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Nick-FIE

Nick-FIE

United States ∙ Interests: Ccie, Ine, Journey, Lab, Routing, Switching

Greetings,
My name is Nick. The FIE is Future Internetworking Expert which is what this blog is all about. I'm a network analyst having started at he bottom. I began 12 years ago serving 4 years, as a student answering calls in the help desk and working with people in the academic labs.

I began truly in the weeds in this field proudly having owned worked:
Help-Desk, Tape/Backup Operator, Cable Technician (server installer/cable puller), Network Technician (L1+L2 troubleshooting), and currently Network Analyst.

Certs/Acronyms I've "collected" over the past 12 years through various vocational schools, self-study, university classes, work funded boot camps, and just basic thirst to keep growing as a professional to support myself and my wonderful family, In order:

A+, Net+, MCP-win2K, CCNA, CCNP, CWNA, WLSE (cisco wireless), SANS intrusion analyst, CCNA-Sec, CISSP, MS Info.Tech, ASA specialist (FIREWALL+VPN), CCDA.

This may sound impressive. I went from 0 to CCNP in 2 years, CISSP took 6 months, the masters 2 years, but there's one thing among them all that bothers/irks/keeps me from soaring, feeling the expert (which I am not yet) and that is Confidence. All of these degrees all were based on theory, papers, multiple choice ?s, some easy simulations. Today 11/5/2012 I am no expert but have powerful desire.

My plan: I have mentally "bought into" the INE.com 10-day bootcamp and 2 year all-access pass. This blog is my diary I'd like to share.

We begin:

Network Analyst ∙ Southeast USA

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Profile Comments

Nick-FIE ∙ 17 weeks ago

Entirely too long since I updated this diary. I am so pleased with my effort put into this and how I've been at this Religiously.

I did notice 1 big disappointment however. My current "written" plan is

INE videos > read Odom chapter on subject > do boson test on subject > review notes > move on. Well following that I tried all the questions for EIGRP in the Doyle Vol 1. I FAILED badly.

I had familiarity but not memory and usable knowledge. I have changed my method/plan to:

Read Odom > INE video > read Doyle > Boson > review > move on for the time being. It will be slower but hopefully have more lasting results.

*read includes mnemosyne.

Nick-FIE ∙ 18 weeks ago

Nearing the end of what is going to be a solid day of studying and 5.5 hours of labbing.

The searing question again arises about this process. The labbing is awesome, the experience I'm finding invaluable. However; I feel like the lab parts are specifically designed to steer more towards the lab only, not the written.

Today in the the lab work I skipped head from, instead of completing ch. 1, started ch. 3. It expected I knew a lot of FR materials that would have been done in ch.2. Makes complete sense for the lab, but not making sense of what I"m doing.

I'm thinking various things, probably over thinking).
Sundays can be lab days, nothing to do with written prep. A serious dent to my written prep time but could lead to some good L2 foundations from when written is behind me.
Can do nothing but theory work until after written. I don't like this thought. I don't practice I don't remember jack or $#it.

This skipping ahead I didn't care for. It was good but seems out of place. FOUNDATION L2 first I think.

I'll sleep on this. Now off to some theory.

Nick-FIE ∙ 19 weeks ago

2 more solid days, this time of lab prepping on the 3.1 work. I should have been doing this $#it years ago. this is exactly what I need at this level.

rolling with it. L2 seems so simple when already done for u, DER. I think this mix is really really helping.

Nick-FIE ∙ 19 weeks ago

2 solid days of theory today and yesterday. I misread, I have to hit RIP before EIGRP to stay with the Odom plan.

So the FAQ, the Odom appendix, ATC vid 43, the written vid 7, and B Mcgahan says to print out the full cmd ref and read it so it will be done. Still need to keep up with the labbing but it is feeling less important at this point.

I know it's essential but it's feeling less essential to practice turning on and off tiny features when studying for the written exam. I'm thinking I'll be skipping around a lot, it just goes so much against my nature dammit.

WB1 ch. 3 looks pretty awesome for my level though and seems more appropriate than hitting RIP just yet.

Yeah I should have checked more into workbook sections than hitting RIP just yet.

So finish these 2 vids that I started, no real loss there, I've taken good notes. Then off to labbing ch. 3 which is all about routing overview.

Then back to RIP.

Nick-FIE ∙ 19 weeks ago

Been rocking on task since the Wednesday post. M-F this week w/ my 2.5 hour sessions.

