Join us in congratulating the following CCIEs on their great achievement;
- Jaroslaw Dobkowski CCIE #22260 (Data Center, Routing & Switching, Service Provider)
- Sarah Howell, CCIE #44485 (Data Center)
- Keith Jones, CCIE #39995 (Wireless)
Keith Jones CCIE #39995 wrote:
I wanted to say thank you to iPexpert and Jeff for the excellent CCIE Wireless v2 training material. I had passed the written in May 2014 and booked the lab for August 2014. I then purchased an iPexpert self-study bundle including video content, mock labs, and rack rental time. Between a baby at home and a job where I often had no free time during the day, preparation was rough at times, but I somehow passed the lab on my first attempt. I never would have made it without iPexpert.
Along with the Cisco documentation, a few great blogs, and my on the job experiences, iPexpert was the only formal training program I used. It helped a lot to have done this all a year ago, so I knew how intensive and focused my preparation needed to be, and I knew how to spot my weaknesses. I wish I had purchased the iPexpert material for R&S in early 2013! It would have saved me a lot of time, money, and frustration.
I’m looking forward to going for #3 next year!
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Sarah Howell, CCIE #44485 wrote:
Returning to work after 8 years as a Stay-at-home Mom was a daunting, intimidating task. I chose technology and networking as I knew it would always be a good, stable field, and I had a little bit of background in it. I bought the CCNA Routing & Switching book as well as the CCNA Voice book. It took a while, but I eventually passed those certs and Cisco took a chance in hiring me.
Through Cisco’s fabulous SAAP program, I continued learning the core fundamentals and left the six-month program with my written in Route/Switch. I was prepared to go for my CCIE in Routing & Switching, but I ended up on the Data Center Switching TAC team in August 2013. It made sense to switch gears, and I started studying for my DC written.
I passed the written in October and then focused on the lab. My first attempt was in March of 2014. I had no idea what to expect. I left 8 hours later a humbled, shocked, mentally exhausted, (insert favorite adjective describing abject frustration), etc. I allowed myself to be completely demoralized for 24 hours, then booked my next date – August 13, 2014.
This time, I decided to try a boot camp, get off the case queue for two weeks, and focus on only the lab. This did include moving out of my house for two weeks so my three wonderful kids (who have been continuously asking when they get their Mom back) and the rest of my life wouldn’t distract me from the hours I needed to put in.
I chose iPexpert’s Data Center Boot Camp as I had already been through the INE’s material several times and wanted to try something different. I had also heard good things about iPexpert from my coworkers. I also chose to physically attend a class as I learn best this way (and have a smaller chance of falling asleep.)
This was the absolute right way to go for me. Jason Lunde, my iPexpert instructor, is a phenomenal teacher and knows his networking backwards and forwards. He has even gone to Cisco’s BU to fully understand a concept (though I am not quite sure how he worked that magic). His way of expounding on a topic is interesting, comprehensive, and yet laser focused. And their labs? Not just simple “put in X and show output Y”. iPexpert’s are structured to challenge us to understand why configurations had to be a certain way – more like a “figure out X, test with A, B, and C, figure out why you don’t see Y, add/change with Z, now see Y” – my brain soaked it up as this kind of “break/fix until you understand the behavior” is a language my brain speaks well.
All in all, this journey has been over two years in the making. The end result? I passed my CCIE Data Center on my second attempt. Not gonna lie – getting that number was one of the happiest moments of my life. AND my kids have their Mom back.
So many thanks to Jason Lunde and iPexpert for filling in the holes and completing the Data Center picture for me!! I wouldn’t have done it without you!
Have you also used iPexpert or Proctor Labs to help you pass the CCIE lab exam? If so, we want to hear your story! Please email us at success@ipexpert.com
