Globalconfig.net

This blog, GlobalConfig.net is now available on the Amazon Kindle. I am a fan of the Kindle, and you can read about it in my post on how to take 200 books on a trip with you.

Anyhow, its 1.99 a month and you can subscribe to it here.

I really enjoy providing content that users find interesting. I have a few projects that will be announced here in the next few months so be sure to stay tuned. You’re gonna like these announcements if you are working on a Cisco Certification and need that extra push. Make sure you subscribe to the Newsletter in the top left of this page.

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?

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!

• CCIE Voice Written Prep-Part 1.
  (tags: CCIE-Voice)

I think every CCIE candidate goes through a time like I am right now. At least, they do when they pass. Its been about a month since I passed the lab in RTP and since then it has been really difficult for me to blog about anything. I know this sucks for CCNA Wireless candidates because my blog over at Network World is suffering as well. The thing is, I am really unmotivated right now. I know there are a number of new and exciting things I want to do, like going after a second CCIE, but its really hard to keep posting when your mind is numb.

Things at Ascolta have been really interesting lately. People have moved on and others have moved in. One of the most respected instructors I know, Roger McLain, is now a full time instructor at Ascolta. He also just started using Twitter so be sure to follow him.

On another note, I noticed Mike Down is up to his usual making mad deals at IPexpert. Its good to have him back. I just noticed a Weekend Only Voice Bootcamp deal. If I have the funds and the time I would jump all over this deal. I took the CCIE Security Boot Camp with Jared Scrivener and It was top notch. It was really a big part of my passing the lab. I learned invaluable information from Jared. If you are planning on taking a class soon I would really check it out- Its a great deal. It looks like its $2,999.00 for the class and when you consider the level of the training you cant compare to that. If you were to just take a CIPT1 or CIPT2 class, or even a CVOICE class you would spend that on just one class.

Speaking of CIPT1, my CIPT1 class that I was supposed to teach was just postponed. Bummer!

And finally, next week is going to be really interesting. Next week I am teaching a QOS class in Lake Oswego, Or. What is really interesting is that I will have 6 students in front of me and one on Webex. I’ve never taught a “simulcast” class before. Have any of you readers been in a class like this? If so, what did you like and what did you NOT like? I welcome any tips you may have. I’m excited about it because we just got upgraded to the new version of Webex, WBS27. The interface is awesome and it now supports video for the MAC.

Right now I have been recommending the book: Cisco QOS Exam Certification Guide (IP Telephony Self-Study) (2nd Edition)
by Wendell Odom. If you want to tear apart the majority of Cisco QOS tools this is a great book that covers the course and exam objectives.

I know most of you have heard already, but if not, I passed the CCIE Security exam in RTP on March 13th, 2009. I wanted to take a moment to recap my journey.

I have been a Cisco Instructor for 8 years now. I have been teaching the CCSP track since it’s inception, and taught various courses of the CSS-1 prior to that. Although I was a CCSP, I didn’t take the CCIE Security Written exam until March 21, 2007. I passed with an 85 on my first attempt. I used the CCBootcamp written exam guide to prepare for that, along with my existing knowledge as a CCSP/Instructor.

Studying for the lab is a whole new ball game. It’s weird because there is a total difference between knowing the book material that Cisco tests you on for the Professional level certifications, and being able to teach it, and knowing the material that is on the CCIE lab exam and being able to implement it. Don’t get me wrong, I knew the material, and the concept of why things were happening were easy to me. What was difficult is putting it all together. When you teach an ASA class, IPS class, or any other security class for that matter, it doesn’t cover how all these things work together. Thats where the CCIE will get you!

Anyhow, I know people are wondering what material I used in preparing for the lab exam. I made a video to show you, mainly because I think the spread of material is impressive. Please do not get mad at me for killing a tree. In the future I’ll use PDFs. Also, forgive me for the quality of the video. I am to cheap to buy an HD camera. I made the video at 6-am so don’t expect much.