An AWESOME 1 15-min chunk yesterday. Sounds so odd to say that but that is an acceptable minimum for a Saturday when I have to build maximum spousal reputation points on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings to keep familial support at maximum levels.

The only less than awesome thing about this week so far is I had kept intending to get a worthwhile Weekday labbing session in. I need to have the session precisely detailed and attempted on notepad beforehand and have an early night sleep before b/c it really means getting up at 3:00AM instead of 3:30 to lab from 3:20ish til 5:30.

This week it was getting to be earlier than the usually 9:00 that kept me from total win.

Well today has been really good despite I'll cut short at 12 instead of 1 thanks to a birthday party for kiddo's classmate.

But all in all solid labbing session, got everything I had intended to complete finished. workbook 1.18 - 1.32 and even a bit into 1.33.

I'm feeling a bit delirious and all jacked up on delictaculour keurig java. YEAH.

Need to review all my odom notes for chapters 1-6, the only thing stopping me from hitting ch 7, EIGRP. Funny thing is INE written section has 46 minutes of video while ATC has about 4 hours of EIGRP video. Not sure how much exactly to watch.

Already the SW/Br labs are off track with the Odom AGAIN.

Stick to the plan Nick: written video > Ch7 odom + mnemosynes > get that Boson going, some of the simpler EIGRP labs, there are just so many. (bet I'll be thankful for that later.)

Very happy with overall progress. We begin week 6!!

Nick-FIE ∙ 20 weeks ago

Very pro morning this morning, very solid 2.5 hours of mnemosynes and working on Dolye ch. 6. At work today should be prepping for the STP lab session next, and if time left over continue this incredibly dense but awesome ch. 6.

2013 is continuing (yeah all of 2 days) to be started off exactly how I desire it to be started off.

Nick-FIE ∙ 20 weeks ago

Couple of really great days and feeling I'm starting the new year of right.
8 chunks yesterday and 18 today so far. Rockin.

Amazing just how different Doyle book vs INE materials are for the same subject.

Doyle is much more broad while what INE covers is usually much deeper. I only can hope it's b/c INE knows more specifically what is needed.

Nick-FIE ∙ 20 weeks ago

Some really great progress these last 4 days. Even snuck in a hefty 4.5 hour chunk on the saturday non-study day.

Finishing out Doyle chapter 5 tomorrow. Have completed the labbing in workbook 1 up through 1.21. That is some awesome practice.

Next lab session will attempt to do all of the STP labs 1.18 - 1.32 and see how far I get. I try and do some Wed. Really though should do it where I practice saving my configs for the 1st time. Better prep that Tuesday morning.

Helluva job again on this Sunday today thanks to my wonderful wife. Made good work 4:30 - 1PM minus 30 min breakfast, solid 8 hours, 5 of which was labbing.

I've decided to read/theory Doyle 2 days of every 3, then lab every 3rd day and see how it goes for the foreseeable future.

Nick-FIE ∙ 21 weeks ago

Good solid studying today. I came across a real decision point today.

If I do the whole lab workbook 1 and read doyle and do the whole ATC videos in order to support doyle, I'll basically be doing 40-50% of the entire course work to prep for the written exam. This doesn't jive with other INE suggestions. What I've decided:

Watch Written video on subject, casual 1st pass.
Read Doyle chapter involved.
Re-watch written video on subject w/ detailed notes.
Lab/remake video presentation examples.

Every 3rd, 4th at most day, continue with workbook 1 labbing. I don't want this to get to be just videos and reading EVER.

Nick-FIE ∙ 21 weeks ago

Here it is Wednesday 12/26. Already a week between entries.

I feel myself studying extremely well. Several times I have actively chosen to spend the extra few minutes finishing up a topic instead of stopping short in order to have time to add an entry here.

Everyday has had the progress expected of myself. Sunday went superb. Not quite as far in the labs as desired but it was very well spent plus mnemosynes, and reading.

I've discovered the evil ccie guy, Deepak. I like his blog very much and intend to study it.

http://deepakarora1984.blogspot.in/

He and I both seem to admire Chris Bryant.

Not averaging the 8 hours daily I would have liked but even on Xmas have studied a minimum of 2 hours. I will do this.

