A quick lab to to test how OSPF transit area capability works.

Topology:

R4 - area0
R2 and R3 are ABRs between area 0 and area 1
R1 is in area 1 with a loopback in area 2
a Virtual Link is created between R1 and R2

Addresses: link Rx --> Ry is 10.0.xy.0/24 with .x and .y being the two routers.

Configuration is basic, no need to write it down here. OSPF cost on R2 interface to R4 is set to 10 to make the path from R1 to R4 pass through R3.





1° test - trace from R1 Loopback0 to R4 Loopback0


R1#traceroute 4.4.4.4 so lo0

Type escape sequence to abort.
Tracing the route to 4.4.4.4

1 10.0.123.3 4 msec 8 msec 4 msec
2 10.0.34.4 8 msec * 8 msec

R1#sh ip route 4.4.4.4
Routing entry for 4.4.4.4/32
Known via "ospf 1", distance 110, metric 3, type intra area
Last update from 10.0.123.3 on FastEthernet0/0, 00:00:01 ago
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 10.0.123.3, from 4.4.4.4, 00:00:01 ago, via FastEthernet0/0
Route metric is 3, traffic share count is 1


Traffic path is R1-->R3-->R4


2° test - same trace disabling transit capability on R1


R1(config)#router ospf 1
R1(config-router)#no capability transit

R1#sh ip route 4.4.4.4
Routing entry for 4.4.4.4/32
Known via "ospf 1", distance 110, metric 12, type intra area
Last update from 10.0.123.2 on FastEthernet0/0, 00:00:03 ago
Routing Descriptor Blocks:
* 10.0.123.2, from 4.4.4.4, 00:00:03 ago, via FastEthernet0/0
Route metric is 12, traffic share count is 1

R1#traceroute 4.4.4.4 so lo0
1 10.0.123.2 4 msec 4 msec 4 msec
2 10.0.123.3 8 msec 4 msec 8 msec
3 10.0.34.4 8 msec * 8 msec

Traffic path no is R1-->R2-->R3-->R4 even if it’s not the lowest-cost.

On some config templates the transit capability is disabled on both sides of the virtual link. Let’s try to disable only on R2:


R1(config)#router ospf 1
R1(config-router)#capability transit

R1#traceroute 4.4.4.4 so lo0
1 10.0.123.3 8 msec 8 msec 4 msec
2 10.0.34.4 12 msec * 8 msec

R2(config)#router ospf 1
R2(config-router)#no capability transit

R1#traceroute 4.4.4.4 so lo0
1 10.0.123.3 4 msec 4 msec 0 msec
2 10.0.34.4 12 msec * 4 msec

As the traceroute output clearly shows, dsabling transit capability on R2 doesn’t affect R1.



3° test - what happens if Virtual-Link goes down?


Trace from R1 Lo0 can’t work without Virtual-link, trace from F0/0 has the same output:

R1#traceroute 4.4.4.4
1 10.0.123.2 4 msec 4 msec 16 msec
2 10.0.24.4 8 msec * 8 msec

Let’s get rid of the virtual link:

R1(config)#router ospf 1
R1(config-router)#no area 1 virtual-link 2.2.2.2

and trace again:

R1#traceroute 4.4.4.4
1 10.0.123.3 4 msec 4 msec 4 msec
2 10.0.34.4 8 msec * 8 msec

So R1 transit capability is affected only if the Virtual Tunnel stays up.

HTH




LINK

OSPF Area Transit Capability

It looks simply great! IPexpert lab interface’s very similar to Cisco’s lab exam demo video.

http://www.youtube.com/v/XKqINPTK9dA&hd=1

Free CCIE R&S lab book from Micronics Training, 338 pages of labs.



LINK

Zone-based Firewall is a new way to configure security in Cisco IOS using MQC with class-map, policy-map and service-policy.

Here’s a good tutorial from Cisco:

Zone-Based Policy Firewall Design and Application Guide

A place to find CCIEs and follow them on twitter.

http://wefollow.com/twitter/ccie

From IPEXPERT blog:

Summary:

• No pending blueprint update.
• More in-depth troubleshooting
• More focus on “core routing topics”
• More virtualization in the distant future

IPexpert’s Summary:

• Changes mentioned are very well covered by our CCIE R&S Blended Learning Solution
• Minor content update may be forthcoming to include more troubleshooting exercises

Online Study List (OSL) is a virtual email community of network engineering professionals working on various networking certifications with a primary focus on the CCIE Routing and Switching (R&S) Lab, CCIE Security Lab, CCIE Voice Lab, CCIE Service Provider Lab, CCIE Storage Lab, and the CCDE (Cisco Certified Design Expert) certifications. We are a SPAM-Free community of professionals that share the same common goal - to pass certification exams or lab exams and enhance our professional career.

ONLINE STUDY LIST

CCIE R&S v4.0 Lab Exam Demo (12:40 min)
This demo will familiarize candidates with the online interface that has replaced paper exams, which presents the virtual topology, test questions, documentation and tools. Strongly recommended for all candidates.

LINK

Quick notes to review topics and some light reading:

CCIE RS Study Kit (free)

R&S Short notes v4 (88$ but very good reviews, sample chapters available)

Written exam 350-001 passed, now it’s time to focus on the lab preparation.

“We Love Oranges AS Oranges Mean Pure Refreshment”
W Weight (Highest) L Local_Pref (Highest) O Originate (local originate) AS As_Path (shortest) O Origin Code (IGP < EGP < Incomplete) M MED (lowest) P Paths (External Paths preferred Over Internal) R Router ID (lowest)

Thanks to Rene Molenaar
LINK

IPEXPERT updated it’s CCIE R&S v4 Video on Demand bootcamp. The teacher is Joe Astorino

Some useful troubleshooting tasks from Dan Shechter. Troubleshooting is part of the CCIE R&S Lab exam.

