David Sudjiman

What did I do wrong when I was configuring dialer watch as a backup link. All I could see was this.

003855: .Feb  3 19:45:41.736 AEDT: DDR: Dialer Watch: watch-group = 8
003856: .Feb  3 19:45:41.736 AEDT: DDR: 	  network 10.10.10.0/255.255.255.252 UP,
003857: .Feb  3 19:45:41.736 AEDT: DDR: 	  primary UP
003858: .Feb  3 19:45:42.736 AEDT: Ce0/0/0 DDR: rotor dialout [best] least recent failure is also most recent failure
003859: .Feb  3 19:45:42.736 AEDT: Ce0/0/0 DDR: rotor dialout [best] also has most recent failure
003860: .Feb  3 19:45:42.736 AEDT: Ce0/0/0 DDR: rotor dialout [best]
003861: .Feb  3 19:45:42.736 AEDT: Di1 DDR: Nailing up the Dialer profile [attempt 1]
003862: .Feb  3 19:45:42.736 AEDT: Di1 DDR: Dialer dialing - persistent dialer profile
003863: .Feb  3 19:45:42.736 AEDT: Ce0/0/0 DDR: Dialing cause Persistent Dialer Profile

My mind was wandering around checking why my dialer keeps dialing even when the network is UP. Checking the Cisco TAC case collection (case # K10813467) didn’t actually help much.

Apparently, the command dialer persistent causes this.

To force a dialer interface to be connected at all times, even in the absence of interesting traffic, use the dialer persistent command in interface configuration mode.

Crawling slowly for the Internetwork Expert CCIE Routing & Switching Lab Workbook Volume I version 5 – MPLS. I don’t have any background on MPLS and I thought reading MPLS from CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide (4th Edition)should at least give me a slight background of MPLS. Wrong, MPLS section on CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide (4th Edition)was not even close enough to cover the basic. I can see it tries to cover all MPLS stuff for CCIE RS but the explanation was too shallow and makes it useless.

The WB has more than enough for the CCIE RS candidate need to know. This is where it hits me so hard then I need to start reading MPLS Fundamentals

For those who are using Dynamips for CCIE study, below is the zipped file I’ve been using for Internetwork Expert CCIE Routing & Switching Lab Workbook Volume I version 5 – MPLS

iewb-rs-vol1.v5.mpls.DSU.20100130.zip

I’ve decided to read CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide (4th Edition)page-to-page, cover-to-cover. I have the previous one (3rd Edition) yet I used it for reference only.

The book arrived on 21 December 2009 and I’ve been using my annual Christmas Leave for reading. I did actually enjoying Christmas this year with friends and family and using some spare time to read. My wife get used to see me reading a book morning and late night but not some families who stay over.

Reading this book will at least gives me what I need to know on CCIE R&S Exam, both Written and Lab

As CCIS R&S exam covers a lot of topics, this book will let you know what you need to know. Then, at the end of every chapter it will give you some link or more books to read. As common to other Exam Preparation series, this book does not cover in details. So consider this book as a summary only.

Next step is to do INE R&S WB vol1 and digging it deep with all necessary reading for each topic. INE starts to updates the WB as it contain a lot of errors on it. I guess this is just because INE trying to complete the release of WB vol1 on 2009 as Beta and working with updates after that. Actually, I’m quite happy to hear that INE starts updating the INE R&S WB vol1 so I can start my study using the latest and updated WB.

I passed the CCIE RS Written Exam 350-001 yesterday. I thought I was going to see Fail on the final mouse-click. The first 10 questions we enough to make me feel not ready and give up. When the question reaches 35 I even asked myself why would I keep continuing? The last mouse-click, finally, I’ve made myself eligible to register for the LAB test.

Few weeks before I sat the test, I talked to my wife that I had to pass this written exam just to make our Christmas sane. Otherwise, It would be very devastating to have a Christmas while friends and families coming and I had to say, “Sorry, I need to study!”. At least for this Christmas I can give a bit of relax to myself while thinking the next strategy for the LAB.

I don’t know how it feels to pass the LAB exam but I felt relieved when I passed the written exam. So relieved!

