I'm sorry for the long pause, but there has been a change in my work. I have shifted from networking devices to Windows servers now, so the focus moved away from cisco, for the moment.
Anyway, after revitalizing my MS skills, I have decided it's time to get back to cisco learning, if not for my daily work at least to stay in touch with cisco technology.
So, here I go again.
P.S. schedule updated
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
VLANs
Today I saw my BCMSN schedule and I saw that I should have taken my exam already. Unfortunatly, I didn't have time to study (work+personal life) and I'm still at the beggining at the STP chapter.
The first part I have studies, VLAN and VTP was pretty much a review of the knowledge I already had. I would like to emphasize on one of the things I didn't knew that were possible on cisco gear and that is available on almost every other vendor switch (I saw it a lot on HP ProCurve):
SW1(config-if)#switchport trunk allowed vlan ?
WORD VLAN IDs of the allowed VLANs when this port is in trunking mode
add add VLANs to the current list
all all VLANs
except all VLANs except the following
remove remove VLANs from the current list
This command allows us to tag a trunk port to allow only certain VLANs.
It's good to be back!
P.S. I have updated the BCMSN schedule
The first part I have studies, VLAN and VTP was pretty much a review of the knowledge I already had. I would like to emphasize on one of the things I didn't knew that were possible on cisco gear and that is available on almost every other vendor switch (I saw it a lot on HP ProCurve):
SW1(config-if)#switchport trunk allowed vlan ?
WORD VLAN IDs of the allowed VLANs when this port is in trunking mode
add add VLANs to the current list
all all VLANs
except all VLANs except the following
remove remove VLANs from the current list
This command allows us to tag a trunk port to allow only certain VLANs.
It's good to be back!
P.S. I have updated the BCMSN schedule
Monday, April 27, 2009
Back on track
After a week long Easter break I am back on track with the BCMSN studies.
I deserved this, although this means postponing my exam for later in June.
I deserved this, although this means postponing my exam for later in June.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Spring time
First I would like to say that I am happy I didn't postpone the BSCI exam as I was tempted to do.
Second, I am already behind the BCMSN study schedule, for three reasons:
- no more study time during work (hope it will improve after Easter)
- the study material (at least the first two chapters) look very familiar from the CCNA study time and it's hard to focus reading - I'm having a deja-vu (it will improve with the next chapters, I'm sure)
- the spring is here and the beautiful weather made me spend more of my free time on my bike instead of the CLI
All the best to all of you and my respect to those who are able to keep on track!
P.S. Thanks to Wassim Aouadi for the BCMSN labs with GNS3
Second, I am already behind the BCMSN study schedule, for three reasons:
- no more study time during work (hope it will improve after Easter)
- the study material (at least the first two chapters) look very familiar from the CCNA study time and it's hard to focus reading - I'm having a deja-vu (it will improve with the next chapters, I'm sure)
- the spring is here and the beautiful weather made me spend more of my free time on my bike instead of the CLI
All the best to all of you and my respect to those who are able to keep on track!
P.S. Thanks to Wassim Aouadi for the BCMSN labs with GNS3
Monday, March 16, 2009
BSCI passed
Four months ago I decided to take the long and hard path (CCIE). The first little step was BSCI (642-901). Today I made that step and I am very proud and happy.
It was a hard exam, I would say harder than CCNA. This time some of the teoretical notions made some problems but the labs I did during study using Dynamips proved to be a very good choice.
Next BCMSN.
It was a hard exam, I would say harder than CCNA. This time some of the teoretical notions made some problems but the labs I did during study using Dynamips proved to be a very good choice.
Next BCMSN.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
BSCI exam scheduled
I have just scheduled my BSCI exam (642-901) for Monday the 16th of March. This time I did it online at pearsonvue.
Until then I will use the week-end to review my notes and to make sure I will not loose points on the topics I know. I hate it when after an exam I realize I made a mistake on a question I knew the answer due to the exam pressure or lack of concentration. So I plan to use this time I have until Monday morning to "cement" the knowledge I have.
