CCIE R&S v4.0 Lab Exam Demo

After passing the CCIE R&S Written qualification exam over 1 week ago, I have been busy tending to post celebratory duties, which include scheduling the Lab and finalizing a solid study schedule. With regards to the latter, some research was required, which led me to watch an interesting video from The Human Network. This video is an overview of the CCIE Lab 4.0 interface one might expect to see at lab time.



CCIE R&S v4.0 Lab Exam Demo (12:40 min)
This demo will familiarize candidates with the online interface that has replaced paper exams, which presents the virtual topology, test questions, documentation and tools. Strongly recommended for all candidates.

The main page can be found here.

For those who needed to hear Cisco say it...

Core Knowledge Questions Removed for CCIE R&S and Voice Lab Exams

With more than six months of exam results now available, Cisco is able to report that the troubleshooting components of the CCIE R&S v4.0 and CCIE Voice v3.0 lab exams are performing well in validating expert level networking skills. Considering these results, Cisco has decided to eliminate the Core Knowledge questions from the current CCIE R&S v4.0 and CCIE Voice v3.0 Lab Exams. Beginning on May 10, 2010, CCIE R&S and CCIE Voice Lab Exams, in all global locations, will no longer include the four open-ended Core Knowledge questions. The total lab time will remain eight hours. For the CCIE R&S Lab Exam, this means candidates will begin with the two-hour Troubleshooting section, followed by a six-hour Configuration section. For CCIE Voice, candidates will have the full eight hours to complete the integrated exam. At this time, only the R&S and Voice tracks will be eliminating the Core Knowledge questions.

Solie I & II

I came across an interesting "blurb" about Karl Solie, CCIE #4599. As you may know, he's written a couple of lab books that cover an older blueprint, yet his books are still in demand. What I plan on doing is supplementing (as needed) Foundations and S2N with portions of his lab books. I'll match the relevant chapters from his books with the blueprint. These books are excellent and if you can find them at the right price, get them. Vendor lab books are expensive and this is a great way to learn and save.

CCIELab has passed the CCIE!

Read all about CCIE Lab Preparation's experience here:

CCIE #22262
My Lab Experience - Part I
My Lab Experience - Part II

CCIE Pursuit's 1st Lab Attempt - Write Up

A two part series (at this point) that gives one an excellent view into the lab (without NDA violation). IMO, one of the more thorough descriptions out there.

Check them out here:

CCIE Pursuit Blog

My Lab Experience - Part I
My Lab Experience - Part II

CCIE Lab View - See What Its Like!

Check out the Virtual Tour of the CCIE Lab here!

Nice!

Pipe-ology CDP

Ever need to get the Device name or IP address from other devices
connected to the router/switch you are currently in? A "show cdp
neighbors detail" will do the trick. But what if you have multiple
devices connected to your router or switch? Sifting through the output
could be painful. That's where the pipe (|) comes in. Our format is
show cdp neighbors detail | include [string1]|[string2]. Issue the
"sh cdp neighbors detail | include Device|IP" and we'll get the desired
output without the sifting. (sh cdp ne det | in Dev|IP - for short)

R1#sh cdp neighbors detail
-------------------------
Device ID: SW1.switch.net
Entry address(es):
IP address: 10.x.x.x
Platform: cisco WS-C2950G-24-EI, Capabilities: Switch IGMP
Interface: FastEthernet0/0.1, Port ID (outgoing port): FastEthernet0/24
Holdtime : 147 sec

Version :
Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software
IOS (tm) C2950 Software (C2950-I6K2L2Q4-M), Version 12.1(22)EA11, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)
Copyright (c) 1986-2008 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Tue 08-Jan-08 11:12 by amvarma

advertisement version: 2
Protocol Hello: OUI=0x00000C, Protocol ID=0x0112; payload len=27,

value=00000000FFFFFFFF010221FF0000000000000012009B7E00FF0000
VTP Management Domain: ''
Native VLAN: 1
Duplex: full

R1#

Using the pipe:

R1#sh cdp neighbors detail | include Device|IP
Device ID: SW1.switch.net
IP address: 10.5.5.50
R1#


Shortcut version:

R1#sh cdp ne det | in Dev|IP
Device ID: SW1.switch.net
IP address: 10.x.x.x
R1#

Note: IP addresses and Device names are blocked to protect the innocent. Also, the
strings are case sensitive.

