When you engage in the Top Down troubleshooting approach, you are using the OSI reference model as a guide, and you are hoping that the problem is one of the higher layers! You are beginning your troubleshooting in the higher layers, trying to find the highest layer that is working. You see, the way the OSI reference model works, if we can determine that a particular layer works, then it is a pretty safe assumption that all the layers below it are functional. Notice I say “pretty” safe. There might indeed be problems at a lower layer that are so specific, they are not showing up in your initial evidence collection.

What is an example of a Trouble Ticket where we might immediately latch on to the Top-Down Troubleshooting approach? Well, how about this…

TROUBLE TICKET 4

Users in Subnet 101 are reporting that they can access Web content from Subnet 201, but they are unable to transfer files to or from an FTP server in that subnet.

Here we can see that a Top Down Troubleshooting approach certainly makes sense. Especially when we balance this against starting with a Bottom Up approach (covered in the next blog post). It is quite clear that we do not have a physical layer issue, since the Web connectivity would not work.

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We are happy to announce that our CCNP to CCIE Security Transition Kit is now complete and ready to be shipped. This product is fully finished after going through the initial development and beta testing phases. To learn more about this product, click HERE to chat with a Training Advisor.

Below, you will find the topics, technologies and protocols that are currently included in IPexpert’s CCNP to CCIE Security Transition Kit. We’re quite confident that you won’t find a more thorough, up-to-date product on the market!

• Pre-product Design
• Choosing Cisco IOS technologies to implement HDL
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One troubleshooting methodology that we want to discuss is the “Shoot from the Hip” method. This is often done by very experienced troubleshooters. Here, the engineer gathers quick information on the issue, and immediately proposes a hypothesis and tries a configuration change and test. If you are in the R&S Cisco Lab Exam and you are running out of time in the Troubleshooting section, this is one YOU MIGHT HAVE TO EMPLOY! Notice that if we can avoid this approach, often times we do. You see the issue lies in the fact that we are no closer to solving the problem if what we changed had no effect. If we follow one of the other methodologies that we are going to cover in this series, we have a bunch of excellent facts and data that we can re-analyze in order to eventually solve the problem.

The Shoot from the Hip approach just might be perfect for some Lab Exam trouble tickets, however. For example, if the trouble ticket is VERY specific about the issue, and there is a very small number of issues that could cause the problem, you might want to just pick the most likely issue and see if that is indeed your problem. If you miss the mark, just be ready to quickly slide into one of the more “robust” troubleshooting methodologies we are going to present here at blog.ipexpert.com.

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For over a decade, IPexpert has helped certify over 1,800 CCIEs….more CCIEs than any company – worldwide. Since the day the CCIE Voice was announced, we have been there – offering quality self-study resources, classroom training and online vRack rental. We’ve helped a large majority of the CCIE Voice Engineers pass the lab, as a result of ensuring that we have up-to-date, industry-leading preparation materials. We’ve now taken that CCIE-level expertise, and rolled our methodology down into Cisco’s professional & associate level certifications, and are excited to offer a completed, up-to-date, CCNA Voice Video-on-Demand course kit.

IPexpert’s CCNA Voice Video on Demand Kit is designed for CCNA Voice candidates who wish to pass the CCNA Voice certification. Our CCNA Voice VOD Kit includes individual a course slide book and a practice test quizzer for the ICOMM v8.0 exam.

Below, you will find a few of the topics IPexpert’s CCNA Voice Video on Demand Course currently includes.
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My CCIE-related Top Ten Lists were always about fun and (hopefully) laughter, but here is another serious one by request. Here are the Top Ten Techniques During Mock CCIE Labbing:

10. Do not print out diagrams or lab tasks and work from those materials, reference these materials on screen only.

9. Use only plain paper and colored pencils for “art supplies”.

8. Turn off all cell phones, email, etc.

7. Time yourself.
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