All the best and happy studying.
Until then I will use the week-end to review my notes and to make sure I will not loose points on the topics I know. I hate it when after an exam I realize I made a mistake on a question I knew the answer due to the exam pressure or lack of concentration. So I plan to use this time I have until Monday morning to "cement" the knowledge I have.
All the best and happy studying.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
No time for blogging
Last week was a slow one for my study. I feel bad for not being able to keep the peace of one post per week. I read a lot of ccie blogs/forums (thanks to Aragoen Celtdra for the study notes) but I see that I am not able to give anything back to the community.
At least I was able to retake my studies, I have finished the multicast module and now I'm having fun with the IPv6 labs. I hope next week I will start the review and I have set another deadline for the BSCI exam (9th of March).
Happy studying...
At least I was able to retake my studies, I have finished the multicast module and now I'm having fun with the IPv6 labs. I hope next week I will start the review and I have set another deadline for the BSCI exam (9th of March).
Happy studying...
Sunday, February 8, 2009
BGP
First of all I would like to congratulate CCIE #23347, CCIE #23373, and CCIE #23394.
It has been a hard week and I haven't been able to study very much, but I am making good progress during this week-end. Thanks to Jeremy and GNS 3 I managed to go through the BGP topics, tomorrow I will start doing the labs from the BSCI curricula. Unfortunately, I am again behind schedule and I will have to update it.
I would like to emphasize again what a good tool GNS is if you don't have the real gear. I was able to do a 7 routers BGP lab with 4 Autonomous Systems on my HP laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.20GHz with 2 GB of RAM).
It has been a hard week and I haven't been able to study very much, but I am making good progress during this week-end. Thanks to Jeremy and GNS 3 I managed to go through the BGP topics, tomorrow I will start doing the labs from the BSCI curricula. Unfortunately, I am again behind schedule and I will have to update it.
I would like to emphasize again what a good tool GNS is if you don't have the real gear. I was able to do a 7 routers BGP lab with 4 Autonomous Systems on my HP laptop (Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.20GHz with 2 GB of RAM).
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Route Optimization
I have underestimated the route optimization chapter. At the beginning, when I saw the outline I thought it would take 3-4 days, but now I realize the importance of it, is like a review of all the IGP. I am still at the labs from the end of the chapter (done 2 of them, 3 more to go). They are really fun because of the interaction between the different routing protocols.
I will have to update my schedule also. Although I keep having some days with no study, I am confident I will finish by the end of February.
Hopefully, this week-end I will dive into BGP.
I will have to update my schedule also. Although I keep having some days with no study, I am confident I will finish by the end of February.
Hopefully, this week-end I will dive into BGP.
Monday, January 19, 2009
I broke the chain!
Although I broke the chain and I feel a little bit guilty, I would say I have a good reason for this: I have a life besides work.
I am done with IS-IS (thanks to Jeremy’s CBT nuggets), I managed to do the labs, I have some hand-on experience although I’m not really confident in my knowledge of the OSI protocol (better said not as confident as IP). Next is route Route Optimization and I hope to get over it quickly so that I can dive into BGP and then multicating - the main new notions from the BSCI curricula.
I am done with IS-IS (thanks to Jeremy’s CBT nuggets), I managed to do the labs, I have some hand-on experience although I’m not really confident in my knowledge of the OSI protocol (better said not as confident as IP). Next is route Route Optimization and I hope to get over it quickly so that I can dive into BGP and then multicating - the main new notions from the BSCI curricula.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
MS WS 2008 NI Schedule
1. Configuring IP Addressing and Services (24 percent) – 3 January 2010
a. Configure IPv4 and IPv6 addressing
b. Configure Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
c. Configure routing.
d. Configure IPsec.
