Self-Assessment Description

As the topics of the Routing and Switching CCIE lab continue to expand, the challenges of passing the lab become greater. In an effort to provide more guidance on what topics might be found on the Routing and Switching CCIE lab, Cisco has published a single page “Routing and Switching CCIE Lab Blueprint”. See: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/le3/ccie/rs/lab_exam_blueprint.html

While this Blueprint is an excellent start, CCIE candidates want a higher level of detail on what topics they need to study in order to prepare for the exam. Furthermore, candidates would like to attain guidance on what topics they should master first before moving onto other topics as well as what topics merit a greater emphasis of mastery when compared to other topics.

In an effort to fulfill these demands of CCIE candidates, NetMasterClass has compiled an enhanced on-line CCIE preparation blueprint. Since the number of topics that need to be studied to prepare for the CCIE lab is so overwhelming, NMC has applied the “divide, conquer and combine” approach to the challenge of preparing for the CCIE lab.

NetMasterClass has divided the range of topics that can be encountered in the CCIE lab into three categories. Not only do these three categories divide all possible CCIE exam topics into more digestible “chunks”, the three categories provide a framework for a sensible and incremental “three phase preparation approach” to successfully pass the CCIE lab. The three phases/categories of the NMC CCIE Preparation Blueprint are:

Phase/Category One: Mastering the Core Foundational Topics [ ? ]

Phase/Category Two: Attaining Critical Mass in Your CCIE Preparation Effort [ ? ]

Phase /CategoryThree: Mastering the Remaining IP Services and IOS Features [ ? ]

When you closely examine the NMC on-line blueprint, you notice that it is more than just a blueprint. It is also a:

Learning Roadmap
Personal On-line CCIE Preparation Profile
An On-line Self-Assessment tool

CCIE candidates can repeatedly return to the NMC CCIE Blueprint and enter their user account name and update it with their latest self-assessment. The blueprint will supply them with a calculated level of readiness to take the CCIE lab based upon the information a candidate enters into the blueprint.

Remember, the Blueprint provides you with a calculated SELF-ASSESSED level of readiness. In order to attain an objective measurement of your level or readiness, NMC recommends that you take a CHECKiT or DRILLiT graded lab. See more details on CHECKiT . Once you have taken a CHECKiT or DRILLiT lab, you can then identify your strengths and weaknesses by reviewing the voluminous feedback you attain in the CHECKiT answer key, detailed section-by-section assessment report, and the revolutionary SHOWiT tool.

When you have identified your weaknesses, you can determine what learning resources you need to use to strengthen the weak areas. To strengthen your weak areas, enroll in one of the NetMasterClass courses – RS-NMC-1 or RS-NMC-2 or purchase the self-paced DOiT workbook that includes 22 hour scenarios.

We hope you find the NMC R&S-CCIE Blueprint helpful!
Want to provide some feedback? (a pop-up box opens a new window)

Thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Blueprint Divided into Three Phases/Categories?

The blueprint is divided into three phases/categories as an effort to make the CCIE preparation process less overwhelming. There are so many topics that need to be studied and mastered to attain CCIE certification. Within a single topic such as BGP or QoS, there are multiple subtopics. As you will see with the NMC Blueprint, there are approximately 200 listings of topics in the Blueprint.

Here is a brief description of the three phases/categories in the NMC Blueprint:

Phase One: The Core Foundational Topics

The core foundational topics are topics you will encounter at the beginning of the CCIE lab. Core foundational topics focus on attaining complete unicast IP connectivity within your pod/rack between all configured IGP’s. This “Core Foundational Topics” section is further divided into the following subsections:

Step 2: IPv4 Addressing Principles [ ? ]
Step 3:Attaining Universal Unicast Connectivity on a per Network Basis [ ? ]
Attaining Universal Connectivity on a per IGP Basis (IPv4 Unicast) [ ? ]
Attaining Universal Connectivity Between Multiple IGP Routing Domains [ ? ]
Attaining Universal Connectivity for Unicast Traffic between AS's: BGP [ ? ]
Special IOS Tools to Use to Impact Unicast Connectivity [ ? ]
STEP 1: Interface Classification Techniques [ ? ]
Test Taking Strategies [ ? ]

Everything else that you configure in your CCIE lab will operate over top of these configuration tasks. You must develop a level of mastery in these subjects so that you attain practically all exam points associated with these core topics AND you must be able to perform these tasks in a short period of time. (NOTE: NetMasterClass has an array of products and services that can help you attain mastery of these Core Topics. Contact sales@netmasterclass for more details. )

While these topics are essential, they constitute approximately 35-45% of your exam grade. In order to have a chance at passing the Routing and Switching CCIE lab, you must master the topics in Phase Two of the NMC Blueprint.

