Welcome to my blog.
My name is Daniel Dib and I’m a Senior Network Architect at Conscia Netsafe.
This blog was about my journey to become a CCIE and started out in 2010. I put my study notes online and in 2012 I passed the lab and became CCIE #37149. Since then I’ve been involved in many interesting projects in my role as a Network Architect.
In 2016 I became the 2nd person in Sweden to be certified as a CCDE when I became CCDE #20160011. I am very passionate about design and architecture and try to spread my knowledge to the industry.
This blog has both content for people studying for CCIE, CCDE but also a lot of advice on how to think and how to be a good engineer and architect.
I spend a lot of time in the community and I’m a Cisco Learning VIP and a Cisco Champion. Below is my Linkedin profile:
http://se.linkedin.com/pub/daniel-dib/4/760/75b/
If you want to contact me, use the form below.
Thanks for reading!
http://deepakarora1984.blogspot.com/
This blog might be good for your CCIE LAB Exam.
Hello Daniel,
Nice to know you, this is Ricky from China.
🙂
Hi Ricky,
Welcome to the site 🙂 Are you studying Cisco?
Hi Daniel,
Stumbled over your post at techexams.net when I was looking for CCIE-startup inspiration. 🙂
I’m a curious about how you organize the material(and time)?
Keep up the good work.
Mvh
Micke
Hi,
Glad you found my blog. I started out by preparing for the written. I did roughly 200 hours of reading, lots of books and blogs etc. I did not do much labbing for the written. I have a commute to work 45 min one way which I use to study. Now that the written is cleared I used the time on my commute to read and practice my own flash cards to keep things in memory. I highly recommend flash cards. I spend 3-4 nights per week doing labs. I have the INE vol1-4 labs and I’m mostly doing vol2 labs right now. Weekends are familytime except for sunday night which is labtime. I’m closing in on 500h now and I expect to go beyond 1000 before being ready for the lab. Studying for CCIE with a family is tough but I’m in no rush. I’m in this to become a better engineer not just to cram a test. If you have any questions you can write in the comments or mail me.
/Daniel
Hi there.
I’m also studying for CCIE Lab.
I’ve passed the written exam about a month ago.
I’m writing amateur post of my quest to CCIE in http://www.1cisco.com
Also Im inviting you if you like to write on my blog too.
Dear Daniel Dib, how I can e-mail you directly?
Regards,
Andrius
Hi,
Send an email to [email protected]
Daniel, where are you in the world? I am in the UK and am aiming for my first attempt early 2012 – it would be good to hook up, I am doing INE bootcammp in Feb then lab in April depending on my bootcamp experience
Roger
Hey Roger!
I live in Sweden so we are almost in the same timezone. I’m doing my lab late feb 2012. If you have google talk or anything like that we could hook up there?
Hi Daniel,
I’m just starting my quest for CCIE….I have not yet completed my CCIE exam, what reading would you suggest for this???
I will also email you if you don’t mind.
Cheers John ( Perth Australia)
Hi John,
You should get the certification guide and the Routing TCP/IP Volumes by Doyle for sure. Internet routing architectures by Halabi is good as well. I’ll send you an e-mail later with some advice. Good luck John!
Hi Daniel,
First of all, your blog is really good!
I am also studying for the CCIE R&S lab. I have passed the CCIE written in October and I will start with lab training from the 01-01-2012 with INE material (workbook 1-4).
I would like to know if you have any suggestions for Lab training with INE material. did u do the INE bootcamp?
It will be nice to hook up there via google talk. I plan to go for the lab Dec 2012.
Regards,
Laurent (Denmark)
Hi Laurent,
I’m glad you like the blog. Petr has a good suggestion on how to study @ http://blog.ine.com/2010/10/09/how-to-pass-the-ccie-rs-with-ines-4-0-training-program/
I started following that but later developed my own strategy. Right now I have been focusing heavily on Vol1 because I think it is necessary to recognize all features and where to find them in the DOCCD if we are assigned them at the lab. I haven’t had the possibility to do any bootcamps unfortunately. INE is probably very good and Narbik is good as well. Dec 2012 sounds like a reasonable date if you can keep a good pace. Add me at Gtalk, I’ll send you an email with address to avoid the spammers 🙂
Hi Daniel,
Thanks a lot for your message. I will contact you through Gtalk.
Your blog is great and have some really good contents! I have got inspiration from it to create my own blog.
/Laurent
Great!
Having a blog is really good practice. Unfortunately I don’t have the time to write as often as I want since I’m deep into studies. I do try to blog when there is something I want a deeper understanding of or if it is something that could benefit the community. Good luck Laurent!
hey nice blog….am studying for Written now and hope to finish books as well as Narbik Adv CCIE workbook with written for solid understanding…Can you guide me how to study for lab as i am quite confused and i dont know how much should i cover before sitting for lab.