So, assuming you watched that video and know what I used to prepare, I’ll give you the run down of the lab.

First time was in San Jose. I was overwhelmed. I had a decent understanding but no strategy. I ran out of time and had maybe 50 points.

Second time was in San Jose as well. It went better than the first but still there were some grey areas for me and even though I took the InternetworkExpert Online Bootcamp and used Brian’s strategy I still was missing something.

The Third, and Final attempt was in RTP, North Carolina. There is no particular reason I switch to RTP. It’s not closer to me by any means. I live in Seattle. But I wanted something fresh. I stayed at the Wingate hotel which was great. The bed was comfortable and the rate was fair. I flew in the night before the exam. I arrived at the hotel at 9pm, took half of a sleeping pill (Melatonin) and crashed. I woke up refreshed and ready to go.

The hotel had a continental breakfast and I didn’t eat much but forced myself to eat a little. I stopped at Starbucks on the way, and headed over to the Cisco office. Now when you get there you should know that the building will remain dark until right around 7am. There is nobody there to meet you in the lobby. Someone from Cisco was taking the lab as well and they let me in the lobby using their badge. At about 7:10 the proctor came out. He was very nice and much more chatty than Tom (nice guy) in San Jose.

We were led back to the room and from there its your standard lab exam stuff. We broke at about 11 for lunch. I say about 11 because they cater in lunch and there wasn’t a set time. You still only get 30 minutes for lunch. I ate a bit and tried to work out some issues in my head.

I finished about 45 minutes early but left 15 minutes before the Proctor called it a day. That includes my clean up and so on. I didn’t use the last 45 minutes to do any extra verifications because I didn’t want to break anything. Then I went to dinner at the Angus Barn. I had Alaskan King Crab Claws, a 24oz New York Strip and an Oatmeal Stout. Pass or fail I was going to enjoy that meal.

The wait was excruciating. I didn’t get my results until about 8:30 on Sunday night, so if you are planning on taking the lab on Friday you should be aware of that.

Now that its over I am enjoying the fact that I don’t have a deadline staring me in the face, but I still love the technology and want to learn more. I think the next track that I am going to pursue is the CCIE voice, but I have the CCVP in between that I have to get up to Instructor level on. I already have the IPexpert CCIE Voice BLS and plan on renting from Proctor Labs.

The big kicker for me was the bootcamp at ipexpert and the labs i did after that. Without the information I gained from IPexperts Jared Scrivener I dont think I would have passed. Im not going to give away all of his tricks because thats what he gets paid to do. But Seriously, Jared- You are the man!.

Also I can’t say enough about the support that I received from Ted Wagner at Ascolta. He really stood behind me even though there were other things he probably wanted me working on.

Wayne Lawson at IPexpert was another key player in my success along with Matt Brooks, Neil Apolzan, and Drew LaPla.

I can’t forget to mention Mike Down. Before Mike started pinging me online I only owned the IPexpert Volume 4.1 and the Proctor Guide, and I wasn’t really looking at using IPexpert.

One last person I have to mention is my wife. She was patient with me even though the family would take a hit from time to time while I was studying. The CCIE is not easy on a family but the accomplishment and the job security afterwards was the payoff I was looking for. I think I got it. Time will tell. At least I have her if the other stuff doesn’t pan out.

Thats about it for this rant. I’m going to keep blogging about topics that come up in my classes as well as through the contact form. When I start to study for the Voice IE I’ll try to blog it all here as well. In the mean time I am going to spend some time posting on Network World for the CCNA Wireless candidates and catching up on my sleep/socializing/theocratic activities/yard work/home improvement projects/reading/DVR/family videos/familiy photos/email/projects at work/fitness/weight loss/rss feeds/staring into space/day dreaming/playing darts with tyrel/texting my daughter/emailing my mom/calling my grandma/netflix/and enjoying whatever comes my way.

