So this is the 2nd part on how PIM-SM operates. Last time I showed how the initial RPT (shared tree) was constructed, and how data would flow from the source to the receiver. This time, I want to show you how the optimization technique in SM actually works.

I knew it would be tricky before I even started with the multicast section, but not this hard 🙂 So I wrote about PIM-DM and its flooding behavior, and how it would make sure data was flowing from the source to the receivers.

So Brandon Carroll’s quest to do the Routing and Switching certification is scheduled to take 90’s days. I think he is very gifted and got the right stuff to do it (he’s a security CCIE). What came to mind, was this hypothesis:

I am really wondering whats up with google’s services lately. I have been having huge issues getting my mail. It times out several times, and then all of a sudden it appears, and other times it logs me out. Sometimes I have to periodically refresh.

Ive started on the Developing IP Multicast Networks book from Beau Williamson. This book is apparently “the” book on multicasting, so I hope it will help me out with this weak area of mine. So far ive read about DVMRP which is not on the blueprint, but it sounded like it would be a good help to understanding PIM modes, which are on the blueprint, so I decided to go through it anyways.

I am almost done with the Internet Routing Architectures book, and its a great book!! You really get to understand why BGP is the way it is. Where IGP’s as we know them concentrate on fast convergence, BGP is all about 2 things: stability and policies.

So even though im looking over my journal, and i am doing about 1,5 – 2 hours studying each day, I feel like im lacking the discipline to really make a dent in the thing called CCIE Written. I have not been using google calendar like i should, and it is really bumming me out.

So after learning that im not employed after september, I am on the market for a new laptop. This new laptop will be my primary machine, as I very rarely boot up my stationary computer. It should be able to handle quite alot.

The new blueprint is out for all to see. Its version 4, and includes some interesting things. Alot of people have already analysed it in quite some detail. The two things thats most obvious to me, is the emphasis on MPLS as more and more dominant technology.

As the topic implies, I will be writing about a few things regarding shaping and policing. Now these are two really hard-to-understand topics for me, but they are also very usefull. To understand what they do, and the difference between them, lets define them as such:

Im at the policing and shaping section of the exam certification guide, and its very hardcore stuff in my opinion. Just finished the section on 3550 and 3560 ingress/egress queuing and scheduling methods. Wow, thats really something i gotta get my head around.

Im somewhat in the middle of the CCIE exam certification guide, and still learning alot. I am putting down the framework for more detailed examination of technologies. I have a couple of books on my reading list after this to solidify the knowledge with more in-depth details.

I am doing alot of technology focused labs, and I always learn something new, which is really good. For example, I was studying the effects of autosummarization with RIP and EIGRP. A few things cropped up. RIP will autosummarize routes it receives from other neighbors, where as EIGRP will only summarize those, if it has a locally connected network of the same major net, and it is included in a network statement.

Im done with my first reading of Routing TCP/IP volume 1. All in all a great book, with lots of information about the various IGP’s. I skipped the IS-IS part simply because its not part of the R&S written blueprint. I made quite a few notes about each chapter along the way, which I am sure will come in handy when reviewing/troubleshooting material.

So I broke down and bought the IPexpert Blended Learning Solution the day before yesterday. I got great advice very fast from the people there, and they were very nice. Been looking over the workbooks, they seem really good and challenging 🙂 As I have written before, I will take my time and learn as much as I possibly can, so I wont even start those labs until I have a better understanding of the entire scope of this whole CCIE buisness, which in other words means alot more reading and understanding of things and passing the written exam.

Im watching some free vLectures from IPexpert here, the one im watching is the one about Spanning-Tree. Its pretty good so far. I do hope however, that their video-on-demand products are alot better quality. Im still waiting to take the plunge and buy their BLS (Blended Learning Solution) until I know where I stand both financially and knowledge wise (written).

So im finishing up some troubleshooting exercises in Routing TCP/IP. They are mainly about the metrics used by EIGPR. Here’s a review of the functionality of EIGRP and how it chooses the best path to a destination. First of, EIGRP is an Enhancement of the proprietary IGRP protocol, which is almost but phased out by now.

At the bottom of this post is a link to a small article by Jared over at IPexpert about the books he recommends for the CCIE written exam. Anyone who looked at the recommended book list from Cisco is blown away.

So im reading about EIGRP’s DUAL algorithm, and how it works, and MAN, its confusing. After the example in Routing TCP/IP, even they mention it might require several readings. Basically it boils down to the fact if a router being notified of a bad link has a feasible successor or not.

