CCNA Certification Self-Paced Walk-Thru

[Comblues]

I was just about to have to bite my tongue on that CCIE Written thing this week so I had to go back another week or so to find one:

Hi Comblues,



I’m a Consultant with XX Corporation, a leading provider of IT Solutions and services to North American Customers. I am messaging you in regards to a Sr. Systems Engineer (R&S) role we have opened up in our downtown Atlanta, GA office. I am aware that you are not in the Atlanta area but we are trying to identify the best person for the job, which sometimes means opening up the search nationwide. That being said, I want to network with you and see if you know of anyone that would have any interest in having a next level discussion about this opportunity. We are looking for someone who has a strong background implementing R&S solutions and must have their CCIE R&S (written completed). Either way, thanks for your time and I hope you have a great weekend.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Here's one:

Dear Comblues,

I wanted to get in contact with you about a job opportunity I have with a client in Orlando, FL. This client is currently looking for a CCVP or CCNP. This is a fortune 500 company and we just got this position few hours ago.

I wasn’t sure of your availability/interest or if you happened to know anyone that might be but please contact me back at your earliest convenience.

If you are interested please send me the following:

1. Updated resume in word format
2. Your availability
3. Your salary expectations
4. Relocation will be paid for a right candidate

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Dear Darby,

I am XXX - Recruiter with XXX.. We currently have full-time/permanent positions for the role of Principal Consultant-Network Architect, based out of Houston, TX. Your profile seems to be a strong match for the same.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

A few more:

Multiple Positions
Location: Madison, WI
LOA: 4 Months (Strong Possibility to run through the end of the year)
Start Date: 2013


Position #1
Firewall Engineer

Duties-The resource would be a part of our Core Network Upgrade project that has started and will go through August/September. They will be assisting in the preparation for consolidating firewalls and network migrations during the week and also updating policies, pushing rule sets and troubleshooting issues during the eight cutover windows on the weekend

MUST
Juniper Firewalls 3-5yrs (Certs would be a plus but not required)

PLUS
Cisco Network Engineering
***********____________________________________________________________________________


Position #2
Cisco Network Engineer

Duties- Our network is Cisco based, moving to the Nexus product line, this individual will be helping out with that project. We also have WAN upgrade work going on, and a project to bring SIP into our environment will be starting up. Work will be performed primarily during standard business hours, and there will be some weekend on-site work needed for project implementation windows.

Must
Cisco Data Network Engineering 5-7yrs

PLUS
SIP
Citrix Netscaler
Cisco Nexus
Juniper Firewalls


Comblues

 

[Comblues]

This one says CCNA/CCNP or CCIE? But I was contacted so I suppose the CCIE Written is acceptable. Remember they came to me.

[FONT=&quot]******************************************************************************[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Job title:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Network Engineer[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Location[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: Northwest suburb of Chicago[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Length Of Assignment:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 6 months – likely extensions [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Description:[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Consultant will be working in an IT department that has 11 other engineers supporting the customers large and diverse network infrastructure. Consultant will need to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and manage multiple competing priorities and demonstrable background in network design and troubleshooting. Drive tasks to completion with minimal supervision also have the ability to lead projects when necessary. Job will require this person to have a strong technical leadership ability to get tasks completed. Consultant must be well organized and have the ability to produce high quality documentation [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Technical skills:[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Must be highly skilled in routing and switching, - 8+ years of experience.[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]EIGRP, BGP required and optionally OSPF expertise [/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Experience setting up and managing multi-vendor MPLS environment [/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Project Management [/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]CCNA, CCNP or CCIE certification preferred [/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Cisco QOS [/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]MUST HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION ABILITY[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Project Management expertise (or equivalent experience driving a refresh project)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]o [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Tracking tools[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]o [/FONT][FONT=&quot]PowerPoint[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]o [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Visio[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]o [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Microsoft Project[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Pluses:[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Multicast in an MPLS environment[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]VOIP (Avaya preferred, Cisco acceptable)[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Network test tools & methodology[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Cisco QoS[/FONT]
· WAN Optimization
· [FONT=&quot]Network Management Tools – Scripting and Automation[/FONT]


Comblues

 

[Comblues]

What I am suggesting is that employers come to me and seek me out for the credentials that I do have.

