My CCIE Journey

I was stuck in the last two weeks!

Time flew before my eyes and it has been two weeks. And ... I feel like I have not done much study properly for my CCIE :(

Somehow, I work better under pressure with more demands and tight deadlines. With this condition, I always managed to handle time better than less activities per day. Am I workaholic? I will not deny it anyway, I like working and keeping myself busy :)

However, the last two weeks, there were always problems everytime I would like to start my study: broken internet connection, router problems for not able to connect me with (very) long URLs, etc, etc.

I only manage to get it running but with some drawbacks. If you are aware from the site info, I am supposed to be getting at least 17Mbps/1Mbps link through my ADSL2+. Since the main 'router' could not resolve long URLs, I am now connected with ADSL2+ but only 8Mbps/900kbps speed :(. The good side is: the speed is stable and at least the long URLs works fine.

Another challenge is the server that I hosted at home was inaccessible during the same period. But, after changing it and sacrificing the precious speed of my ADSL2+, I am now able to gain access from outside. (I have not test all of them though, but I believe it works fine)

Some updates on my progress for the last 2 days: I start to follow my secior CCIE to keep the reading sources in hand anywhere I got (including toilet). There I was, in the tram stops, travelling in trams, waiting for elevator, attending nature calls (aka toilet) and many 'idle' time I spent with reading the sources.

I was lucky enough to have the book in ebook format that I can copy it into my PDA/ mobile. So there is no excuse for not being able to access the book (except when the battery dies)

Slightly out of topics: I hope that my work contract with one of educational insitution here will be granted soon. Thus, I will have more stable working place in progressing with my Cisco teaching and learning.

Last but not the least: my colleague granted me to join him during the Cisco class. But as independent learner that will be using the equipments. I can't thank him enough with his effort all this while. When the work book from Internetwork Expert arrives, it is time to set aside regular schedule and sacrifice my regular acvitities to attend the lab access.

Well, another new challenging days will be coming soon. I will be ready to go for it. CCIE 2006 for me is a MUST!

Wow, I couldn't believe my eyes!

No, I have not passed the CCIE written nor lab yet.

What I am amazed about is the latest book arrival titled 'CCIE Routing & Switching Exam Certifiation Guide - Odom & Wendell'

The part that surprises me is not that the book arrived, but the book was sent 'fresh from the oven' -> printed in February 2006!!!

It consists of all contents based on Cisco's latest update on CCIE R&S written blue print and it helped me alot. That's the book that I have been waiting for to really guide me with the updated content and study guide.

However, before I put more praises and ooh-ahh-s, I have just 'munched' the first 60 pages in just less than 1.5 hours and all of them are well digested easily. Each new page that I unfold brought me to more curiosity (hey, isn't that what the study supposed to be?)

So ... I will finish up this book asap with the sole outcome: ready for the written and ready for the lab preparation afterwards.

Some plan has been in place: internetwork expert workbook, some allocated fund for getting small routers just to play around with several mini scenarios, certain funds set aside for rack rental occasionally, etc. etc.

Life is just getting better if you believe and do, doesn't it?

Well, well ... I am in the middle of online learning from Cisco PELC.

Guess what??? I was taking one of the course and it seems that all 'course' was easily taken because of the short modules form VoD.

Guess what again??? The modules that I took is only for 'page 1' of the whole list!!! Some of them has 4 pages (around 24 modules), etc. etc.

This is a very good lesson to me both the knowledge and the learning experience. Read completely before closing the process :)

Many Cisco people that I know is questioning the purpose of storage networking to be a path of CCIE. I do have plan to obtain CCIE in Storage Networking :) Especially after I pass CCIE R&S :)

In the beginning, I only know NAS and SAN. But ... I was not aware that SAN was actually a network of data storage (doh!)

As the time goes that I prepare my CCIE R&S, somehow the attraction to also learn the glimmering world of storage network are also getting bigger and bigger.

As I do parallel study with R&S, Storage Network actually has very close characteristics with R&S.

Some examples:

• Local Area Network (LAN) is Storage Area Network (SAN) - surpriseee!!!
• Virtual LAN (VLAN) is Virtual SAN (VSAN) - another surpriseee!!!
• Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is Fiber-channel Shortest Path First (FSPF) - The routing method based on Dijkstra algorithm for finding alternative route for SAN
• Inter VLAN Routing is Inter VSAN Routing (IVR)
• They both could use Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP)
• The conector is the same, except SAN use more optical connection than LAN ;) (I have not sen any other connector than optical up to today anyway)

Those are just a few example.

From Cisco product range, the following similarity happens:

The famous Cisco Catalyst 6500 series has its twin sister: MDS 9500 series. The product code are similar: Catalyst 6506 with MDS 9506, Catalyst 6509 with MDS 9509. Catalyst use the first top two slots as the primary and secondary supervisor engine, while MDS 9509 use the middle two slots as the supervisor engines.

Above all, Storage Networking is very close to internetwork switching than internetwork routing. However, it is better to have both Routing and Switching knowledge in hand before implementing Storage Networking -> the biggest reason I prepare for CCIE R&S now.

Till then ...

yippie! another book arrived two day ago. It was the lab preparation kit vol 1 from Cisco Press!!!

Meanwhile, I am getting ready to take off for CCNP BSCI 'crash' course from my workplace and maybe taking the exam along the way. Why not??? hehehe ... :)

On last written exam attempt, my weak points are still in routing and general routing area, mostly OSPF and BGP. The last thre days, I have spent the time in those routing protocols. Surprisingly, it turned out as though I never learn them before! The difference know is, it took lesser time to re-read the whole thing and I get the idea better than before.

Looks like my wish is getting closer to be true. I used to wish that if only one day I could understand all those weak points in the exam easily and easily gain knowledge by those area that I am weak on ... it start to happen now. Hoorayy!!!

Isn't study become enjoyable if you know that what you have learnt mean something and give you more spirit to learn more?