Thanks to my Audie for the support. She said that’s OK to to postpone our anniversary dinner on Sunday just because I need to study.

It’s nice to know that changing IPv6 OSPF router-id doesn’t need to reload the router.

Rack18R6(config-subif)#ipv router ospf 1
Rack18R6(config-rtr)#do sh ipv ospf d

            OSPFv3 Router with ID (150.18.6.6) (Process ID 1)
Rack18R6(config-rtr)#router-
Rack18R6(config-rtr)#router-id 150.1.6.6
Rack18R6(config-rtr)#do sh ipv ospf d   

            OSPFv3 Router with ID (150.1.6.6) (Process ID 1)

Multicast is a new domain for me as in the past I’ve never configured any real network for multicast scenario. Few weeks ago a colleague asked me about configuring multicast and I can only guessing what was the right thing to do.

I took the opportunity to study Multicast 3 weeks ago using IEWB version 5 Multicast and stuck for 16-hour for the first 5 tasks knowing that the workbook is not actually ready yet. After I forwarded my complain at 1am in the morning, INE replied that the new updates will be coming soon. Well, what can I do? I looked at the old version of Multicast workbook (version 4.10) and did the whole lot.

Apparently, my understanding to Multicast is improving. Doing the workbook, watching the CODs for the last 3 weeks makes me knowing what should be done to accomplish different scenario. I still need to dig more about MSDP, SSM, MLD, and other weird scenario presented on version 5 and I really look forward but at least I’m moving forward.

Previously, questions kept popping up whether I’m making progress or just going nowhere. Felt like in a deep pit and get frustrated feeling that this thing was just too hard and wasn’t making any progress. Apparently, through this Multicast part, I regained my confidence and actually making progress. Slow, but progressing.

I’m expecting to sit for the Written test this year. I’ll try my best!

Closing to December, projects are just keep coming and coming. Some of the big projects are due on December. Not to mention urgent requests to action few stuff that keep coming every week. It’s really fun knowing that I work better under pressure.

I tried to start early and finish early then cranking up study for at least 3 hours a day and as I got every Friday for study leave, now I can have 12-hour lab on Friday and Saturday to catch up my lab sessions. It feels really funny after doing those 2 days 12-hour lab. That’s why Sunday can be good a good day to start new project. Putting a new lawn!

Badminton was also part the Sunday project if schedule permit. Last Sunday felt really great after not playing Badminton for about 20 years. Well, at some point I can felt the relieves and also sore muscles for the next 4 days.

Anyway, now I know my limit and need to have a good break. After all, exercise always good to keep the blood flowing.

I thought tonight I’ll spend a night xmodem-ing my router as my IOS upgrade failed. Apparently, this teaches me something good.

Upgrade ROMMON initialized
Entering rommon> prompt after several failed attempts to boot an IOS image.
Please check your internal/external flash drives for the correct IOS image
and issue 'reset' at the rommon> prompt to re-try the boot process.
rommon 1 > help
alias               set and display aliases command
boot                boot up an external process
break               set/show/clear the breakpoint
confreg             configuration register utility
cont                continue executing a downloaded image
context             display the context of a loaded image
cookie              display contents of motherboard cookie PROM in hex
dev                 list the device table
dir                 list files in file system
dis                 disassemble instruction stream
dnld                serial download a program module
frame               print out a selected stack frame
help                monitor builtin command help
history             monitor command history
iomemset            set IO memory percent
meminfo             main memory information
repeat              repeat a monitor command
reset               system reset
rommon-pref         Select ROMMON
set                 display the monitor variables
showmon             display currently selected ROM monitor
stack               produce a stack trace
sync                write monitor environment to NVRAM
sysret              print out info from last system return
tftpdnld            tftp image download
unalias             unset an alias
unset               unset a monitor variable
xmodem              x/ymodem image download
rommon 2 > showmon

ReadOnly ROMMON version is:
System Bootstrap, Version 12.4(13r)T, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 2006 by cisco Systems, Inc.

Upgrade ROMMON version is:
System Bootstrap, Version 12.4(13r)T11, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)
Technical Support: http://www.cisco.com/techsupport
Copyright (c) 2009 by cisco Systems, Inc.

