Join us in congratulating the following CCIEs on their great achievement;

• Jaime Herrera, CCIE #43439 (Wireless)
• Jay Killion CCIE, #17873 on passing his CCIE Wireless (He’s also a CCIE R&S)
• Christos Stefaneskou, CCIE #43578 (Wireless)
• Mercedes Carvalhinho, CCIE #39670 (R&S, Service Provider)
• Faisal Abdul Gaffoor, CCIE #43600 (Data Center)
• Evgeny Varnavsky, CCIE #27127 on passing his CCIE Wireless (He’s also a CCIE in Security and R&S)

Have you also used iPexpert or Proctor Labs to help you pass the CCIE lab exam? If so, we want to hear your story! Please email us at success@ipexpert.com

I’m excited to announce that we have completed our Security product portfolio, and have updated all content to our “Next Generation” format.

CCNA

For those who want to start their journey within the Cisco security arena, we have a recently-updated CCNA Security VoD. This self-study video class covers the current CCNA Security blueprint discussing the concepts, technologies and features required to recognize threats and vulnerabilities to networks. It also demonstrates how certain threats and attacks can be mitigated using Cisco’s Security Product Portfolio.

CCNP

I am thrilled to announce our newest product, our new “Next Generation” CCNP Security Video Series. We are now the only company in the market that offers self-study video training for those who are preparing to the latest professional-level Cisco security exams, and we’re also including the older exams in this series:

The exams we have covered are as follows:

• Implement Cisco Intrusion Prevention System (IPS 642-627)
• Deploying Cisco ASA VPN Solutions (VPN 642-648)
• Deploying Cisco ASA FIrewall Solutions (Firewall 642-618)
• Securing Networks with Cisco Routers and Switches (Secure 642-637)

• Cisco Edge Network Security Solutions (SENSS 300-206)
• Cisco Secure Mobility Solutions (SIMOS 300-209)
• Implementing Cisco Secure Access Solutions (SISAS 300-208)
• Implementing Cisco Threat Control Solutions (SITCS 300-207)
  

CCIE

Of course all of you know that we’re defined in the training market for our CCIE training. We have 2 Video Training Courses to get you on your path to becoming an expert. The first, is our CCIE Security Written VOD, and the second is our CCIE Security Lab Essentials. They’re both great starting points – as they demonstrate both theory and countless configuration and troubleshooting examples for most of the technologies listed on the 4.0 blueprint.

The next product in our CCIE Security training portfolio is our Volume 1 and Volume 2 Workbooks (with Detailed Solution Guides). Volume I was designed to teach you the individual technologies, one by one, and Volume II introduces you to full mock labs, and consists of 5 8-hour practice scenarios that will aid you in preparing your readiness for the actual exam. We have recently began offering free, live, Online-HD-ILT style workbook lab walk-throughs, where I take a lab from Volume 1, and configure it – and teach you what to watch for along the way. These are all recorded and available to you if you’re a workbook client.

The final thing I’d like to cover is our live training classes, or “bootcamps” as they’re often referred to in this market. We have 2 different courses – a 5-day bootcamp, and a 1-Week Lab Experience. Both are available in person, or live via our Online-HD-ILT training solution – which is getting awesome reviews! There’s quite a bit of difference between the 2 courses. The first, our 5-day bootcamp is a class in which I provide detailed explanations and hands-on demos of the technologies tested on lab. After lectures each day, you’re given corresponding labs to practice after the class. The second class, our 1-Week Lab Experience is viewed as the most complex hands-on experience in the CCIE training market. During 5 days, you’re given three highly-challenging labs. I provide you with detailed solutions as well as tips & tricks. I monitor the class, and act as the “proctor”, so you truly feel like you’re taking a real lab. What most students do is take these 2 classes together over a 10-day period, giving them an incredible, nearly fail-proof learning experience.

- Piotr Kaluzny:: CCIE # 25665 / Security

I would like to start this blog off by introducing myself. My name is Jason Lunde, and I am a dual-CCIE in the data center, and routing & switching tracks. I am the latest addition to the team here at iPexpert, and will be heading up the development and delivery of the CCIE data center materials! Honestly though, to sweeten the deal even further for all current and future CCIE DC candidates, it will not only be myself proofing and developing the content, but also data center CCIEs Terry Vinson (CCIE R&S and DC) and Laurent Metzger (CCIE R&S, Data Center and Storage). You really cannot find anyone else in the training industry who can tout that many certified instructors in the data center space!

I have been in and around computer networking since around 2006. I have a bachelor’s degree in CIS from Colorado State University – Pueblo, and a MS in Information Systems Security from Colorado Technical University. The last couple of years I have worked as a post-sales engineer for a Cisco Gold partner out of the mid-west. Most of my passion lies in the new data center technologies that are around the data center these days. There is just something about OTV, FabricPath, and all things UCS just seem to set get me all rowled up!

Now, I can honestly say that I passed the CCIE data center exam, on my first attempt, by using the first-rate materials that iPexpert already had on the market. Not only will we be updating and adding to this collection of self-study material, but we are also going to be releasing data center materials for all levels of aspiring engineers! The CCNA and CCNP data center materials will be forthcoming, with the ultimate goal being that we are able to show you success from the NA level, through NP, and finally to the summit of CCIE data center. Not to mention, I will also be working on getting together video lab walk-throughs for our current CCIE data center volume 1 workbook. This will be an added benefit to purchasing the data center workbooks, in that you will be able to sit along beside me, as I work through the exact same labs as you, explaining the concepts as we go! I will also be teaching most of the North American boot camps for the CCIE data center curriculum, both on-site and Online-HD-ILT, and am also currently working on the roll out / expansion of over twice as many data center racks here at iPexpert. 

Coming into this new role, I am truly excited about the opportunity to teach and mentor students along their journey to whatever their certification goals may be along the data center tracks (NA, NP, or IE). It is going to be and exciting couple of months here as I start to comb through and refine old material, as well as developing new stuff! So, stay tuned, and feel free to comment if there is anything you think we should change, or add to the existing content!

