CCIE Routing and Switching Practice Labs

Rating:
Summary: Add This book to you study Material
Review: CCIE Routing and Switching Practice Labs


My review of this book is in accordance to the Cisco NDA, I will not provide information that might be construed as even being close to the NDA.

With that said as someone that has attempted the CCIE lab in San Jose I feel that I can provide a good review of this book to those of you that haven't attempted the lab. The lab requires you to have a solid understanding of numerous technologies in order to pass. Add to that the fact that you have a time limit and other little favors from Cisco and your having a blast. You need to know what to expect and if you are up to speed on technologies that can appear in the lab.

This book is written by CCIE's from Cisco Systems™ that are an integral part of the CCIE program. This book provides the reader with 6 lab scenarios that help test the knowledge. The book tells you to read the entire lab before beginning, this is pretty much one of the golden rules of the CCIE lab. The labs contain points for each section of the lab to allow the reader the option of picking what needs to be accomplished in order to pass the lab. The point system alone makes this book worthwhile.

The Ask the Proctor section in each lab is ok. It tries to direct your thought process in the correct direction. I'm not a big fan of this section it reminds me of the real Proctors in the lab. They can help in some instances and keep you confused in others. The addition of this section while probably not the most popular is what sets this book apart from other lab preparation material.

The Lab debrief sections at end of each lab is an incredible tool that helps the reader fully understand what was being asked for each requirement during the lab. This has to be the most indispensable part of this book. It helps separate this book from the rest of the preparation tools on the market. You should buy this book just for this section.

In closing my review this book is a valuable tool that can help the reader see if they are up to CCIE Caliber. I am glad that I added this resource to my personal library.


Brion
Senior VoIP Engineer

Rating:
Summary: Similar to Lab; Pertinent to Real World
Review: CCIE Routing and Switching Practice Labs by Martin J Duggan and Maurilio P Gorito (Cisco Press, 2004) leads through a half dozen labs that are representative of Cisco's day-long routing and switching exam. Each lab has a slightly different slant but they all relate to the objectives covered on the exam.

I set up the first lab with a friend according to the topology of Lab 1 and found a number of typos (interface identifiers mostly) but also found it to be a great learning experience.

Each chapter begins with an equipment list and instructions for setting up the lab. All labs require about 8 routers and a switch; in general, the popular 3550 Catalyst switch is used and Cisco 2600 routers are considered adequate. Often these routers are made to emulate a frame-relay switch to help with the remote access portions of the exam. Both logical topologies and cabling diagram are shown to assist you in this process. The descriptions include explicit instructions as to how to set up the basic connectivity that will allow you to configure solutions to the problems. After you've set up Layer 2, you then are given the Layer 3 IP addresses and you're ready to jump into the lab.

All the labs cover the main requirements-Frame Relay and ATM, switching and IP routing, router redistribution and autonomous system routing, along with services and solution such as multicast, QoS, security and VoIP. You should note that DLSw+ for routing SNA over IP is still tested.

The configuration instructions for each section are the same level of detail as in the actual lab: that is to say they are very sparse. For example, an EIGRP instruction might tell you that a particular router is running low on memory and high on CPU utilization, and ask you simply to accommodate this knowledge within your configuration. This is typical of how the labs help you develop the critical thinking skills to solve similar problems in the field and it is also why the CCIE is such a sought-after certification by employers.

To help you prepare for these puzzles, each lab also includes an "Ask the Proctor" where you can ask for more detail (probably much more than you can get in the exam, but then this is preparation) on a problem. The "proctor" will tell you that a cleaner solution is intended, but it is only in the "Debrief" section where you find out that the intention was (for instance) to make it a "stub connected" interface since it doesn't need to summarize routes, but does need to continue reporting changes in directly connected interfaces (which wouldn't occur with a passive interface).

The CD contains not only complete configurations that should be on each switch and router at the end of the lab, but also the expected output of verification (show) commands. This is especially useful because these are the same show commands that the proctors use to grade the actual lab. Being aware of this can help you pick up extra points during the test; for instance, if you are instructed that certain dynamic map entries not show up in a configuration, you can check your work and take whatever action is necessary to remove them.

Where this book really fills in some useful gaps is in the landmines and the sparse instructions that come in the CCIE lab. For instance, it will ask you to unicast some routing updates (from, say, RIP) but not to use the neighbor command to do this. This is an application for static NAT using the UDP port for RIP and the RIP multicast address-a seemingly obscure way to do this but knowledge of obscure features and the ability to do the same task in different ways is a large part of what the CCIE lab is intended to test. The difference between a network engineer who knows one way to do things and one who can choose the best between several options can be difference between a gasping network and a solid one.


