RE: OT: SP workbooks

All,

I have volumes 1 and 2(full labs) from INE and volumes 2 and 3 from IPX (full labs). I have also been to the SP lab once so I have a good feel for what is required to pass.

In my opinion, the ten INE's full labs are much superior to IPX's ten full labs. Yes, they are a bit "old" but they cover the technology rather well. The IPX are "ok" but I feel that INE covers the material in more depth and in a style that is better represents the style of the lab. The INE books DO HAVE the complete solutions with verification steps. Check your members section. While there are occasional errors in the INE books, they are well discussed in the online forums and the errors really stretched my troubleshooting and verification abilities.

I did not get IPX's volume 1 labs and did INE instead. I consider INE volume 1 labs to be introductory etudes.

The IPX books have DRM that is a royal pain to work with. I also have the IPX video solution walk through which is so elementary to be worthless, and it only covers four labs.

It might also be a matter of style, but I prefer INE graded labs to the IPX proctor labs.

Neither of the workbooks covers L2VPN adequately. However, I did take INE online bootcamp with Scott Morris where we did three additional labs. Those labs were dead on.

HTH

Thomas Loran
CCIE #7113

-----Original Message-----
From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of Gaurav Thukral
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 6:48 AM
To: backbone systems
Cc: Alexei Monastyrnyi; comserv_at_groupstudy.com; Group study
Subject: Re: OT: SP workbooks

Hi Guys,

I Know that INE have not updated the Workbook from a long time. So you can
use IPexpert & Iementor Tech labs for Technology understanding and INE &
IPexpert labs for Major Labs. That is the best solution.

On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 6:57 PM, backbone systems <
backbone.systems_at_gmail.com> wrote:

> INE SP workbooks are not that great.....the problem is that they have
> not updated them for long time.....try comparing the outline of INE
> with Antonio's blueprint and u will come to know how much they are
> missing.....i hope the r working on the updates....bc on rest of the
> tracks they are really doing fine......CoDs from IE are definitely
> perfect...A must for SP.....
>
> On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 1:40 PM, Alexei Monastyrnyi <alexeim73_at_gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > Guys and Gals,
> > I am thinking of buying a vendor workbook set for SP track and
> contemplating
> > IPX vs INE. The reason for other vendors to be left alone for now is
> > technology workbook I am interested in along with full-labs.
> >
> > Price-wise it is more beneficial to buy INE set, one gets two workbooks
> (Vol
> > 1 and Vol 2), plus Dynamips version for full-lab one plus Technology CoD,
> > with recent promotion it is under 500 USD.
> >
> > IPX has end-of-year promotion for two workbooks (Vol 1 with 25 focus labs
> > and Vol 2 with 10 full labs) for exactly 500 USD, this promotion is not
> on
> > the web. Dynamips topologies are also available from IPX if I remember
> > right.
> >
> > So the Q is about quality. IPX claims they have an updated set of SP
> > workbooks comparing to those ppl would use several months ago. I have
> also
> > heard some feedbacks mentioning INE workbooks are sometimes erroneous and
> > little has been done to fix this over the last year or so. The benefit of
> > INE is obviously CoD included in the set.
> >
> > I just wanted to hear you opinions guys, sorry if it disrupts your
> studies.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > A.
> >
> >
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-- 
Regards,
Gaurav Thukral
CCIE#21156( R&S), CCIE SP (Q)
CCIP, CCDP, CCNA
Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net