/rant/ PMs welcome. Notes welcome. These questions really just suck. With the ridulous ammount of money they make off Cisco U wanting 1k usd per 10 credit hours, they could afford to hire some rational humans who don't represent opinion as 'correct statements'. And tell you when a question is wrong instead of telling me what my percentage of agreeing with the question writers useless opinion. Feels like there isn't anyone there that can still communicate with another human. Or it's just ai generated drivel all the way down.

So I got my enterprise about 6 weeks ago, finally finished ENARSI after failing twice, and I passed it after extensive documentation reading and labbing.

Now I'm looking for jobs, and i want advice on how to improve my chances (noc tech, data center tech, noc engineer, network engineer..)

A little background: I have almost no network engineering experience, but some solid tech experience. I'm doing part-time work, I had family issues and needed to move home to help take care of a parent. Decided it was time to get back into tech, had several friends in the network engineering field, so it was something I decided to study and try to pick up and got the CCNP.

The tech experience was SQL database development, and SQL Data mining at another job, with debugging C+ code and implementing some C+ code and SQL databases and scripts. Some light data analysis.

I also have a couple of bachelor's degrees in non-related fields (BS in econ which is technically a STEM field on paper)

Also i wrote some Python automation scripts and attached it to my GitHub:

Here's what I have on my resumé for onse script:

•       GitHub Link PaloAlto firewall program: This script returns the security holes across firewalls (service groups with mismatched object groups, configuration errors, misconfigured policies) by using a reusable XML API (API to Panorama, making it scalable and reusable). If your firewalls have security policies with mismatched ports or IP addresses this will return the difference. Avoids manual auditing of firewalls. Link includes a video of code execution on 3 PaloAlto Panorama 10.0.4 VM’s. https://github.com/hfakoor222/Palo_Alto_Scripting/tree/master

So I think I have a solid base without the experience. I have actually done network administration about 7 years ago at the company where I was doing SQL development, under the guidance of the network engineer, this was simple OS patches, running cables, and a firewall migration so I'm not sure how much that helps, I don't believe it helps too much.

Previously I took advice from Reddit and everyone said stop with the certs and get experience. They helped me rewrite my resumé. I got some call backs.

So now I'm beginning to reapply it's been about 4-5 weeks since I sent my last application, due to a new job/training.

In the meantime I will have down time to learn data center concepts or service provider concepts, and i cannot decide which, and I would rather not waste my time by doing nothing or trying to do both. I would rather learn one as best as I can. In my resumé I like to elaborate what I've learned and what i can do, because i lab and read pretty deeply on the material, in addition to the cert.

I think learning VPN's and implementation is the next best step.

So far I've got a JNCIA-DC and read about Deploying Juniper Data Centers with EVPN VxLan by Aninda Chatterjee, read 200 pages (nearly whole thing) of Data Center Deployment With EVPN/VxLan day one book by Deepti Chandra.

it was interesting to me DC's using route-targets, MPLS etc.

It seems to me if I go DC path i will be learning more about the implementation of MP-BGP, RT's, RD's, maybe MPLS, and the underlay IGP studies. I will build some level of scaled labs on eve-ng, including spine routing, leaf routing, type 5 and/or type 2 routes, and learn the concepts and put this down on my resumé alongside a JNCIP-DC and a CCNP DC Core which will both take about 4-5 months to do.

Or should i learn service provider: MPLS, underlay IGp's, RT's, RD's, some VxLan (according to the examtopics from both Cisco and Juniper)

If I go SP I am planning the JNCIS-SP in 2 months (still need to finish JNCIA first), and CCNP-SP specialist in 3 and maybe finally a JNCIP-SP. I also want to get a Cisco 300-730 SVPN specialist which seems to focus a lot on scaling VPN's. I'm really interested in scaling out GRE/Ipsec tunnels, and learning how to troubleshoot them better.

it seems the DC path will teach me more about the implementation of these concepts while the SP path will teach me more about learning about these concepts, and some implementing from the ground up, as opposed to a top down view with the DC studies.

It seems the SP path will also be easier for me.

Given my circumstances which is better to learn the SP or DC, as I am looking for work.

I don't even mind working as a data center tech, noc tech etc, but what would be a waste is to sit here and learn nothing especially if i haven't found a related role by then. In 4 months I'd rather have some set of skills to put on my resumé as opposed to nothing.