As many of you know, I’m now managing the development and roll out of iPexpert’s CCIE R&S V5 videos, practice lab scenarios, racks and bootcamps. I was able to clear my CCIE Data Center lab last week, so now I’m back to focusing 100% on the new strategy Wayne and I have designed. I’d like to give you all a solid overview of what to expect, and the timelines associated with these V5 materials. In a nutshell, get ready, because content is going to start being released very, very soon!

CCIE R&S V5 Practice Lab Scenarios / Workbooks

We know you’re all waiting on updates to our workbooks, so here’s where we stand.

Our new V5 Volume 1 workbook will be still be technology-focused, shorter lab scenarios. These will take an average of 20 to 45 minutes to complete. We will be covering every topic that you could possibly see on the V5 blueprint, and every potential configuration scenario. Our logic is that you should never see something for the first time on your lab. Our V5 Volume 1 is being completely rewritten, and will contain 188 labs when it’s finished compared to 34 in our V4 workbook. We will be releasing the first round of these labs, along with our CCIE R&S V5 racks, June 1st. I’m estimating that there will be at least 50 lab scenarios available then. The remaining scenarios will be completed within the next 45 days.

As a purchaser of our Volume 1, you will be able to attend our live, Online-HD-ILT workbook mentoring sessions free of charge! I will be conducting several of these a week, and will be walking through the entire lab in major detail so you have a full understanding of how to complete it, and why it should be done our specific way. Of course, these workbook mentoring sessions will also be available to you in streaming format through your Member’s Area login.

The second workbook, our V5 Volume 2 will initially consist of five (5) 8-hour mock labs. I anticipate releasing the first 2 in late June, with at least 1 new lab a month.

“Next Gen” VoD

I’m sure by now, all of you have seen our game-changing VoDs (if you haven’t – you need to check out our YouTube channel). We have a few special enhancements that we’re working on, and will continue to improve the quality of our recorded videos – AS WELL AS our live, Online-HD-ILT classes.

My predecessor did a great job covering a very large portion of the R&S content that’s seen on the V5 lab (in our current R&S Lab Essentials VOD), but I’ve mapped out some updates that I’ll be making. These include:

Video 1: Technology: Multi-protocol
Subject: Implement and Troubleshoot Routing Protocol Authentication

• MD5
• Key-chain
• EIGRP HMAC SHA2-256bit
• OSPFv2 SHA1-196bit
• OSPFv3 IPsec authentication

Video 2: Technology: EIGRP
Subject: Implement and Troubleshoot Neighbor Relationships

• Multicast, unicast EIGRP peering
• OTP point-to-point peering
• OTP route-reflector peering
• OTP multiple service providers scenario

Video 3: Technology: EIGRP
Subject: Metrics

• Classic vs Wide Metrics

Video 4: Technology: EIGRP
Subject: Load-balancing

• add-path

Video 5: Technology: EIGRP
Subject: Multi-Address Family

• named mode
• IPv4 AF
• IPv6 AF

Video 6: Technology: EIGRP
Subject: Optimizing EIGRP

• Describe fast convergence requirements
• Control query boundaries
• IP FRR/fast reroute (single hop)
• Summary leak-map
• Summary metric

Video 7: Technology: OSPF
Subject: Implement, Troubleshoot and Optimize Convergence and Scalability

• IP FRR/fast reroute (single hop)
• LFA/loop-free alternative (multi hop)

Video 8: Technology: BGP
Subject: Peering Relationships

• Dynamic Neighbors

Video 9: Technology: Multi-Protocol
Subject: Interpret Packet Capture

• Using Wireshark trace analyzer
• Using IOS embedded packet capture

Video 10: Technology: VPN Technologies
Subject: Implement and troubleshoot DMVPN (single hub)

• NHRP
• DMVPN with IPsec using preshared key
• QoS profile
• Pre-classify

Video 11: Technology: VPN Technologies
Subject: L2VPN

• AToM
• VPLS
• General Principles

Video 12: Technology: Network Services
Subject: Implement and Troubleshoot IPv4 and IPv6 DHCP

• DHCP client, IOS DHCP server, DHCP relay
• DHCP options
• DHCP protocol operations
• SLAAC/DHCPv6 interaction
• Stateful, stateless DHCPv6
• DHCPv6 prefix delegation

Our new videos will begin to be added to your Member’s Area (for current Lab Essentials customers) towards the end of May, and updates and additions will pretty much be continual – until there’s absolutely nothing more to explain in any more detail! The ETA for our additional V5 VOD updates is June 30th.

Once the videos I’ve outlined above (for V5) have been completed, I will be going back through the current videos, and making quite a few updates to them. There’s a lot of content that should be covered in much greater detail, and I am committed to making our materials the most thorough and complete V5 R&S products on the market!

Rack Rental

We’ve got a great rack rental and practice lab scenario strategy mapped out. The goal that we have is that most of our technology-focused labs will be doable on GNS3 or CML – which is supposed to be released in the short future. If you’re not familiar with CML, it’s a modeling application that Cisco is going to be selling. Individuals can purchase it, run it on a laptop, and basically – through a GUI – build their topology, and be able to connect to the router consoles, and configure them as if it was a real network.

Our standard V5 rack contains 11 routers and 4 switches (routers capable of running 15.3T, and switches will be running 12.2SE/15.0(x)SE or 10.0SE). For a few of our technology-focused labs, you will need this larger topology.

Also, it hasn’t be announced yet, but Wayne has given me permission to discuss this. As you know – the R&S V5 lab could possibly be running on 20 to 30 routers. Well, the interface we’ve designed for R&S V5 will allow you to “merge” 2 standard topologies. When we have our 8-hour mock labs finished, they will be delivered via our classroom interface (electronically), yes – all 3 sections, timed – and you’ll be able to rent / utilize 11, 22 or even 33 routers in a single topology – based on the lab.

Again, our R&S V5 racks will be available to the public June 1st. Everything has been beta tested. We’re now just finalizing IOS upgrades, so we’re right on track! If you’re looking to reserve your V5 rack, you can do so here.

For those of you who would like to see our topology – here’s a very basic connectivity diagram of the simple 11 router / 4 switch topology.