I’ve come to the conclusion that if ANYTHING gets me in the lab on Friday its going to be VPN. With so many options and piling one solution on top of another (e.g. EasyVPN plus DMVPN on the same interface) I am totally screwed. I cruised thru lab 18 all morning. had about 41 points at lunch and since then have only managed to accumulate 6 points. NHRP isnt even registering. R2 is the NHS but gives me a lovely message when you bounce the tunnel interface that there are no NHSs:

R2#debug nhrp
NHRP protocol debugging is on
R2#conf t
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
R2(config)#int t256
R2(config-if)#shut
R2(config-if)#
*Mar 10 22:53:31.291: NHRP: if_down: Tunnel256 proto IPv4
*Mar 10 22:53:31.291: NHRP: if_down: Tunnel256 proto IPv4
R2(config-if)#
*Mar 10 22:53:31.295: %CRYPTO-6-ISAKMP_ON_OFF: ISAKMP is OFF
R2(config-if)#no s
*Mar 10 22:53:33.291: %LINK-5-CHANGED: Interface Tunnel256, changed state to administratively down
*Mar 10 22:53:34.291: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Tunnel256, changed state to down
R2(config-if)#no shut
R2(config-if)#
*Mar 10 22:53:36.331: NHRP: if_up: Tunnel256 proto 0
*Mar 10 22:53:37.331: NHRP: Unable to send Registration - no NHSes configured
R2(config-if)#
*Mar 10 22:53:38.331: %LINK-3-UPDOWN: Interface Tunnel256, changed state to up
*Mar 10 22:53:38.331: NHRP: if_up: Tunnel256 proto 0
*Mar 10 22:53:38.331: NHRP: Unable to send Registration - no NHSes configured
R2(config-if)#
*Mar 10 22:53:38.331: %CRYPTO-6-ISAKMP_ON_OFF: ISAKMP is ON
*Mar 10 22:53:39.331: NHRP: Unable to send Registration - no NHSes configured
*Mar 10 22:53:39.331: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Tunnel256, changed state to up
R2(config-if)#

I still have sections 9 – 12 but I am so frustrated right now that I have to go clear my head. Maybe I need to watch the DVDonDemand section on VPNs again. I thought I had them down pretty good. I must be missing something. Well enough of my ranting. Time to move on.

Status Update: Yesterday the IPexpert CCIE Security 1-Week Lab Experience Exam Four Kicked my butt. I think I accomplished about 59 points on my own and then after checking realized that I would have missed 8 points on stupid stuff that I missed.

Today I am moving on to the IPexpert Workbook (version 4.1) Section 18 lab. I guess we’ll see how this one goes. I’ve never done this one before.

Here goes nothing….

Today I am starting an 8 hour Mock Lab. I’ll be working on IPexpert CCIE Security 1-Week Lab Experience – Exam Four. I left my phone in another room. I’ve turned off all notifiers. I’ve brought in a 5-hour energy shot for later, a cup of coffee, and I have a lab book sitting in front of me that I have never looked at. I have 3 sheets of white paper, a hand full of pencils that I don’t normally use, and ear plugs. This week I will not be updating my blog on Network World, Facebook account, or Twitter account, aside from the notification of my posts here which I will do before I start each day. I can’t even come close to explaining how I feel right now. My nerves are kicking in and I just want this to be over with.

Time to dive in.

Boy was that one fun. I am feeling better when it comes to VPN and my methodology of progressing through the lab. I still am concerned that some random VPN configuration is going to sneak up on me but at this point, all I can do is hope for the best. I have 6 days left until my lab. I have to travel today so I will not be able to get back on the labs until tomorrow morning.

I am now at the point where the lab is making me nervous. Still I want to get this thing out of the way so I can move on to some other projects that I have been itching to do. I guess we’ll see how it goes. Tomorrow I start IPexpert CCIE Security 1-Week Experience Lab 4. I’m hoping to knock it out in 8 hours.