In this ongoing series here at blog.ipexpert.com, we are going to answer the most common questions CCIE instructors hear. Let’s jump right in:

Question: Can I use aliases in the lab? Is there any risk?

Answer: We are going to answer you just like the CCIE Lab Exam proctor would – go ahead and use all of the aliases you would like in your lab exam, just be sure to remove them before completing a section (for example, Troubleshooting or Configuration).

Follow up Question: Why remove them?

Answer: Proctors have indicated that these can cause issues for the automated grading scripts that assists proctors in grading your exam.

Bonus Question: What the $%^#& is an alias?

Bonus Answer: In the context of the lab exam, it is a “shortcut” for typing that you can create for a particular command. For example, if you enter in the router the command alias exec sir sh ip route, you can now type sir in Exec mode in order to issue the show ip route command.

Another Bonus Question: Did you use those in the lab you passed Anthony?

Another Bonus Answer: Nope. I never decided to use them. I became fast enough with just the “natural” shortcuts like sh ip int br and sh ip prot. I was also afraid that I might run out of time in the exam and not have an opportunity to strip them out.

Anthony Sequeira CCIE, CCSI
Twitter: @compsolv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/compsolv

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Here in our second part of our series on the CCIE Lab Exam Proctors, let us examine some tips in dealing with the proctors. To make this even more fun and logical, let us take the tips in sequential order for your big day!

Tip 1 – arrive to the lab early. A proctor is going to have a pretty bad first impression of you should you arrive to the lab exam late. In fact, should you be excessively late, they might not even permit you to start.

Tip 2 - just like you would not want to be offensive with your words when you meet the proctor, be sure you are not offensive with your dress. A Juniper T-shirt is probably best left at home!

Tip 3 – Listen. Right off the bat you are going to be receiving instructions from your proctor. These are going to run the gamut from where is the restroom to how the interface of your lab functions. While it will be quite difficult with everything that is spinning through your brain, be sure to patiently listen to all of these instructions.

Tip 4 – be polite at all times. This can be tough since you are under a fair amount of stress, especially should you sit down and immediately start having interface or equipment problems with your lab with the clock ticking. Just remember to breathe and be VERY polite. The proctors are human beings, and they will react to you with human nature. The more polite you are – the better. If you are not polite by your own nature, one tip here is to at least start your queries with them with a small phrase like “May I interrupt you…” or “Please pardon the interruption…”

Tip 5 – when approaching the proctor with a clarification question about a technology task in the lab exam, be sure that you demonstrate your knowledge of the material. Remember from our last article on this subject of proctors, Ben made it clear that proctors will not assist should they believe a student is just fishing or expecting an answer. If you demonstrate with your question that you are at a CCIE-level, and that your only issue is vagueness or an issue with the question, they might be inclined to help. JUST REMEMBER TIP 4 – always be polite.

Tip 6 – do not be afraid to approach a proctor multiple times when asking your clarification question. In fact, look for another proctor in the room if you do not get anywhere with the first (after several attempts).

Tip 7 – if you are comfortable conversing during your lunch break – go ahead and “shadow” your proctor. You never know what tips and anecdotes they might provide over lunch for succeeding with the exam.

Tip 8 – when the exam is over, do not be afraid to spend some time with your proctor(s). Typically they are very willing to “hang out” and discuss valuable insights and pointers into the lab exam process.

Tip 9 – thank your proctor profusely. Hey – if you do need to revisit the lab exam, they might remember you!

Anthony Sequeira CCIE, CCSI
Twitter: @compsolv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/compsolv

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Why is this exam so difficult? Well, we tend to make it difficult by not being fully prepared for the big day. It is really as simple as that. How are we not fully prepared for it? There are plenty of reasons that I will be blogging about in the future, yet for this post I want to focus on one of the most critical and dramatic. You see some of us enter the exam lacking the skills in the fundamentals of the many technologies presented in the lab. To make matters worse, we posses absolutely no fundamentals training in a proper exam strategy. This is why I am so excited about the upcoming CCIE R&S Lab Fundamentals and Written Online Bootcamp.

You see, I have been helping students pass the CCIE Lab Exam itself for years. Then, in separate and distinct curriculums and classes I have been focusing on the lower level certs (like CCNA and CCNP) and the CCIE Written, but I realize now there has to be a better way.

The approach to the Written should be about the fundamentals that you need to pass the CCIE LAB Exam. I mean, after all, that is what we really care about. I doubt very seriously there is anyone out there reading this that has the goal of passing the Written and then stopping there. :-) Oh wait – you could use this class for your re-cert, so I guess that would be the one exception.

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We are starting a new series here on blog.ipexpert.com that is going to focus on the proctor. In this first post, we are going to explore the question of – “What is the proctor there for?” Why do we care about this? Well, if we understand what their job is, we will know better what to expect from them, and what we can acquire from them during the lab experience.

Proctors consider themselves, and are titled, customer support engineers. They are at the lab exam site to provide a number of support-type functions:

• Ensure your equipment is functioning properly for the lab exam
• Ensure that you understand your requirements for completing the exam
• Ensure that candidates do not intentionally, or inadvertently, cheat or distract other candidates

What about helping with your questions? Well, many proctors will state at the beginning of the exam (orientation), that they are NOT there to help you with the tasks that you will be presented with. They make it clear that everything you need to pass the exam is provided on the printed or on-screen materials.

With that said, proctors WILL typically try and assist with questions that you have about your lab. To quote a famous proctor former proctor, Ben Ng, “Candidates are entitled and encouraged to ask any questions if they feel the wording of the exam content is not clear. However, generally I will decline to answer a question if it is formulated for me to choose or confirm a specific solution. We can’t give candidates a direct reply if they’re trying to narrow down the answer. But we don’t mind clarifying the questions if they ask. The worst that could happen is I tell them I can’t answer.”

Interesting…more on this fact in the next post in this series!

Anthony Sequeira CCIE, CCSI
Twitter: @compsolv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/compsolv

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One of the huge issues for CCIE R&S students is making (and sticking!) to their study plan. And sure enough, an area that they might get into trouble with is the many, and varied, CCIE R&S Services that fall in scope for this very difficult exam. Let us take a look at the bare minimum services we are responsible for:

• DHCP Server
• DHCP Client
• DHCP Relay Agent
• HSRP
• VRRP
• GLBP
• WCCP
• TFTP
• FTP
• RCP
• SCP
• Telnet
• SSH

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