CCIE R&S V5 Bootcamps

CCIE R&S V5 WRITTEN Class

First, I’m excited t0 be teaching a CCIE R&S V5 Written Bootcamp, online, beginning August 4th. I’ll be leveraging a lot of the things I wrote about in the V5 Cisco Press Certification Guide. For more information about this class, please reach out to your training advisor.

CCIE R&S V5 Lab Bootcamps

We’re going to continue giving our students the ability to take either 5-day or 10-day bootcamps. The details of the classes (difference between a 5-day and 10-day course can be found here).

I feel that I have a major advantage over many people out there that think of themselves as instructors. I was formally trained as an instructor with detailed focus on how to transfer technical knowledge as part of my military career, which included working with people with very limited or extensive technical exposure to a given subject. I believe that technical experts are made by working with the technologies after building a solid theoretical foundation. It is only with the working essential knowledge about each protocol and feature that we are properly equipped to become experts. So many instructors want to put the demonstration before the theory, or try to teach how to do things at the command without transferring the technical aspects of why. I agree that exams like the CCIE R&S are about how to do a task at the command line, but knowing how to make the configuration is only part of the puzzle. Always keep in mind that that the secret to passing any exam is to keep your eye on the end goal which is enabled and made possible by the aggregation of the steps taken to get there. To make this happen I personally believe that a good instructor has to help you identify gaps in your knowledge and show you how to fill them. That takes time and it takes devotion to the art of teaching not just technical expertise.

What to Expect When Attending my Bootcamp

First and foremost I personally feel that CCIEs are made at the console. I am also a firm believer that you need to experience every aspect of a protocol, technology or feature from multiple avenues and in different scenarios to be properly prepared to claim that you understand it. My preparation strategy, and lab taking tips are clearly a proven system – as evident by my 5-month “zero to pass” in the CCIE Data Center space. Wayne and I have been working on refining various tools and strategies that will enable you, as an R&S student, to take this system – and have the same results that I’ve had (if and only “if” you truly put in the effort).

Let’s face it. The “E” in CCIE stands for “EXPERT”, to be an expert you need to have spent hours and hours working with a protocol. To that end I will conduct bootcamps that will be focused on intense theoretical discussions and even more intense hands on experimentation. I follow a three point learning model of explanation, demonstration and practical application. But given the new format of the exam it will not be sufficient just to do toss out “factoids” and do some labs. Keep in mind I have been working with the version 5 topics and Cisco’s expectation regarding them since late last year when I was selected to co-author the Official Cisco Press CCIE V5 Certification Guide. So, I have personal insight into this version of the exam that I want to share regarding all aspects of the lab to include troubleshooting, diagnostics and the configuration section. I smile when I say troubleshooting/diagnostics because I have taught those topics specifically, my job in the Army and after I got out, was to create troubleshooters. So that is near and dear to my heart.

In a nutshell, what we need for version 5 will be a diagnostic approach to these technologies that involves not just configuration, but analysis of each technology in multiple scenarios and in multiple protocol environments. In the end this will translate into long days and even longer hours. I expect an early day to end at 8 or 9pm. Our days will start at 8:30 am and may go as late as 11 pm or longer. We will lab until we are done. The content in the exam is broad; our theoretical discussions will be deep and I will “demand” that you lab “till your fingers bleed” and then I will ask you to lab some more.

I want to have fun in the classes, but when I teach I’m serious and focused on my student’s success (that’s what you are paying me for) and I will expect the same of all my students. I promise I will check by ego at the door each day, and the training will be about you; the candidate. When the sun goes down on each day of the boot camp I want you exhausted, laying in bed, looking at the ceiling feeling like an iPexpert!

Below you will find my exhaustive class outline. As you can see, there’s a lot of content to be covered, but if you utilize our preparation strategy, you won’t have too difficult of a time keeping up in class! ;-)

CCIE Routing & Switching 5-Day Lab Preparation Bootcamp Outline

Day 1

LAN Switching Technologies

• Implement and troubleshoot switch administration
  • Managing MAC address table
  • MAC address aging*
  • errdisable recovery
  • L2 MTU
  • Smart Port Macros*
• Implement and troubleshoot layer 2 protocols
  • CDP
  • LLDP
  • UDLD
• Implement and troubleshoot VLAN
  • access ports
  • VLAN database
  • Normal Vlan
  • Extended VLAN
  • Voice VLAN
• Implement and troubleshoot trunking
  • VTPv1, VTPv2, VTPv3
  • VTP message types:
    • Summary advertisements*
    • Subset advertisement*
    • Advertisement requests*
    • VTP join messages*
  • VTP pruning
    • Prune Eligibility Lists*
  • Dot1Q
  • Dynamic Trunking Protocol
  • Native VLAN
  • Manual pruning
• Implement and troubleshoot etherchannel
  • LACP
    • LACP ID Parameters*
    • LACP-Enabled and Static Port Channels Differences*
    • LACP Compatibility Enhancements*
    • LACP Port-Channel MinLinks and MaxBundle*
  • PAgP
    • Learning Method*
  • Manual
  • Layer 2, layer 3
  • load-balancing
  • etherchannel misconfiguration guard
• Implement and troubleshoot spanning-tree
  • PVST+
    • switch priority
    • port priority
    • path cost
    • STP timers
    • port fast
    • BPDUguard
    • BPDUfilter
    • Loopguard
    • Rootguard
    • Uplink Fast*
    • Backbone Fast*
  • RPVST+
    • Convergence Optimizations
    • Edge Ports
    • Backwards Compatibility
  • MST
    • Multi-Region MST
    • Backwards Compatibility
  • Flex Links*
  • Fall Back Bridging*
• Implement and troubleshoot other LAN switching technologies
  • SPAN
  • RSPAN
  • ERSPAN
• Layer 2 Multicast
  • Implement and troubleshoot IGMP
    • IGMPv1, IGMPv2, IGMPv3
    • IGMP snooping
      • IGMP Snooping Overview*
      • Learning the Router Port*
      • Joining a Group With IGMP Snooping*
      • Multicast Source-Only Network*
      • Limitations*
    • IGMP querier
    • IGMP filter
      • IGMP Filtering*
      • IGMP Throttling*
      • IGMP Packet Filter*
    • IGMP proxy
    • IGMP Profiles*
    • IGMP Timers*
    • VLAN Registration*
• Layer 2 WAN circuit technologies
  • Implement and troubleshoot HDLC
  • Implement and troubleshoot PPP
    • authentication
      • PAP
      • CHAP
    • PPPoE
      • Configuring a PPPoE Client
      • Configuring PPPoE on the Server
    • MLPPP
• Troubleshooting layer 2 technologies
  • Use IOS troubleshooting tools
    • Debug
    • Conditional Debug
    • Ping
    • traceroute
      • extended options
    • Embedded packet capture
  • Apply troubleshooting methodologies
    • Diagnose the root cause of networking issue
      • analyze symptoms
      • identify
      • describe root cause
    • Design and implement valid solutions according to constraints
    • Verify and monitor resolution
  • Interpret packet capture
    • Using wireshark trace analyzer
    • Using IOS embedded packet capture