2. Configuring Name Resolution (27 percent) – 4-10 January 2010
a. Configure a Domain Name System (DNS) server.
b. Configure DNS zones.
c. Configure DNS records.
d. Configure DNS replication.
e. Configure name resolution for client computers.
3. Configuring Network Access (22 percent) – 11-17 January 2010
a. Configure remote access.
b. Configure Network Access Protection (NAP).
c. Configure network authentication.
d. Configure wireless access.
e. Configure firewall settings.
4. Configuring File and Print Services (13 percent) – 18-21 January 2010
a. Configure a file server.
b. Configure Distributed File System (DFS).
c. Configure shadow copy services.
d. Configure backup and restore.
e. Manage disk quotas.
f. Configure and monitor print services.
5. Monitoring and Managing a Network Infrastructure (14 percent) – 22-24 January 2010
a. Configure Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server settings.
b. Capture performance data.
c. Monitor event logs.
d. Gather network data.
6. Review – 25-31 January 2010
7. Exam 1 February 2010
a. Configure IPv4 and IPv6 addressing
b. Configure Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
c. Configure routing.
d. Configure IPsec.
2. Configuring Name Resolution (27 percent) – 4-10 January 2010
a. Configure a Domain Name System (DNS) server.
b. Configure DNS zones.
c. Configure DNS records.
d. Configure DNS replication.
e. Configure name resolution for client computers.
3. Configuring Network Access (22 percent) – 11-17 January 2010
a. Configure remote access.
b. Configure Network Access Protection (NAP).
c. Configure network authentication.
d. Configure wireless access.
e. Configure firewall settings.
4. Configuring File and Print Services (13 percent) – 18-21 January 2010
a. Configure a file server.
b. Configure Distributed File System (DFS).
c. Configure shadow copy services.
d. Configure backup and restore.
e. Manage disk quotas.
f. Configure and monitor print services.
5. Monitoring and Managing a Network Infrastructure (14 percent) – 22-24 January 2010
a. Configure Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server settings.
b. Capture performance data.
c. Monitor event logs.
d. Gather network data.
6. Review – 25-31 January 2010
7. Exam 1 February 2010
Monday, January 12, 2009
OSPF – done, next IS-IS
It’s been a productive week; I managed to finish the OSPF module with the curricula labs. It is a lot of information, I wonder why would anybody use another routing protocol because OSPF has so many features that is seems you can do everything with it.
The next topic is IS-IS, and I hope to finish it by the end of the week.
I will also try to make an updated version of the schedule, I’m way behind the old one that I made at the beginning of December.
Last evening I installed the newer version of GNS 3 (0.6). I am amazed what an excellent tool it is. I have been using the using the Cisco Packet Tracer, Boson Netsim and the RouterSim Network Visualizer until I discovered GNS 3. I wonder why at a google search for “cisco network simulator” you don’t have GNS 3 at the top or at least on the first page.
Update 1: I have attached at the end of the blog my proposed schedule. Instead of marking with 'X' I will color the topics in red as I pass them.
Update 2: Added the "Don't break the chain" calendar
The next topic is IS-IS, and I hope to finish it by the end of the week.
I will also try to make an updated version of the schedule, I’m way behind the old one that I made at the beginning of December.
Last evening I installed the newer version of GNS 3 (0.6). I am amazed what an excellent tool it is. I have been using the using the Cisco Packet Tracer, Boson Netsim and the RouterSim Network Visualizer until I discovered GNS 3. I wonder why at a google search for “cisco network simulator” you don’t have GNS 3 at the top or at least on the first page.
Update 1: I have attached at the end of the blog my proposed schedule. Instead of marking with 'X' I will color the topics in red as I pass them.
Update 2: Added the "Don't break the chain" calendar
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Newton
I am Newton. I am a 28-old Senior QA Systems & Network engineer.
I am a CCNA since August 2007 currently seeking for the CCNP status and later for the precious CCIE numbers. I have made the first step in this direction - BSCI (2009).
I am also MCP and MCTS, looking forward for MCITP.
