fryguy\’s Blog

Ok, so it has been a while since I decided to update my blog – my bad.  Been working and trying to focus on losing some of the CCIE wieght that i gained while studying.  How you may ask, one word – MMA.  Been working out about 3 days a week for 2 hours a day. 

So, when I am not at MMA class I have been working on building the CCIE Voice Lab at my house.  I am now glad to say that it is complete.  Finished up the last piece last night – got the NM-CUE restored and working again.

I purchased the NM-CUE off ebay a few months back and it never booted it.  Well decided last night to boot it and then spent the next 2-3 hours (also was watching 24 at the same time) getting it restored.  Took some time as I had to tie my Voice rack into my home network in order to boot the helper image via TFTP.  Needless to say, the NM-CUE now has the latest Unity Express installed with English as the language.

Now to get my butt in gear and get back to work!

ALso, I think next time I might start to capture more information when I am restoring one of these mods – not that difficult but does take some time and probalby would be nice to share.

Until next time…

Well, finally got off my butt and ordered the IP Expert CCIE Voice Blended Learning Solution (BLS) kit the other day.  I figured spending the money on this would help to motivate me back into studing as well as provide me a solution that I can use to learn – and it has!

The BLS arrived within a couple days of the order on a little 120G USB hard drive. The menuing system is very easy to use and has the workbooks, audio classes as well as Video on Demand classes in an easy to use interface.  I have been watching the VoD class during my free time at work and must say that I am enjoying the presentation and depth of the material.  Most of it has been review for me, but I am sure that as I progress further into the videos I will start to learn more and more.

I am all registered and signed up, anyone else going?

Looking forward to NetVet lounge and CCIE party!!!

The recent announcement of the 3.0 CCIE Voice has me in an interesting situaiton.  Do I study for the 2.0 track and try the lab prior to the change or aim for the 3.0 track and use the next few months to prep for that one?

When I look at the 2.0 track, there is quite a bit of training information out there from all the vendors – so it may be easier (relatative) to attack the 2.0 head-on, but there is a small snag.  I am guessing that all the Cisco Voice labs and vendors racks are going to be booked from now until July as anyone who was dilly-dallying to take the lab just had a hot router placed under their butt.

When I look at the 3.0 track, there are some nice changes there and more in line with the hardware that I work with on a regular basis.  My concern there is that most of the software there is new to me, so it will be a complete learn of everything.

So what to do… my thoughts – bust hump and try to pass that lab before July!

I was just reviewing the lab updates and am now wondering what to do.

Do I think that i can get ready enough by July to take the v2.0 lab or should I start to study for the v3.0 one.

Decisions…..

Ok, my 350-030 is rescheduled for 1/16/09 at the latest (I can always move it up.) 

I will have to say, rescheduling the test under the RECERTIFY promotion code was a pain.  Seems VUE has two accounts for me, one I knew of and one that I did not.  All my Cisco tests where under the account that I did not know about.

How did they have one that I did not know about, that is easy – I take tests at Networkers and it seems that they created an account for me when I did that.  Luckily for me, Theresa at Vue was able to take care of everything for me and I am now all set.
Now, to get studying.

Forgot that my written was today until last night, whoops!  Got my butt handed to me.

At least now I have an idea what is on the test!  Time to get studying and use the recertifiy promotion code at Vue!

Just about half way through my CCIE Written study guide and so far there are little surprises in there.  I am figuring that once i have completed that one I will review the Cisco SRND for CallManager and they go take th test.

Want to put the written behind me as soon as possible so that I can schedule a bootcamp for early next year.

Well, I had to reschedule my written based on work.  Sheesh, how rude of work to get in the way!

Welcome to CCIE>Blog_.

My name if Jeff and I am CCIE R&S 22061 - fresh number as of September 2008.  I have been working on achieving my CCIE for about 3 years now, the last one much harder then the first two.  Took some time for me to mature into the study pattern and prioritize my goals and such.

I am the Manager of Network Engineering for the company that I work for and have responsibility for the North American and Asia networks and assist in the design of our European networks.  I have been doing Cisco networking for about 10 years now, but have been doing computers since DOS 2.x, TRS-80, PCjr, Apple ][c, etc.  Even had a 10-base-2 network back in High School (late 80’s) that run my 4 node BBS system.  Was a local hub for FidoNet and WishNet for the 215 Area code in my region, so I have been doing this computer stuff for some time now.

Since I have now achived the CCIE R&S, I want to focus on the Voice side of the business.  I deployed the Cisco CallManager where I currently work about 3 or 4 years ago but have had little to do with it lately.  Time to get back into it all and get the Voice one added to my number. 

Thinking that once Voice is done, SP is next, and if the mood takes me, Security after that.  Am I a little crazy, yes – but I like to challenge myself and these tests are a challenge.

Will post more later – for now, g’night.