Phase Two: Attaining Critical Mass in Your CCIE Preparation Effort

Once you have attained mastery of all technologies related to attaining universal connectivity between multiple IGP’s, you must then master the following four major technologies:

Attaining Universal Connectivity for Multicast Traffic [ ? ]
Securing Your Network [ ? ]
Quality of Service [ ? ]
IPv6 [ ? ]

While only four topics are listed in Phase Two, each of these topics possesses an extensive set of subtopics. See the NMC Blueprint for more details.

To attain “critical mass” in your CCIE preparation effort and to “get over the hump” in your CCIE preparation effort, you must master all of the topics in the Core Foundational Topics mentioned above as well as these Phase Two “critical mass” topics.

Once you have mastered both the “Phase One Core Foundational Topics” as well as the
“Phase Two Critical Mass Topics”, you have covered topics that make up approximately 65-80% of your exam grade. YOU ARE NOW WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF PASSING THE LAB!!!! However, you still are a candidate at risk. Lots of little topics can deny you from attaining CCIE certification. You must know master many of the remaining IP services. This leads us to Phase Three.

Phase Three: The Remaining Topics: IP Services and IOS Features

In Phase Three, you focus on the remaining IP Services and IOS Features. At the top of this list are:

MultiService: Voice/Data Integration (emphasis on Dial-Peer & FXS Voice-Port Configurations)
DLSw+

Following these topics are:

IP Services/IOS Features [ ? ]

The multiservice (voice configuration) tasks that can be encountered in the Routing and Switching CCIE exam are limited. This is due to the fact that there is a separate Voice CCIE certification. While the topic of configuring voice related technologies on a Cisco router or switch is vast, it is limited in the Routing and Switching CCIE lab.

When comparing the remaining topics of this classification to the previous Phase One and Phase Two classifications, each topic in this group does not possess the level of complexity of the topics in the previous two groups.

Do not be surprised if these types of topics make up 20-35% of your overall exam grade.

Remember these points when you are reviewing the Blueprint:

Once you have registered with the Blueprint access page, you can access the Blueprint at anytime. It will be updated frequently. Notes next to sections will be added like “12.2T feature”. So, check the Blueprint regularly.

In order to complete the Blueprint, you must answer over 200 questions. That’s a lot of questions. You can answer all of the questions in one session or you can return to the Blueprint several times and answer the question on a section by section basis.

If you have any additional questions or comments on the Blueprint, please let us know.

What is the Purpose of the Different Colors Associated with Each Technical Topic?

The color code associated with each technical topic provides a weight of importance of each topic. Many CCIE candidates are overwhelmed with the number of topics that need to be mastered in order to attain certification. By weighting the topics in three different categories, candidates can attain an idea of what technologies they need to be a total expert in and what technologies require a lesser level of mastery.

Those topics that are listed in “red” are topics that successful CCIE candidates have attained a high level of expertise in; topics listed in “blue” are topics that successful candidates have a attained a moderate level of competence in and topics listed in “green” are topics that successful candidates have attained a basic understanding in. More details on these classifications is provided below:

RED: Technologies that are listed in the color RED are those topics which successful candidates attain a high level of expertise. Successful candidates are usually intimately familiar with all of the specified technology’s essential enabling commands as well as familiar with approximately 80% of the specified technology’s non-essential enhancement commands. Successfully candidates know where to look within the official Cisco Documentation (UNIVERCD) for the remaining commands.

Successful candidates also attain a high level of familiarity of the limitations, vulnerabilities and idiosyncracies of the specified technology.