I am a CCNA since August 2007 currently seeking for the CCNP status and later for the precious CCIE numbers. I have made the first step in this direction - BSCI (2009).
I am also MCP and MCTS, looking forward for MCITP.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
BCMSN schedule
1. Network Requirements (17 – 22 March 09)
1.1 Introducing Campus Networks
2. Defining VLANs (23 – 29 March 09)
2.1 Implementing Best Practices for VLAN Topologies
2.2 Implementing VLANs
2.3 Implementing Trunks
2.4 Propagating VLAN Configurations with VLAN Trunking
2.5 Correcting Common VLAN Configuration Errors
2.6 VLAN Lab Exercises
3. Implementing Spanning Tree ( 9 – 27 September 09)
3.1 Describing STP
3.2 Implementing RSTP
3.3 Implementing MSTP
3.4 Configuring Link Aggregation with EtherChannel
3.5 Spanning Tree Lab Exercises
4. Implementing Inter-VLAN Routing (01 – 04 October 09)
4.1 Describing Routing Between VLANs
4.2 Enabling Routing Between VLANs
4.3 Deploying CEF-Based Multilayer Switching
4.4 Inter-VLAN Routing Lab Exercises
5. Implementing High Availability in a Campus Environment (05 – 11 October 09)
5.1 Configuring Layer 3 Redundancy with HSRP
5.2 Optimizing HSRP
5.3 Configuring Layer 3 Redundancy with VRRP and GLBP
5.4 High Availability Lab Exercise
6. Wireless LANs (25 – 28 June 09)
6.1 Introducing Wireless LANs
6.2 Describing Wireless LAN Topologies
6.3 Explaining Wireless LAN Technology Standards
6.4 Configuring Cisco WLAN Clients
6.5 Implementing Wireless LANs
6.6 Configuring Wireless WLANs
6.7 WLAN Lab Exercises
7. Configuring Campus Switches to Support Voice (12 – 18 October 09)
7.1 Planning for Implementation of Voice in a Campus
7.2 Accommodating Voice Traffic on Campus Switches
7.3 Voice Support Lab Exercises
8. Minimizing Service Loss and Data Theft in a Campus Network (19 – 25 October 09)
8.1 Understanding Switch Security Issues
8.2 Protecting Against VLAN Attacks
8.3 Protecting Against Spoof Attacks
8.4 STP Security Mechanisms
8.5 Preventing STP Forwarding Loops
8.6 Securing Network Switches
8.7 Switch Security Lab Exercises
BCMSN final review (26 – 31 October 09)
BCMSN exam (02 November 09)
1.1 Introducing Campus Networks
2. Defining VLANs (23 – 29 March 09)
2.1 Implementing Best Practices for VLAN Topologies
2.2 Implementing VLANs
2.3 Implementing Trunks
2.4 Propagating VLAN Configurations with VLAN Trunking
2.5 Correcting Common VLAN Configuration Errors
2.6 VLAN Lab Exercises
3. Implementing Spanning Tree ( 9 – 27 September 09)
3.1 Describing STP
3.2 Implementing RSTP
3.3 Implementing MSTP
3.4 Configuring Link Aggregation with EtherChannel
3.5 Spanning Tree Lab Exercises
4. Implementing Inter-VLAN Routing (01 – 04 October 09)
4.1 Describing Routing Between VLANs
4.2 Enabling Routing Between VLANs
4.3 Deploying CEF-Based Multilayer Switching
4.4 Inter-VLAN Routing Lab Exercises
5. Implementing High Availability in a Campus Environment (05 – 11 October 09)
5.1 Configuring Layer 3 Redundancy with HSRP
5.2 Optimizing HSRP
5.3 Configuring Layer 3 Redundancy with VRRP and GLBP
5.4 High Availability Lab Exercise
6. Wireless LANs (25 – 28 June 09)
6.1 Introducing Wireless LANs
6.2 Describing Wireless LAN Topologies
6.3 Explaining Wireless LAN Technology Standards