Day 2

IP Routing Technologies (Part 1)

• Protocol Independent IPv4 Routing
  • Addressing Scheme
    • Sub-netting*
    • Super-netting*
    • Address Resolution Protocol
  • Best Path Selection
  • Administrative Distance
  • Static Routing
    • Floating Static Routes
    • Default Routes
    • Conditional Default Routing*
  • Switching Methods
    • Process Switching*
    • Fast Switching*
    • Cisco Express Forwarding
  • Backup Interface
  • IP Service Level Agreements
    • Enhanced Object Tracking
  • Policy Routing
    • Access Lists and PBR
    • IP SLA Incorporation with PBR*
    • Local Policy Routing
  • Tunneling Technologies
    • GRE Tunnels
    • IP in IP Tunnels
    • Recursion Failures*
  • VRF Lite
  • Bidirectional Forwarding Detection
• Protocol Independent IPv6 Routing
  • IPv6 Addressing
    • Link-Local Addressing
    • Unique Local Addressing
    • Global Aggregatable Addressing
    • EUI-64 Addressing
    • Auto-Configuration / SLAAC
    • Global Prefix
    • Redistribution
    • Filtering
    • NAT-PT
    • MP-BGP
  • IPv6 Tunneling/Migration Technologies
    • Dual Stack*
    • Automatic 6to4 Tunneling
    • ISATAP Tunneling
• Protocol Independent Routing Features
  • Distance Vector Behaviors*
  • Link State Behaviors*
  • Path Vector Behaviors*
  • Passive Interfaces
  • Authentication
  • Route Filtering
• Summarization
  • Auto Summarization
  • Manual Summarization
• Route Redistribution
  • Route Tagging*
  • Manual Lists
  • Administrative Distance
• Exploring Redistribution Issues
  • AD Generated Loops
  • Metric Based Loops
  • Route Feeback*

About Terry

Terry Vinson :: CCIE R&S and Data Center Instructor / CCIE #35347 (R&S and Data Center)

Terry Vinson is a seasoned instructor, with nearly 25 years of experience teaching and writing technical courses and training materials. During the 15-year span prior to joining iPexpert as a full-time instructor, Terry taught and developed training content, as well as provided technical consulting for high-end firms in the N. Virginia / Washington DC area. His technical expertise lies in the Cisco arena with a focus on all Routing and Switching technologies as well as the latest Data Center technologies including Nexus switching, unified computing, and storage area networking (SAN) technologies. Terry’s most recent accomplishment was being selected as the co-author of the Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching v5.0 Official Cert Guide Library, 5th Edition, which is soon to be released by Cisco Press. Terry has been focusing on iPexpert’s new CCIE R&S V5 Next Generation product portfolio and will be teaching a majority of our CCIE R&S bootcamps. He is also going to be involved in teaching CCIE Data Center classes, and ensuring that our R&S and Data Center products are overhauled – and seen as the best in the industry.

I’d like to congratulate Andy, our CCIE Collaboration instructor, on passing his Collaboration lab. This makes him a triple IE – with his R&S, Voice and Collaboration. He’s one of less than 10 in the world who have passed this new CCIE certification. Stay tuned for a blog from Andy, tomorrow, discussing our Collaboration self-study workbooks, videos, racks and bootcamps and our ETAs.

Join us in congratulating the following CCIEs on their great achievement;

• Andy Vassar CCIE, #22042 (Collaboration, Voice, Routing & Switching)
• Arun Wadhawan CCIE, #43653 (Wireless)
• Jere Vasama CCIE, #43662 (Wireless)
• Jeremy Holmes CCIE, #43606 (Wireless)
• George Mukenya CCIE, #41742 (Security)
• Ammett Williams CCIE, #43659 (Routing & Switching)

Jaime Herrera CCIE, #43439 (from last weeks success story)
iPexpert was a key element in my studies towards achieving the CCIE Wireless certification. Jeff’s CCIE Wireless Video On Demand course is a must have for any candidate. He covers all sections of the blueprint in detail. I would highly recommend iPexpert to anyone. Also, iPexpert doesn’t just take your money and run away like most other vendors. The whole team was always there to answer any questions with racks, workbooks, etc. Thanks iPexpert!

Jeremy Holmes CCIE, #43606
Jeff, I just wanted to say Thank You very much for sticking with me throughout  my studies!!! Your willingness  to answer questions after hours and ability to describe solutions in exact detail where key components in achieving my goal.   Will be sending another engineer in your direction as soon as the new version is released.  Thanks again!

Ammett Williams CCIE, #43659
“I have been actively pursuing CCIE R&S for approximately 1 year five month. My main study source was the iPexpert R&S BLS solution. In addition to the great material which is very in-depth & in some cases actually tougher than the actual lab, the customer service I received was superb. I was assisted in every aspect from online rental rack problems to purchase inquiries with excellent responds each and every time. I would like to thank the whole team and make a special mention to Mike for his support. Looking forward to the Collaboration track .“

Have you also used iPexpert or Proctor Labs to help you pass the CCIE lab exam? If so, we want to hear your story! Please email us at success@ipexpert.com

Who’s interested in REALLY understanding the “Next Generation” of Cisco certification training?…..our competitors tried to announce “something huge” – but it went BUST at their Cisco Live party! Get ready…..We’ve got something to showcase….it’s gonna be over, and we’re gonna change the CCIE training market forever. #NEXTGENERATION……

Keep watching our website and social outlets….well, nah – don’t even follow us, what we’re going to be announcing is going to reach you regardless…..