So what sells better in this case: Mentioning scaling L2VPN, L3VPN, VPN tunnels, service provider concepts, or DC concepts which is a lot of the same from what I've seen, the SP route seems like it would teach me the technical hard skills and basics better.

However what would the market be looking for in addition to a CCNP and Python skills?

I'm prepping for ENCOR and spending hours taking full notes on each of the small lessons from CBT nuggets to get everything down because I'm expecting a killer test, as I did with JIT for CCNA.

CBT nuggets' information is useful but I'll easily triple the entire length of the course's videos by taking notes like I am, how do all of you use your resources?

For CCNP enterprise, there are some concentration exams that are clearly more of a commitment like ENARSI.

Which did you take and how long did you spend with it?

I've got experience with only the basics of python right now.

I keep hearing it's the quickest concentration exam, what did you think of it?

Anyone recently take the exam can confirm?

My current study habits include reading an OCG chapter (enarsi), creating a ton of flash cards, and than reading through Cisco whitepapers. Often, I forget to study the flashcards until a week or two has passed. This results in me forgetting the small details and ultimately having to read Whitepapers again to relearn some of the information. Anyone have a better studying habit/schedule that they'd be willing to share?

Attempted an exam in the last week or so? Passed? Failed? Proctor messed it all up? Discuss here! Open to all CCNP exams, don't forget to include the exam name and/or number. We are now consolidating those pass-fail posts under here per prior poll of the community and your feedback.

Remember, don't post a score in the format of xxx/1,000. All Cisco exams have a maximum score of 1,000, so that's useless info. Instead, list the required score to pass, as this differs from exam to exam, and can change over the lifetime of the exam.

Payment of passes in PUPPY pictures is allowed.

Thinking of working towards a second one after I got my ENT. Does the ENT give credits I can use to get a second one cheaper? $700 is steep, I liked the learning aspect a lot, and I know CCNP's are held in regard when looking for work.

Working on a JNCIS-SP at the moment with some SP lab manuals, I may do the the JNCIP-SP while tossing in a textbook for both the JNCIS-SP and maybe 1-2 textbooks for the JNCIP-SP alongside the lab manuals I have, so I can list the skills on my resumé. Was thinking of a CCNP security specialization (the one that focuses on VPN's), a DC specialization or another CCNP all-together but $700 is way too much for a second cert, the JNCIP-SP costs me a total of $225 after vouchers.

Wondering if there's a way to get free credits, or if my first CCNP (obtained 5 weeks ago) came with credits I can apply to a second one?

Just curious on what your experience is. Are there any subnetting specific questions or are there questions that in order to solve/configure it you need to subnet as part of the process.

I recently just passed the CCNP after struggling with the specialty exam. I find it crazy how nuanced and specific the questions on the test were. It’s no way in hell people are going to latch onto all of these small details from a random troubleshooting guide released 10 years ago. I even had to look through Meraki guides when they don’t even test on Meraki.

And then the questions will have two right answers and based on your expert knowledge, you really have to choose the most right answer although they’re extremely neck and neck.

The OCG wasn’t nearly enough to pass that test and I read it twice. Thank God for CBT Nuggets and the “internet”. I would mention the white papers but it’s literally so many documents that have conflicting information ALL literally from the Cisco website! That makes no sense!

This just makes me wonder how in the hell are people passing the CCIE??? Man kudos to all of you all. I think this will be my last Cisco test. I’ll keep my cert current but I think I’m done.

Obviously guys keep going but do not feel bad if this stuff just seems needlessly convoluted. Because it truly is.

Is contextual help available on the lab questions?

Is there any recommended study guide or a list of resources to look into?

Hey all! I'm planning to take the exam soon, but I've heard the structure has changed recently. Has anyone taken it since the update? I'd love to hear about your experience especially any insights on how different it is from the previous version. Any tips or study resources would be super helpful too. Thanks in advance!

Would it be possible to run it as bare-metal on laptop?

I want to get some vJunos-Switches running, which recommend bare-metal, currently do not have a server.

Finally if i do this I'm assuming I'd have to run it separately from my Windows OS.

Can i please have specific image names that are lightweight .

Because i have a bunch of ioU images im running on hyperV but they dont seem to work well at all . Inteface status always shows connected and up even when there no link between devices e.t.c.