I accept the projects or jobs that I can that do not conflict with my existing obligations, lifestyle, or other life imperatives I am dealing with at the time of the offer.

Some of the offers are flexible. Very flexible - I can take some offers a year from now or some need a guy today. It depends.

My skill set and experience along with my list of credentials allows me such a choice in today's markets for network engineers and architects.

In short, I have written my own ticket and on that ticket I do list my CCIE Written Exams and I'll probably take the whole suite...

Even if some people think they are "worthless".

I think I have shown that they are not quite as worthless as some might think.

Remember this: Each recruiter comes to me and sometimes within a few hours or so of getting the job requirements...

Some hiring managers have contacted me directly and so I assume they kept my resume on file for months or even years.

Some recruiters tell me my name comes to mind when they need a person with my skills.

Not to be pretentious but they keep coming literally every single day of the year, year after year.

Nice to have options.

I passed the exams and I list what I have passed.

I guess I'd be really bold if I start listing all the exams I've failed along the way too.

My testing history reflects that part.

I got some work to do with my apprentice but there are some jobs that require the CCIE Written and some that state they need a CCIE... or a CCNA will do just fine.

It's true.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

If I were doing a quick search on Monster.com I'd find only 40 jobs today that pay at least between $90-110k for the CCIE Written:

40 Ccie Written Network Engineer jobs in Usa matched your search



Comblues

 

[Comblues]

I don't know of any legitimate company that looks at CCIE written as a qualifier. It's a test at the CCNP level.

If you are taking $50/hr contracts like you stated, you are not making CCIE money. There are bad CCIE's out there though. I don't know of any making less than $120k/yr plus bonuses non-contract.

I've taken jobs held previously by CCIE's and the rate was starting out at either $95k or $50.00 per hour actually.


That CCIE Written is worthless is a myth and is commonly held by the CCIE Community to keep non-CCIE's who have qualified for the CCIE Lab from obtaining very decent CCIE level salaries considered to be $100k plus.

Reality is that a CCIE actually earns about $150k - $200k or even better.

The $100-135k jobs are given to us CCNP types and sometimes quite a few CCNA's get paid very well too.

A friend of mine in DC wanted to pay $80/hour for a CCNA Security for example just to hold down the fort and it was a problem locating one there who would take the job for our government.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Here was my take about 12 or so years a go and my reply when someone thought I said use braindumps to pass or suggested braindumping:

comblues:
Well here's my take:

Read and re-read....

helps to be to have at least heard it once, if it has questions do them, it helps better to write it down.

But if you want to know a subject cold i.e. verbatim -- - I have but one suggestion: USE THE TESTS, TILL YOU KNOW EVERY QUESTION COLD!!!!

And simply put you will pass and you will eventually gain a fundamental undderstanding that you can temper with hands-on.

sorry hands-on with no fundamentals is nearly useless.

You need the whole package.

I use the tests first and exam cram or Troytech.

Then once I know the theory of gravity verbatim, then I start to leap tall buildings - cause I know where and when I will fall.

Just an idea but it helps...

Also if you ARE CERTIFIED you have a lot more chance of getting more hands-on in depth learning experiences than you will if YOU are NOT!!!

I mean that sincerely.

The cisco tests are not easy and even when you know the practice tests verbatim there is still a fundamental understanding of the question under a given sets of variables that must be addressed.

Read it, Remember it, Use it, Don't Lose it!


Simple as that.

Any questions?

Thanks



MCSE+I, CCNA, A+, Net+, I-Net+

CCIE in progress (Lab purchase in progress)

My reply to someone suggesting that I said to just braindump an exam to pass it:


comblues:
Gosh some guys....


If it is a practice exam - it is NOT supposed to be the actual question on the test.


Now I have assembled almost every engine that exists for the entire CCNA/CCDA CCNP/CCDP CCIE tracks.

When I say "verbatim", what I mean is know the question, know the theme, know the proper usage and context of the question.

One word out of order changes things dramatically on Cisco exams.

