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Mine is! I have the opportunity to take a really quick trip to San Jose and meet my new Boss and fellow instructors. I am really looking forward to it! 2010 is going to be a great year!

In other news….I have 1 class left at Ascolta- SNAA, which is advanced ASA training. A week of VPN with certificates lies ahead of me.

Also 2 for 1 vRack time this weekend at ipexpert. If you didnt catch their post on Facebook you can Email sales@proctorlabs.com to take advantage!

Time for me to hop on an R&S rack and lab a bit.

In my IPv6 Class this week we get to touch a number of IPv6 topics.  We have already discussed the Basics of IPv6, Routing Protocols, and QoS features.  Aside from tunneling, which we cover on Thursday, one of the topics that I am most facinated with (being a CCIE Security) is of course….wait for it……Security!  As I prep ahead of time for my class I can’t help but look to see what new and exciting resources are out there to share when it comes to Security.  The following video, IMHO, is pretty darn cool.  Take a little time to watch it and let me know what your thoughts are.

It’s been a few days since I’ve had a real post, although I have added some comments into the link posts that I’ve added.  If you haven’t noticed I just installed a new toolbar on the bottom of the site for your reading enjoyment.  If you find something you like you can easly share it now.

As for me, it has been crazy.  At one point in time I had 13 people in my house.  Now that all the visitors are gone and things are settled down I am getting back into the swing of things.  I’ve done some light studies for R&S and it looks like the CCIE in 90 days is not going to work out.  That’s ok with me, I wouldn’t feel like it was quality study time anyhow and going to take the lab would be like throwing 1400 bucks away.  I’m going to slow things up a bit.  Not because I want to, but because I have to.

The work front is interesting.  I have been at home since Cisco Live and don’t have travel scheduled until the last week of August.  I’ve been asked to pick up some of the voice classes, which brings me back to the issue I had before about whether I should work on the Voice or the R&S CCIE.  The R&S classes that I teach keep coming up, QOS next week and BGP in a few weeks, but at the same time I have to focus some of my learning time on what my job requires which is Voice.  So I am working in the CIPT1 course and getting certified to teach it.  It’s mostly all CUCM so it’s not too bad to study but it’s different when you are learning how to teach something versus how the technology works to impliment it.  It also cuts into my R&S study time.  Who knows if I will ever find the right balance.  In the mean time I will jump back and forth between R&S and Voice Studies.  I have the IPexpert BLS for both and plan on getting both of those CCIE Certifications someday.

Also, since everyone talked so highly of it, my wife and I have started P90x.  1-week down and I’m feeling pretty good.

Well thats if for now.  I hope to have some more technology focused posts in the near future.  Until then…study hard!

I know many of you have heard the term before. It’s not uncommon for someone to get in over their head, and its especially easy in the networking world to do just that. I set a goal a little while back to achieve the CCIE R&S in 90 days. At the time it seemed like a reasonable goal with my background. Since then I have learned a great deal about my weaknesses and the amount of content that’s actually involved in the CCIE R&S. Well, I’m here to tell you that a CCNP is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to being prepared for the CCIE R&S.

So, will I get it done? Can I actually get the R&S done in 90 days. Unlikely. I have much respect for those that have, but I have found that as I study the IPexpert material on the BLS there is much that I don’t know. I’m not saying that I can’t do it, I am just saying that 90 days may be a little unreasonable after all. There are of course multiple factors that play into this.

1. Getting a Lab date is tough right now since the lab is changing.
2. My schedule is hectic.
3. My family has to come first.
4. I have a lot to learn still.

So, I’m not going to give up, but I’m putting things into perspective.  I guess I’ll have to see how things go.  I haven’t even made it out of volume 1 of the workbooks yet, and that scares me!

Today, as I stare at my challenge of CCIE in 90 days, I worked on IPexpert R&S Volume 1 Lab 2. I am currently only about 12 steps in but have realized that some things are just tedious. For example, one task asked to make sure all ports not in use are static access. This sounds like an easy task until you have to look at each port status. I have become fond of the command:
show interface status | in Name|Administrative Mode|Operational Mode

It’s still a lot to pick through but at least its filtered a but.

Another issue that I want to spend some time on is Etherchannel. I had an issue with one leg coming up. The fix ended up being that I had to remove the Etherchannel and create it again. Still I found a good Cisco doc on troubleshooting it.

Thats all for now….back to my studies.

You may think so after what you are about to read. As many of you know, I have recently passed the CCIE Security Lab Exam. My next venture was planned to be the CCIE Voice. After assessing the landscape I’ve changed my mind. Here is what I am doing. It’s actually a little challenge. Do you think I can do it?

