Cisco -CCIE

tech

Has one one got a CCIE. Thinking of going down the CCNA Cisco route and aim for the top!!!

What kind of money can you expect if you have a CCIE ???? I know this is years away but no harm in dreaming!
:eek:

_CreeD_

By the time you get it though the market will have changed.... My last position was a Network Architect with about 5 years of specific network experience (13 overall in IT) and MCSE/CCSP cert level, I got my CCIE Sec in January and had a job within a week as a Snr. Network Security Engineer for almost double what I had been earning. You'll break 6 figures easily, but it will also cost you a lot in time and money along the way (there is no other cert path that can prepare you for it) and the job you end up in will be very high pressure. If you're fine with that then yes everything you've heard about it being a golden ticket is true.

tech

I must get my MCSE out of the way then start my CCNA and see form there!! sounds like hard work but worth it in the long run of things id say ?

tech

is It all secutiry design and stuff you end up doing?

NullZer0

tech wrote: »

is It all secutiry design and stuff you end up doing?

Cisco Security related stuff (IOS Security features, ASA etc..) - Although I don't know much about the security track!

I'm starting to work towards CCIE R&S as a good foundation and I'll take it from there. I've done ALOT of research and it seems to be the only way to go!

NullZer0

Is there anyone else going for this? (Specifically the R&S track)

Gaz

Ive got the CCNA and im currently trying to finish off my MCSE/MCSA 2003 .... after that im planning to start on the CCNP track and then CCIE , would you guys think sims are enough for CCNP ?? Or is a home lab a much better option ?

Oh and if I did buy a kit from somewhere like ciscokits.com will i get stung on customs taxes and stuff ?

NullZer0

Don't buy anything (well at least thats my advice!).

You can do all the labs for the CCNP (well most of) using dynamips/dynagen and GNS3 (if you want a GUI).

Heres a great video on how to configure dynamips with dynagen on Windows:
http://www.internetworkexpert.com/resources/iosonpc.htm

Dynamips can't emulate the hardware of a layer 3 switch but you can use a router with an NM-16ESW (Ethernet switch module, 16 ports) for some layer 2 stuff. Although not all commands are supported, you can cover alot of stuff.

Its worth noting that dynamips runs far, far better on Linux than it does on Windows and it is possible to allow it to "speak" to external devices.

I'm in the process of getting my CCIE together at the moment which will consist of a reasonably spec'd PC running Ubuntu and Dynamips I will connect externally to 2 x Catalyst 3550's and 2x Catalyst 3560's (when I can afford them!). With this configuration I will be able to do ALL of the lab scenarios and it will have cost me alot less than a full lab.

At the moment I am using the rack rentals over at internetwork expert and they are very reasonably priced and the core technology labs are great for learning and perfecting the individual tasks.

Internetwork expert also have a lab workbook for dynamips specifically which is pretty good from what I've done so far:
http://www.internetworkexpert.com/ccie-workbook-routing-switching-full-scale-labs.htm

I've been hitting the books hard and reading alot of stuff, mainly RFC's and Cisco Study guides. I haven't confined my study to one area really.

I've read all the study guides for the CCNA and CCNP and I've labbed out most of the stuff in each of them. In addition I've been reading some of the stuff from the CCIE recommended reading list over here:

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/rs/book_list.html

Its estimated that if you were to read all the recommended books @ 100 pages per day it would take you two years so its pretty intense stuff.

Here are some links you might be interested in:
http://www.blindhog.net/
http://rickmur.com/
http://www.brainbump.net/
http://www.mcseworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9462


Where are you located and what stage are you at on your CCNP prep if you don't mind me asking?

Gaz

My Cisco stuff is on hold at the moment, working towards MCSE 2003 for now, have 70-291 at the end of the month and thats MCSA done.

Im hoping to start on the CCNP track around the end of June and have it completed by year end ... well, thats the plan.

Thanks for all that info by the way !

Sleipnir

Anyone tried the FAS CCNA online course at all? It's only €120 quid so I was thinking of doing it. (iRock, you know I need it!)