LINK

New study tool: FREEMIND

I’ll use it to keep track of my studies and small notes.

Here’s what it looks like:

Time is a key factor in the lab. I’m always monitoring my speed while configuring a router/switch even in simple scenarios and with non-Cisco devices.

Scott Morris in IPEXPERT VoD taught me how to use Microsoft Notepad to speed up repetitive tasks.

Now it’s time to take a step forward and stop to use arrow keys so ofter, here’s some command line editing keys very useful:


Command Description

Ctrl + A Jumps to the first character of the command line.
Ctrl + P Previous Command
Ctrl + U Clear Line and Put in Buffer
Ctrl + W Delete Word Backwards and Put in Buffer
Ctrl + Y Paste Buffer Contents
Ctrl + E End Line Ctrl + A Beginning Line
Ctrl + X Clear Line to the Left and Put in Buffer
Ctrl + T Flip Last 2 Characters
Ctrl + F Forward Character
Ctrl + B Backward Character
Ctrl + J Return
Ctrl + L Refresh Line
Ctrl + I Refresh Line and Goto End
Ctrl + K Delete everything on the Right of cursor
Ctrl + V Allows to type control character
Ctrl + M Return
Ctrl + H Backspace Character to the Left
Ctrl + R Refresh Line
Ctrl + D Delete Character to the Right
Ctrl + C Clear line
Ctrl + N Next Command


1
1
1

Ctrl-A	Jumps to the first character of the command line.
Ctrl-B or the left arrow key	Moves the cursor back one character.
Ctrl-C	Escapes and terminates prompts and tasks.
Ctrl-D	Deletes the character at the cursor.
Ctrl-E	Jumps to the end of the current command line.
Ctrl-F or the right arrow key	Moves the cursor forward one character.
Ctrl-K	Deletes from the cursor to the end of the command line.
Ctrl-L; Ctrl-R	Repeats current command line on a new line.
Ctrl-N or the down arrow key	Enters next command line in the history buffer.
Ctrl-P or the up arrow key	Enters previous command line in the history buffer.
Ctrl-U; Ctrl-X	Deletes from the cursor to the beginning of the command line.
Ctrl-W	Deletes last word typed.
Esc B	Moves the cursor back one word.
Esc D	Deletes from the cursor to the end of the word.
Esc F	Moves the cursor forward one word.
Delete key or Backspace key	Erases mistake when entering a command; reenter command after using this key.

After finishing the CCIP track, now it's time to engage CCIE R&S Written seriously. I've decided to start from my weakest points: Multicast, IPv6 and QoS.

Multicast is the first, the plan is:

• IE Written CoD (6 videos on Module 7) and IPX VoD (3 videos on day 4 with exercices)
• IE AdvTech CoD (Day 9 parts 5-6)
• IPX WB1 labs 23,24

I leave the deepest practice after passing the written exam, now I'd like to build a strong theory base.

Like someone much more expert than me said: "plan your work, work your plan".

Let's do it!

Another great post from Himawan Nugroho about CCIE, it worth to be read every single line:

“What is your purpose to take CCIE? Who cares about the number if we want to take CCIE to learn the technology covered in the lab in a structured way? If someone wants to take CCIE because he wants to ensure he has a solid foundation of the networking knowledge that he needs to work in the real life, why bother with the number? And you will see in my later point, it's not the number that matters. It's the experience, it's what you have done, it's the reputation, that matter.”

By Brandon Carroll:

LINK

the man who’s trying CCIE R&S in 90 days: LINK

CCIE v4.0 update, ask the expert:

LINK

Blame on you!

LINK

Mattew Smith published his impressions about the Narbik CCIE BootCamp. I definitely should attend one!

Update May, 26th 2009: another positive review of the Narbik Bootcamp: LINK and LINK

New CCIE count: Beginning roots of a new tech boom?
by Brad Reese

and

Cisco engineering units are the emerging measure of global power.
by Robert Cringely


“ My friend George Morton, who figured this all out, says that by knowing the right numbers to look at we can have a good idea what countries will be leading in technology — and presumably in economic development and power — in the years ahead. The measure George likes is the number of Cisco Certified Internetwork Experts or CCIEs.
The CCIE is Cisco’s top certification category and VERY hard to earn. Being a CCIE doesn’t mean you have Len Bozack on speed dial, but it might as well. Cisco products dominate the Internet and CCIEs are Cisco gurus, so if you are serious about the Internet as a nation you’ll have CCIEs hanging about, or that’s the theory. Conversely, if you just talk a good game as a country with technological aspirations, maybe you won’t have many CCIEs at all — maybe none. It’s one way to determine who the posers are.”

Useful tips for preparing the CCIE written exam, I’m working on it!

Part1

Part2

Part3

I keep this post updated as I find interesting articles and informations about CCIE:


Why Become A CCIE?

How Much Does It Cost To Become A CCIE?

Making the CCIE Plunge
I agree with this statement: “I understood CCNA concepts at a much better level after getting my CCNP. I now know CCNP concepts at a much higher level after chasing the CCIE.”

From NetworkWorld article “Doctor, lawyer? Non-techies don't appreciate Cisco networking exam”:
Cisco says the average pass rate of the CCIE exam over the life of the program is 26%


Experiencing Cisco's notorious CCIE lab from TechRepublic

CCIE Hall Of Fame


CCIE suggestions from CCIE:

Joe from GroupStudy: Do practice labs!

From the InternetworkExpert’s blog the R/S 3.0 Expanded Study Blueprint. More detailed than the one on the Cisco website, useful to track the study topics:

LINK