A Journey of a 1,000 Miles Begins with a Single Step and If It is the Right Step, It is the Last Step
This ancient Chinese expression can be applied to preparing for successfully passing the CCIE lab. At NMC, it is our belief that a successful CCIE candidate must not only learn a specific set of technology thoroughly, a successful candidate must also develop a consistent and intricate problem solving approach.
The problem solving approach recommended in the Cisco 360 program is called “issue spotting and options analysis”. This problem solving approach can be mastered by focusing on a very small subset of R&S CCIE technologies such as link-layer core technologies and IGP’s. In this case, it is not the number of topics that are exposed to the CCIE candidate. It is the method of problem solving that is used by the CCIE candidate. While the topics may expand, the problem solving approach should remain the same throughout the entire CCIE preparation process.
In the Cisco 360 three phase CCIE preparation process, it is strongly recommended to focus having each student master the “issue spotting/options analysis” problem solving approach in Phase One of the process - at the very beginning of the process. If they do not do this, then more than likely, students will approach CCIE level problems with an ad hoc “through a set of configurations” at a problem approach. This type of “hit and miss” approach is not desirable.