooting is EVERYWHERE - it is crazy - trust the lab
paper
-
>> > do
>>>>> > >>> not
>>>>> > >>> trust your initials; the TS is NOT restricted to the tasks that
are
>>>> > >> titled
>>>>> > >>> TS.
>>>>> > >>> * I do not think you can solve this lab doing the tasks in order
and
>> > pass
>>>>> > >>> (but you knew that I am guessing)
>>>>> > >>> * When you get a task or two that seems really bizarre with a
>> > technology
>>>>> > >>> you
>>>>> > >>> have never heard of - do not panic - everything was really easy
to
find
>>>> > >> in
>>>>> > >>> the Doc-CD; also that task will most likely only be worth few
>>>>>
points.
>> > The
>>>>> > >>> task was laid there to check you on the DOC-CD and to mess with
your
>>>>> > >>> strategy.
>>>>> > >>> Thank you to all of the incredible people around the world that
>> > followed
>>>> > >> my
>>>>> > >>> challenge and gave me great mojo. And to the haters - please
>>>>> consider
>>>>> > >>> therapy.
>>>>> > >>> Anthony Sequeira, CCIE, CCSI, VCP
>>>>> > >>>
>>>>> > >>> http://www.stormwind.com/
>>>>> > >>>
>>>>> > >>> Twitter: @compsolv
>>>>> > >>>
>>>>> > >>> Facebook: <http://www.facebook.com/compsolv>
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > > --
>>> > > Thank you,
>>> > >
>>> > > Steve Di Bias
>>> > > CCIE #32840
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > > Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net/
>>> > >
>>> > >
Received on Sun Oct 28 2012 - 17:03:32 ART