Rating: 
Summary: Aged, but still a classic.
Review: Caslow and Pavlichenko have written quite possibly the definitive CCIE preparation book. Unlike most books in the field they focus not just on the relevant technologies, but also strategies for getting straight to the heart of the problems you will face both in the written and practical exams.The second edition is dated now. The written exam has changed as of August '02, with the practical test due to change in November '02, but this does not render the book completely out of date. No CCIE study guide pretends that it can cover the subject completely without other references, and this is no exception. If you keep an eye on the Cisco CCIE blueprint and supplement your reading with more specific tomes on the recent additions to the exam you will find the methodologies in this book become the core of your exam strategy. The 3rd edition of this book is currently being prepared and should be available by the end of 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: If you work with Cisco equipment you need this book
Review: Taking tests and regurgitating theory is nice but if you want a reference that will actually help you get your job done you need this book. This is the only book I use for real world stuff. I have others but they are for the certification tests. And just like the MCSE books, after I'm done with the tests I'll sell them. But this book is a keeper. I remember turning up my first frame relay circuit and I would have failed miserably without this book. I tried using one of the 'test' books and they were a complete waste of time for real world stuff. Another plus about this book is the coverage of switching. It's hard to find any good stuff on switching other than the Cisco documentation. So, if you actually work with Cisco equipment and want to know and understand how the stuff actually works get this book, if all you want is to pass tests get something else.
Rating: 
Summary: That was then, this is now...
Review: I started my CCIE lab studies with this book in 2000, it was an easy read and I really liked this book, specifically the Frame Relay section which still applies to today's lab. But, I had to put a hold on studies for a while.
I started my CCIE studies again in 2002 and passed the lab in 2003. During that time I glanced at this book for a total of 20 minutes. There are simply so many other books by CiscoPress that are better than this one, although, again, the Frame Relay section very well done. But certain sections, such as switching, token ring, and quite a few others simply don't apply anymore. Also, the Lab exam is so different now, with 3550's, QoS, Multicast galore, that this book falls of the required reading list.
I do think the author did a great job on this book initially, but it needs a facelift of major proportions.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent preparation for the CCIE
Review: Book provides a road map to attain the CCIE certification. Every layer of the OSI model and protocols and devices related is discussed. Plenty of labs and Q&A sections. Highly recommend this book along with Jeff Doyle's "Routing TCP/IP" and Douglas E. Comer's "Internetworking With TCP/IP".
Rating:
Summary: The best book for CCIE preparation uptil now!
Review: Thanks to author for his book.I have bought all ccie's books for preparation to lab examen, but this book is the most powerfull and helpfull to understand Cisco configuration and troubleshooting. With this book you learn important internetworking and cisco concept effective and in short time. It seems to me the author has a good knowledge and experince over the subject, and it is easy to follow him because he explains everything in logical way.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing on 3550s
Review: The lab has changed but the book hasn't. Don't waste your money on this out-dated book.
Rating:
Summary: Friends don't let friends go to the lab w/o it!
Review: Caslow's "spot the issue" technique and thorugh checklists are absolutely a necessary requirement to passing the lab the "first" time. Those who go to the lab without it, simply buy a ticket for the second round. Simple as that! The only comparable books by my estimation are Solie, Doyle, and Halabi.
I have over 150 volumes by nearly every publisher and now that I'm prepping for my lab. I DEPEND on Caslow and his "technique". The scientific method and the absolute other possibilities are excellent. I've seen "real labs" and I've seen Caslow/Solie. I would not even try the lab without them. I have probably over 100+ labs to draw a firm conclusion that Caslow's incremental methodical approach to the lab is the only way to go. He builds on the layer by layer philosophy (not OSI, Technologies starting with Layer 2 Technologies). I want you to think about that seriously. Go to groupstudy and review most of the comments of previous lab-takers and note that the thing they have in common as to why they failed was that the overall approach was lacking... Maybe they were not structured in their approach, maybe they had not developed a complete checklist, time-management, etc. Face it: if you cannot configure all layer 2 tasks in 10-15 minutes then you will probably have a good chance of not passing.
If you notice most of the people who have re-taken the lab, they will tell you that they had taken 30+ minutes at this level. Caslow develops a winning strategy. Let's face it each technology is a finite subject. Learn what happens when you do x, then be aware of y, if you ever really want Z to work... He calls them "issues". And if you don't the issues properly addressed maybe its time for a second booking... My experience level is such that I take all of the CNAP Exams per semester in less than 30 minutes each including the final (that's about 300Q / 30minutes), CCNP, CCDP, MCNS, CSE, and GPS-AVVID. Other good books include Hutnik and Satterlee v1/v2, Cisco Network Designa and Case Studies, Cisco Lan Switching, Advanced IP Network Design, Cisco Secure Internet Solutions, Giles, etc. Combine these with a few good practice labs from CCBootcamp, Solutions Labs, Hello Computers, and IPExpert.net and you just can't lose... Go to your local Cisco office and use their lab (space available basis). Read Caslow and Solie.
Make Checklist. Make a growing list of caveats.
Read Specialist Books - DLSW+/DOYLE/BGP-HALABI/ROSSI-Switching/Net_Protocols v2/Cisco ATM Solutions/IP Access Lists/VoIP/MCNS/ISDN Handbook
Practice, Practice, Practice...
Evaluate Progress
Read Caslow
Practice, Practice, Practice...
Schedule Lab
Read Calsow
Practice, Practice, Practice...
That week before the lab - Read Caslow and Solie...
Read Caslow
Beat the Lab -> Simple as that!
Rating: 
Summary: CNNA not CCIE
Review: The book is well written but it is not even close to the CCIE level.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for the CCIE cert or as a refrence
Review: This book will help you understand some topics more clearly, specially frame relay and non-ip routing protocols. If you are a senior level engineer this is a great refrence.
Rating:
Summary: Absolute must for CCIE Lab exam
Review: This might not be the only book you have to study to get your CCIE cert but it is the best book to get your study/practice goals organized! While reading this book you will get the sensation of having a senior networking engineer mentor guiding you through the steps to configure a rack of switches and routers. The book provides the WHY's and the HOW's in detail and also covers the gotchas. Highly recommended !
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