Technologies that are color coded as “RED” are classified as foundational technologies that must be configured and operational before other technologies can be deployed. The majority of the technologies that are classified as RED are required technologies that are needed to attain either IP unicast or mulicast base connectivity. Examples of these types of technologies are: Frame-Relay, OSPF and BGP.

BLUE: Technologies that are listed in the color BLUE are those topics which successful candidates attain a moderate level of familiarity. Successful candidates usually attain a high level of familiarity with all of the specified technology’s essential enabling commands as well as a moderate familiarity with approximately 50% of the specified technology’s non-essential enhancement commands. Successfully candidates know where to look within the official Cisco Documentation (UNIVERCD) for the remaining commands.

Successful candidates also attain a moderate to high level of familiarity of the limitations, vulnerabilities and idiosyncracies of the specified technology.

Technologies that are color coded as “BLUE” are technologies are not directly involved with providing the base IP unicast and multicast connectivity but are essential in providing a broad and critical network service. Many topics related to QoS and Security fall into the “BLUE” classification.

GREEN: Technologies that are listed in the color GREEN are those topics which successful candidates attain a basic level of familiarity. Successful candidates usually attain a solid level of expertise with all of the specified technology’s essential enabling commands as well as a familiarity with approximately 20% of the specified technology’s non-essential enhancement commands. Successfully candidates know where to look within the official Cisco Documentation (UNIVERCD) for the remaining commands.

Successful candidates also attain a moderate to high level of familiarity of the limitations, vulnerabilities and idiosyncracies of the specified technology.

Technologies that are color coded as “GREEN” are specialized IP service technologies that are used for a very narrow purpose. While the technology may be used to support some other technology or to provide a particular IP service, GREEN topics are usually not part of a technology group that must be enabled to activate other technologies. Or put another way, technologies colored as GREEN, do not have other technologies running over top of them. Examples of technologies classified as GREEN topics are: NTP, IOS Menus and NETFLOW.

What is the Purpose of the Number of Books Associated to Each Technical Topic?

The number of books next to each topic reflects the number of IOS configuration commands associated with a given subject. A general correlation that can be made about the amount of time one must allocate to study a given technology can be to associate the amount of estimated time to study a technology with the number of IOS commands developed for that technology. Those technologies that possess a fewer number of IOS commands generally require less study time. By viewing topics in this manner, one can formulate a study plan that best meets their time constraints.

Read the following for a more detailed description the significance of the number of books associated with each technology:

One Book : The IOS provides a limited number of configuration options for this technology. A limited number of IOS configuration options typically reflects a requirement to spend a shorter amount of time and effort to master the technology.

Two Books : The IOS provides a moderate number of configuration options for this technology. A moderate number of IOS configuration options typically reflects a requirement to spend a moderate amount of time and effort to master the technology.

Three Books : The IOS provides an extensive number of configuration options for this technology. An extensive number of IOS configuration options typically reflects requirement to spend an extensive amount of time and effort to master the technology.

What Level of Expertise is Expected with the Classifications of: none, Beginner, Intermediate and Expert ?

none: You don’t know the technology at all.

Beginner: You have a basic understanding of the technology. You can configure the essential enabling commands of the technology. You can get the technology to work in a basic implementation (sometimes with the need of assistance or reference materials) and you can monitor and troubleshoot the technology in a basic implementation. You possess minimal familiarity with the technology’s non-essential enhancement commands. You possess minimal familiarity with the technology’s limitations, idiosyncracies and vulnerabilities.

Intermediate: You have a solid understanding of the technology. You can configure the essential enabling commands of the technology. You can get the technology to work in a basic implementation with no assistance and you can monitor and troubleshoot the technology in a moderately complex implementation. You possess a moderate familiarity with the technology’s non-essential enhancement commands. You possess a moderate familiarity with the technology’s limitations, idiosyncracies and vulnerabilities.

Expert: You have mastered the technology. You can configure the essential enabling commands of the technology. You can get the technology to work in both a basic and complex implementation with no assistance and you can monitor and troubleshoot the technology in both a basic and complex implementation. You possess a strong familiarity with the technology’s non-essential enhancement commands. You possess a strong familiarity with the technology’s limitations, idiosyncracies and vulnerabilities.