Multicasting

I finished multicasting couple of weeks ago and Im about to finish IPv6. I feel a lot more comfortable with these 2 technologies. Again on Safari I read implementing IPv6 which is a good book. Now it is on to QOS which I hate. My work has a subscription to Skillsoft which I am viewing QOS portion of it which is for QOS test for SP track. Then it is off to do WB1 QOS.

Getting Sidetracked again

Well I started watching SP COD on multicasting and was getting frustrated that I didnt understand what he was talking about. So I started reading up on multicasting. Safari is nice I just added a multicasting book to my bookshelf and start reading. I also have TCP/IP volume 2 which I am also reading. So I have fired up the rack and started loading the initial config. Then I will watch the R&S COD on multicasting and start WB1 multicasting section.

Just to Elaborate

My choice on not taking the written and lab is because in the field things are done more simpler than the lab. Its good that in certain scenarios you get creative on solving the issue which the lab will teach you but in the field you have more resources and more time to complete the project and also you dont work with every technology. Also I dont work for a channel partner but a major enterprise so having my CCIE wont make a difference. How many CCIE are in a enterprise and are needed for day to day operations? Not many, most of the day to day operations are handled by NP or NA level people. I feel having my CCNP and studying the R&S and ISP workbooks wil be sufficient. I would rather use the money I would of spend on the written, lab, and boot camp on something else like going to Cisco Networkers and learning new stuff. Im truly interested in learning Cisco and why things work a certain way that is why I am still studying the workbooks and doing labs.

OSPF Finish

OSPF section is done again. This time was a lot better due to reading Moy book and some Cisco Docs. Im starting to feel more comfortable with reading the OSPF database and knowing where to manipulate the cost for traffic engineering. Next is RIP then EIGRP then on to Vol3 for more practice on the core topics. At this point I am not sure if I want to take the lab and written. I make comfortable money and most configs are written in developement lab for my work then it gets release to all the markets and all they do is copy and paste the configs and maybe change an octet for a specific market. So I will probably just do these workbooks to solidify my knowledge.

BGP Finally Done

I just finish BGP lab although I feel comfortable with the topics I am far from understanding it at the CCIE level. Next up is OSPF again then Im going to buy a route redistribution lab. After that it is on to WB2 but just the core topics. I think this year its just core topics including MPLS and next year add the other just like security, ip services, etc

CCIE study continues

While studying for ONT internetwork expert released BGP lab so today I loaded the initial config and started watching BGP videos COD. After that it is doing labs and I need to put some BGP books in my bookshelf from safari so I can start reading. Next up is either MPLS or start on WB3 so I can do some redistro scenarios. IE also announced a special for SP track COD since they brought MPLS VPN in R&S track so I will probably buy that COD which in turn will help me in BGP, QOS, and multicast. If I can study all summer long then I should be on track to attend Narbik boot camp Nov in Maryland so I dont have to buy a plan ticket and only a hotel for 4 days.

I am finally CCNP

I passed my last exam which is ONT on friday. The next day I got the email to verify my address so they can semd me my certificate. It feels good to have accomplished this certification, its been about a year and a half from start to finish with some breaks in between to work on CCIE. Thanksgiving of 07 I decided to try and study BSCI, Ive gotten my CCNA in april of 05 and try a couple of times after to study BSCI but never could grasp the concepts so in Nov of 07 with my NA going to expire I thought I would give BSCI another try. I bought CCNP video mentor and thought videos were the way to go, so after much thought about spending a lot of money on CBTnuggets I decided what the heck and bought the BSCI videos. Its what I hope would happen which would dummy the concepts down so I can understand it then build upon that with cisco press study guide. So that is how I got started on NP path.

Some people just bug me

There is another CCIE blog about him releasing some audio lesson when he himself just passed the course. Now all of a sudden he thinks he has enough knowledge to teach. I think he failed an NP exam. What is he going to do next start selling them. I bet he doesn’t even know about the different spanning tree with ISL and .1q trunks and PVST and PVST+ and how they all inter-operate and how it tags when the native vlan is changed from the default. Now throw MST into the mix. What about traffic engineering and direct and indirect failures and security. I see people like this all the time. I gave a class to a tech about a piece of equipment and the next day he was teaching another tech about that same piece of equipment and he didn’t know sh!t about it. You see new engineers who think they are all that and they lack the common sense that they are pre-req that need to be met. Or how you change one thing and it will affect another and it will just snow ball from there. I have been a part of plenty of projects ranging from traffic migrations to evenly balance different boxes, to forklifting an entire complex, and building an entire data center from the room being built to new equipment getting installed to migrating traffic over to it. I guess I cant fault him I was that young kid at the start of my career, overly aggressive. Oh well that is my rant for the day.

ONT Study Cont

I’ve identified my weak spots which are SDM, Auto-Qos, and Wireless. I finally understand pre-classify and now have to finish reading the last 2 chapters of ONT exam guide which are wireless. Voice and QOS I understand and SDM and some wireless GUI to configure the wireless controller is just memorizing a bunch of stuff. When my wife is done with finals then I can finish Narbik QOS section. Do ONT lab portfolio and read some Cisco Docs. Also IE finally released BGP section so once I am CCNP then I can really concentrate on IEWBs. I read the QOS exam guide from Odom, ONT exam guide and end to end QOS books. Time for me to brew some beer for national homebrew day tomorrow the first Saturday of May.

Happy B-Lated 420 LOL

Well I am done watching the first 3 parts of IE COD on QOS and I’ll say this time around I finally understand traffic shaping and how to calculate Bc and Be. Also my flash cards / book arrived and I am going over that. I also got a subscription to Safari which is the best thing so I can have different books and look at specific chapters I am studying. Next up is to finish QOS COD except catalyst video and then Narbik Foundations WB on QOS since IE WB is pretty advanced and continue studying my flash cards.