Next Generation is coming…….the clock is ticking…..

Join us in congratulating the following CCIEs on their great achievement;

• Renan Abreu CCIE, #42638 (Routing & Switching)
• Luis Orozco, CCIE # 43623 (Routing & Switching)
• Richard Barbosa, CCIE #43765 (Data Center)
• Jarrod Mills, CCIE #6679 (Data Center, Routing & Switching, Service Provider, Security)
• Trevor Roberts, CCIE #43787 (Data Center)
• Anivaldo Malungo, CCIE #39670 (Routing & Switching, Service Provider)

Have you also used iPexpert or Proctor Labs to help you pass the CCIE lab exam? If so, we want to hear your story! Please email us at success@ipexpert.com

Hello iPexpert Community!

As many of you know by now, I was able to pass my CCIE Collaboration lab exam a couple weeks back on May 13th.  Like any other CCIE lab exam, it was very difficult and took a great deal of hard work and dedication to pass it.

Throughout my preparation, I relied heavily on the information found in the Collaboration SRND as well as Configuration Guides, Command References, and Configuration Examples found within Cisco’s documentation.  In addition to Cisco’s provided documentation, I also took a few detours through RFC-land (reading through several RFCs) to take a closer look at a few technologies on which I just didn’t get enough detail using the Cisco documentation.  Using the documentation, I spent countless hours “labbing up” different scenarios and troubleshooting the associated problems.  There is no better way to learn a technology in my opinion.  After I was confident that I had a thorough grasp on the each technology found in the blueprint, I wrote some quick mock labs to practice my speed.  Nothing introduces problems more quickly than when you put a countdown on your problem solving ability.  Mistakes are made, corners are cut, and points are lost.  That is why it is so important to practice against a clock.  While speeding through the labs, it revealed some of my deficiencies in several different areas.  For example, what happens when you are running CUBE, CUCME, and video conferencing services on the same router?  Chaos is a good first guess.  However, going back to the drawing board and thoroughly testing everything individually revealed great information that I may not have learned otherwise.  This happened countless times with other technologies like IM & Presence, UCCX, and Unity Connection.  The point here is, you must always understand the technology thoroughly before you can even dream of configuring it in a mock lab scenario.  If you don’t understand the technologies detailed into the blueprint in excruciating detail, you do not have a realistic shot at passing the lab—it’s that simple.

Fear not though, CCIE Collaboration hopefuls!  That’s where iPexpert comes in!  I have been and will be pumping all of those countless hours of lab prep into the creation of all the iPexpert content.  I’ll be using all of those “lessons learned” to create industry-leading documentation, course content, and lectures geared towards teaching you the concepts and technologies detailed on the Collaboration lab exam.  Through iPexpert’s brand-new, completely re-written, suite of products, including technology-focused and mock lab workbooks, live and online HD-ILT bootcamps, “Next Generation” HD VoDs, and Proctor Labs rack rental solutions, I am confident that iPexpert can help you to achieve your goal.

Technology-Focused and Mock Lab Workbooks

I am pretty excited about the direction that iPexpert is heading here.  Soon, the days of accessing workbooks using only PDFs will be overtaken by a more interactive, intuitive workbook system that will allow blended access to related VoDs, an area for user notes, detailed solutions for each question, and access to the members-only support forum within a few simple clicks.  For those of you that would still prefer to use the PDF format, don’t worry; you will be able to generate that document on demand when needed.  The format of the technology related questions also present a major change from the previous iterations of iPexpert workbooks.  Instead of sending you through a 5-hour journey to complete one technology-focused lab section, there will instead be several “mini-labs” that can be completed in about 20 to 45 minutes.  This will allow you to focus on very specific pieces of technology and manage your time more effectively.   Also, since the new format will be extremely modular, expect to see more fluid refinements and additions than ever before.  The first of our workbooks will be released within a few weeks, targeting June 13th as the release date.

With regard to the mock lab workbooks, the same changes outlined above will apply.  Obviously our focus here is to create labs that are just as difficult and time consuming as the actual lab; maybe even more.  If you can successfully take down our mock labs without breaking a sweat, you should be ready to “slay the beast”.  The mock labs will start to trickle out shortly after the release of the Technology-Focused workbooks.

Live and Online HD-ILT Bootcamps

As I wrote about in my last blog, I will be teaching the live bootcamps out of our new location at the Purdue Technology Center in the Chicago area.  The bootcamps are a great way to refine your skills and take in a lot of information in a short amount of time.  The 5-Day Lab Preparation bootcamp will take you through the blueprint from top to bottom and really give you a solid grip on your level of preparedness for the actual lab exam.  I ask that students come prepared to “drink from the fire hose” as there will be a large amount of topics that will be covered throughout the course of the week.  The One Week Lab experience (OWLE) bootcamp is solely focused on mock labs and lab strategy.  There will be 3 full-scale, timed labs given throughout the week and will put the knowledge of the student to the ultimate test.  Of course, these bootcamps can be taken at separate times, but it is very beneficial to combine the two courses with the 10-Day Lab Preparation bootcamp.  Spending a full 10 days with extreme focus on lab preparation is the best way to gain the crucial knowledge needed to pass the lab exam.  Taking both courses back to back will provide the perfect building blocks to take your knowledge to the next level.  For more information and detailed course outlines, check out our CCIE Collaboration Bootcamps page.

“Next Generation” HD Videos on Demand

As my colleague Terry Vinson wrote, the iPexpert Next Generation VoDs are a game changer.  As a company, we are focusing on generating high quality video content that can be accessed at any time, when it is most convenient for you.  Come on, who hasn’t had that late-night, 3am craving for a CUBE lecture?  I know I have!  In addition to providing high-quality on-demand content, we’re going to be running Online HD-ILT courses, workbook mentoring sessions, and vLectures that will allow seamless interaction with the instructor so you can ask clarifying questions to truly understand the technology.  Video content from those sessions will be recorded and accessible through your member account.

