CCIE R&S V5 Product Delivery Strategy and Timelines

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.