I wanted to post a link to a great site which I have started using called flashcarddb.com, what it does is pretty simple, but it does its job in a slick fashion. There is a system called the leitner system, which in all its simplicity is making you remember things by repeating them in periods with different intervals.

Im having some “fun” with static routes. Its an okay topology, 4 routers connected. The task asked for having some floating static routes, along with some load-balancing routes. Since they are CEF based, it will be load-shared by default to destination load sharing.

So like many others finishing their CCNP’s, ive been looking at the CCIE R&S track. There are two obstacles to become one of the prestigious ones with CCIE digits. One is the written exam, and the second is the lab exam.

So yesterday I setup a BGP scenario which you can see below: I am doing mutual redistribution on both R1 and R3, between BGP and EIGRP. I am advertising a couple of routes from R4 (AS 65001) to R1 (AS 65000).

This week I will be spending alot of time at various of doctors unfortunally. I still suffer from fearing everything is physically wrong with me. Im having it all checked out. I would really like a blank sheet to start a new life from.

Thought I would share some lab pictures:

I just emptied my shopping basket on amazon again. This means I ordered what was in it 🙂 I got some CCIE books, but this doesnt mean anything except I am interested in whats in them. Also got a few other non-technical books.

I am finally done. ONT was passed today, and with a pretty good score as well. I am very happy. Now it is time for some relaxing, and get on with my training schedule. I really wish we had a testing center somewhere closer that was actually worth going to.

I am in the process of reviewing and labbing from the lab portfolio. I need to have the verification commands down, so I can troubleshoot different QoS scenarios. I find it very hard to do much configuration though. Also, the wireless section is kind of hard to get good hands-on experience with since I dont have access to any WCS (Wireless Control System).

I just purchased a Linksys USB ethernet adapter to try out with Gnu/Linux. I have tried it with both 32 and 64bit, and it works like a charm. It was just an experiment to see how I could create a box with a large density of LAN ports.

So I am almost done with the wireless section, but alot of things still needs to click in, especially regarding the security aspect of it all. Some more reading on that is needed next. QoS in wireless is done by basically lowering the back-off time in CSMA/CA for higher priority traffic.

I am finishing up on chapters regarding WRED and LFI. WRED is a congestion avoidance mechanism. What that means, is that when congestion occurs, you try and avoid filling up the buffers completely by dropping some packets. Normally the standard queueing for fast interfaces (>E1) is FIFO, with the congestion avoidance of tail dropping.

So im studying about congestion management, namely the use of queuing and the different discplines of queuing. FIFO = First In First Out. This is a straight forward queue which doesnt take any priority, delay or bandwidth into account. This is the default on Cisco equipment for interfaces > 2.

So today I have spent some time reading up on voip codecs, and how to calculate bandwidth requirements for a single call with a certain codec. Take for example. G.711 (PCM), which is uncompressed voice data. Its specification says 64kbps raw data output from the codec.

So today I watched some material on nbar (Network Based Application Recognition), which is a feature originally used for classification of data, used in QoS to mark packets. It uses very deep packet inspection, to figure out what data is being transfered over the network.

So, so far ONT seems alot like its brother-acronym QoS. Watched a few videos today, solidifying knowledge from BCMSN about CoS only being for L2 trunk links and ToS/DSCP being for Layer 3. Figured out the DE bit provides a somewhat rudimentary QoS for frame-relay.

As reported on cciepursuit, cisco has announced changes to both the lab and written parts of the CCIE certification. On the written, the normal “style” of cisco exams will take place, where you cant go back and forth between questions, and no review.

I skimmed over the ONT blueprint, and it sure seems like alot of voice. I am not quite sure howcome theres that much voice material on there. It bothers me quite frankly, because I dont find the voice part particularly interesting.

So I havent posted for a while, because i have been admitted to the hospital. I am suffering from anxiety attacks, and its something I need to do my best to combat in order to live a normal life again. So ill use this place to hold my thoughts regarding this goal as well.

I just passed ISCW. Im really glad this one is over with. But I have ALOT of reviewing for the material in this one, when i finish the rest of the CCNP track. I could especially feel that not having access to the FW and IPS parts really hurt me.

I really wish I would feel more ready for this one. On top of things, I feel sick again… Never ending story. I wish someone could just cure me once and for all. I have been somewhat sick for the better part of 3 months now, and its really starting to take its toll.