I can say I used several of the best test engines and only saw maybe 6 or 7 actual questions after taking both the 407 and 507 exams (6 months apart). I used Bosons (1-3), Troytech and Exam Gear, and Keystone primarily (although I have access to the rest as well).

I passed them both, not because I had seen the question, but because no matter how you asked me subject I would answer correctly.

Do believe it try me. e-mail me and either we can chat or call direct.

I'm well-employed and I am a qualified expert in my field.

Now, I would appreciate you not twisting my words or attempting to "add" meaning to them.

I guess they'll let anyone be a moderator these days.

No, my friend, I am a capable administrator/network architect.

I run a Windows NT 4/2000 | Linux | SCO Network. I migrated it from Novell.

I am a Lucent Definity G3 PBX Administrator (yes SCO/Solaris Admin), as well.

I am a privately paid consultant as well as a full time employee, employed as a Network Specialist.

I am an Exchange Admin. I have administered Lotus Notes, Groupwise, and Sendmail.

I don't really need to prove the Cert Game - I do it for job enrichment and to feel like "I" know my subect better and therefore consider it professional continuing education.

I have consulted or sub-contracted for many Fortune 500 companies at rates up to $1600.00 per day + expenses and 1/2 day both ways.

No, I do not need to cheat to get anywhere.

I can be quite the pirate or hacker.

I have tracked and successfully caught hackers for "visiting" sites under my care.

Now before we turn this to a flame war.

Just remember I said know it cold - I mean understand it, period.

Imagine how you would employ the technology in various situations and under given duress.

Hell, if you have the equipment -do it.

Do I make myself clear?

Thank you

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Later the Troytech QA were getting closer and closer to becoming "true braindumps".

I switched over to the Transcender and Cisco Exam Engines (Boson).

I got to admit that I myself over-use exam questions while in study mode but hey I do the same thing sometimes for interviews too. Pays to stay sharp.

Read and re-read, practice when you can and teach when you cannot.

I feel my credentials are quite firm and broad and they and do pay the bills as they always have.

I suggest others do the same and level the playing field a little.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Hey...

A friend of mine who I helped come into the US of A by doing a write up of how great he was...

Was earning only about $35k per year as a Triple CCIE at the time...

He holds more CCIE level credentials now.

I guess it is not what certs you have but who you know too.

I know of a few CCIE's who earn the proverbial $100k salary and are quite happy with it.

I do know a few who earn at least $200k too.

Like all things, it depends...

CCIE Salary Survey 2012 by Global Knowledge:

$132 Mean
$117 Median

The Silicone Valley by Indeed.com states about $141k

In line with your comments.

This was based on 55 respondents.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Hey! I was just trolling for some of my old posts on the subject and I found this off of google:

Thread Statistics:
Site: anandtech.com - latest threads Forum: Networking - AnandTech Forums Total authors: 9 authors Total thread posts: 25 posts Analysis: The sentiment of the discussion, that spans over 7 days, is positive. The discussion is quite engaging and quite undisputed. The user Comblues, was very engaged. It got people interested in the discussion. We find the discussion interesting and original. Awards: The following users won the first, second and third place as most active and engaging users:

1st Place:Comblues

2nd Place:drebo

3rd Placeanimal1209



Who knew there was a contest?

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Status of my Apprentice:

She's chained to the table and studying the Cisco CCNA 640-802 Network Simulator Labs.

She's getting warmed up while cooking.

Almost time to get some hands-on as stated above.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

WTF is a CCNP BGP/QoS/MPLS?

Almost forgot... Please don't flame.

Thanks

I appreciate the fact that you may not understand my creative usage of my own credentials to obtain and maintain a leading position in the very competitive job market we are all faced with today.

Fine.

However, I have found quite a bit of success with my tactics. I have further helped quite a few people do the same to date.

I always like to be of more help rather than hindrance.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Status:

My apprentice is working great. She's bouncing between working on the gear and the tasks I've set before her and I find her jumping back on the Cisco Press CCNA 640-802 Network Simulator.

Kind of kewl tidbit: It handles the "do" command. I didn't think it did.


