Rating: 
Summary: Makes you think about *WHY* you're doing XYZ tasks
Review: This book certainly will not teach you the routing protocols in depth. It's not meant as a comprehensive book on different topics. Where it will help you is "WHY AM I configuring it with XYZ instead of ABC??" type of questions. It does have a great chapter on FR in general. When you should use 'frame map..' commands and what the implications are of using (relying on) inverse arp, for example. The "Can you spot the issues" are great tools to make you think about what you're doing.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not enough to pass CCIE by itself
Review: I recently passed my CCIE Qualification exam using this book and my existing knowledge as a CCNP. This is a great book to use if you've already had exposure to most of the material. The author does an excellelent job of tying all the different technologies together and showing you how they're supposed to work in the real world. This one's highly recommended for all you CCNPs out there.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Practical
Review: I did not buy this book to prepare for the CCIE exam, but to use it as a reference on the job, and to prepare for the CCNP exam. I could not put this book down and read it cover to cover. Concepts on Frame Relay are outstanding. It is not a book to cram. It is a book which solidifies your knowledge on Cisco networking and makes you understand the topics better. I recently passed my CCNP Routing exam. I cannot say that this book helped me pass the exam, but it helped me understand the concepts and Cisco routers much better than any other book. It is the book to refer for real life situations.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't believe that Michael Wosnicki has ever read this book
Review: That guy gives every book a 5. He is a paid jerk to rate all books 5 stars. Please make him stop posting reviews! He wouldn't know a csu/dsu if it hit him in the head.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! But...
Review: ... but if you are studying for CCIE lab, PLEASE read this book last! If you read this book first without already knowing most of the topics _IN DETAIL_, you will confuse yourself a lot. If you read this book last you will greatly reenforce you knowledgebase with very specific helpful hints.
Rating:
Summary: Second edition is not much better than the first.
Review: This is just your typical technical book. Spelling errors galore, terrible grammar, confusing sentence structure, ambiguous statements, and just plain errors of fact. If you've read your share of tech books, you know what I'm talking about. The book feels like it was rushed to the marketplace without someone actually sitting down and reading it. This is definitely not an introductory book, although at times it seems like one. The authors make simple stuff sound confusing and harder than it actually is. Sometimes they repeat the same stuff over and over in the same chapter. And a lack of illustrations makes the complex stuff even more incomprehensible than it already is. But if your're serious about getting your ccie, then this is certainly a book you want on your bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: Second edition and better than before.
Review: The first time I reviewed this book there seemed to be a number of areas that were incomplete or confusing, the second edition does a good job of making that those areas are more thoroughly explained and the book seems to have been updated for more current technology. The author does a better job of including figures, tables, diagrams and router screen shots in this 900 plus-page reference manual. The book is made of the more advanced to expert level, as some of the topics are very detailed in the explanations. Areas like Frame Relay, ATM, DDR, ISDN, the Catalyst 5000 and VLANs are the first part of the book, then the authors give you a 40-page breakdown of IP Routing and addressing which is much better than previous versions. Covering protocols RIP and RIP 2, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF and BGP as with the first edition is very good and more complete. They also include new sections for IS-IS and non-IP routing protocols like IPX, AppleTalk and DecNet. More coverage was given to bridging techniques like transparent and translational and DLSw+ as well as access list for IP and Non-IP. I like the addition of voice/data configuration and troubleshooting. There is also sample scenarios that you can work with. With the inclusion of the updates and changes this is a much better book than the first edition.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for the CCIE lab exam.
Review: Caslow's book provides what is probably the most important aspect of the CCIE lab exam: A solid methodology on how to approach the test. His book covers all the technologies related to the CCIE lab exam and how these technologies interact between them. However, his "spot the issue" and structured approach to completing the exam is what enabled many CCIEs to successfully pass the exam. Knowledge is one thing. Applying it is equally important. This book is one of the only CCIE texts that cover both aspects thoroughly.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding For CCIE Lab Planning AND The Written Exam
Review: I have just finished the first of several readings I'm sure I'll be giving this book, and my hat is off to Mr. Caslow. A tremendous work and very helpful in planning the hard work ahead to becoming a CCIE. After all, doing the work is great, but you have to have a plan first! I've noticed several reviews remarking that this isn't a good book for the IE written. Having just passed that exam, I respectfully disagree. While that is certainly not the focus of the book, I saw several topics addressed that cleared up some questions I had while taking the written. I would highly recommend that if you're planning for the written IE, go ahead and purchase this book now. After all, if you're serious about IE lab prep, you'll be buying the book anyway. Put it to work for you sooner than later.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Book for CCIE Candidate!!
Review: This is an outstanding resource book for the CCIE Lab candidate, and I actually used it in my CCIE Bootcamp as the class manual. This book is very well written, and very easy to understand. No crazy jargon that will confuse you, it's very concise and to the point. This book is not designed to help you pass the written exam, but if you are looking for a great Lab preparation book and a overall great daily reference guide then this is the book for you. I used it daily.
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