The wife is giving me an extra notitated 2.5 hours this evening so would make a solid 4.5 hours, 18 chunk. RAWR

Nick-FIE ∙ 22 weeks ago

A good couple of days, I should have labbed this morning but ****ing forgot to set up the lab last night. FAIL

Waisting a LOT of time on with supermemo/nemosyne problems.

Todays problem with nemosyne, couldn't get it to work at all on my home machine. The root cause seems to stem from every single sodding (including re-installed and rebooted) file attempting to connect back to my Z/S drive and it not being allowed.

I pray I can get it running yet again.

Working L2 and L3 ether-channel labs and vids atm.

Nick-FIE ∙ 22 weeks ago

Yesterday was my first day on INE racks, a good 5 hours of lab work in. OMG I think on the level of CCNA > CCNP > CCIE i'm about on the same level as .............worm droppings.

It was tough navigating and getting used to their set up. I also feel I set up my environment perfectly. With no distractions in my study other than food/toilet I was delirious by the time I had hit nothing but cisco lab and studies for 98% of 8.5 hours. It was crazy good, a solid first step on the path.

I keep getting put off from starting hard into the Odom CCIE cert guide so I can get this written exam underway. That will be my priority today and tomorrow. I have a great feeling that this book and written study buttressed by the lab practice and videos is an awesome way to go.

Great feelings with this.

Nick-FIE ∙ 23 weeks ago

UBAR mega fail. I haven't posted since 12/5 and it's already 12/12.

The good news is that my studies have been kicking @ss and chewing bubble gum.

My basement is rockin, my INE.com account is all set up and I'm heavy into on a daily basis.

I am loving this and it so much fun. OMG what a good decision to do my CCIE.

Motivation level is through the roof. If I could just shake this sodding cold I'd be on cloud 9.

Nick-FIE ∙ 24 weeks ago

12/2!!! and here it is 12/5 and just posting. Well I'll so impressed with my efforts this week so far with everything except this blog.

Monday was a complete A$$kicker. Did a solid 2.5 hours in the morning 3+ chunks during the work day, then worked 2 hours getting filthy/grimy/disgusting and exhausted pulling the cabling in from my cable modem down into my lab/office.

Thanks to friends at work supplying me with some raceway, rj-45 jacks, and jackboxes it turned out beautiful. /pat my back.

Yesterday was 1.5 good hours in the morning, 2 chunks at work, a visit to the local office furniture store, (i think I'll stick with the desk I have looking at those prices) a drive to home depot and a solid hour of painting in the office. It will need more paint but it's looking great so far.

Woke this morning and put a 2nd coat of paint in the office. Was kind of wet still but i think the step is done and the wall will be fine w/ 1 more coat this evening. We'll start cleaning and getting my desk, gear, books, and all stuff in tonight as well.

MY ALL ACCESS PASS SHOULD START TODAY YEEEEAAAAAAHHH!!! I'll be studying the official INE.com program starting in the morning!!!

Anyhow, off to read more on BGP now. Woot!

Nick-FIE ∙ 24 weeks ago

Not perfect but pretty solid for a Sunday. I'd say a good 8 hours. Up to page 335 in the Perlman book. I'm dissappointed in this one, not learning nearly as much as in Comer. I think mainly I'm biased b/c I know IPX, appletalk, and Decnet are not on the ccie exam. I'm making some decent supermemos and working to make the best of it.

tomorrow morning's goal. BGP selection process ingrained in my head (yet again), continue Perlman, supermemos, and see what else INE channel has to offer now that I've taken notes on all the TS and ATC that are offered on youtube.

I CAN'T WAIT to get access to my INE all access pass, 2 more days.
:D

Nick-FIE ∙ 24 weeks ago

Friday went great, 2.5 solid hours in the morning and 2 good chunks during the work day.

Yesterday, Saturday 12/1 I only got 1 chunk, some supermemos, but the cisco lab/study is coming along just beautifully. Went to home depot to get the flooring. The contractors finished all water-proofing and refinishing Friday. Oversaw the electrician put in my circuits yesterday, so in a way I did a lot on ccie.

With luck my floor guy will finish up the floor this evening. That leaves me to pull and terminate the network cabling, and furniture move-in!!!

A couple of items, possibly a new desk will have to be purchased but I am so loving this.

Also, Friday I sent the $$ to INE.com. I don't get my official account access until 12/5 (i hope grrr) b/c of the size of the transfer but I'm IN to the hilt now.

$ spent.

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