Richard Bannister’s CCIE Blog

CCIE – Written Test Study Plan

Weekday schedule:
7:00 – Get up
7:45 - Set-off to work
8:30 – Work day begins
12.00 – Lunch begins
12.30 – Post blog entry and then spend 20mins on technical reading
13.00 – Lunch ends
17:15 – Work day ends, set-off home
18:00 – Arrive home
18:10 – Eat Dinner, bath the children, put the children to bed (inc. story….)
19:40 – Wash up
20:00 – Start studying
22:00 – Stop studying, do something unrelated to ICT
22:30 – Go to bed

Learning sources:
Main written exam learning source is:

Hereby known as ‘RSCG2’

Additional Sources:

• Cisco UniverCD (http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/index.htm)
• CCNP Notes
• CCNP Course Books
• Local Document Archive
• Configureterminal.com Newsletter
• Configureterminal.com ‘Command Memorizer’ software
• Websites
  • Cisco (http://www.cisco.com)
  • Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom)
  • Configureterminal (http://www.configureterminal.com)
  • IPCoach (http://www.ipcoach.com)
  • 911networks (http://www.911networks.com)
  • Group study (http://www.groupstudy.com/archives/ccielab)
  • Sadikhov Forums (http://www.sadikhov.com/forum/index.php?showforum=70)
  • NIL IPCorner (http://www.nil.com/ipcorner)
  • RouterIE (http://www.routerie.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi)
• RSS Feeds
  • CCIE Candinate (http://www.ethanbanks.net)
  • CCIE Pursuit (http://cciepursuit.wordpress.com)
  • Cisco IOS hints and tricks (http://ioshints.blogspot.com)
  • Cisco NetPro (http://forum.cisco.com)
  • Internetwork Expert (http://www.internetworkexpert.com)
  • 6200networks (http://www.6200networks.com)

Additional sources will be used almost exclusively for MPLS, IPV6, MDRR, CBAC, RPF, and WCCP (RSCG2 doesn’t covered these areas in depth)

Miscellaneous:

• Purchases before CCIE studies:
  • Stationery – £10
  • RSCG2 – £10 second hand
  • Internetwork Expert CCIE Routing & Switching Mock Lab Exam (IEML-RS)
    • Special $99 (£50.17) offer (usually $249/£125.44) – can be taken at anytime so I didn’t want to miss the offer
• Initial Lab hardware/software (for written test prep only):
  • Dynamips (GNS3/Dynagen) on Centrino 1.8Ghz Duo & 1GB RAM Laptop
  • Dynamips (GNS3/Dynagen) on P4 3Ghz & 1GB RAM Desktop PC
  • 2 x Catalyst 2950 24 Port Switches
  • 1 x Catalyst 3548 24 Port Switch
  • Live environment at workplace
• Test Databases:
  • RSCG2 Test Engine
  • Boson ExSim Kit (to be purchased)
    • I will not be using TestKing due to the questions and answers matching the real exam – no point in that false sense of security when it comes to lab preperations.
• Software:
  • SecureCRT (because it’s used in the real lab, putty will always be no.1)
  • Wireshark
  • 3cDaemon
  • UltraEdit
  • Freemind

Study Time Allocation:Monday 7th January to Monday 14th January

• Read RSCG2 Part 1 – Chapter 1 – Ethernet Basics
• Find information from additional sources (and record useful information)
• Make notes for ‘Ethernet Basics’
• Read RSCG2 Part 1 – Chapter 2 – Virtual LANs and VLAN Trunking
• Find information from additional sources (refer to exam blueprint)
• Make notes for ‘Virtual LANs and VLAN Trunking’
• Review ‘Ethernet Basics’
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine (revisit areas that require further learning)
• Review ‘Virtual LANs and VLAN Trunking’
• Use lab to cover ‘Virtual LANs and VLAN Trunking’ concepts
• Use David Bombal’s ‘Command Memorizer’ tool to check that I can remember the correct commands
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 1 – Chapter 3 – Spanning Tree Protocol
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for ‘Spanning Tree Protocol’
• Use lab to cover ‘Spanning Tree Protocol’ concepts (debug + packet capture)
• Review ‘Spanning Tree Protocol’
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Review all Part 1 subjects
  

Tuesday 15th January to Sunday 20th January

• Read RSCG2 Part 2 – Chapter 4 – IP Addressing
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for ‘IP Addressing’
• Work through self-created examples for ‘IP Addressing’
• Review ‘IP Addressing’
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 2 – Chapter 5 – IP Services
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for ‘IP Services’
• Use lab to cover ‘IP Services’ specifics
• Review ‘IP Services’
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 2 – Chapter 6 – TCP/IP Transport and Application Services
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for ‘TCP/IP Transport and Application Services’
• Use lab to cover ‘TCP/IP Transport and Application Services’ specifics
• Review ‘TCP/IP Transport and Application Services’
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Review all Part 2 subjects
  