I'm trying to move my Network Academy Account over to Net Space now. It says my Academy is no longer in the program - I went to two of them back in the day. Started in 2001 and completed the Academy in 2003. I went to one with a friend of mine who died this past year. I completed the program a little later in 2003.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Just checked on my apprentice and she's listening to the radio and typing away happily on the CLI.

She told me she can't step away from it.

I guess those chains... may not be physical by psychological in nature.

She's hooked.

Configuring the IOS can be fun and addictive.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Status: Monday morning - 12:30AM and she stopped finally tonight.

I guess this must be like a CCIE Bootcamp for a CCNA, but hey if you train in the sun, you fight like you are in the shade...

Just saying...

Hard work delivers excellent rewards!

There's no shortcuts to success so don't waste time looking for them. - from Karl Solie (CCIE) who quoted General Colin Powell (US Army).

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

FYI: The Project I've been speaking of is taking flight. I have my first two participants who want to pay up and get started with the planning phase of the project.

I've got some logistics to work out physically and after that I'll start accepting donations from participants so they can start working on the project.

If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Status Update:

Today we started with a bit of an hour long pep talk.

(She's at work on the CLI today.)

So I went over the outline of expectations.

She's been working hard at trying to understand each topic one by one and I find that admirable no doubt.

However, we do have some goals and expectations and I daresay... timelines to maintain.

So... I explained it was time to turn and burn.

Given: She understand IP Addressing.

Given: She can navigate the Cisco IOS CLI

Given: She has me close by as a resource

Given the above information, I have asked her to focus on completing the Cisco Press CCNA 640-802 Network Simulator Labs - all of them.

She's got this week to use as a bootcamp opportunity - all hands-on.

I've asked her to complete the labs - a simple typing exercise of the fingers starting this week and tentatively until the end of the month of July, 2013.

I asked her to complete Chris Bryant's CCENT 640-822 and the ICND2 640-816 Videos during this time as well. No so much for mastery as she has been doing but more for awareness and completeness - I told her to just tell me she got it completed. That's what I need at this point in the game from her.

Whew!

Then I told her we would work on the lab workbook called "Soup to Nuts" by Narbik Kocharians from Micronics for the entire month of August.

During the month of August, I'll expect her to watch a video series from CBT Nuggets which focuses on Hands-On - Kind of a CCNA to the Job kind of video series by Jeremy Ciora. It is an interesting diversion that should bring value to her program of study in my opinion. I'm watching it now and find it helpful for a newbie, there are some parts I question why are there but hey... It's Jeremy's show not mine.

I explained that the time in September before the class should be spent going over yet more labs - I have about 10-12 CCNA Level Troubleshooting Labs for her to complete in this time.

While in class, I explained I was not going to expect her to complete the Cisco 360 Labs at that time. Nope!

I want her to work on the workbooks provided by Micronics/Narbik. I want to know if she has the experience at this juncture in her studies to just get them completed if she merely follows the instructions step by step.

I'm not asking for mastery. I only want the material to be completed workbook style and nothing else at this point.

Don't get mad at me folks...

She was just telling me that she was understanding that that www.abc.com is another way of getting to an IP Address - So I briefly explained DNS, A and PTR records and covered CNAMES briefly and the concept of a flat database to her. Briefly.


So after September and our trip to the CCIE Bootcamp by Narbik Kocharians:

I expect her to be ready to complete the CCNA (new version) in roughly 3 months or so (Goal date of December 2013).

She will be entitled to free repeats from Micronics (Cisco 360/Narbik) and I expect we will make 3-4 more trips in 2014 to the classes (2 weeks each as often as possible). This will help.

In 2014, the goal will be to complete the CCNP, once and for all.

At that point, she'll have been to 4-5 2-week training boot camps fit for a CCIE Candidate, she'll have earned the CCNA, will have been the smart hands for about 18 months for my "Private Enterprise/Campus/Data Center/DMZ Project", and have hopefully earned her CCNP along the way.

Now it is time to consider a full 1-year commitment to becoming a full-fledged CCIE RS Candidate for the year of 2015. I'd expect 3-4 more trips to either 2-week bootcamps (each trip has a handful of "real" labs each time) and completion of the CCIE Written and possibly the CCIE RS Lab itself.

