RE: Time saving tips for during LAB [Time Management]

I'd reiterate that the discussion of what is or isn't productive is
rather subjective.

For example, some folks find that using large terminal windows works
better for them.
Personally, I took full advantage of the fact that the LCD monitors
currently in RTP have much better resolution than the screen I looked at
4 years ago when I was there.

I used a tabbed version of SecureCRT for practice labs at home but the
version of SCRT in RTP is old enough that there are no tabs.
Well, I didn't let that stop me from creating a full desktop of 6 SCRT
windows, properly sized with small fonts, adequate scrollback buffer,
and a number of other overlapping windows, one to each device. For me,
seeing when changes to one device result in messages appearing at the
same time on another device console, is good feedback. I even went as
far as customizing the background color of each window because staring
at black on white for long periods doesn't work for me.

;-0 I don't mean to sound conceited but I think I may know a thing or
two about taking labs having done a 2 for 2. No, I've never rebooted
(actually once because the task required it) and no I don't use ping
scripts, nor do I use aliases. That doesn't mean that they're useless,
just that I didn't think they'd provide me any additional benefit.

Like I said, it's rather subjective but all the suggestions I've seen
thus far are good nevertheless.
Bottom line is, figure what puts you most at ease when doing labs, try
and recreate that environment as best as you can on lab day and worry
about more important things. Of course, it helps to have a sound plan of
attack for the actual lab questions as well.

As a time-saving tip, how about something as simple as keeping the DOC
cd page always open?
When trying to find a topic, open a new window or tab from the
appropriate link in the "home" screen. It can shave precious seconds off
navigating back and forth from the home page. But that's something I
picked up along the way while doing practice labs...

I should also mention that both times I used up just about the entire 8
hrs as well, so take the bits above about no aliases and such with a
grain or two of salt.

At the risk of sounding rather dated:
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
One man's meat is another man's poison.
etc.

Vijay Ramcharan

Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
Received on Thu Sep 10 2009 - 18:31:19 ART