,Introduction
For more than 10 years, the CCIE program has identified networking professionals with the
highest level of expertise. Fewer than 3 percent of all Cisco certified professionals actually
achieve CCIE status. The majority of candidates who take the exam fail at the first attempt
because they are not fully prepared. They generally find that their study plan did not match
what was expected of them in the exam. This practice exam has been designed to bring you
as close as possible to actually taking the real lab exam. It can show you whether you are ready
to schedule your lab or if you must reevaluate your study plan.
Exam Overview
The CCIE qualification consists of 2 exams, a 2-hour, written exam followed by an 8-hour, hands-
on lab exam. Written exams are computer-based, multiple-choice exams lasting 2 hours and
available at hundreds of authorized testing centers worldwide. The written exam is designed to
test your theoretical knowledge to ensure that you are ready to take the lab exam. As such, you
are eligible to schedule the lab exam only after you have passed the written exam. Because you
have purchased this practice lab exam, it is assumed that you have passed the written exam and
are ready to practice for the lab exam. The lab exam is an 8-hour, hands-on exam that requires
you to configure a series of complex scenarios in strict accordance to the questions. It’s tough
but achievable. Troubleshooting is an important skill, and candidates are expected to identify
and solve issues as part of the CCIE lab exam. Current lab blueprint content information can be
found at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/rs/lab_exam_blueprint.html
Scoring Point System
In the real exam, a higher number of points offered for certain questions generally indicates that
the required solution takes more time to achieve or that multiple lines of configuration are
involved. This practice lab closely echoes the scoring system in place in the real exam. If you find
you are running short on time, try to get the smaller tasks completed and then return to the more
complex questions.
Study Roadmap
Taking the lab exam is all about experience. You can’t expect to take it and pass after just
completing your written exam and by relying on your theoretical knowledge. You must spend
countless hours of rack time configuring features and learning how protocols interact with one
another. To be confident enough to schedule your exam, make sure you follow the guidelines
outlined next.
Assessing Strengths
,Using the content blueprint, determine your experience and knowledge in the major topic areas.
For areas of strength, practicing for speed should be your focus. For weak areas, you might need
training or book study in addition to practice.
Study Materials
Choose lab materials that provide configuration examples and take a hands-on approach. Look
for materials that are approved or provided by Cisco and its Learning Partners.
Hands-On Practice
Build and practice lab scenarios on a per topic basis. Go beyond the basics and practice additional
features. Learn the show and debug commands along with each topic. If a protocol has multiple
ways of configuring a feature, practice all of them.
Cisco Documentation CD
Make sure you can navigate the Cisco documentation CD with confidence because this is the only
resource you are allowed during the lab. Make the CD part of your regular study; if you are
familiar with it, you can save time during the exam. As of March 2006, the documentation can be
navigated using only the index; the search function has been disabled.
Home Labs
Although acquiring a personal home lab is ideal, gathering all the equipment you need can be
costly.
CCIE Assessor
You can access a practice lab on live Cisco equipment via a web interface, and it provides a
personalized performance assessment. This practice exam was created using the CCIE Assessor
version B topology and is available for online rental in 4-hour slots. If you do not have your own
equipment, this is an excellent method of completing this practice lab. Load the initial
configuration files supplied and run through the questions. Information on the Assessor can be
found here:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/preparation/index.html
If you plan to use the Assessor for this exercise, it is suggested you run through the lab
instructions prior to beginning your online session to maximize your time on the site.
Equipment List and IOS Requirements
, The lab exam tests any feature that can be configured on the equipment and the IOS versions
indicated as follows:
3725 series routers - Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4 mainline: Advanced Enterprise
Services
3825 series routers - Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4 mainline: Advanced Enterprise
Services
Catalyst 3550 series switches running Cisco IOS Software Release version 12.2: IP
Services
Catalyst 3560 series switches running Cisco IOS Software Release version 12.2: Advanced
IP Services
Chapter 1. Practice Lab
Aim to adhere to the time limit of 8 hours on this lab on the initial runthrough. Then either
score yourself at this point or continue until you feel you have met all the objectives. You now
are going to be guided through the equipment requirements and prelab tasks in preparation
for taking this practice lab.
This lab was created using the official Cisco online CCIE R&S Assessor, version B topology.
Detailed information on the Assessor can be found on the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/preparation/assessor_details.html
If you don’t own six routers and four switches, the Assessor lab can be used for this lab by
loading the initial files supplied for this chapter in Appendix A.
Equipment List
You need the following hardware and software components to commence this practice lab:
Six routers loaded with Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4 Advanced Enterprise image and
the minimum interface configuration as documented in Table 1-1.