Monday 21st January to Sunday 10th February

• Read RSCG2 Part 3 – Chapter 7 – IP Forwarding (Routing)
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for ‘IP Forwarding (Routing)’
• Use lab to cover ‘IP Forwarding (Routing)’ specifics
• Review ‘IP Forwarding (Routing)’
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 3 – Chapter 8 – RIP Version 2
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘RIP Version 2’
• Review ‘RIP Version 2’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘RIP Version 2’ specifics
• Review all ‘RIP Version 2’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 3 – Chapter 9 – EIGRP
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘EIGRP’
• Review ‘EIGRP’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘EIGRP’ specifics
• Review all ‘EIGRP’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 3 – Chapter 10 – OSPF
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘OSPF’
• Review ‘OSPF’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘OSPF’ specifics
• Review all ‘OSPF’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 3 – Chapter 11 – ‘IGP Route Redistribution, Route Summarization, and Default Routing’
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘IGP Route Redistribution, Route Summarization, and Default Routing’
• Review ‘IGP Route Redistribution, Route Summarization, and Default Routing’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘IGP Route Redistribution, Route Summarization, and Default Routing’ specifics
• Review all ‘IGP Route Redistribution, Route Summarization, and Default Routing’ information
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
  

Monday 11th February to Sunday 24th February

• Read RSCG2 Part 3 – Chapter 12 – Fundamental BGP Operations
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Fundamental BGP Operations’
• Review ‘Fundamental BGP Operations’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘Fundamental BGP Operations’ specifics
• Review all ‘Fundamental BGP Operations’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 3 – Chapter 13 – BGP Routing Policies
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘BGP Routing Policies’
• Review ‘BGP Routing Policies’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘BGP Routing Policies’ specifics
• Review all ‘BGP Routing Policies’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Review all Part 3 subjects
  

Monday 25th February to Sunday 9th March

• Catch up if behind/review all areas studied so far
• Book 350-001 exam
• Order Boson ExSim
• Use Boson ExSim to check competency levels of areas studied so far – if required re-visit topics
  

Monday 10th March to Sunday 23rd March

• Read RSCG2 Part 4 – Chapter 14 – Classification and Marking
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Classification and Marking’
• Review ‘Classification and Marking’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘Classification and Marking’ specifics
• Review all ‘Classification and Marking’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 4 – Chapter 15 – Congestion Management and Avoidance
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Congestion Management and Avoidance’ + MDRR
• Review ‘Congestion Management and Avoidance’ + MDRR notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘Congestion Management and Avoidance’+ MDRR specifics
• Review all ‘Congestion Management and Avoidance’ + MDRR information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 4 – Chapter 16 – Shaping and Policing
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Shaping and Policing’
• Review ‘Shaping and Policing’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘Shaping and Policing’ specifics
• Review all ‘Shaping and Policing’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Review all Part 4 subjects
• Self-test on Part 4 subjects using Boson ExSim
  

Monday 24th March to Sunday 30th March

• Read RSCG2 Part 5 – Chapter 17 – Synchronous Serial Links and Protocols
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Synchronous Serial Links and Protocols’
• Review ‘Synchronous Serial Links and Protocols’ notes
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Read RSCG2 Part 5 – Chapter 18 – Frame Relay
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Frame Relay’
• Review ‘Frame Relay’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘Frame Relay’ specifics
• Review all ‘Frame Relay’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Review both Part 5 subjects
• Self-test on Part 5 subjects using Boson ExSim
• Re-test on Parts 1 to 3
  

Monday 31st March to Sunday 13th April

• Read RSCG2 Part 6 – Chapter 19 – Introduction to IP Multicasting
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Introduction to IP Multicasting’
• Review ‘Introduction to IP Multicasting’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘Introduction to IP Multicasting’ specifics
• Review all ‘Introduction to IP Multicasting’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Read RSCG2 Part 6 – Chapter 20 – IP Multicasting Routing
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘IP Multicasting Routing’
• Review ‘IP Multicasting Routing’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ‘IP Multicasting Routing’ specifics
• Review all ‘IP Multicasting Routing’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 test engine
• Review both Part 6 subjects
• Self-test on Part 6 subjects using Boson ExSim
  

Monday 14th April to Sunday 20th April

• Read RSCG2 Part 7 – Chapter 21 – Security
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Security’ + CBAC + RPF
• Review ‘Security’ + CBAC + RPF notes
• Use lab to cover all ’Security’ + CBAC + RPF specifics
• Review all ‘Security’ information + CBAC + RPF
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 and Boson ExSim test engines
  

Monday 21st April to Sunday 22nd April

• Read RSCG2 Part 9 – Chapter 24 – Miscellaneous Networking Theory and Practices
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘Miscellaneous Networking Theory and Practices’ + WCCP
• Review ‘Miscellaneous Networking Theory and Practices’ + WCCP notes
  

Monday 23rd April to Sunday 4th May

• Read RSCG2 Part 10 – Appendix C – MPLS
• Find information from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘MPLS’
• Review ‘MPLS’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ’ MPLS’ specifics (debug + packet capture)
• Review all ‘MPLS’ information
• Self-test using RSCG2 and Boson ExSim test engines
  

Monday 5th May to Sunday 11th May

• Find information on IPv6 from additional sources
• Make notes for  ‘IPv6’
• Review ‘IPv6’ notes
• Use lab to cover all ’ IPv6’ specifics
• Review all ‘IPv6’ information
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool
• Self-test using RSCG2 and Boson ExSim test engines
  

Monday 12th May onwards

• Cover anything that is on the exam blueprint that I haven’t studied 
• Catch up if behind/review all
• Use ‘Command Memorizer’ tool to check command memory
• Use Boson ExSim to check competency levels – if required re-visit topics
• Hopefully pass the 350-001 exam
• Book lab test (min of 180 day wait?)
• Create lab test study plan and begin studies