Proctor Labs Rack Rentals

I have had several questions regarding the rack rental hardware set up, so I thought it best to try and answer everyone using a blog post.  First of all, the racks that we have built are state-of-the-art.  We have the server horsepower to run all of the required virtual machines as detailed by the blueprint.  In addition, the routing and switching hardware and IOS software is the same that you will experience on the lab.

Topology Diagram

Students also want to know how the modules have been allocated.  Cisco’s blueprint defines the necessary “testable” modules as seen in the following link:  https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-20807.  The below list is how Proctor Labs has allocated each module per router.

R1

• 2911 Router
• VWIC3-1MFT-T1/E1 —> For Voice PSTN
• HWIC-2T —> For Frame Relay Connections
• PVDM3-128 —> For Media Resource Usage

R2

• 2911 Router
• VWIC3-1MFT-T1/E1 —> For Voice PSTN
• HWIC-2T —> For Frame Relay Connections
• PVDM3-128 —> For Media Resource Usage
• EHWIC-4ESG-P —> Etherswitch Module for Phone Connections

R3

• 2911 Router
• VWIC3-1MFT-T1/E1 —> For Voice PSTN
• HWIC-2T —> For Frame Relay Connections
• PVDM3-128 —> For Media Resource Usage
• EHWIC-4ESG-P —> Etherswitch Module for Phone Connections
• SM-SRE-710-K9 —> Cisco Unity Express Services Ready Engine

SW1

• 3750 PoE Switch

BB

• 2811 Router
• VWIC2-2MFT-T1/E1 —> For Voice PSTN
• VWIC2-1MFT-T1/E1 —> For Voice PSTN
• HWIC-4T —> For Frame Relay Connections
• 2x PVDM2 – 64 —> For Media Resource Usage
• NME-16ES-1G-P —> For Phone Connections

In addition to the routing and switching hardware, virtualization technology was used to build out the necessary virtual machines.  We have a total of 13 virtual machines running in each pod.  As you can imagine, this requires a large amount of server resources.  This will not only provide an environment for user configuration, but also a simulation of the backbone environment that you might see on the actual CCIE lab.

• HQ CUCM Publisher
• HQ CUCM Subscriber
• HQ CUC Publisher
• HQ IM & Presence Publisher
• HQ Unified Contact Center Express Publisher
• HQ Windows Server (LDAP Services)
• HQ Test PC 1 (PhoneView, Jabber, UCCX Editor, RTMT, etc)
• SB CUCM Publisher
• SB CUC Publisher
• SB IM & Presence Publisher
• SB Test PC 1 (Jabber, RTMT, etc)
• BB CUCM Publisher
• BB IM & Presence Publisher

The control interface for the lab is also a great asset to assist in your studies.  It will allow the student to seamlessly revert, reset, shutdown, etc the virtual machines, routers, and switches within the topology.  The interface will also allow you to load labs corresponding to those found in the technology-focused and mock-lab workbooks.  This allows you to focus on your studies instead of on the “behind the scenes” hardware setup.

With all that said, I’d like to emphasize that it is NOT a good idea to try and build this setup on your own, unless you like dealing with problems that have nothing to do with Collaboration lab prep.  Sure, it is a challenge to do and you may even be able to save some money doing it, but in my opinion, it’s just not worth it.  Your time is a valuable commodity; especially on the CCIE Collaboration lab.  You’ll have to deal with CPU/RAM/HDD issues, license issues, and hardware problems with 100% certainty.  Contrast that with renting rack space through Proctor Labs; you get the peace of mind of 24/7 support and guaranteed access to work on complex lab scenarios during your chosen timeslot with none of the headache of worrying about “behind the scenes” type problems.

If you still insist on building this out yourself, try replacing some of the more expensive 2900 series routers and PVDM3s with the 2800 series and PVDM2s.  In my opinion, you will still need to have at least one 2900 series router with a PVDM3-128 so you can support both homogeneous and heterogeneous conferencing.  Ideally, however, you would have at least two to practice full lab scenarios.  It is also important to have at least one of the EHWIC-4ESG modules to get a feel for how it behaves with respect to older versions of the module.  Unfortunately, you’ll also need the SRE module for Unity Express and the VWIC3s for practicing T1/E1 scenarios.  I hope that helps in your build-quest!  Keep in mind, you can always rent rack space from Proctor Labs if you find yourself without an adequate practice environment.

As always, stay tuned for updates from me for all things CCIE Collab.  Thanks for reading and good luck in your preparation!

Regards – Andy

About Andy

CCIE Collaboration Instructor
CCIE #22042 (Collaboration, Voice and R&S), CCNA, CCNP R&S, CCNP Voice

Andy Vassar is a triple CCIE who passed the CCIE Routing & Switching lab in September 2008, the CCIE Voice lab in September 2010, and his Collaboration lab in May 2014. Andy also holds a Bachelors Degree in Network Engineering Technology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. He has been a part of the networking industry for over ten years, and has recently been focused on corporate voice & video (collaboration) network design, support, and implementation. While working for Cisco as a senior network engineer in Chicago, Andy had the opportunity to work with several highly-visible, large-scale clients where he designed, optimized, and trained various staff departments and employees on how to support their enterprise voice and video networks. With nearly a decade of hands-on experience with Cisco technologies, as well as Cisco’s Collaboration hardware and application portfolio, Andy is leading iPexpert’s Next Generation CCIE Collaboration training and product development initiatives, and will be delivering live CCIE Collaboration bootcamps in our newest office, right outside of Chicago.

Join us in congratulating the following CCIEs on their great achievement;

• Patrick Mostad, CCIE #43908 (Wireless)
• Dandrea Brown,CCIE #43850 (Data Center)
• Andy Ritter, CCIE #43832 (Data Center)

Have you also used iPexpert or Proctor Labs to help you pass the CCIE lab exam? If so, we want to hear your story! Please email us at success@ipexpert.com

iPexpert’s 2014 Scholarship Winners :: June 2014

As most of you know, in December 2013, we announced our 2014 Scholarship Program / CCIE Lab Training Giveaway. For the entire year of 2014, we will be giving away 60 free Online-HD-ILT Bootcamp seats, and CCIE Lab Self-Study Training Bundles spanning across every CCIE track we teach (R&S, Collaboration, Data Center, Wireless and Security).