A lot questions will ask for the "most efficient" way of doing something. In a requested voice configuration, for instance, you may be tempted to jump right into a VoIP configuration, but if the routers that will be transporting the voice traffic are already frame-relay connected, then VoFR is in the intended method. You also have to be careful not to break the data connectivity when you configure the interfaces for VoFR. Then, you might have to ensure that voice is still available if a connection between the routers along the main path fails; this is where you need to configure dial peers for VoIP over ISDN.

There are "easy" requirements in the CCIE lab that break previous configurations, and while you should always be mindful of rechecking your earlier work to make sure it's standing up under the later configurations, you should especially be careful about this when a questions seems like a giveaway.

Throughout, the book tells you how many points you might get if you caught this subtlety or that one, and tells you where you might lose a few if you leave off something.
Although these labs are geared specifically to the CCIE exam, they speak to issues and best practices that can be applied in the day to day working of a network engineer. (For instance, there are appendixes on Frame Relay and ATM switch configuration, and troubleshooting.) That's why working through these problems has value even if you're not ready to climb to the top of the CCIE pyramid: you can still be that much more confident that you're keeping your network healthy.


Rating:
Summary: Great Practice Labs
Review: CCIE Routing and Switching Practice Labs by Martin J. Duggan and Maurilio de Paula Gorito is a must have for anyone preparing for the CCIE Routing and Switching lab exam.

The book consists of 6 practice labs that are designed to prepare you for the actual lab exam. The quality of the labs are equal to or better than the other lab prep books that are on the market. You get 6 in-depth labs for a fraction of the cost of other lab prep guides.

Each lab is broken into several sections. The first section deals with explaining the lab topology and the actual lab requirements. The next section is titled "Ask the Proctor". This section lists questions that you might find yourself asking the proctor in the real exam. So it mainly provides little hints on how to accomplish some of the tasks in the lab. The final section is the debriefing. Here you will find the solutions to the lab.

The one thing to be aware of is that the labs in this book are designed using the latest technology that is in the lab. Even though you can complete parts of the lab using older equipment, to get the full benefits of the labs make sure that you either have the equipment or rent rack time somewhere.

There is not much to explain with regards to the actual content that is in the book. All you really need to know is that the labs cover all of the topics that you will see in the real lab and then some. The solutions section points out gotcha areas where engineer commonly make mistakes. It points out what you should look for when identifying what technology to use.

There is no "one book" that can provide everything that you need in order to pass the lab exam. I feel that this book did a good job putting together six labs that covered all f the items that one will see on the real lab. As long as the reader has the idea that this book is just a tool to aid in learning the material, the reader should be able to get a lot out of it. If the reader is looking for a "one book" solution, this book is not for them. If you are looking for cost effective, well written labs then look no further.


Rating:
Summary: 5* Not asking for perfection
Review: Excellent book period. Even though I am far away from the required experience. I can still use his book as well as the other ccie practice security, ccnp practical, ccie practicals vol 1,2, ccna practical, etc.

Duggan's book takes it to the next level. I am still doing isolated tidbits of Cisco technology on my home lab. I have enough gear and hope to obtain in next several years, cat 3550emi for r/s and , 2 pix, vpn, for ccsp/ccie security etc. Also coming into this, a bit on the older side age 54. I have some 3500 cat which will do for now.

For me this is a long term project, ... so where does Duggan's book help. Its probably the closest thing to being there without spending $1500 a shot. Besides the labs themselves, the debriefs, proctor Qs, configs gives you many hours of practice.

Even at my stage, ccnp/ccda doing the .. from the Introduction page xxiv " Begin with simple topics in isolation and then work up to complex solutions..". That is where I am at, with this book and others, ie Doyle v1/2, Solie v1/2, etc.

I am in network ops so don't get anywhere near the hands on, so its all pretty much on my own gear/time.

At this point, I hope Cisco comes out with more Pix labs later, though that may have already happened, with ccie security practical and ccie security practice which I have. Could use more VPN and IDS configs but what they have is ok as I have plenty to practice. While I spend time with R/S, work is also doing PIX so have to spend a year getting my CCSP, while still practicing for R/S, and MCSE stuff as well. IT doesn't stop....

Anyway awaiting the solutions which were not in book but still gave it 5*. I could babble more...

Would be nice in a year or so to talk to more ccie to be, for now practice, ....

