David Sudjiman

I’ve been waiting for this moment for more than one year. I actually registered my BSCI 641-801 on April 2005 yet I realized that my CCNA was obsolete. Well, I had to retake my CCNA and was going for another CCDA exam. Few days ago, 16 August 2006, I passed my BSCI 642-801 with 967/1000 score and here is the story behind it.

The Reading Materials

After I finished my CCNA and CCDA, I was starting to read CCNP BSCI Exam Certification Guide (CCNP Self-Study, 642-801), 3rd Edition (BSCI-ECG) as part of CCNP Certification Library, 3rd Edition bundle.

The book, as it says an exam certification guide, is meant for those who had BSCI preparation and wanted to go for exam. Therefore, this was not the book I actually want to read as I didn’t have BSCI preparation before. As I read throughout the book, it did not really cover much about BSCI material hence it was only ‘a summary’ reading to prepare for the exam. I recommend CCNP Self-Study: Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI), Second Ed rather than CCNP BSCI Exam Certification Guide (CCNP Self-Study, 642-801), 3rd Edition (BSCI-ECG).

The second book was CCNP Practical Studies: Routing (CCNP-PS:R). I bought this book as I didn’t have real-life working experience to cover all of BSCI lab. This book was alright. It shows you scenarios for each routing protocol and few redistribution examples.

I was using CNAP CCNP material as well. It was pretty good material with good style of explanation.

Since BSCI-ECG did not give enough knowledge about BSCI material, I had to browse for additional reading materials from Cisco Documentation

• Redistributing Routing Protocols
• OSPF Design Guide
• Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System Protocol
• Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

The Lab

I have been starting to build my own lab from last year to get better experience for doing the certification. There are AS2511-RJ for console router, 2522 Cisco Router for creating Frame Relay cloud, and 5 2503/2501 Cisco Routers. It worth the money when I could did my own scenarios.

Time Management

I did not work in IT-related area since I moved to Australia to study. I worked from 07.00 am to 03.00 pm and got home about 04.00 pm. I had to spend minimum 2-3 hours a day for study.

I started to read BSCI-ECG and CCNP-PS:R from around April 2006 while also doing several labs.

My first time expectation was that I could finish my BSCI within 1 month and I ended up with 4 months studying while some people could finish the whole 4 exams CCNP within 4 weeks. I believe they are just bloody geniuses

The Next Step

BCMSN, BCRAN, and CIT and I have to finish it before 31 December 2006 following this CCNP updates announcement from Cisco.

I’m going back to Indonesia for 6 weeks but will try to finish at least BCMSN while I am there. Cisco, you just ruin my Holiday!