Lab preparation thoughts.
Here is the brainstorm about the preparation on the CCIE lab I have come up with so far. Remember that this is no final list or any “magic pill” of any sorts, it is just some thoughts I have been having.
Update:
_Keith O’Rouke pointed out to me that the DocCD is my new best friend. I need to master it completely, and he is 100% right, therefor it is now added to my list.
_
1) Scheduling of time is very important. Must use a calendar program to manage this.
2) Discipline! This is really the key. Make sure you stick to the topics at hand and do them at the right time.
3) Be flexible. If something happens that results in a time constraint, adjust the calendar.
4) Make sure that family life agrees with this journey. You must be able to focus.
5) Concentration is very important. Learned from the written and CCNP that at any time that involves 100% concentration is worth more than 3x the time in non-concentration.
6) Investigate the technologies. This includes mini-labs focusing in on technologies that are giving problems. Write a synopsis for each lab, so you can go back to the technologies instead of keep re-creating them. This will make searching possible.
7) Commands, Commands, Commands… Learn how to diagnose issues with the show commands. Learn what output the show commands will give you. There are no substitutes for lab time. Learn how to spot potential issues just from the show commands. Learn how to make the router prove that something is correct.
8) A great part of this journey is keeping up both mentally and physically. Keep exercising, if for nothing else, then for the end goal! Meditation and physical exercise must be planned into this.
9) Break things down into smaller pieces. It will be easier to digest these smaller pieces and put the entire technology together.
10) If you for some reason you get stuck in something, do NOT keep on at it. Get up and away for some time and come back with fresh eyes. This has helped time and time again.
11) Use idle time to listen to audio lectures and/or rewatching VOD. This will supplement “real” study-time. It might spark new ideas. It might also solidify some facts.
12) I will need some additional books. I can see that from the blueprint I need some more on MPLS vpn’s. Maybe also find something about PPPoE. Additional books might come up when the first people have done the new exams. This will need to be accounted for in the study budget.
13) Remember that troubleshooting is now a large portion of the lab exam. This means that a great deal of time will be spent debugging labs. Reading through and completing all scenarios in Troubleshooting IP Routing Protocols will be invaluable for L3 issues.
14) I will need to create a timeline to have some labs complete and a fundamental understanding of ALL topics before going to a bootcamp.
15) Bootcamp. Will need to goto a bootcamp at least once, maybe twice.
16) DocCD navigation and ease of use is a must. I need to start looking things up directly on the DocCD.
Thats all folks!