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Have you ever heard that strategy is huge when it comes to the CCIE lab? I have. In fact, I think thats what really pushed me over the edge when I passed. I found a number of interesting posts on the blogs that I read on a regular basis regarding strategy. Here is my official, unofficial list of links to CCIE strategy posts:

1. http://blog.internetworkexpert.com/2008/06/30/voice-lab-strategy/
2. http://blogoverip.sanguangueros.org/
3. http://www.andersonalves.net/2008/06/20/how-to-attack-a-full-ccie-security-lab-with-solutions/
4. http://www.blindhog.net/8-days-out…-11208/
5. http://www.ksu.ru/petr/CCIE-RS-Checklist-draft-part-1-v2.txt
6. http://www.sunpenguin.net/?p=86
7. http://cciepursuit.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/groupstudy-great-ccie-study-strategy/
8. http://cciekid.blogspot.com/2009/04/plan-of-attack.html
9. http://www.lessaid.net/ccie/index.php/2009/03/10/my-ccie-study-roadmap/
10. http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/41379
11. http://ipexpert.ccieblog.com/2008/12/26/ccie-security-version-30-study-path-during-this-transition/
12. http://www.wr-mem.com/?p=49

But what about my strategy?  Many have asked and I think that since I am currently working on my second CCIE I should mention how I did the first and how I am planning on doing the second.  So here goes:

The first- I used two vendors, IPexpert and Internetwork Expert.  I used both vendors labs and I ended up taking both vendors training classes.  What I found was that the material was pretty much equivalent since it was based on the same CCIE Blueprint but one vendor in my opinion had better customer service.  In the end I decided to use just one vendor.  I found that I spent too much of my time trying to figure out which vendor was better when I should have just chosen a vendor and put all my efforts into learning the material.  The first CCIE took me 3 attempts and 2 years.

The second- I am only using one vendor and I will focus all my efforts on learning the technology using nothing but the vendor material and the Cisco documentation that would be available in the actual exam.  I believe this to be the best way to prepare, based on my past experience, however time will tell.

One last recommendation I can make is to spend as much time on the labs as you can.  The VoDs are good, audio bootcamps are good, and reading is good also.  Here is the bottom line- the CCIE is a “Hands-on” exam.  you must have time on the gear.  For this I recommend a combination of rack rentals and the use of Dynamips.  Dynamips is good to make simple labs that you can use when traveling (great for plane trips with no internet access) and the live labs are best for most other situations.  By spending most of you time on the live labs you will not waste time messing with meaningless dynamips configurations/settings/tweaks.  Remember the key is the be working on the Cisco labs.

Well, thats it for now.  Keep up the studies- in the end it actually pays off!