6.4 Configuring Cisco WLAN Clients
6.5 Implementing Wireless LANs
6.6 Configuring Wireless WLANs
6.7 WLAN Lab Exercises
7. Configuring Campus Switches to Support Voice (12 – 18 October 09)
7.1 Planning for Implementation of Voice in a Campus
7.2 Accommodating Voice Traffic on Campus Switches
7.3 Voice Support Lab Exercises
8. Minimizing Service Loss and Data Theft in a Campus Network (19 – 25 October 09)
8.1 Understanding Switch Security Issues
8.2 Protecting Against VLAN Attacks
8.3 Protecting Against Spoof Attacks
8.4 STP Security Mechanisms
8.5 Preventing STP Forwarding Loops
8.6 Securing Network Switches
8.7 Switch Security Lab Exercises
BCMSN final review (26 – 31 October 09)
BCMSN exam (02 November 09)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
BSCI schedule
1. EIGRP (11 - 14 December 09)
1.1 EIGRP Fundamentals and Features
1.2 EIGRP Components and Operation
1.3 Implementing and Verifying EIGRP
1.4 Implementing Advanced EIGRP Features
1.5 Configuring EIGRP Authentication
1.6 Using EIGRP in the Enterprise
1.7 EIGRP Lab Exercises
2. OSPF (15 – 21 December 09)
2.1 Review of OSPF Fundamentals and Features
2.2 Review of OSPF Operation
2.3 Implementing and Verifying OSPF
2.4 OSPF Network Types
2.5 Implementing OSPF in an NBMA Network
2.6 Multiarea OSPF Operation
2.7 Stub, Totally Stubby, and Not-So-Stubby Areas
2.8 Virtual Links
2.9 Route Summarization
2.10 OSPF Authentication
2.11 OSPF Lab Exercises
2.11 OSPF Challenge Lab Exercises
3. Integrated IS-IS (12 – 16 January 09)
3.1 IS-IS Fundamentals
3.2 ISO Addressing
3.3 IS-IS Operation
3.4 Configuring Basic Integrated IS-IS
3.5 Optimizing IS-IS
3.6 Verifying and Troubleshooting IS-IS
3.7 IS-IS Lab Exercises
4. Route Optimization (16 – 18 January 09)
4.1 Operating a Network Using Multiple Routing Protocols
4.2 Configuring and Verifying Router Redistribution
4.3 Controlling Routing Update Traffic
4.4 Policy-based Routing
4.5 DHCP
4.6 Route Optimization Lab Exercises
5. BGP (29 – 1 February 09)
5.1 BGP Concepts and Terminology
5.2 EBGP and IBGP
5.3 Configuring BGP
5.4 Advanced BGP Configuration and Verification
5.5 Selecting a BGP Path
5.6 Manipulating BGP Path Selection with Route Maps
5.7 BGP Lab Exercises
6. IP Multicasting (2 – 8 February 09)
6.1 Explaining Multicast
6.2 IGMP and Layer 2 Issues
6.3 Multicast Routing Protocols
6.4 Multicast Configuration and Verification
6.5 Multicast Lab Exercises
7. IPv6 (9 - 13 February 09)
7.1 Explaining IPv6
7.2 IPv6 Addressing
7.3 Dynamic IPv6 Addresses
7.4 IPv6 Routing
7.5 Implementing and Verifying OSPFv3
7.6 Using IPv6 and IPv4
7.7 IPv6 Lab Exercises
7 – 15 March final review
16 March - BSCI exam
1.1 EIGRP Fundamentals and Features
1.2 EIGRP Components and Operation
1.3 Implementing and Verifying EIGRP
1.4 Implementing Advanced EIGRP Features
1.5 Configuring EIGRP Authentication
1.6 Using EIGRP in the Enterprise
1.7 EIGRP Lab Exercises
2. OSPF (15 – 21 December 09)
2.1 Review of OSPF Fundamentals and Features
2.2 Review of OSPF Operation
2.3 Implementing and Verifying OSPF
2.4 OSPF Network Types
2.5 Implementing OSPF in an NBMA Network
2.6 Multiarea OSPF Operation
2.7 Stub, Totally Stubby, and Not-So-Stubby Areas
2.8 Virtual Links
2.9 Route Summarization
