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BGP 642-661 ( Configuring BGP On Cisco Routers ) 5

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leedsit

Technical User
Nov 25, 2004
364
GB
Hi,

Got the dreaded BGP exam on Friday... Any recent experiences from test takers on this one?

Lee.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
I was probably within 2 weeks of being ready to schedule it then got too distracted at work. Have since then decided to work on the MPLS/BGP combined exam.

Good Luck
 
Brave man, ive not even attempted the MPLS Course yet.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
Brave?? or foolish?? I had BGP down pretty good, or at least I thought I did. MPLS is a totally different animal. I have a copy of the student guide for the MPLS course, and had been reccommended to get a copy of MPLS Fundamentals. I'm just having trouble with getting the time devoted to sit down and push through it.

MPLS fundamentals is a good read though. Liked it better than the student guide for once. And there are enough tidbits of BGP work in MPLS to keep most of it kind of fresh.

BGP, I went through the course online, read the chapters in Routing TCP/IP Volume 2, and seems like I had another source I was using as well, other than having good timing at work with some BGP work going on.
 
Well I did the course around 14 months ago. So I have gone through the material in detail again and always been happy with Basic BGP Configuration as its part of my job function, just not to sure what to expect really. BGP V4 has not changed much and I have a fundamental understanding of the material so all I can do is give it my best shot and see i guess.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
I took it about a year and half ago and it was one of te more difficult tests I took through Cisco other than the CCIE R/S written which was the toughest by far.

I ended up passing with a score in the mid 800s I think. I remember pretty much usin Sam Hailibi's Internet Routing Architectures book to assist with my studying. As already posted, Routing TCP/IP Volume II is an excellent resource as well. If you can follow and understand what is going on, then you'll be in a good position. Without going into too much detail, I remember the Simulator questions being more complicated than others I did in the past and there were some new style topics that may not be covered by older books like outbound route refresh.

Oh-yeah, enjoy the regular expresssions. That one always seems to be every student's worst studying point. Programmers always have the advantage on that one. Good luck.
 
I forgot about Hailibi's book. Excellent book.

I'm lucky on regular expressions...done some perl work, so it came to me a little easier. Plus I like using editpadpro, and you can do finds using regular expressions.
 
Dam! Just done some of the trouble shooting exercises in Routing TCP Volume II! Tricky tricky questions but good, only got 4 correct! but makes you drag in every possibility, forgot silly things such as "no synchornisation". Hope the exam is not a cruel as the book.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
Thanks lerdalt, book ordered.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
Better remember that no synchronization thing, it will be there in some way shape or form. Best part is because you are talking about it now, chances are, you'll remember it when it counts. Know how to examine a routing table and determine when a prefix will be advertised to other BGP peers based upon the routing table's contents assuming synchronization or no synchronization.
 
Well im all studyed out, considered postponing the exam, not sure if im 100% ready but too late, think Im close though! Must say, in a creepy way I enjoyed studying for BGP the most, so will continue to study/learn more wether I pass or not!

Lee.



LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
Fantastic, thanks for this lerdalt.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
Just got back and my head hurts, quite indepth questions compared to the other exams but if you know the matter its not too difficult, got 887 out of 1000, so very happy with that.

Thanks for your earlier input gents.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
Cheers,

not sure really, I need to get some juniper stuff under my belt ( work requirement ), however would like to get the rest for my CCIP, so possibly QOS, again did the course about 18 months ago, not taken the exam.

Do you know if the BGP Exam renews my CCNP? the recertification requirements are a little sketchy?

Lee.

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
Any 642- exam or the CCIE Written will renew your CCNP as long as it hadn't already expired.

QoS I think was the easiest test I've taken so far. Of course I took it about 6 months after taking the ONT to finish my CCNP and had been working with FRTS, and CBWFQ for most of a year before that. Wendell Odom's QoS book is fantastic too. I think his QoS book was far better than what he put together for the CCNA.

For MPLS to finish off the CCIP, it was recommended to me to read MPLS Fundamentals by Luc De Ghein. I'm not too far though it yet, but it's been pretty good. Little overwhelming but I can't get my focus back to just sit down and get through the book. Was more of a jump into real service provider stuff compared to BGP and QoS I think. I have gone through the book from the MPLS course...think I had more questions after it than I had answers. But I am out of my comfort zone on this one too.

For Juniper, they have a promotion going on too. I looked into this awhile back when they ran it before, but don't really have a need to go through the books. At the time I looked, you could download the course book for free. I'm sure I've still got it somewhere if you want.

 
Hey guys,
I really don't know what you are talking about but I wrote the books/links down for future reference.. (When I finish the CCNA..LoL)

Thanks...
*stars all around*
 
Hi Lerdalt,

thanks for clarifying the renewing of certifications. The Juniper stuff I need to do is firewall based, but I think im going to do QOS next and have Odoms book, so Ill use that and the Cisco course material to try and drum it all home, but going to have a month off before tackling it. Thanks again for your input.

Lee

LEEroy
MCNE6,CCNP,CWNA,CCSA,Project+
 
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