Sun 13 Jul 2008
First, I would like to say thank you Josh for the introduction and for giving me the opportunity to write and share my experiences with all of the Blindhog readers as I prepare for the CCIE Voice Lab Exam. I have always been a fan of Blindhog and am very excited about being able to contribute!
Immediately after passing the written, I scheduled my lab exam for the middle of November and began my studies. I have been preparing for my exam now a little over four months using a combination of different vendors training materials, and have a lab at work (minus the Catalyst 6503 and vg248) to practice with. I have used rack time when needed to practice configuring the equipment missing in my lab. For the remaining time until my lab exam, I will primarily be using IPexpert’s NEW Blended Learning Solution. My plan is to spend the rest of July, August, and September working through Workbooks Vol 1 and Vol 2 as well as utilize the audio training and the Class on Demand to continue to build on my knowledge configuring the different technologies and work on my weak areas (IPIPGW, IPMA, IPCC). Starting in October and through the first part of November, I plan on working through Vol 3 which includes ten full 8 hours labs with several hours of video walk-through solutions for each task in a lab. I hope to be able to work through each lab at least a couple times. Also during this time, I will continue practicing and building my speed. I plan on utilizing both rack time from ProctorLabs.com as well as my own lab.
My intent is to blog as frequent as I can on my progress as well give voice related tips. I think that is enough about “me”
, let’s get it started!

(4 votes, average: 4 out of 5)







July 14th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Great blog, subscribed to your rss feed. Thanks.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
You must have a really cool boss that allows you to have a lab at work. Aren’t they afraid of you leaving after you get your IE?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Did you have any routing and switching experience?
July 15th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Hi AK,
yes I do have R/S experience. I currently work for A Cisco Partner has a WAN engineer and support multiple customers WAN/IPT infrastructures. After completing my Voice IE, my plan is to focus more on building my R/S skills.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Would you recommend using GNS3 for getting a general feel for CVOICE? Along with using IPexpert. I really do not have the funds for equipment and I need to practice. What issue do you face while doing a deployment for a customer?
July 16th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
AK,
Although GNS3 is great and I love it, I don’t think it will do a lot of good in preparing for the CVOICE. CVOICE deals with a lot of voice theory and is an introduction into Cisco VoIP. My recommendation is to pick up Cisco Voice over IP (CVOICE) (Authorized Self-Study Guide) by CiscoPress and start really trying to understand the technology while working on building a good foundation.
July 16th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
So GNS3 is good for R/S. What would a Cisco Partner be looking for in an Junior Engineer?
July 17th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Does the IPexpert workbook give you step by step instruction on setting up a voice network?
I am thinking about purchasing it.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:32 am
Hi James;
i recently clear my CCNA n now i ve decide to vid CCVP so plz let me help n guide me 4m where i start to study..