My CCIE Journey

Oh well ... very ironic :(

I have problem putting the real knowledge of OSPF, EIGRP and IS-IS into paper-based case study.

Somehow when I read the theory, I understand all of them loud and clear. When I started to learn the case study given in the book, it was all ok. When I started to put it into practice: I'm lost :(

What is wrong with me (or my brain???)

Surprisingly, I have no problem at all doing all route redistribution questions, cas studies, etc.

Anyone out there willing to help?

If you wanted to know the problems, here they are:

• OSPF LSAs
• OSPF Packet types
• EIGRP 'mechanics;, particularly FD, RD and FC. I keep mixing them up one to another

I have been trying all I can to remember the basic knowledge of it. Only those two routing protocol is -somehow- quite a burden for me to move forward

Help!!!

Yesterday and today I read a lot about CCIE success stories that keeps my spirits high.

Today, I showed some of the 'success show case' to my wife and guess what??? She shows me her real support for me to be the best of IT Professionals! Multiple CCIE, life-plan in the next 10 years, IT Practice through my small business, etc. etc. etc. that can't be written in here in just a single page!

The biggest support that I received is the multiple CCIE that I plan to achieve in the next 5 - 10 years time.

She made a joke that I need to decide on whether I prefer 5 CCIE credentials or 5 kids in that next 5 - 10 years! Oh my goodness! I almost missed that plan!

However, I convinced her that the time does not matter. As I achieved my CCIE and the 2nd CCIE, having a child in between would be a no problem at all.

The 'problem' that I refers to is our current financial commitment. Both my wife and I aware that having a child (or children) is beyond financial challenges. But, both of us are ready for non-financial aspects of it: education, life plan, etc.

So, today I get the next set of Boson practice just to keep my brain in shape. This set is the 4th set in addition to the first three that I got before from Boson and helped me prepare the last written attempt.

I didn't see the last attempt as failed, rather I see it as a very good and solid experience for preparing my next written attempt ...

Well, the terms is derived from EIGRP routing protocol, the well-known Cisco-proprietary routing protocol that has been ruling the arena for IGP in all-Cisco-only-router internetwork environment.

What does it do with me? Am I stuck with EIGRP? Actually it is not (ir it has been over), I am now stuck with OSPF!!! Again!!!

A good breeze is also coming on the way, we'll see how it goes from tomorrow onwards.

Today a lot of good things happened: I got the CCIE book authoried by Andrew Bruce Caslow, I got called to hae a meeting (some people see it as job interview??? hahaha) with one of (then) biggest managed service provider for Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane-to-be. Also, there is a call from one of my client wondering on their ADSL2 RFC 1483 Bridge Mode only setting with their router.

Some not-so-good events also happens: the books was printed in 2001, so the CCIE book is kinda 'old' in the sense of knowledge, but I find it quite assisting at a glance. The contens shows the example of studying track and level that candidates could go through and does not have to waste their time thinking of subject sequence. Well, many sources is using the same methods anyway, it is just somoe people mgith find it challenging in setting their mind path towards CCIE exam (count me in :( )

Conclusion: get back to the common general public study for CCIE. I am not trying to re-invent the study method here, but honestly I got lost in the direction of subjects that I should study. I know my weakneses and the more I study, seems like the more I stuck become dumber of those weaknesses.

I believe that I can get it through this time: another written attempt. I always bear in mind that passing written is the beginning, not the end, not even the half or quarter way of the CCIE candidat journey.

The question arises since Cisco announces CCIE Storage Networking back in March 2005. I was aware on this around May/ June 2005.

Why do I feel studying the wrong subjects? One thing in particular: my skills and knowledge in Routing area seems like moving nowhere. There are some movements, but somehow not as fast as studying Switching technology :(

Plus ... I have been dealing with wide array of storage technology and always keen to get intimate with SAN. I have implemented NAS because the early adoption of SAN was not that stable. Now both SAN and NAS can co-exist to support each other for providing variety of solutions.

My study motivation also keep refreshed every time I study the storage subjects. Thus, while preparing the CCIE R&S, I am also doing some CIE Storage preparation (thanks for having a CCO access that provides me with Partner e-Learning Connection, it really helps, especially the remote lab or e-lab)

The routing review that I currently do is the various routing protocol distributions, manipulating redistributed routes from one routing protocol to another, playing around with different metrics through redistribution, etc. However, the touch of BGP is not kicked in full swing as yet.

When I studied it around 18 months ago, I was very close with BGP and forgot about the other routing protocol. Now the situtation changed, BGP has more role in the exanm, along with OSPF and other common IGPs.

I still need to recall my finger's habit of doing the IOS configuration in a quick mode, hopefully not too quick until I keep typing the wrong entries and ruined the whole setting :)

... heading back to the book land and online resources ... heee haaa!!!

I just realized and lost during this two weeks of preparation. What happened? Where are the times that flew before my eyes?

Somehow my melancholic side appears ... and the best of all, the phlegmatic also take parts and there it goes! The last two weeks has been a mere excuse-finding for me not to push myself to study hard like usual.

