Reality Bites

I have been doing a lot of overtime at work for that last few weeks and so my CCIE written preparation has dropped off and so has my progress through the Internetwork Expert Volume 1 labs. I am not too worried about the Internetwork Expert Labs as I thought I could concentrate more on them when I pass my written. That is if I pass my written, as I do not feel like I will pass at the moment. I think I have seriously been underestimating the written exam as I thought ah no worries the CCIE written consists of the material from the entire CCNP rolled into one exam, should be no problem. However I have been doing some NetMaster Class written practice exams today and having my arse kicked. Some of it has been down to stupid mistakes but I cannot believe how much stuff that I have forgotten that I learnt for my CCNP. I mean a lot of it is probably useless facts but that is what Cisco tends to ask you in these exams. Anyhow I have till about Wednesday to see how I feel, and if things are still not going well then I will have to postpone the written again. It is highly annoying having to continually postpone, but hey I cannot afford to waste the exam fee.

Study Update 13/08/08

Have not had much of a chance to get any studying done today as work is exceptionally busy at the moment as I am preparing for a big network change this weekend. It looks like it is going to be an all weekend job, including working through Saturday night. The misses will not be best pleased as I will probably not be much use as I will be completely worn out when we finish. In fact the studying will not be best pleased either, although on a positive note the bank balance should improve once the over time payment makes it's way into my account. I feel a bit more positive today after reading through the struggles of a few other people on their blogs and I did get a chance to do a NetMasterClass practice exam which I got 73% on. I am okay with that score for the moment as I still have a few things I need to brush up on and I made quite a few silly mistakes. Anyhow lets hope I can survive the weekend and find some more time to type up my notes and get on with my studies.

Study Update 23/07/08

Things have not been going that well on the study front so far. My new job is exceptionally busy and I do not get as much downtime as I did in my previous job to do reading or watch the Internetwork Expert COD's. That said it has been a good change and I am enjoying it. New jobs however do not go well with CCIE study and on top of that my wife and son were sick, so I had to look after them. Also I need to find a quite place to study which is a bit of a problem at the moment as my desk is in the living room with the TV while some of our other rooms are out of action. Jeez that is a lot of excuses! Anyhow I am moving on with the Internetwork Expert BGP labs at the moment and making slow progress on gathering the required BGP theory. My plan is to really nail the core theory and configuration for the core routing protocols in time for my written exam. I plan to do this by using the Routing & Switching Exam Cert Guide, Routing TCP/IP vols 1 and 2 and Internet Routing Architectures. For the core config I am moving slowly through the Internetwork Volume 1 version 4.1 labs. Once I have completed this I plan on hitting the IPExpert core labs and then I will hit the Internetwork Expert Volume 1 version 5 labs which should be out by the time I finish this lot hell they even might be on version 6 if I take much longer. So a lot of work to do and not much time to do it in :-(

Study Plans

At the moment I am trying to work my way through understanding fully the major routing protocols. The plan is to really umderstand the major routing protocols before I take my written, which I hope to do at the end of August. I have read TCP/IP Volume 1 as well as the chapters on OSPF and EIGRP in the CCIE Certification Guide 3rd Edition. I have also worked my way through the OSPF and EIGRP sections in the Internetwork Expert Volume 1 Workbook. However at the moment I am working on BGP. Unfortunatly my BGP study plans did not go very well this weekend got caught up doing some decorating and watching the Springboks play Australia which was not good for my blood pressure :-) Hopefully though I will get back on track this week and manage to get through a few more of the BGP labs and solidify my understanding of BGP.