As a Recap, Here’s What We’re Giving Away:

• 1 Online-HD-ILT seat given away for each track every month (5 Bootcamp winners announced monthly)
• 1 Lab Essentials HD VOD and Workbook(s) Bundle given away for each track every month (5 self-study winners announced monthly)

How to Enter:

• Must follow @iPexpert on Twitter before entering.
• To win an Online-HD-ILT Bootcamp seat, you must Tweet: “I want to win a free Online-HD-ILT seat from @iPexpert for the CCIE <XXXXXXX> track, where <XXXXXXX> is the name of the track you are preparing for. *Note, followers attempting to win for multiple tracks will not be considered.
• To win a Lab Essentials HD VOD and Workbook Bundle, you must Tweet: “I want to win a free Lab Essentials HD VOD and Workbook(s) Bundle from @iPexpert for the CCIE <XXXXXXX> track, where <XXXXXXX> is the name of the track you are preparing for.
• Must include @iPexpert in tweet.
• Multiple entries are encouraged, however – we’d like to ask for a max of 5 mentions per day. For every follower you have who follows @iPexpert and retweets, that also counts as another entry.
• Winners will be selected via a random drawing method, with each tweet / retweet accounting for an additional entry – which will increase your odds of winning.

General:

• Winners will be posted on our blog the first of every month. In the case of the 1st being on a holiday or weekend, the winners will be posted the following business day or following Monday.
• You must claim your prize within 30 days by emailing your twitter account name, full legal name, address, and contact details to sales@ipexpert.com.
• Prizes must be used within 18 months.
• Prizes cannot be transferred to another person or sold.

The June 2014 winners of a free 5-Day Online-HD-ILT Bootcamp seat:

• R&S: @marcio_costa79
• Collaboration: @iamjavaid
• Data Center: @TMoneyConcepts
• Wireless: @SieteUnoSeis
• Security: @Kaydubbed

The June 2014 winners of a free Lab Essentials HD VOD and Workbook(s) Bundle:

• R&S: @yy_kara85
• Collaboration: @mcalliwj23
• Data Center:  @ahmedelshakha
• Wireless: @nysteria
• Security: @shaileshbanayat

Thanks for entering, and congratulations to our winners! If you didn’t win this month, keep trying!

Join us in congratulating the following CCIEs on their great achievement;

• Ville Franck, CCIE #12810 (Wireless, Security, Routing & Switching)
• Ajayi Olatunde Olumide, CCIE #43651 (Security)
• Aaron Hilley, CCIE #44047 (Wireless)

Ajayi Olatunde Olumide, CCIE #43651
“I passed my CCIE lab exam on the 13th May 2014. Your workbook really helped me achieve success in my exam. I will recommend your workbooks to anyone looking at passing the CCIE lab exam.”

Have you also used iPexpert or Proctor Labs to help you pass the CCIE lab exam? If so, we want to hear your story! Please email us at success@ipexpert.com

Join us in congratulating the following CCIEs on their great achievement;

• Lau Chun Yin, CCIE #36089 (Routing & Switching)
• Elvis Chong Tzy Chun, CCIE #40311 (Routing & Switching)
• Tommie Thomas, CCIE # 43936 (Routing & Switching)
• Francisco Solano, CCIE #28259 (Routing & Switching, Security, Wireless)

Have you also used iPexpert or Proctor Labs to help you pass the CCIE lab exam? If so, we want to hear your story! Please email us at success@ipexpert.com

As most of you know, in December 2013, we announced our 2014 Scholarship Program / CCIE Lab Training Giveaway. For the entire year of 2014, we will be giving away 60 free Online-HD-ILT Bootcamp seats, and CCIE Lab Self-Study Training Bundles spanning across every CCIE track we teach (R&S, Collaboration, Data Center, Wireless and Security). As a Recap, Here’s What We’re Giving Away:

• 1 Online-HD-ILT seat given away for each track every month (5 Bootcamp winners announced monthly)
• 1 Lab Essentials HD VOD and Workbook(s) Bundle given away for each track every month (5 self-study winners announced monthly)

How to Enter:

• Must follow @iPexpert on Twitter before entering.
• To win an Online-HD-ILT Bootcamp seat, you must Tweet: “I want to win a free Online-HD-ILT seat from @iPexpert for the CCIE track, where is the name of the track you are preparing for. *Note, followers attempting to win for multiple tracks will not be considered.
• To win a Lab Essentials HD VOD and Workbook Bundle, you must Tweet: “I want to win a free Lab Essentials HD VOD and Workbook(s) Bundle from @iPexpert for the CCIE track, where is the name of the track you are preparing for.
• Must include @iPexpert in tweet.
• Multiple entries are encouraged, however – we’d like to ask for a max of 5 mentions per day. For every follower you have who follows @iPexpert and retweets, that also counts as another entry.
• Winners will be selected via a random drawing method, with each tweet / retweet accounting for an additional entry – which will increase your odds of winning.

General:

• Winners will be posted on our blog the first of every month. In the case of the 1st being on a holiday or weekend, the winners will be posted the following business day or following Monday.
• You must claim your prize within 30 days by emailing your twitter account name, full legal name, address, and contact details to sales@ipexpert.com.
• Prizes must be used within 18 months.
• Prizes cannot be transferred to another person or sold.

The July 2014 winners of a free 5-Day Online-HD-ILT Bootcamp seat:

• R&S: @snag46ed
• Collaboration: @_Kevin_Clark
• Data Center: @Puleciiv
• Wireless: @AndreAubet
• Security: @mlick2

The July 2014 winners of a free Lab Essentials HD VOD and Workbook(s) Bundle:

• R&S: @marcio_costa79
• Collaboration: @akhat87
• Data Center: @danedevalcourt
• Wireless: @Muhamma45151316
• Security: @mark_gardner10

Thanks for entering, and congratulations to our winners! If you didn’t win this month, keep trying!

iPexpert is excited to announce the first collaboration labs for our CCIE Collaboration Technology Workbook (Volume 1). Andy Vassar, one of a very few people to have passed the collaboration lab already, has brought his expertise to bear in these brand new lab exercises.
The new labs topics can be viewed through our new Web-based workbook delivery model, and are available for immediate PDF download-with NO DRM.

