Cisco geeks out there?

Been after my boss for 3 years about Cisco Live.

 

I attempted the CCNA and failed miserably. I felt pretty good going in, lots of work with packet tracer, etc. But as it turns out I was ill prepared.

We use all Cisco hardware and management at work, so I would like to get the cert eventually.

 

I failed it first time in. I thought I could review the questions before finishing...nope. Hell I was 52 when I took it and that was the first test I had taken (other than the A+) in over 30 years. That math with the subnet stuff gets me. We got a go at work who can figure those things up in his head. He's such a geek.

They let me take it again 2 weeks later after I had been drillin' the prep test during all that time. Scored 1000 on it that time.

 

I have also failed my share of exams, as a VAR we have partner required ones that can be easy or super strange....

The bonus money from these certs in 2015 helped me pay off my new motorcycle

 

How did you get those expiration dates so far out?

Bonus money??? Gotta talk to my boss.

 

When you sign up for Cisco Live they will let you take a "free" exam, I passed CCNP Collab Part 2 just last week ( June 9th) so thats why I am good till 2022, but the NP tracks are all changing so I need to finish the last 2 exams before Feb 2020.

 

My GPEN exam is scheduled for the 24th. I went through the videos only first and got a 70% (74% passing) which is actually quite good because I didn't use any books or cheat sheets. I'm on day 4 currently (again) and have been indexing the books...they look like a unicorn shit all over the pages with the amount of color coded tabs I have . I'll take my second practice test the weekend before. Then if I pass, I'm looking at eCPPT and then beginning a journey to OSCP.

 

OSCP is serious business. Work harder! A lot of agencies will pay you big time to put those skills to use.

 

Oh...yeah..it's 2019. Hell getting old boys, don't let it happen.

 

Oh yeah, I've heard it's one of the hardest tests there is, I guess that's why they let you sleep during it! I've heard GPEN and eCPPT are good precursors so once those are done maybe another year or so after that and I can seriously consider giving up my social life and going full hermit on it. I have great respect for the people that have it.

 

Wow!! This brings back some memories. I used to chase the certs back in the day.

CCNA back in 2001 or 2002. CCNP a year later. MCSE I think in 2003 or so.

Loved Cisco networking and did it for 14 years for the Air Force as a civilian. LightStream ATM backbone, 5500's in the core, and whatever in the edge buildings.

We'd even stuck switches up in places with the magnets if we could get away with it (these are on my chest freezer at home).


Our rep was forever giving me shirts too. This is the only one I still have. My favorite one said "networking the warfighter" on the sleeve but it's long gone.




Freakin good times back then. Now I just want to retire.

 

ahem....

I too have been playing this game for a long time.

 

Bunch of nerds in here! I'm going back to the truck section to drool over lifts and tires and shit.

 

our nerdness pays for our lifts and tires and shit... Oh my. lol.

 

@groverdill

Haha... I knew I had one of those stashed somewhere.

 

that is awesome!

nt 4.0 and exchange 5.5

lol so so so long ago

 

No Cisco certs here, I work for Zoom Video Communications and we compete with the likes of Cisco and MSFT in the UCaaS space. Go Zoom!

 

Lol... Yeah, it's been quite a while. 4.0 and IIS for me.

I'll retire in a few years. Until then, I have to keep my Sec+ current

 

Those were great products, the MS Backoffice Suite was sweet.

 

My wife works for Cisco, web master.