NullZer0

Gaz wrote: »

My Cisco stuff is on hold at the moment, working towards MCSE 2003 for now, have 70-291 at the end of the month and thats MCSA done.

Im hoping to start on the CCNP track around the end of June and have it completed by year end ... well, thats the plan.

Thanks for all that info by the way !

No problem, totally go for it. Judging by any research I have done, it'll advance your career far faster than the MS Stuff.

Sleipnir wrote: »

Anyone tried the FAS CCNA online course at all? It's only €120 quid so I was thinking of doing it. (iRock, you know I need it!)

I'm no expert but I wouldn't do it if I was you to be honest.
You have a reasonable grasp in my opinion and its not that hard.

I would read the Cisco press books and lab some stuff in GNS3 if I were you (thats what I did, but I haven't taken the exam yet).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Certification-Library-640-802-Guide/dp/1587201836/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240012690&sr=8-1

If you wanted to use video training too, I'd use CBT nuggest but it isn't essential. The stuff isn't that heavy if you just hit it hard for a month... it'll pay off.




iRock

Capt'n Midnight

What hardware if any do you need for CCIE ?

Can it all be done though virtual routers like http://www.virtualpod.org/ and the cisco config tools ?

What minimum version of IOS do you need , could a couple of old 2500's do ??

NullZer0

Hey there Capt'n Midnight,

Okay, you can do alot using dynamips/dynagen.

Other than that you can get rack rentals here:
http://www.internetworkexpert.com/ccie_rack_rentals.htm (very affordable).

If you are doing R&S - start with this:
http://www.internetworkexpert.com/ccie-workbook-routing-switching-advanced-tech-labs.htm

The Advanced tech labs will build the core technologies required for the exam.

Myself I just studied CCNA, CCNP and CCIE written without getting certified yet.
I lab everynight though to keep things fresh.

Recommended reading for CCIE R&S Lab (at a BARE minimum):
TCP/IP Illustrated: Volumes 1, 2, and 3 (Stevens/Wright, Addison Wesley, ISBN# 0201633469, 020163354X, 0201634953) - Mostly Volume I for the written. But read the two... front to back and inside out, upside down etc...

Interconnections: Bridges & Routers, Second Edition (Perlman, Addison Wesley, ISBN# 0201634481) - Haven't read it yet AFAIK alot of older CatOS stuff but helps build towards what you need.


CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide, 3rd Edition (Odom, Healy, Mehta, ISBN# 1587201968) - An outline for the exam, what you should now - this is NOT a technology fundamentals book. Reading the book will require additional reading of RFC's etc.

I think its very important, for the written to keep your studies primarily (although not alway) vendor independent.

If you have the $$$ go for this (I know two people who passed within 12 months with it):
http://www.internetworkexpert.com/ccie-routing-switching-2-0.htm




By the way, in the lab exam:

You may see more recent IOS versions installed in the lab, but you will not be tested on the new features of a release unless indicated below.
* 3725 series routers - IOS 12.4 mainline – Advanced Enterprise Services
* 3825 series routers - IOS 12.4 mainline – Advanced Enterprise Services
* Catalyst 3550 series switches running IOS version 12.2 – IP Services
* Catalyst 3560 Series switches running IOS version 12.2 - Advanced IP Services



Know this inside out (at least the routing section on 12.2-12.4):
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/home/home.htm

In addition to all of the above, you will need the thirst and ambition for success on the lab. The average number of attempts per candidate is 2.98 IIRC. You will also need to be able to stand on your own two feet and NOT listen to people saying its impossible.

And of course ----> LUCK <

---

Good Luck!


HTH,


iRock

NullZer0

How do the part time MSc computer / mixed discipline courses in DIT / UCD rate in the job market compared to the Microsoft / Cisco courses ?

Also, to answer your question without hijacking the other thread. CCIE will mean job security and $$$ but thats not why I'm doing it. The strongest at the moment is CCIE Voice. But everyone should have a firm grounding with R&S IMO