Lab Challenges

Where were blogs like these in 2000? Here's a couple of lab challenges from Just another CCIE
CCIE #20728. Pretty nice, and also free! So go ahead, lab it up!


http://ccie20728.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/lab-challenge-eigrp/#more-205
http://ccie20728.wordpress.com/2008/05/11/lab-challenge-igp-eigrp-ospf-and-rip/

Groupstudy's CCIE Discussion list:

Groupstudy's Cisco CCIE Certification Discussion list is another great resource, especially for those who haven't yet completed the CCIE Written portion. As I have only one 3550 switch to practice routing on, and 3 2950s, I wondered how I could route across the 2950s. The following posting entitled "Routng between 3550 and 2950" explains it. See below:



HI Experts,


Following is my topology:-

R1(2611) <---> R2(2611) <---->SW1(3550) ======SW2(2950) <----->
R3(2611) <----->R4(2611)

Note:- Link between the SW1 & SW2 is etherchannel

My query is:-

1. Can the routes be received from R1 to R4.If yes then how should be
the Switches configured coz one of them is Layer 2 and the other is
Layer 3

What I have done so far:-

1. I tried configuring SW1 as layer 3 interface and sw2 as layer 2 on
one of the Interface . the link came up but still couln't get routes
from R1 to R4. I did this configuration by deleting the etherchannel
between the 2 switches. I think this is a wrong configuration but I
don't knowhow I should make the packets reachable in this scenario.



--
Warm Regards
Raghav


RESPONSE:



One option creat whaterver L3 SVi on 3550 say
!
Int vlan 33
ip addr 33.33.33.1/24
!

On the interface connecting to the L2 switch.. just say sw acc vl 33 and the
same command on the interface connecting to R3

On R3.
int eth0/0
ip add 33.33.33.3/24
!

You should be able to ping between Sw1 and R3 then. You could also leave the
link between sw1 and sw2 to be a trunk and just make changes on the link
connecting to R3.

Do read Lan Switching by Clark should help you out with most switching tech.

-Hoogen

Skipping the CCNP, and straight to the CCIE?

Yep! I have decided not to pursue the CCNP. (I actually earned the CCNP and CCDP in 2001-02). I will instead start preparing for the CCIE Written and then the lab. There are some arguments as to why you should skip the CCNP, but I am skipping it simply to bypass the rehashing. I have a full lab setup, though not as fancy as most, but enough to get 85-90% of the topics done. I can rent rack time after that.

10 TIPS FOR TAKING THE LAB EXAM

STUDY TIPS

Assessing Strengths
Using the content blueprint, determine your experience and knowledge in the major topic areas. For areas of strength, practicing for speed should be your focus. For weak areas, you may need training or book study in addition to practice.

Study Materials
Choose lab materials that provide configuration examples and take a hands-on approach. Look for materials that are approved or provided by Cisco and its Learning Partners.

Hands-On Practice
Build and practice lab scenarios on a per topic basis. Go beyond the basics and practice additional features. Learn the show and debug commands along with each topic. If a protocol has multiple ways of configuring a feature, practice all of them.

Cisco Documentation CD
Make sure you can navigate the Cisco documentation CD with confidence because this is the only resource you will be allowed during the lab. Make the CD part of your regular study; if you are familiar with it, you can save time during the exam. As of March 2006, the documentation can only be navigated using the index; the search function has been disabled.

Home Labs
Although acquiring a personal home lab is ideal, it can be costly to gather all the equipment you will need. For the hardware devices that are costly to obtain, you may be able to rent the equipment online at a more reasonable cost.

TEN TIPS FOR TAKING THE LAB EXAM

1. Read the entire exam first and check for addressing issues. Do not skip any details or sections.



2. Manage your time. Make a plan to cover all the sections in the time provided. Work out how much time you will spend on each section, keeping in mind the point value of the questions. Don’t forget to allow time at the end to verify your solutions.



3. Clarify the requirements of each question. Don’t assume requirements that aren’t mentioned in the question. During the lab, if you are in any doubt, verify your understanding of the question with the proctor.



4. Do each question as a unit. Configure and verify before moving to the next question. You may want to redraw the topology with all the details available. This will help you visualize and map the network.



5. Troubleshoot. You must know how to troubleshoot using the tools available. Although troubleshooting is important, don’t lose too much time working on a 2- or 3-point question. If you’re caught off-guard by an unfamiliar topic, don’t let it absorb too much time. Work on the things you are more comfortable with and go back to difficult items later.



6. Keep a list. During the exam, make notes on configurations and settings as you move through the exam. Make a separate list for items you have not been able to address or where you have not achieved the desired result which you’ll need to revisit.



7. Test your work. Never rely on a configuration done in the early hours of the exam. There is a possibility that an item you configured a few sections earlier can become broken and non-functional. Keep in mind that points are awarded for working configuration only.



8. Save your configurations often.



9. Don’t make any drastic changes in the last half hour of the exam.



10. Speed is vital on the exam. Review and practice core material the week before the exam to ensure you can move quickly through the less challenging questions.