I have been occupied with some weekday activity and seems like the stress have been accumulated inappropriately ... I feel down ...

What can I do at this kind of time where I felt alone in walking my path?

Usually I always know how to recharge myself to go back into my main motivation: read from other similar success stories to gain some inspiration. It has been helpful all the time.

By reading the success stories, I am not just following their success, but ... I am also know that I CAN DO IT.

Thanks Himawan, Ardy and Carlos. You might not be aware that your past steps that has left marks all over the Internet, has inspired me to move my steps again in walking my path to CCIE.

I recall the times when I was preparing my CCNA.

It was one of the toughest time because I am not used to study regularly at that time, plus learning all the terminology is quite a hectic process.

I was wishing that if only one day I don't have any trouble using the terms and understands it. It happens now!

Both ... the wish had happened and ... another bulk of new terms are coming my way now while I prepare for my CCIE.

Oh, the solution for remembering those terms is using mnemonic, in Indonesian languange is known as 'jembatan keledai' (donkey bridge or bridging donkey)

OK, heading back to the reading sources again ...

Many times I studied for my CCIE, many times I stuck with the thinking of "is it possible for me to achieve CCIE with my limited funds and experience?"

"You surely can ..." that's the voice that always comes to my head as response for the question.

I have beaten the odds many times:

• I have never studied overseas (including Australia), yet I still pas a permanent residency process for Australia
• I always dreamed of going overseas and live there with my own effort and funding. Yet here I am, in Australia, and live here in a good manner.
• I know that God always besies me ven though I never see/ feel the proof directly, here I am stood here testifying that I am the result of God's good hands in forming me as a better person each and every day

• ... and many more

Here I am, on my course to achieve multiple CCIE, I surely will be able to go through it successfully like what had been before

God is always by my side throughout my journey. I just need to focus and walk the path.

Well ... my progress seems to dragged away into the slow lanes.

Many tasks are coming on the way and I have to deal with it with proper time management.

At least I know that in the routing protocol area, only bgp and ospf that I am still weak on.

Hi again readers!

This post is the starting of the journey

How is my dream? How may I achieve it?

Last night before I went to sleep. I was half awaken and somehow really feel the urge to really becoming a CCIE, which I am preparing at the moment.

Wasn't that the same urge that happens on October 2005? It was, but, this one was bigger.

The first motive is: money! I am not a hypocrit. Honestly money is the urge. Am I broke? No. Am I owing someone? No. So what is it this time then?

I am sick and tired to think about money. I prefer to really enjoy life without the worry of lack of financials, whatever the needs.

One of the way out that I thought in the past was: be an expert in my area. Which one? I have too many options to choose! So I gathered all possibilities and enjoyment that I can and willing to do for becoming an expert in my area: Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Isn't ICT still very wide? Yes, I know. I would like to be an expert in computer networks. For real! But other area will still be gronw as well along the journey

However, for this time, the urge is different. I was struck by the thinking "You are preparing your first CCIE now. Why don't you set to become all CCIE?" I was stunned ... and it really moves me "Yeah, why not??? What holds me to be multiple CCIE?".

So there it was. I am 30 years old as of 2005 and 31 by August 2006. Am I not going to make any breakthrough again? I will.

I have set my 10-year CCIE plan. You heard me right: 10-years. It doesn't mean 10-years then I become a CCIE. But ... in 10 years, by the time I am 40 years old. I will be all CCIE holder.

Stay tuned for other stories and inspirations along with my journey

Welcome readers and (to be or not to be) CCIEs

I know that this is another blog of me other than other blogs that I have written all over the web.

Let me start this blog with welcoming you all once agian to this joyous journey of myself in achieving one of my dreams: multiple CCIE

What is CCIE? There is no other better website that can explain it than Cisco's CCIE page in here

Why do I wanted to become CCIE? A lot of reasons. However, I am not going to tell that reasons here. The only reason this blog exist is to aim for multiple CCIE as one of my credentials.

Why does becoming CCIE important to me? Because for those who know me as of the writing of this article today (13 February 2006). Some facts and reality of me will blow whoever like me to become CCIE.

Some facts about me can be find as follow. Bear in mind that many people thought that based on this facts, it might be nearly impossible to be a CCIE (forget about multiple CCIEs)

• I am currently not employed as any of Cisco partners that handles various implementation using Cisco products or solutions.
• I am not capable nor afford to prepare my CCIE financially. It is not that I am broke at the moment, but some other financial commitment is currently in place. The commitment is planned to be done around June 2006. However, any possibilities could happen along the way.
• My experience with Cisco is only between 2001 - 2004 when I was in contract for preparing a campus network of one of Australian's well-known University's off shore campus in Malaysia. Some of you might think "yeah right, you are having the experience". Well, most of the implementation (fortunately or unfortunately) was mostly in switching area, least routing involved.
• I am currently not even a CCIE yet, even though I have attempted two written exam (the last one was 21 December 2005) and I have not passed written yet.

Sounds impossible? Maybe yes, maybe no ;)

I will try my best to focus on updating this page at least weekly to inform you on the happening of my journey to become CCIE and the journey beyond it

Stay tuned!