Section 1 – Configure and Troubleshoot Cisco Collaboration Infrastructure
Lab 1 – CDP, LLDP, and VLANs
Lab 2 – DHCP, NTP, and TFTP
Section 2 – Configure and Troubleshoot CUCM and CUCME Endpoints
Lab 3 – CUCM SCCP and SIP Basic Phone Registration
Lab 4 – CUCM SCCP and SIP Basic Configuration
Lab 5 – CUCM SCCP and SIP Advanced Phone Configuration
Lab 6 – CUCME SCCP Basic Phone Registration
Lab 7 – CUCME SIP Basic Phone Registration
Lab 8 – CUCME SCCP and SIP Basic Configuration
Lab 9 – CUCME SCCP and SIP Advanced Phone Configuration
Section 3 – Configure and Troubleshoot Voice Gateways
Lab 10 – MGCP Gateway Configuration
Lab 11 – SIP Gateway Configuration
Lab 12 – H.323 Gateway Configuration
Lab 13 – H.323 Trunk Configuration
Lab 14 – SIP Trunk Configuration
Lab 15 – Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) Configuration
Section 4 – Configuring and Troubleshooting CUCM and CUCME Call Routing
Lab 16 – Basic Dial-Plan Configuration
Lab 17 – Advanced Dial-Plan Configuration
Lab 18 – Digit Manipulations and Presentations
Lab 19 – Globalized and Localized Dialing
Lab 20 – CUCM Hunting and Queuing
Lab 21 – Time of Day Routing Configuration
Lab 22 – Device Mobility
Lab 23 – Unified Mobility

For more information, please chat w/ an iPexpert Training Advisor, or email us at sales@ipexpert.com for additional details.

Join us in congratulating the following CCIEs on their great achievement;

• Miles Green, CCIE #44208 (Wireless)
• Jim Ferens, CCIE #16755 (R&S, Sec, Wireless)
• Derrick Williams, CCIE #44235 (Wireless)
• Kedar Karmarkar, CCIE #6724 (Wireless, R&S)
• Justin Wasden, CCIE #44270 (Data Center)

Jim Ferens, CCIE #16755 I passed the Wireless Lab at San Jose on the 3rd of July 2014. This was my second attempt. I primary used Workbook Volume 2 with a mixture of Proctor Labs and my own equipment for preparation. From start to finish it took me around 18 months. Workbook 1 and the Videos were very helpful in the beginning but near the end, it was practicing each lab in Volume 2 multiple times over. Overall I think the IPexpert material was great!!!!! As for Proctor Labs, I can not say enough about them. They were outstanding!!!!! The equipment was top notice and I had very little issues. Any issues I did have they were very fast to respond and resolve. If I had to do it all over again, I would not have purchased as much equipment as I did and use them more often. Having my own rack was great to practice individual technologies but using them to practice my strategy and time management made all the difference in the world. Thank You again for the outstanding Study Material. If I do another CCIE:) I’ll use you all for sure. Have you also used iPexpert or Proctor Labs to help you pass the CCIE lab exam? If so, we want to hear your story! Please email us at success@ipexpert.com

Are you pursuing your CCENT and CCNA R&S? If so, we are excited to announce that we’ve updated our CCENT / CCNA R&S VOD to now reflect our “Next Generation” format. Delivered in studio format, watch along as Terry Vinson (Dual CCIE – R&S and DC) teaches you these topics and technologies seen on the ICND1 and ICND2 exams.

This new video course is also added to our iPvideo Pass subscription and also our iPeverything subscription, so if you are a subscriber – you have already been given access to this new product.

I was checking out the available CCIE wireless lab booking options this morning and spotted a 5th option for a location.  Starting in August, you will now be able to take your wireless lab in Hong Kong.  They are only offering the exam in that location once per week on Thursdays.  But this is a good sign that Cisco is continuing to expand wireless lab options.

We’re thrilled to announce our new CCNA Data Center VoD, which is a full VoD course covering the 2 Cisco exams 640-911 and 640-916 and is delivered by Terry Vinson and Jason Lunde (both dual CCIEs in R&S and Data Center) in HD / studio format. More details can be found here

This new video course is also added to our iPvideo Pass subscription and also our iPeverything subscription, so if you are a subscriber – you have already been given access to this new product.

iPexpert is excited to announce a new batch of collaboration labs for our CCIE Collaboration Technology Workbook (Volume 1). Andy Vassar, one of a very few people to have already passed the Collaboration lab, has brought his expertise to bear in these brand new lab exercises.
These labs topics can be viewed through our new Web-based workbook delivery model, and are available for immediate PDF download-with NO DRM.

Added today:
Lab 24 – URI Dialing
Lab 25 – Service Advertisement Framework and Call Control Discovery
Lab 26 – CUCME Call Routing
Lab 27 – CUCME Digit Manipulation
Lab 28 – CUCME Call Hunting Configuration
Lab 29 – IOS Media Resources Configuration
Lab 30 – CUCM and CUCME Media Resources Configuration
Lab 31 – CUCM and CUCME Meet-Me Conferencing
Lab 32 – CUCM-Based CAC
Lab 33 – RSVP Configuration
Lab 34 – CUCM Automated Alternate Routing
Lab 35 – CUCM High Availability
Lab 36 – CUCM SIP Integration
Lab 37 – CUCM SCCP Integration
Lab 38 – CUCME Integration
Lab 39 – CUC Features
Lab 40 – Digital Networking Configuration
Lab 41 – CUCME Integration
Lab 42 – CUCM Integration
Lab 43 – CUE Features
Lab 44 – Link Efficiency Mechanisms

For more information, please chat w/ an iPexpert Training Advisor, or email us at sales@ipexpert.com for additional details.