Way Ahead

So how am I going to study?  This is going to be a different way than I was before for v4.  In v4, I read the Cisco Press book and then use the workbooks from INE and IPExpert.  I also did a bootcamp with IPExpert. I also listened to the audio from IPExpert and watched the videos from INE.  I was trying to mainly study through the use of pure force with labs and after three lab attempts, it definitely didn't work. 

This time, I am still going to brute force my way through labs and watch the videos from both vendors.  Labs are the key to all of my studying but I know I was missing something.   That something seems to be the Configuration Guides from Cisco.  I am going to try and read the majority of those guides and see where I can go.

To start with, I am going to begin with the routing ones and then on to MPLS, QOS, DMVPN, and switching.  So starting with routing, I have been working on the protocol independent routing and I can say that I have learned a few things and new ways of looking at things.  It really has already been a good idea and I can't complain. 

First thing was finally understanding distribution lists and their use.  I get it now.  It is showing what is going out and coming in.  Combine that with the distance command and how you can use it to filter routes from a specific neighbor/router and BAM, it is a cool thing.  Makes me realize what I missed on my last attempt in one task.  Well, at least I have learned.

So, as it can be seen, my studying method is already paying off somewhat.  Only time will tell what will happen.