From: Iohan Reyes (ijr@xxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Sun Dec 02 2001 - 21:41:15 GMT-3
Matt -
Thanks for the inspirational email. It is quite impressive that you
managed to go from CCNA to CCIE in 2 years. I am glad that you have
finally achieved your goal, and hope that I too shall attain it next week.
It will be my 2nd try on Dec. 4.
I agree with you that the exam is definitely not impossible, but I also
believe you had so much time left because you were so well prepared. My
experience on my first try (Nov. 2) was that I needed at least 1 more hour
to get everything working right. Maybe that means I wasn't as prepared as
I thought I was.
Nevertheless, I'll give it another go, and I hope to be writing the "CCIE
#" email on Wednesday.
Thanks,
Iohan
--On Sunday, December 02, 2001 12:47:57 -0500 Matt Smith
<matt-n-donna@cablespeed.com> wrote:
> Colleagues,
> I am happy to be able to write one of these emails myself. After
> reading the many stories and horror tails of the lab test I am pleased to
> tell all of you that it is indeed an achievable goal. I passed my lab on
> November 30th in RTP. I just wanted to share my story in the hopes that
> it may provide some support for those of you who are striving to achieve
> this accomplishment.
>
> I received my CCNA about 2 years ago. I went on from there to get my CCNP
> which I earned about 6 months later. I took a break for a little while
> after getting my CCNP to prepare for the arrival of my new baby
> girl...priorities. At any rate I began to study for my written around
> December of 2000. I passed the written in early February 2001 and
> embarked on the real studying. I scheduled the my lab date of November
> 30th along with my lab partner in early March. I was lucky enough be
> employed my a major Cisco VAR and we therefore have a pretty good
> stockpile of Cisco routers and switches with which along with my partner
> we created our own VLAB. We set up remote access to the terminal server
> and then had access to all 13 routers and 3 swithes 24x7. We spent
> approx. 30 hours a week each on the equipment running through scenario
> after scenario as well as augmenting the scenarios with our own stumpers
> that we would create for each other. I used the standard set of study
> materials that I am sure everyone has already mentioned in previous
> emails similar to this one. (Caslow, Routing TCP/IP Vol I & II, etc). I
> usually spent about 12 hours a week reading here an there as well.
>
> Ok...enough boring stuff....
>
> We drove down to RTP on Thursday the 29th. We checked into our hotel
> around 4:00 and then did some light review. At around 6:00 we left to go
> find the RTP facility since neither of us had ever been there. We found
> it easily enough and then went and had dinner. The next morning we woke
> up at 5:30 and got ourselves ready. We did some more light review and
> quizzed each other on a few topics. We left for the lab at 6:50ish. We
> showed up at the facility at 7:05 and waited in the parking lot until we
> saw the proctor in the lobby of the building. We went into the building
> and waited in the lobby with the proctor for the rest of the test takers.
> Once everyone had arrived we were let in and the test began. Thats about
> all I think I will risk sharing with you about the actual testing but I
> am sure many of you already have experienced it.
>
> The test can definitely be accomplished in the allotted timeframe. I was
> actually finished with the initial configurations at 1:30 with 3 hours
> left. I spent the 3 hours winding down clearing my head and rechecking
> each and everything I could on every question. My suggestion is read the
> questions as many times as you can until you are absolutely understanding
> what is being asked of you. When in doubt dont hesitate to ask questions
> of the proctor. I found the proctors (I had 2 present) to be extremely
> professional and helpful to the fullest extent that they are allowed to
> be. They clarified a number of questions that I had but were extremely
> careful not to divulge any information that would give any answers away.
>
> We finished our test shortly after 4:00pm and we all left. Neither my
> partner nor I were feeling very confident about our tests. We went back
> to the hotel and had dinner and some beers to calm the nerves and went to
> sleep. I woke up the next morning and went home. When I arrived home my
> score report was already in my inbox giving me the news that I had
> passed. Unfortunately my partner did not fair as well as I did and
> missed the required points.
>
> My only suggestion to those who have not taken the lab test yet is to not
> pay allot of attention to the horror stories you hear on here so often.
> Several people in the past have written very good accounts of their test
> experiences and I implore you to listen to those stories. Time is tight
> but not extremely so. The test is difficult but fair. Nervousness is
> your biggest enemy. I made a few dumb mistakes early on in the test but
> once I calmed down and got into my grove I overcame them easily. Stay
> focused and above all else believe in your abilities.
>
> I close with a sincere Hankyu to all of those on this list that take the
> valuable time out of your day to entertain questions and provide your
> insights. You are the reason this list is such a good tool. It is
> inspiring to me to see how so many people from such disparate cultures
> and walks of life can come together for the shear purpose of helping one
> another towards a common goal. Luck to all and may you achieve your
> goals as well.
>
> Best of Luck to Each
> Matthew Smith CCIE 8480
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