As far as this thread goes Ill put in my two cents
worth.
Im just starting to study specifically for the written
right now having just gotten my CCNP so I am in with
those studying for the lab now (or real soon).
Personally I think Cisco could go right ahead and make
the lab as hard as they want. In all honesty I never
see the lab being as hard as the orals a 'pure
science' graduate student must take. It is only, and
will probably ever only be a technical exam and will
never even come close to the difficulty of a
theoretical examination where new ideas must digested
and expounded upon. Everyone has always known what to
study, routing and switching on cisco
hardware/software, these are not massively huge topics
as a fairly comprehensive library would only fill a
couple bookshelves. In fact I wouldnt mind if the
test was a single question 'Redesign the overall
topology of the Internet with regards to emerging
traffic patterns expounding upon different paradigms
of routing. Give specific configuration examples at
all levels of the network using any given piece of
Cisco equipment.' The current lab is not that hard
and will never be that hard, but if it was I would not
be disappointed, I would personally like such a
challenge. CCIE is not the be all and end all of
knowledge; it is just a verification of technical
skills on a small selection of platforms. If it was
made more difficult I would not begrudge anyone else
who achieved the certification before it was made
harder, I am comfortable with my skills and abilities
and really feel no need to use a paper certification
as a crutch for the future. Studying for the written
and lab though does help me to focus and explore
routing so I continue to do it. In conclusion, it
should be as hard or as easy as Cisco wants it to be,
I am confident that I will still pass no matter what
when I take the lab a year from now.
Ben, CCNP
--- Circusnuts wrote:
> Louie- I don't think we're talk'n Apple to Apples
> here...
>
> During the early CCIE exams, I was told candidates
> were able to use their
> own notes during the test (if Pamela Forsythe is out
> there, she could
> confirm this rumor) & can you imagine how much
> "easier" the lab would have
> been with versions 9.0, 10.0 or even 11.0(22) IOS.
> I agree there's more
> information available, but after having sat through
> a 2 week CCIE lab prep
> class... I think the information just gets you in
> the ballpark. Things
> like bad time management & poor interpretations, are
> big obstacles no book
> can fix. I believe the exam is as hard (if not
> harder) than it's ever been.
>
> Man- this cup of coffee I'm drink'n must not be
> decaff :o)
> Phil
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Louie Belt
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2001 9:16 PM
> Subject: RE: Cisco moving to a one day lab? [7:6735]
>
>
> > When the CCIE cert first came about there were not
> 100+ books avilable to
> > help you pass it. There were not a multitude of
> online labs, lab study
> > guides, study groups, ... Since all of those
> items are now available, I
> > feel the bar has been lowered. I'm for putting it
> back where it was.
> >
> > Additionally I'm studying for my second CCIE cert,
> I sincerely hope that
> it
> > is much tougher than my first. I want to maintain
> the value of the cert.
> >
> > Louie
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
> > Michael L. Williams
> > Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2001 12:09 PM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Re: Cisco moving to a one day lab?
> [7:6735]
> >
> >
> > I agree with you. It's awful easy for someone
> who's already gotten their
> > CCIE (which when they passed the lab probably
> could be quoted as saying
> > something like "that was the most difficult thing
> I've ever seen") to now
> > say "Sure...... make it as difficult as
> possible.... "
> >
> > I don't know many CCIEs personally. Only a
> couple, and both of them said
> > that given the time constraints of the lab (2
> days), it is extremely
> > difficult. So I don't think jamming it into 1 day
> just because Cisco is
> too
> > cheap to spring for more testing centers to keep
> up with demand is a
> > "resonable solution". Isn't this why Cisco is
> contemplating making it 1
> > day? Not to "raise the bar" of the level of the
> exam, but simply because
> > they're testing centers can't handle the demand.
> Mashing into 1 day,
> IMHO,
> > would be a very poor decision.
> >
> > Agreeing with Brad, do all of the CCIEs that are
> out there have a problem
> > with leaving the bar where it was when you passed
> it? It only seems fair.
> >
> > Mike W.
> >
> > "Bradley J. Wilson" wrote in message
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > > If I weren't up to the challenge, I wouldn't be
> on this newsgroup. Are
> > you
> > > up to the challenge of leaving the bar at the
> same height that it was
> when
> > > *you* passed the test? I personally think the
> test is difficult enough
> as
> > > it is. Am I a wimp because of that? Do we need
> to dump some dirt on
> the
> > > top of Everest now that it's been conquered by
> someone else ahead of me?
> > >
> > > If Cisco wants to make the test "tougher,"
> they're well within their
> > rights
> > > to do so. I just hope they don't call it the
> "CCIE" - call it something
> > > different, and reset the numbers to zero (or
> 1025, whichever).
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Louie Belt
> > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2001 9:33 AM
> > > Subject: RE: Cisco moving to a one day lab?
> [7:6735]
> > >
> > >
> > > Any CCIE or CCIE candidate worth his salt would
> want the lab to be
> > tougher.
> > > A number of study aids are now available that
> were not in the past.
> This
> > > has somewhat lessened the difficulty of the
> process (as witnessed by the
> > > backlog of people taking the lab after breezing
> through the written).
> > > Making it tougher is just a method of
> counterbalancing all of the
> > increased
> > > study aids and maintaining the value of the CCIE
> cert.
> > >
> > > If you truly want to obtain your CCIE then you
> should want it to be as
> > > difficult as possible, otherwise where is the
> value in the cert? If you
> > are
> > > not up to the challenge, then don't make the
> attempt.
> > >
> > > As for who should evaluate the CCIE program -
> most (not all)employers
> > > couldn't begin to answer the questions about
> what is needed from a CCIE.
> > > The biggest employer of CCIE's is Cisco (by far)
> so they should already
> > have
> > > an idea of what is needed. Cisco has been
> respectful enough of the CCIE
> > > population to also ask for their input and most
> have given it willingly.
> > >
> > > My main interested is in preserving the value of
> the CCIE cert. I am
> > > currently studying for my 2nd CCIE cert and
> still hope they make it
> > tougher
> > > (before I complete it). I also hope they make
> the recertification tests
> > > tougher as well.
> > >
> > > I'm up to the challenge - are you?
> > >
> > >
> > > Louie
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
> > > Bradley J. Wilson
> > > Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 3:11 PM
> > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > Subject: Re: Cisco moving to a one day lab?
> [7:6735]
> > >
> > >
> > > Forgive my cynicism, but any CCIE *would* want
> the lab to be tougher -
> > they
> > > would know that any CCIEs that came along after
> they received their
> number
> > > increase the supply, thus lowering the cost of
> the good. ;-)
> > >
> > > I think Cisco ought to be asking companies who
> *hire* CCIEs what skills
> > > *they* would like to see in those who carry the
> CCIE certification - not
>
=== message truncated ===
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