** next interviewer said did not get CD with solutions, same here so I emailed amazon and they mailed me another book with CD solutions; they also asked for old book back:) which I returned.
** Also if you are like me, I went out and spend a ton of $$ on older gear but can still learn a lot; I've taken the CCIE written passed but no way I have time 18 months to get enough hands on, if you are into many certs ie ccie is NOT only one, then suggestion would be to forgo ccie written a bit; Since I passed CCIE written 2 years or more ago, just work labs over and over while studying theory that will be on test; Then when your hands on is fairly up to speed, your knowledge of the written will be at least ccnp, routing, switch should be second nature, atm, frame, voice, etc. So do the hands on over a period of years, get harder cisco tasks. So books like CCIE practice labs, Solie's, etc will give you plenty to practice. If you are like me, who does not get enough hands on, then start with the CCNA/CCNP practical books which is what I am doing. LOL

Rating:
Summary: 3 excellent labs + 3 average labs
Review: The first three out of the total six sample labs in the book are
excellent in that they include the right type of traps that can
be in the real CCIE exam. I suggest that you first buy R&S
workbook from www.internetworkexpert.com. Their R&S workbook
includes 20 sample labs covering broader range of topics than
this book. The solutions are first discussed in great detail,
with more left to the reader in the following labs. After you are
familiar with all topics in the R&S workbook, go to the first
three labs in this book. They will show you how carefully you
must read each question and how much laterally you must think
when finding the correct solution. When you move to the lab 4,
you will notice that something has changed. The remaining three
labs are much reasier than the first three labs and contain
errors in their solutions. As the book has two authors, it is
possible that each author wrote one half of the book. However,
the first three labs are so useful that I found the book a good
investment. Sven Ubik, CCIE#14053.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Prep with some caveat's
Review: This book is the first actually written by a CCIE proctor so I was really interested more in the comments and de-briefs rather than the actual questions, as there is real ambiguity with some of the wording in the lab.
The layout is great, firstly the equipment list, diagrams & instructions then the scenario. Each of the scenario sections are allocated points but I would have liked the author to have been more granular with the points so instead of simply stating BGP 12 points, he could have had:
Section (a) Configure EBGP............ 3 Points
Section (b) Configure full mesh IBGP...4 Points, etc
As anyone who has done the lab knows, there is no partial credit.

Otherwise the scenarios are right on. I like his Note style whereby he interjects with informatory comments as you progress through the labs. He does explain little tricks & gotcha's along the way.
The next section is the Proctor Q&A Section where he answers various relevant questions that may be posed by the candidate.
I do feel that he is sometimes a little generous with his replies
e.g. Lab 4 Section 2.2 Do I need Mutual Redistribution between EIGRP & OSPF?
Ans. A mutual redistribution is not required.
Would a proctor really confirm/deny redistribution required in a section? Perhaps I am knit picking.

Finally the Lab de-brief section.
This is the real gem of the book and absolutely superb. The style is similar to the Internetworkexpert and DoIT Scenarios so really detailed - I was really fascinated with some of the ISDN explanations, which traditionally have always been a killer in the Lab.

Conclusion: The book is excellent and a must for any CCIE candidate - Maurilio has done a great job!

Final Note:
The book consists of 6 Labs not 10 as per the description. The opening 3 labs only have 1 3550 whilst the remaining 3 have dual 3550 [as per CCIE Lab] however this was the authors intent. Finally the book came with no CD! Hence no solutions! I'm sure this will be resolved by Cisco Press at some stage!

Stephen Bowes CCIE Candidate [Lab scheduled for 10/2004]

Rating:
Summary: Very useful workbook - A must for any R & S test taker
Review: This book was very useful in preparing for the exam and very unique compared to other workbooks that you find on the market to prepare you for the CCIE Routing and Switching Lab. It consists of 6 labs, with the first 3 being the toughest but also the ones that you will learn a lot from.

The reasons the book is different are a) The questions are worded in such a way that the solution to the problems is not obvious unless one knows the underlying concepts very thoroughly. That also sharpens the problem solving skills tremendously
b) The ask the Proctor section is very unique and helpful in more than one way... Firstly, if you do not know the solution to the problem right away, you could turn to that section to see what other hints you have to solve the problem. Secondly and more importantly, it makes you think of various ways you could ask the Proctor questions, when you think that the question is not fully unambiguous to you.

The other thing I liked about this workbook is that it is all in one book and you dont have questions on one book, solutions on another and diagrams on another. The only drawback is that the topology diagrams are very small and hard to read, but of course you could always make a blown up photocopy of the diagrams...

I highly recommend the book, and at the price, I think it is a MUST buy for anyone attempting the R & S exam.

Please note that the book should come with the CD, as it would really be a waste of precious time if you do not have the initial configs.