Today guys, i’m gonna give you an insight into my secret ninja study techniques.
First of all i look at the recommended reading list – see if i’ve got access to that book and then read it. I continue to read the book until 1 of 3 things happen:
1) I finish the book (this hasn’t happened yet 
)
2) I get bored and give up. This hasn’t happened either – but i don’t find reading that interesting. However if you want a true understanding of the technology reading HAS to be done.
3) I get a basic understanding of the technology and then start labbing to enhance that understanding.
What i mean by getting a basic understanding is by reading, say, 10 chapters of a 15 chapter book. I take my time to let the information sink in, then start labbing to prove the concepts. What i usually do is go through Narbik’s workbooks (plenty of typo’s – but the concepts are excellent!) and then pick up INE – If i can go through the whole of INE without looking up any answers then that means that Narbik has done a good job. It worked for RIP, EIGRP and OSPF (mostly) – but i think Narbik is gonna fall short with MPLS.. I’ve already had a quick look at the INE foundation books for MPLS and, remember i only have the last MPLS lab from Narbik to complete – and i’ve counted 5 parts that Narbik hasn’t covered. Now maybe INE have gone above and beyond what is required or maybe Narbik will “pull it out of the bag “… i don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see..
I can’t believe how many people out there haven’t heard of Dynamips – or how many people are instantly dismissive.
“oh yeah, yeah, i’ve heard of it but haven’t got around to using it yet…” More fool you.
“Yeah, these simulator things are ok – but they’re not as good as working on the real equipment…” Aren’t they?
For me personally, they are an invaluable tool. Remember, i’m still “just a CCNA” but the amount of conversations i’ve had with people who’ve got “10 years experience” and blown them away is unbelievable. Now don’t get me wrong, if i came up against a “real CCIE” level dude, with real-world experience, i’m gonna get owned – but there are so many people that are relying on their “experience” that when a “lab-rat” comes through, they get jealous.
What is “experience?” So many guys i’ve seen who call experience just sitting in a company looking at the equipment, getting coffee (as long as the machine is on “free vend”) and typing “show ip bgp summary.”
March 5, 2010 at 4:57 pm |
Although it’s a nice thought though but I am quite sure none of us really can understand any single technology completely. You can still keep digging technologies deeper about which you thought you already know well.
Lets take example of PPP. In CCNA PPP is just a small topic. In CCNP we dont read about it anymore once they closed up BCRAN. In CCIE R&S ver 3 lab PPP was still a nice topic. But in ver 4 chances are very less that they well ask something fancy except PPP over FR or PPPoE.
Now at time on my study I used following material for PPP.
1. INE AT COD
2. IP Expert COD from Scott
3. 12.2 IOS config guide
4. INE ver 4.1 vol 2 labs 1-10 (Just PPP FR/PPP related tasks)
Now does this all make me expert in PPP…and the answer is NO.
I still misses lots of pieces like underlying IPCP details and lots of DDR and other stuff which Cisco covered in CCIE SP DIAL track.
Also sooner or later somebody always comes with different interpretation of same technology which is the most Amazing part.
For example take a look at some of mine posts below and chances are pretty high that an average INE CCIE Lab student can;t solve this.
http://deepakarora1984.blogspot.com/2010/03/ospf-area-555-now-what-hack-is-that.html
http://deepakarora1984.blogspot.com/2009/01/does-ripv2-support-cidrsupernet.html
http://deepakarora1984.blogspot.com/2009/01/does-ripv2-support-cidrsupernet_25.html
Which makes me feel sometime that I should study for CCIE Exam only or while preparing for CCIE I should keep covering everything within the technology.
I guess first option is better for me because second is better but very time consuming.
Now if we talk about Narbik’ s workbook. Thats what I am using for my preparation along with IP Expert vol 1 ver 11. I dont have INE ver 5 workbook with me as I had spent too much on these.
I think all Narbik tries to teach in ver 2.0 is what is most likely to be expected in Lab Exam. Not entire technology. Because no one can cover it in workbooks.
What INE is teaching in it’s workbook is actually beyond CCIE lab. Although it never hurts I guess but it makes journey longer on the flip side.
In last all I would suggest to the readers is that choose one vendor like INE, IP Expert or Narbik
Finish all it’s lab of all volumes. But make sure you don’t remember the solution but rather understand the task and why particular solution was chosen over another just in case. Also make a study plan and try best to stick with it.
Later you can take some other vendor mock labs to judge yourself.
I would also like to mention that Narbik has just come up with his Troubleshooting workbook for R&S just like INE vol 4. Also he is soon going to come up with his Mock lab workbook just like INE vol 2.
Although I am not promoting Narbik here. But rather just saying that he is a good workbook author too.
About experience….I can only say life doesn’t give equal and fair chances to everyone.
Also there is also going to be a difference in understanding of technology between some one like me who can just put hard work and efforts to attain CCIE Vs some Genius like Scott Morris for which Technologies are more like playing with Toys for fun.
In last my sincere appologies for writer if I hurt his feeling which was not my intention anyways.