The written and the lab are different goals and have different study materials. The key to the written is know the blueprint material down to a very fine detail level. For the written exam for routing and switching you can:
Read Books (there is a recommended book list)
Read Online reference (also linked from Cisco's R&S page)
Read a study guide or take classes.
One of the best online references is CCO documentation:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/home/home.htm
The CCIE R&S page:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/rs/index.html
The books:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/rs/book_list.html
The online resources:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/rs/online_resources.html
The recommended classes are cisco classes and boil down to:
The CCNP track which consists of ICND or CCNA, a routing exam BSCI 642-901, ONT 642-825, a switching exam BCMSN 642-812, and a WAN/Remote access exam ISCW 642-845) plus part of the CCIP track: QoS and MPLS and two IPv6 classes. So a good certification path that has a natural progression to follow is CCNA, CCNP, CCIP then CCIE written.
I'm not sure if any of the recommended classes really prepare you for the lab.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
What does it take to become a CCIE?
It is both very simple and very difficult to become a CCIE. Simple because there are only two requirements. Difficult because each requirement requires money, mental effort and time.
To get a CCIE all you need is to pass the lab exam. In order to take the lab, you have to pass the written exam. You only have to pass two things, unlike the CCNP, CCVP, CCSP or CCDP certifications with 4 or 5 tests.
The written: You must pass the written exam in order to schedule the CCIE lab. The written exam costs 300$ and is 100 questions long. I took a beta and studied about 2 weeks at 3 hours a night (except one night), so I studied just under 40 hours. I narrowly failed that exam and think that probably about 100 hours of studying would be about right to pass the exam. It helps if you have years of hands on experience with networking and the type of technology that the CCIE exam covers. You can take the written at any certified testing center (probably 1000s of locations around the world). It takes 120 minutes or less for the exam.
The lab: The lab exam costs $1250 per attempt, not including travel and lodging expenses. There are currently ten locations in the world to take the lab, so it is very likely that travel and lodging will be an expense. Most people fail the first attempt. So on average you will pay about $3500 to get a CCIE in just exam costs. Training materials, labs and cram courses may cost you more. A budget of $5000 to pass the CCIE is probably on the cost conscious side. The lab used to be two days, but now it is one day, about 8 hours.
To get a CCIE all you need is to pass the lab exam. In order to take the lab, you have to pass the written exam. You only have to pass two things, unlike the CCNP, CCVP, CCSP or CCDP certifications with 4 or 5 tests.
The written: You must pass the written exam in order to schedule the CCIE lab. The written exam costs 300$ and is 100 questions long. I took a beta and studied about 2 weeks at 3 hours a night (except one night), so I studied just under 40 hours. I narrowly failed that exam and think that probably about 100 hours of studying would be about right to pass the exam. It helps if you have years of hands on experience with networking and the type of technology that the CCIE exam covers. You can take the written at any certified testing center (probably 1000s of locations around the world). It takes 120 minutes or less for the exam.
The lab: The lab exam costs $1250 per attempt, not including travel and lodging expenses. There are currently ten locations in the world to take the lab, so it is very likely that travel and lodging will be an expense. Most people fail the first attempt. So on average you will pay about $3500 to get a CCIE in just exam costs. Training materials, labs and cram courses may cost you more. A budget of $5000 to pass the CCIE is probably on the cost conscious side. The lab used to be two days, but now it is one day, about 8 hours.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Why would I want to become a CCIE?
A CCIE ( http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/index.html ) is one of if not the IT industry's top certifications.
I'm on a quest to obtain the certification. Why would I want to do that?
1) Personal accomplishment. I like learning material, and passing tests. I also like meeting goals, especially difficult goals. I've already acquired some other certifications like: Microsoft MCP, Cisco CCNP and CCDP, and several others.
2) Education: I like learning material, and passing tests. I'm always striving to become better educated. The CCIE is very specific and focused and shows an in depth knowledge of a specific aspect of Information Technology.
3) Professional development: The CCIE allows for professional development if you are in a technical role in IT. That may mean career options open for you. It may mean more money. It may mean more interesting work. Generally a certification like the CCIE opens doors professionally.
4) Personal development: Having a family a job and pursuing education is difficult and requires cultivating good habits, growing personally and learning more about yourself. It is difficult to pass an exam like this while pursuing it 40 hours a week. Pursuing it while having a full time job and a family requires personal development.
I'm on a quest to obtain the certification. Why would I want to do that?
1) Personal accomplishment. I like learning material, and passing tests. I also like meeting goals, especially difficult goals. I've already acquired some other certifications like: Microsoft MCP, Cisco CCNP and CCDP, and several others.
2) Education: I like learning material, and passing tests. I'm always striving to become better educated. The CCIE is very specific and focused and shows an in depth knowledge of a specific aspect of Information Technology.
3) Professional development: The CCIE allows for professional development if you are in a technical role in IT. That may mean career options open for you. It may mean more money. It may mean more interesting work. Generally a certification like the CCIE opens doors professionally.
4) Personal development: Having a family a job and pursuing education is difficult and requires cultivating good habits, growing personally and learning more about yourself. It is difficult to pass an exam like this while pursuing it 40 hours a week. Pursuing it while having a full time job and a family requires personal development.
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