Hi

R1|---10.1.12.0/24---|R2

i created a static route for this subnet on R1

ip route 4.4.4.4 255.255.255.255 10.1.15.5

arp 10.1.15.5 0000.0000.000b ar

this next hop 10.1.15.0 is connected to R1.

R1#show mpls ip binding 4.4.4.4 32

 4.4.4.4/32 

in label:   102    

his local label is advertised to R2 using LDP

R2#show mpls ip binding 

 4.4.4.4/32 

out label:  102    lsr: 1.1.1.1:0

R2)#ip route 4.4.4.4 255.255.255.255 FastEthernet0/0

R2#show mpls ip binding 4.4.4.4 32

 4.4.4.4/32 

in label:   imp-null  

out label:  102    lsr: 1.1.1.1:0

R2#show mpls forwarding-table 4.4.4.4 32

Local   Outgoing  Prefix      Bytes Label  Outgoing  Next Hop   

Label   Label   or Tunnel Id   Switched   interface        

None    No Label  4.4.4.4/32    0       Fa0/0   4.4.4.4   

first of all, why the next hop ip address is 4.4.4.4 ? the next hop ip address for this route is the connected interface which means the next hop should be 10.1.12.2 .

second, why the out label in the LIB on R2 is 102 and the outgoing label in the LFIB is No label? should be both 102 or both No label? where is the symetric? the information are in the LIB should be reflected in the LFIB that is what i know.

I'm watching a CBT Nuggets video on Cloud onRamp for SaaS, and the question is:

If we have a remote location with just one internet connection, can Cloud onRamp do anything for us? Jeff then goes on to explain how the remote location has both its own local internet circuit, as well as a remote internet circuit via the SD WAN, using OMP.

What I don't understand is... Isn't the remote internet circuit just the local internet circuit as they are both going out the same connection? Or does OMP offer advantages that Jeff wasn't good at explaining? Or am I totally missing something here?

Here's the drawing I'm working with:

https://preview.redd.it/zadoswas4ixd1.png?width=1021&format=png&auto=webp&s=9f915745df82348c097824f44b6f72d62b42db0f

Thanks!

Like the title conveys I am looking for details on the INE premium promotion which is at 999 $ for 2 years. Seems like it’s better than the annual fee of 799 $ per annum during Black Friday. Is there a caveat to it or all ine labs + contents are available? Want to get one for ccnp and ccie

Hi all! I've bounced around from OCG and Kevin's course enough to get a high-level overview of what is on the test. My current plan is to go through the OCG once more, thoroughly take notes on the difficult concepts, complete labs with gns3 or netsim as I move through the chapters, and use BOSON practice exams. Do you think this study plan may prove to be efficient?

I'm studyng for CCNP Datacenter, and also ACI environment.

For sure building things using GUI is less error-prone, but I think that old-style config is much readable in terminal and less dispersive.

Will you join their promotion ?Buy buy 1 get 1?Is it insane?Any course provider can provide full curriculum ?Help thx

Has anyone tried using official cisco whitepapers for studying/taking notes. Initially, im using kevin wallaces udemy course but after that I only want to use whitepapers and networklessons.com. I cant if this is enough.

Anyone know if Jeremy's IT lab has a CCNP mega lab?

I genuinely find the material interesting and “fun” to learn. I’ve been studying my networking certs for the last 1 1/2 years (ccna, ccnp encore, and now ccnp enarsi). My enjoyment in learning the material has been super helpful as I really don’t miss a day of studying. Pretty nice that I was able to find a field in IT that I enjoy. Obviously this is for career advancement, but actually liking the material has been a tremendous help in my consistency. Do you guys like the material? Do you “hate” the material? Just curious how you all feel about the exams.

Hey guys, after searching Reddit through over 10 posts relating to this, I'm struggling to find a solid answer. Can someone who has passed ENCOR and used NetSim to practice labs for it, let me know if NetSim covers everything I'll need to pass? (In terms of labbing only, I realise using ExSim as well as various other study resources like OCG is necessary)

I have this question because, for instance, NetSim lacks a lab on IP SLA configuration as well as EEM, but the video course I'm doing shows the configuration for them anyway. Can I assume there's no lab question on these topics in the ENCOR exam? Any clarification would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much in advance!

Not sure when or if you guys ever took the comptia net+ exam but I'm about 600 pages into the ENCOR material in OCG and I feel like this is a deeper version of net+ with configurations.