Table 1-1. Hardware Required per Router
Router Model Ethernet I/F Serial I/F
R1 3825 1 1
R2 3725 1 2
R3 3825 1 1
R4 3825 2 —
For more than 10 years, the CCIE program has identified networking professionals with the
highest level of expertise. Fewer than 3 percent of all Cisco certified professionals actually
achieve CCIE status. The majority of candidates who take the exam fail at the first attempt
because they are not fully prepared. They generally find that their study plan did not match
what was expected of them in the exam. This practice exam has been designed to bring you
as close as possible to actually taking the real lab exam. It can show you whether you are ready
to schedule your lab or if you must reevaluate your study plan.
Exam Overview
The CCIE qualification consists of 2 exams, a 2-hour, written exam followed by an 8-hour, hands-
on lab exam. Written exams are computer-based, multiple-choice exams lasting 2 hours and
available at hundreds of authorized testing centers worldwide. The written exam is designed to
test your theoretical knowledge to ensure that you are ready to take the lab exam. As such, you
are eligible to schedule the lab exam only after you have passed the written exam. Because you
have purchased this practice lab exam, it is assumed that you have passed the written exam and
are ready to practice for the lab exam. The lab exam is an 8-hour, hands-on exam that requires
you to configure a series of complex scenarios in strict accordance to the questions. It’s tough
but achievable. Troubleshooting is an important skill, and candidates are expected to identify
and solve issues as part of the CCIE lab exam. Current lab blueprint content information can be
found at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/rs/lab_exam_blueprint.html
Scoring Point System
In the real exam, a higher number of points offered for certain questions generally indicates that
the required solution takes more time to achieve or that multiple lines of configuration are
involved. This practice lab closely echoes the scoring system in place in the real exam. If you find
you are running short on time, try to get the smaller tasks completed and then return to the more
complex questions.
Study Roadmap
Taking the lab exam is all about experience. You can’t expect to take it and pass after just
completing your written exam and by relying on your theoretical knowledge. You must spend
countless hours of rack time configuring features and learning how protocols interact with one
another. To be confident enough to schedule your exam, make sure you follow the guidelines
outlined next.
Assessing Strengths
,Using the content blueprint, determine your experience and knowledge in the major topic areas.
For areas of strength, practicing for speed should be your focus. For weak areas, you might need
training or book study in addition to practice.
Study Materials
Choose lab materials that provide configuration examples and take a hands-on approach. Look
for materials that are approved or provided by Cisco and its Learning Partners.
Hands-On Practice
Build and practice lab scenarios on a per topic basis. Go beyond the basics and practice additional
features. Learn the show and debug commands along with each topic. If a protocol has multiple
ways of configuring a feature, practice all of them.
Cisco Documentation CD
Make sure you can navigate the Cisco documentation CD with confidence because this is the only
resource you are allowed during the lab. Make the CD part of your regular study; if you are
familiar with it, you can save time during the exam. As of March 2006, the documentation can be
navigated using only the index; the search function has been disabled.
Home Labs
Although acquiring a personal home lab is ideal, gathering all the equipment you need can be
costly.
CCIE Assessor
You can access a practice lab on live Cisco equipment via a web interface, and it provides a
personalized performance assessment. This practice exam was created using the CCIE Assessor
version B topology and is available for online rental in 4-hour slots. If you do not have your own
equipment, this is an excellent method of completing this practice lab. Load the initial
configuration files supplied and run through the questions. Information on the Assessor can be
found here:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/preparation/index.html
If you plan to use the Assessor for this exercise, it is suggested you run through the lab
instructions prior to beginning your online session to maximize your time on the site.
Equipment List and IOS Requirements
, The lab exam tests any feature that can be configured on the equipment and the IOS versions
indicated as follows:
3725 series routers - Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4 mainline: Advanced Enterprise
Services
3825 series routers - Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4 mainline: Advanced Enterprise
Services
Catalyst 3550 series switches running Cisco IOS Software Release version 12.2: IP
Services
Catalyst 3560 series switches running Cisco IOS Software Release version 12.2: Advanced
IP Services
Chapter 1. Practice Lab
Aim to adhere to the time limit of 8 hours on this lab on the initial runthrough. Then either
score yourself at this point or continue until you feel you have met all the objectives. You now
are going to be guided through the equipment requirements and prelab tasks in preparation
for taking this practice lab.
This lab was created using the official Cisco online CCIE R&S Assessor, version B topology.
Detailed information on the Assessor can be found on the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/preparation/assessor_details.html
If you don’t own six routers and four switches, the Assessor lab can be used for this lab by
loading the initial files supplied for this chapter in Appendix A.
Equipment List
You need the following hardware and software components to commence this practice lab:
Six routers loaded with Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4 Advanced Enterprise image and
the minimum interface configuration as documented in Table 1-1.
Table 1-1. Hardware Required per Router
Router Model Ethernet I/F Serial I/F
R1 3825 1 1
R2 3725 1 2
R3 3825 1 1
R4 3825 2 —