Upgrade ROMMON currently running
Upgrade ROMMON is selected for next boot
rommon 3 > IP_ADDRESS=1.1.1.2
rommon 4 > IP_SUBNET_MASK=255.255.255.252
rommon 5 > DEFAULT_GATEWAY=1.1.1.1
rommon 6 > TFTP_SERVER=1.1.1.1
rommon 7 > TFTP_FILE=c2800nm-advsecurityk9-mz.124-22.YB2.bin
rommon 8 > TFTP_VERBOSE=2
rommon 9 > FE_PORT=0
rommon 10 > TFTP_CHECKSUM=1
rommon 11 > tftpdnld

          IP_ADDRESS: 1.1.1.2
      IP_SUBNET_MASK: 255.255.255.252
     DEFAULT_GATEWAY: 1.1.1.1
         TFTP_SERVER: 1.1.1.1
           TFTP_FILE: c2800nm-advsecurityk9-mz.124-22.YB2.bin
        TFTP_VERBOSE: Verbose
    TFTP_RETRY_COUNT: 18
        TFTP_TIMEOUT: 7200
       TFTP_CHECKSUM: Yes
Missing MAC address for variable TFTP_MACADDR
        TFTP_MACADDR: 00:26:cb:78:af:90
             FE_PORT: Fast Ethernet 0
       FE_SPEED_MODE: Auto

Invoke this command for disaster recovery only.
WARNING: all existing data in all partitions on flash: will be lost!
Do you wish to continue? y/n:  [n]:  y

Performing tftpdnld over interface FastEthernet0/0
Initializing interface.
Interface link state up.
ARPing for 1.1.1.1
ARPing for 1.1.1.1
ARP reply for 1.1.1.1 received.  MAC address 00:15:c5:4e:c1:75.
Receiving c2800nm-advsecurityk9-mz.124-22.YB2.bin from 1.1.1.1 !!!!!!.
ARPing for 1.1.1.1
ARP reply for 1.1.1.1 received.  MAC address 00:15:c5:4e:c1:75!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<cut>
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
File reception completed.
Validating checksum.
Copying file c2800nm-advsecurityk9-mz.124-22.YB2.bin to flash:.
program load complete, entry point: 0x8000f000, size: 0xcb80

Format: All system sectors written. OK...
Format: Operation completed successfully.

Format of flash: complete
program load complete, entry point: 0x8000f000, size: 0xcb80

rommon 19 > reset
c2811 platform with 262144 Kbytes of main memory
Main memory is configured to 64 bit mode with ECC enabled

Upgrade ROMMON initialized
program load complete, entry point: 0x8000f000, size: 0xcb80
program load complete, entry point: 0x8000f000, size: 0xcb80

program load complete, entry point: 0x8000f000, size: 0x247ebc4
Self decompressing the image : ##################### [OK]

Last night I almost turn my study table upside down due to boredom. It feels like it’s not moving anywhere. But I try to keep moving on with few labs every day. Rather than hit it in one go for 4 hours during the night, I’ll try to do whatever I can where my brain still functioning properly. During the morning before work probably 1 or 2 labs and night after work for another 1 or 2 labs. Those little amount of time make up all of those labs for IEWB Vol1 EIGRP. I just finished it.

Moving on to OSPF…

I’m actually countering my dissapointment to INE with good product updates they recently released.

First of all, I’m studying for CCIE R&S v4.0. Therefore, I need to have materials that specifically design for v4.0.

Looking to the WB1 I have from INE, I was quite surprised to know that INE updated the WB with additional Cisco IOS Optimized Edge Routing Configuration Guide, Release 12.4T. This is great!

I also noticed that in my account INE updated my CoD with newer version of R&S Advanced Technologies 5-Day Class-on-Demand v4.5. Anthony is teaching and he sounds like a circus announcer. Don’t get mad Anthony!

This is actually a very good thing to keep me awake while listen and watching CoD. The quality of the CoD I cannot really say as I haven’t watching it from day 1 to day 5.

Also, some bonuses from Brian Dennis for previous version of CoD. INe puts 4 parts of MPLS and 1 part of Zone-based FW.

Thank you INE, keep improving!