Course Overview
The CCIE certification is probably the most prestigious in the IT industry, regularly winning the top place in the list of qualifications published on various web sites. It is also by far the hardest to achieve, which enhances its prestige. The Routing & Switching CCIE is the most "common" of the CCIE variants.
The success rate of students taking the exam is notoriously low, largely for two reasons. First, the exam is difficult, testing not just knowledge, but speed, adaptability, resourcefulness, ability to withstand pressure, and general commonsense. Second, the pass mark is high (80%) allowing little room for error and little time to rectify mistakes.
Skills Gained
Candidates receive preparation for the CCIE Lab exams through 10 days CCIE instructor-led training. The purpose of the course is not to teach students material that they should already know, but to prepare them, technically and mentally, to pass the lab.
During these daily labs, each student receives in-depth lab scenarios, their own rack of Cisco routers and switches, and dedicated instructor time. Instructor-led classroom training includes in-depth group discussions and lecture time reviewing the core areas that Cisco will test during the real exam. Topics covered will include but are not limited to, Layer 2 and 3 Switching, EIGRP, ISIS, OSPF, BGP and frame relay. Most importantly, the instructor will encourage students to develop the thinking process that is the hallmark of a true CCIE, and will not concentrate on tricks to pass the exam. At the end of the course, the instructor will provide each individual with an assessment of their exam readiness.
Examinations
Written Exams are two-hour, multiple choice, computer-based exams available at authorized testing centres worldwide. The written exam for Routing and Switching covers networking theory related to topics such as IP, IP routing, non-IP desktop protocols, bridging and switch-related technologies, and includes some equipment commands. Written exams can be scheduled worldwide at Cisco authorized testing vendors: Pearson VUE or Prometric. Check their sites for specific dates and locations. Students are expected to have passed the CCIE written exam prior to attending the course, as this will demonstrate knowledge of the underlying technologies.
To become certified as a CCIE you must pass BOTH a written qualification exam AND the corresponding hands-on lab exam in one of the CCIE tracks.
Lab exams are eight-hour, hands on exams that test the ability to configure and troubleshoot equipment and are offered at selected Cisco locations. The lab exam is an eight-hour exam that requires you to build a series of complex networks to certain specifications. You will not configure end-user systems but are responsible for all devices residing in the network (hubs, etc.).
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites are set, but candidates for the exam are expected to have at least 3-5 years of hands-on job experience prior to attempting certification. In addition, students are expected to be of CCNP level plus have a working knowledge of IPv6, DLSw, ATM, security, and multicasting. Students with less than these levels of skills and qualification will have little chance of success on the CCIE lab.
Course Outline
The course lasts for 10 days, and is broken into three parts. The first week is a series of short lectures followed by focussed workshops where students use their existing knowledge to demonstrate skills in specific areas. This allows the instructor to determine weaknesses in technical knowledge. Configuration and knowledge-based problems are resolved in one-to-one sessions.
The second period of the course is a series of four, one-day workshops, during which students connect to a remote site and practice a full CCIE lab test. The labs are selected by the instructor from a 20-lab workbook that the students can retain for a 6-month license period. Each lab is followed by a full debriefing.
The last day of the course consists of a review of the course and a question-and-answer session to allow students to clear up any outstanding issues. The instructor will present each student with a written assessment of his or her CCIE lab readiness.