CCIE R&S in 90 days only using IPexperts End-to-End Program and the Cisco Doc Cd

Yes, you read it correctly. I plan on doing the CCIE R&S in 90 days using nothing but IPexpert products and Cisco Documentation. My study materials will include:

• Volume 1 Lab Workbook & Proctor Guide
• Volume 2 Lab Workbook & Proctor Guide
• Lab Mentoring Kit with Video Tutorials
• Video on Demand Lecture Series
• Audio Lecture on Demand
• Proctor Labs™ Online Rack Access
• 10 days of intense training in an IPexpert classroom facility

I’ll also be using the Online Study List for R&S (Maintained by IPexpert), and of course, the Doc Cd.

I think its going to be interesting and I know others have gone down this path before. You may be familiar with Tassos who has done it in 3 months. The difference between us is that this will make two labs passed in one year. That is, if I can do it!

Go Astorino, over at the CCIE Journey Blog just got his digits and is now recognized as CCIE #24347 under the Cisco CCIE Program. Congrats Joe!

If you haven’t already, head on over and give Joe a pat on the back. Also, read about his experience. It’s a long road if you are just starting out but totally worth it in the end.

Again, Congrats Joe!

IPexpert is known for Great Material, Industry Leading Instructors, killer deals and excellent customer service. Today, I noticed a special that they have started advertising. Here is what the promotion that i recieved in Facebook states:

If you’re preparing for your CCIE R&S, Voice or Security, and your training budget is a concern, be sure to review our May 2009 promotion.
Throughout this month only, our online (live – instructor led) virtual classes (and bundled vClasses & our complete self-study end-to-end / BLS) are discounted if you reference the following discount code: MD05VSR (in order to receive this promotion pricing please contact one of our CCIE-focused Training Advisors directly.

• Telephone: 1.810.326.1444 x 206
• Email: mdown@ipexpert.com
• Live Chat: www.ipexpert.com/chat

Promotion Pricing:

Track vClass Pricing Bundled (BLS + vClass)
R&S * $999.00 $1,499.00
Voice * $1,499.00 $2,999.00
Security * $1,499.00 $1,999.00

* vClass dates priced at the promotional rates are as follows:
R&S: June 15th – 19th, August 31st – September 4th
Voice: September 7th – 11th, November 16th – 20th
Security: June 29th – July 3rd, October 19th – 23rd

So what’s the big deal?

Well, look at the R&S pricing. It’s 999.00 for the vClass but if you add the BLS you get it for only 500 bucks more.

Here is the big deal- thats all their workbooks, solutions, video-on-demand, and audio bootcamp plus an class in the vClass environment. This saves you so much money- you dont have to travel, you dont have to waste time just getting there, and you don’t have to worry about missing something an instructor said because the class is recorded.

Anyhow, the pricing on Voice and Security isn’t too bad either, but R&S really stood out for me.  If you haven’t seen the BLS, head over to the demo on the IPexpert web site.  Just click the image to go there now!

I have the CCIE Voice BLS, but maybe I’ll try to take the voice vClass. I could really use that!  I think I want to pass the R&S, Voice, and Wireless by end of 2010.  Anyone think I can do it?

Over the Past Year I have tried to provide relevant information about the CCIE training that is out there as well as some of the updates to the CCIE Program itself. I have blogged about IPexpert as weIl as Internetwork Expert, and I’ve even talked about the new 360 Program.

Well, today I got an email, but I was unable to post about it earlier due to some family business I had to tend to. Here is what I was told:

Cisco today announced a major revision to its CCIE Routing & Switching (R&S) certification and the corresponding 360 Learning Program for R&S.

The update reflects the role of the expert in evaluating network changes; the growing use of IPv6 multicast, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and virtual private networks (VPNs) in the enterprise and the updating of lab equipment. Advances in testing include assessment of hands-on troubleshooting skills and the addition of scenario-based questions in the written examination.

This is very exciting news. In fact, over the next few months I will be evaluating the Cisco 360 Program as well as some of the other Vendor Programs.

To stay current with my posts you can subscribe to my RSS Feed or you could subscribe by email, follow me on twitter, or even friend me on Facebook. Check out my subscribe page for details. Either way, I’ll keep you all posted on my opinions.

If you have any thoughts why not share them in the comments section?

I know some of you that read this blog are working towards the CCIE Voice, and so am I.  Recently I have joined the OSL that is maintained by IPexpert.  This list is specific to CCIE Voice preparation but there are also lists for Security, Routing & Switching, and even Wireless (but it needs a little more love).

Anyhow, on the voice list, Larry Hadrava- CCIE #12203, with IPexpert, has begun to compile a list of must have links for CCIE Voice candidates. The initial two are:
Bandwidth Calculations

and

SRND Documents

If you haven’t joined the list yet I urge you to do so. You can follow this link to sign up for the voice list.

CCIE Voice Online Study List.

If Voice isn’t your thing you can sign up for one of the other lists:

R & S

Security

Wireless

Service Provider

Thanks IPexpert, for giving the community such a valuable resource!