How to train CCIE

The title is not a typo — today we'll be talking about how from an ordinary network engineer, for the year, make the holder of the title of Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. The story will be on the other side of the fence: the people who took on their shoulders the work to be mentors on the hard way of getting one of the most prestigious certificates in the world of networking engineers.
The new project of the guys from the podcast Linkmeup, the first and still the only Russian-language podcast dedicated to networking technology, from the pen continues to get the best training on networking, popularly known as the Network For The Little ones. But most of the credit belongs to a number of experts who came up with the idea to help, for free, without registration and SMS, several engineers fully ready for the exam CCIE RS.

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CCIE — what's in a name?

For starters, a little more about what exactly is CCIE abbreviation.
Possession of certificate Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) involves a level of expert knowledge of network technologies and protocols. Until recently it was the highest level of Cisco certification, because only recently was added the level of Architect, but his mission leaves many questions unanswered, so the level of CCIE has not lost an ounce of prestige.
The first certificate was issued as much in 1993, and 20 years of the existence of the certification levels is constantly updated, meeting all the requirements of the market. At the moment the status of the holder of the CCIE can boast around 50,000 people, but most of them is the so – called “inactive” because certification is valid for 2 years, after which it should be confirmed again. Although beautiful five-digit number, you won't be taken away. It is assigned for life.

The process of obtaining the coveted washer is divided into two stages: the first is a written test where the applicant shows the necessary knowledge, and the second is where you must demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge on a laboratory bench. Moreover, the practical part lasts 8 hours, during which will be checked all skills, ranging from basic hardware settings, diagnose network status and the ability to solve problems.
The test part is 350$, practical – 1600$. And don't forget to add the cost of travel and accommodation. Thus, one unsuccessful attempt to obtain a certificate can result in loss of 3000$.

The main thing is that you will have to wait at the end of the path – knowledge, honor and respect. Not the fact that your life as it will change dramatically for the better, but what you will see new opportunities – it's a fact.

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Who are all these people?

Undoubtedly, the people who promise to get you a difficult way of knowledge CCIE must themselves be competent and cause all sorts of trust, otherwise there is no point to listen to them.
So, introducing our heroes:
Emil Garipov is the author of the idea and the whole project, winner of Instructor Excellence Expert for Central Europe, Russia and CIS countries, networking Academy instructor at CCIE direction.
Natasha Samoylenko — instructor of Cisco courses, main author xgu.ru and almost all standing articles in Russian at Cisco, owner of such titles as CCDP, CCNP R&S, CCNP R&S.
Ilya — the Current CCIE R&S, the owner of valuable knowledge.
Dmitry Figol a real Cisco engineer Global TAC in Krakow. Now actively preparing to pass the CCIE.
Marat Sibgatulin eucariot initiator Linkmeup, the author of the series Network For The Little ones. Occupation, in his words, — not to interfere with smart people.

Or to simplify — two vocational teachers, one active and one CCIE Cisco engineer. Don't know about you, but I think that people should be trusted or, at least, we should listen to them.
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what is the complexity of training?

To start this complicated process without having a plan from start to finish – employment is notoriously bad. The duration of training, on average, is about a year. During this time, through a need to drive a huge array of data, so a critical skill is the ability to filter and classify the information. In the later stages and added a new requirement to remember what was studied in the beginning. Therefore, it is useless to simply take a list of topics that will be on the exam and begin to read/watch everything. Can be too deep to dig out of the blue — too many unnecessary details and details.
Another important aspect is the search for groups of like-minded people. The collective mind is always better, and this becomes especially noticeable during analysis of the practical part. Many aspects are much easier understood during the lively discussion, so find at least two more people for joint training would be very cool.
And the last point is time. The preparation process consumes all free time, what you only have. If you are not able to allocate at least 2 hours a day, even better not to start. The further you immerse yourself in the preparation process, the more difficult and frustrating to stop and throw in the trash all the expended resources. Time, as we know, the only resource that no one for that.

