Guess what....
I did know my fate ..... I've been branded xxxxx ;)
Sexy...
I should've written this on 9th Sept.... isnt too late yet though.
So this is what happened....
I got a lab which was a little complicated.... and simple other stuff....
Reached about an hour early for the lab. The only person there... I was absolutely calm. No tension. Just a relaxed and little confident feeling. The ideal feeling.
Anyway... I was asked to be seated at the reception. Half hour latter... three more ppl are asked to be seated along with me (2 of them candidates). Everyone for R&S Lab.
Mahesh (The Proctor) enters at 0820.... he calls out for us. A casual hand-shake. Leads to the next building, into a training room. He explains us the rules of the lab....
"For all those appearing for the lab, remember.... once the lab starts, the router belongs to you. Whatever happens has to resolved by you. You can reload the routers.... change the boot variables... whatever. If the router does crash.... then it is your headache.... even if it is because of faulty equipment or IOS.... you would have to prove it to the proctor." As such he wont help you.
Continuing back to the story. At exactly 0841.... I start. Took a few minutes to understand the diagram and the paper itself. To be frank it took me sometime to actually grasp the paper itself....
After that I have no idea how the first 3 hours went... But I checked the lab for config errors, intial config and browse the paper. Skimmed through the Section 1 again. Realized the main problems were with STP. Solved.
By the time I started Section 2 (IGP), it was lunch. Way behind schedule. Still calm but a sense of urgency. At 1245 Mahesh calls for lunch. Had sandwich and coffee. Casual conversation with Mahesh. He asks about my preparation methodology. He shares his experience of preparing for CCIE SP Lab. Nice talk.
Back to the table in 20 mins. Started the Lab with a new vigour. Sail through most of the sections, till I reached my nemesis Multicast/Security. Slowed and ensured things were good with Multicast. Turned out to be very very simple. Now with less than 50 mins left, i had BGP and Security to left. BGP finished and working beautifully. 20 mins left, Security and final testing left. First question of security "IP unicast verify". Poof, everything starts failing... almost panicked. But kept cool, removed the unicast config. I'M BACK.
Do a little calculation, I had till now attempted 92 marks and was confident of all 90. Dead sure. So it didnt make sense going all out and risking everything. I bent the question to suit my requirments (not sure whether that is legal). Next question was CBAC and 10 minutes left. Dropped the question. Attempted the last question. My effective and confident attempt now at 92 and another 3 marks which could be could payoff.
10 minutes left... cross check everything with my fingers crossed. All checks pass. And the PROCTOR says "TIME's UP". Saved the config.
I was to leave, and the proctor calls out for me... and we for a smoke and a general chat.
As I walk out of Cisco office, I am fairly confident. But then I realize, everytime I have such a feeling, I have FAILED!!! :( I try to convince myself to not think of the paper. Walk about 4kms. Get an auto, grab a bite. HOME at 1845!!!!
Check my email... no entry. Very very restless.... keep checking my mail every 2 minutes. Its 9 now... and I am desperate.. Why the fuck is the result not in yet....!!!! wait and check, wait and check, wait and check, wait and check, wait and check, wait and check, wait and check, .... WHAT!!!
The last time I saw the time.. it was 0330 of 9th Sept and before I realize I am off to sleep. Suddenly I wake up and notice the time is 0930 in the morning. FUCK!!! With bated heart I check my mail... "CCIE Lab Score Report"
With batted heart I open the cisco profile page... then have to enter my CCIE Q credentials and i dont remember it!! somehow get it... The wait is tortorous. At long last I enter correct credentials...
and Then..... It took me a few seconds to realize that i have my number... :)