All this in about 2.5 years - I'm not counting last year's casual reading and lab exercises I had her working on. I mean setting up a CCNA Voice Lab and Security Labs ad hoc by just following along does not really count as hands-on since she was really just following along my keystrokes, etc.

It may not work...

But it will be a pretty interesting journey.

The Project I speak of is starting right about now and my apprentice will be doing the following:

Chatsworth
- Assembling about 10 84U Racks with me
- Assembling 2 Quadraracks with me
- Adding the Cable Management to the racks
- Keeping track of the tracks on visio/spreadsheets/pictures
- Mounting all of the geat 1U at a time.
- Setting up the UPS equipment
- Cabling the gear
- Labeling the equipment and racks plus the power
- Documenting the project in MS Project
- Drawing the Visio Diagrams
- Corresponding with our participants
- Keeping Change Management Records
- Verifying all equipment is remotely accessible
- Verifying Cisco VPN/telnet/ssh/http/https works
- Setting up network management, monitoring, logging, and alerting
- ...

Just a few items and of course she has to perform password recovery for misc devices, upgrade or downgrade IOS as needed, and generally work her behind off to do all of this stuff in the time required for about 200-300+ devices or so.

She'll be getting more hands-on experience in the next 30 months than some people get in 5 or even 10 years in a given career.

Well... Got things to do folks.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

Status:

She's working away at the CLI on the Cisco Press Simulator's Labs - Pretty decent for beginners to learn the IOS.

Me:

Working on my Private Enterprise Project - hands-on.

Also getting some gear ready to do some CCIE Labs.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

OK - Shackles are off. Apprentice is dying to go to sleep. It's 4:49am and I guess tomorrow is a new day.



Seriously, I've never seen anyone so dedicated to learning this stuff. She's new but she ain't giving up.

Comblues

 

[Comblues]

It's 9:29am and I've awoken to the smell of fresh cappuccino in the morning.

I told you she does not give up and she's at the keyboard in the dining room going at it full hilt.

She's living life like she's in a boot camp for real. This is supposed to be a week of just hitting the labs for her.

She paid me a compliment last night. She said I was always available to answer every question no matter who often she asked it. She also mentioned that I had a way of ensuring people know they can always come to me with a question.

Umm... Ok Mostly true. But your mileage may vary.

I'm pleased to be working with someone so dedicated to the task. I like helping people but I do like to give people what they are giving in terms of effort.

She's working hard to learn and I appreciate the genuine effort.

Comblues

Her status report:

She's working on the Cisco Press CCNA 640-802 Network Simulator Hands-On Labs.

I know some people are trying to take the CCNA before it expires, I've put no such rush on her. I do want her to be more comfortable at the CLI and with the IOS before we go to the scheduled CCIE Boot Camp in about 3 months from now. That's my imperative more than anything. It'll be 12-days of intense work and her want her to give it a shot just for the fun of it.

FYI - I've given way 2 CCIE Voice Boot Camps with IPExpert in the past and sent another friend of mine from another company to one of Narbik's Boot Camps for the CCIE RS 5-day class for free a couple of year or so ago.

I also gave way 2 seats to Cisco/FastLane Cisco Nexus Beta Classes to co-workers and friends.



Comblues

 

[Pheran]

OK - Shackles are off. Apprentice is dying to go to sleep. It's 4:49am and I guess tomorrow is a new day.

It's 9:29am and I've awoken to the smell of fresh cappuccino in the morning.

I told you she does not give up and she's at the keyboard in the dining room going at it full hilt.

This is counterproductive. You don't learn well when sleep-deprived.

 

[Comblues]

She woke up on her own so I'd suppose she's working on her own biological clock.

I'm not forcing her to stay up even though I joke about the shackles.

She's really that motivated and dedicated to the task at hand.

She seems to love learning this stuff. She told me she never really sat down and read a book before I introduced her to the stuff over a year ago when she started reading some A+ books and basic networking books.

I'm fascinated by the progress myself and that's mostly why I decided to journal it for her.

I've never had the opportunity to snapshot someone learning so totally from scratch.

Comblues

 

[JackMDS]

This is a Technical Forum.

While one time short mention of off topic personal "titbit" is cute, it should slide into the Social Forum realm.