2.10 OSPF Authentication
2.11 OSPF Lab Exercises
2.11 OSPF Challenge Lab Exercises
3. Integrated IS-IS (12 – 16 January 09)
3.1 IS-IS Fundamentals
3.2 ISO Addressing
3.3 IS-IS Operation
3.4 Configuring Basic Integrated IS-IS
3.5 Optimizing IS-IS
3.6 Verifying and Troubleshooting IS-IS
3.7 IS-IS Lab Exercises
4. Route Optimization (16 – 18 January 09)
4.1 Operating a Network Using Multiple Routing Protocols
4.2 Configuring and Verifying Router Redistribution
4.3 Controlling Routing Update Traffic
4.4 Policy-based Routing
4.5 DHCP
4.6 Route Optimization Lab Exercises
5. BGP (29 – 1 February 09)
5.1 BGP Concepts and Terminology
5.2 EBGP and IBGP
5.3 Configuring BGP
5.4 Advanced BGP Configuration and Verification
5.5 Selecting a BGP Path
5.6 Manipulating BGP Path Selection with Route Maps
5.7 BGP Lab Exercises
6. IP Multicasting (2 – 8 February 09)
6.1 Explaining Multicast
6.2 IGMP and Layer 2 Issues
6.3 Multicast Routing Protocols
6.4 Multicast Configuration and Verification
6.5 Multicast Lab Exercises
7. IPv6 (9 - 13 February 09)
7.1 Explaining IPv6
7.2 IPv6 Addressing
7.3 Dynamic IPv6 Addresses
7.4 IPv6 Routing
7.5 Implementing and Verifying OSPFv3
7.6 Using IPv6 and IPv4
7.7 IPv6 Lab Exercises
7 – 15 March final review
16 March - BSCI exam
Monday, January 5, 2009
The beginning
A big hello to all you in the pursuit of the CCIE status. The main reason for creating this blog is to keep me on the track in this long journey I have started a month ago and maybe to inspire other people like me, who has been inspired by others that have made the transition from CCIE wannabe to CCIE.
I am a CCNA at this time dreaming to obtain one of those precious CCIE numbers. My first objective is to obtain the CCNP. The first step of this is BSCI.
Besides the experience from work I will use some tools to help me: the CCNP curricula, CBT Nuggets and GNS3 (amazing tool).
I have made a schedule just to make me feel guilty if I don't stick to it but I am already behind it. I will make a new one and I will stick to it.
Ok now.
At this time I am in the middle of OSPF (Module 3 of the curricula). I watched the CBT lessons and now I'm reading the curricula, and at the end doing the labs. I don't know if this is the best approach, I will see in the meantime.
I'm glad to see that there is a big community with similar goals as mine.
I'm waiting for your opinions/suggestions.
I am a CCNA at this time dreaming to obtain one of those precious CCIE numbers. My first objective is to obtain the CCNP. The first step of this is BSCI.
Besides the experience from work I will use some tools to help me: the CCNP curricula, CBT Nuggets and GNS3 (amazing tool).
I have made a schedule just to make me feel guilty if I don't stick to it but I am already behind it. I will make a new one and I will stick to it.
Ok now.
At this time I am in the middle of OSPF (Module 3 of the curricula). I watched the CBT lessons and now I'm reading the curricula, and at the end doing the labs. I don't know if this is the best approach, I will see in the meantime.
I'm glad to see that there is a big community with similar goals as mine.
I'm waiting for your opinions/suggestions.
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