Basically you need to learn the whole blueprint for the lab. Start by assessing how comfortable you are in each area and practice most on the areas you are weak in. Have you decided on Narbik for the workbooks? If you did my guess is he has some kind of plan or will reply to you if you ask him how to practice his labs.
I have used INE and I think the best strategy is to start by doing technology focused labs (Vol1) and then start mixing them with full scale (Vol2) labs. Tell me if you need more information.
I know the blue print can tell you the topics but not the details that how deeper you should go for each one of them and i think some topics like security focused or BGP and MPLS are not that detail demanding then IGP’s or Switching. I guess Cisco should tell that too because i guess most students fail their attempts by preparing for much less focused topics more then the core topics. I will certainly like to be in contact with you and discuss my study related problems if it’s convenient for you. The other problem that i face and is not common with others is when i go and try to access my weak points i feel i am weak in every damn topic and i know the reality is not same because believe me i have written jeff doyle TCP/IP volume 1 book by hand 😛
Cheers
Hey i just read a post above that you live in Sweden?? I live in sweden too 🙂 but i am not from Sweden…i am doing Msc. Information Security from LTU up north wohoo 🙂 and working as a consultant too. Stay in touch
Cool. I live outside Gothenburg. Add me to Gtalk if you want to chat sometime.
yeah sure, mail me your gmail address..will add you
Hello,
can you help me ?
i have a big problem with ipv6 over frame relay interface point-to-point.
Thanks very much
Sure. Describe the issue and paste your config and I’ll have a look.
Hi Daniel,
I have purchased the workbook1 from INE, and the differnce I am finding when running the .net file is the ports are differing from the initial config, Can you please help me
Hi,
You have to convert the configs to fit for Vol1. I have written posts on how to do it. Also there is configs available on IEOC from a user called relativitydrive.
Hello Daniel,
Congratulations for your blog, It’s a very complete job and I wish you the best luck to pass the lab. I an following the same way that your are doing about the study methods, when do you think to take the lab?? I am thinking about September.
You can reply me back to compare different ways to approach the lab and share information.
Good luck!!!!
Thanks!
I’ll contact you. It’s always nice to discuss with other candidates. I have another attempt booked but keeping date to my self until I’ve been there.
Some nice posts in your blog! Are you part of Cisco TAC ?
Hi. Thanks, that is appreciated. I do not work for Cisco.
Hi Daniel,
Just read that you have already cleared the written exam. I am preparing for CCIE, let’s connect together. I have linkedin you as well. 🙂
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hi mate! Just wanted to say Congrats! I’ve heard the news from work mate!.
Well done to you! You are a number now :))
Thanks man! 🙂
Hi Daniel,
Well done on passing the Lab! You totally deserved to Pass. I was also on the Bootcamp in the UK in September, I had a feeling you would pass this time!
Thanks Graeme!
Were you the nice fellow I had breakfast with that arrived for the second week of the bootcamp? How are your studies going along?
lol……. i was the guy sitting in the row behind you to the far right, next to the tall French guy :-). I’ve kinda hit the wall at the moment…………Need to re-focus and get on with it.
Oh, I see 🙂
Put that final push in and join the club man 🙂
Hi,Daniel,
Congraz!
I have also been studying CCIE RS and following some of your write up here in this blog. Your story of passing the lab is quite motivated to all of us here. Don’t you mind me of asking for your email so that I could get help from you in my study?
Thanks from Australia.
Regards,
Nate
Hi Daniel,
Came across this site while searching about GNS3. I see you have very helpful tips here.
I’m just new to the IT industry with just barely a year of info after I changed career path (from Non IT college degree).
I’m currently working on my CCNA-S and planning to clear the exam by March, 2013. Hoping I can get in touch with you and get some inputs in case you have time.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Rito!
No problem. Send a mail to [email protected] and we can have further contact if you like.
sure thing. I just emailed you.
Hello Daniel,
I am finally taking care of my Cisco studies. For years I have been just getting by on my general knowledge of Cisco. Now I made a change and finally received my CCENT three weeks ago. I immediately scheduled my CCNA exam for May 4, 2013 right after passing and long w/ my security exam 31 May 2013. If my dates don’t work out I just push them back at two week intervals until I am ready.
I have been doing a comprehensive studying of the CCNA and CCNA Security since I have exposure to most of the technology daily, but the voice part we don’t use anymore. We have decided to go with Avaya Voip . Since voice is a little different I decided to shelve the voice study until June. I have a nice lab at home and I’m adding equipment and selling equipment so I can get my CCNP Voice in 2014. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tabauknight/8507629302/
Thanks for your site and I will be reading thru it.