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Why should I waste time on you?

The main objective of the project is a crowd to solve problems of filtration, the need for repetition and finding like-minded people.
The project website has already posted a full training plan, with dates and topics for the entire year.

For repetition of the material will be used the technique of interleaving — separation of information flow across multiple channels. In relation to learning this means that all the topics you need to study, don't go in order, and cycles. Within one cycle addressed several topics at once, but none of them entirely. Thus, at the beginning of the next cycle, the student will constantly apply the knowledge gained in previous cycles, not allowing them to fall out of memory. In addition to the overall efficiency of the process, this approach allows us to identify gaps in the knowledge obtained in the previous cycles, and in a timely manner to fill them.
The technique is quite complicated, but extremely effective, that more than compensates for the inconvenience in the initial stages.

The task of finding groups for training resolved a large stock of all those wishing to participate will be divided into two global groups. The main group that will work directly with the authors of the project will amount to 30 people. But this does not mean that everyone who is not included in this list, you will have to spend the night under the fence. First, all learning materials will be in the public domain, and secondly, the project will open a forum where no one will deny to communicate.

For the core group bonuses are:
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• They are involved in the competition for the main prize — a voucher for the delivery of the CCIE RS Written
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• Full laboratory test, report and explain defects
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• Opportunity for direct dialogue with experts

For supporters:
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• Lack of reference to time. You can hurry and study only.
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• Full access to all the information and education plan
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• the opportunity to explore the only interesting technology

Also, for all those wishing to be organized webinars on current topics, absolutely free to access. They will be recorded and published on the website. Planned two webinars in the form of lectures explaining the most complex topics in the form of laboratory work. During the webinars of the second kind, a conductive webinar expert will be deployed to the stand and the task for the audience. Further, the expert is nothing he does not, but rather the team proposed by the participants, accompanying them with the necessary comments. It is a very unusual format, however, it has proved its practical value.
Also in the process of learning will be classical laboratory passed topics. Correct and timely performance of laboratory required for all participants of the main group. Scheduled three laboratory per week. Additionally, at the end of every two cycles, the participants will make one large lab that will cover all the material covered. A single platform for the meeting was the engine UNL as having the maximum necessary to prepare functional, and besides, the guys from UNL sponsored the main prize — a voucher for the change CCIE Written, for what it separate thanks. The project website will be posted the finished image of the path with the new version of UNL with generated the starting topology, where it only remains to import images and I can work with Labem. Upon completion remains to upload the final configs and send them for review.

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Persuaded! Want to get into the main group!

The most difficult is to start is to visit the website ccie.linkmeup.ru and register. The authors of the project are asked to enter real data so as to communicate with the living people are much nicer.
Next will be interesting — the mail will fall to mention that you need to send a short essay in which you, in free form, briefly tell about yourself everything you wish: why you need to participate in the project, what you want to achieve, what are your expectations, do you have enough time, and the list goes on. Essay writing is quite important point, so you should not write it carelessly. It is clear that we are all technical people, so you are not waiting for creative delights. Essay carries only the idea of giving the opportunity to introduce themselves to the sponsors, so they can see the motivation of each applicant for entry into the main group.
After receiving the essay, March 12, will be published the link to the placement test. This must occur on March 17, and the test is designed to identify the knowledge level of CCNA. 50 questions you need to answer for half an hour. For successful completion it will be enough to answer 60% of questions. Such a relatively low level due to tacit essay contest, which will be considered in the formation of the core group.

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Quick total

In the environment of network engineers, both beginners and experienced, this ambitious project has generated an overwhelmingly positive response, as evidenced by an unexpectedly large, the confessions of the authors, the number of applications submitted in the first day after the announcement. Geography already sent the essay includes not only the whole of Russia from Moscow to the Far East and the CIS, several countries of Europe and even America.

As the entire project was the subject of a separate podcast Linkmeup, the recording of which is available here (or iTunes).

Article based on information from habrahabr.ru