Tillman CCENT
Hi Daniel,
Just wanted to thank you for the awesome articles you put here, I’ve been following this blog for so long now that it became a habit to check it regularly.
I hope that our roads may cross one day in this vast IT world.
Yazan Alamad
CCIE#37225
Thanks Yazan!
I hope we meet as well. Maybe at some Cisco Live conference in the future? I see we have very close CCIE numbers. Seems I must have passed one week before you or so. So we are like CCIE brothers 🙂
I hope so my big CCIE brother 🙂
Hi Daniel!
Just came here to see if there was anything useful in your blog for my ccnp route studies and wasnt disappointed 🙂
See you around!
Hi Daniel,
Thank you for sharing your knwoledges very useful for my professional activity.
Manh chau
Happy to hear that.
Good luck with your studies/career.
I have a contract role in Sweden for Cisco I would like to discuss with you. 0044 1296 678 377, please get in touch.
Thanks
Hi Daniel,
I am Pushkar From Bangalore India. Recently, I have finished my CCNP R&S. I am planning to do CCIE R&S.
But there are couple of things i would like to know. I have come across several posts and blogs discussing the role of SDN and its affect on CCIE. What appeared to me is that with SDN in place, there is little to be offered to CCIE’s.
I see a huge cost and time investment required for CCIE. As I do not have financial backup, and so, I am bit confused to follow the path of CCIE. I know there is no looking back if I pursue it.
My query is, is CCIE worth investment considering the time and money it needs. or Shall i start learning SDN and forget about CCIE?
Please guide me through this..
Hi Pushkar,
I don’t see the CCIE losing value. The networks of today will be around for a long time. Only bleeding edge Data Centers and some customers that fit the SDN model very well are ready to start moving towards SDN.
Even with SDN you still need a basic network to run on. If the foundation is crap then no matter how brilliant the things that you build upon it will not succeed.
My advice is to go for the CCIE but also learn about topics like Python and SDN. Don’t feel to worried about SDN, we still don’t know which protocols will be here to stay and which kind of controllers. It’s still very early in the making.
Thank you Daniel. Your words are really encouraging. The biggest problem I am facing is negative environment around me towards CCIE. Let me give a try for Written. exam. Thanks again.
Hi Daniel,
Its well structured site, appended with detailed topics and scenarios.
Thank you Pramod!
hii daniel,
Rohit from india,right now i m getting training on ccnp but my aim is clear CCIE both exam,so can you give me advise regarding how to start study planing for CCIE. and how to get deep entry in network..
Start by making a plan for the written. You will need to read a lot to prepare for it. Do you hold any certifications now and how much experience do you have?
Hello,
My name is Alex. I am doing online marketing for different brands.
I was wondering if you might be interested in publishing a guest/sponsored article on your website (lostintransit.se) or writing a product review. Do you allow such options?
Please let me know your thoughts!
Thank you for your time.
Hi Alex,
I have sometimes written about products but never for payment because I want to keep things neutral and give my readers my real opinion.
I do give the product owners a chance to reply to my remarks though before publishing in case there is a misunderstanding.
Hi Daniel!
We’re a Cisco Solution Partner specializing in software development for Cisco Collaboration and Contact Center solutions.
We’d also like to publish some article on your blog lostintransit.se.
Please contact me via email.
I normally don’t allow guests to post. What did you have in mind?
I don’t know your e-mail.
Nice blog Daniel, keep posting!
Thanks, Wassim!
Hi Daniel.
1. My comment is not about the content of the articles that you have posted. They are informative, well written, extremely neat and good.
2. I am posting about the layout of your web site – it is perfect. Very clean & uncluttered, easy to navigate and most important of all – extremely easy to read, the colour scheme is perfect.
Regards,
Navneet.
Thanks, Navneet!
I’m currently studying for the CCDE as well and going for the Feb 16 practical exam, when are you booked for? Great blog, enjoy reading it alot! Cheers,
Thanks, Robert!
I’m going for the practical in May. How have you prepared so far? Good luck on your exam!
Hi, Daniels , it’s glad me to know you, i’m planing to pursuit CCIE R & S .Hope ,i’ll gain useful informations from here .
That’s awesome, Lucas! Good luck with your studies!
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Dear Daniel, I’ve been an avid reader of your blog, and I’m impressed by your knowledge of networking. I’ve sent you a LinkedIn request in the hopes of connecting with you. As a seasoned network engineer with over 15 years of experience in Cisco environments, I’m looking to expand my horizons and learn about new technologies like SD-WAN, ACI, and Automation. I’d love to hear your thoughts on other vendors like Fortinet and Palo Alto (Prisma), and how they compare to Cisco from a budget perspective.
Thanks again for your insightful writing!
Dear Daniel, thank you for your efforts on this blog, it is really interesting. Wish you the best.