Double CCIE

Everything that has a begining has an end.

It's over. It's finally over. I still can't believe it.
This morning I received the result of my CCIE lab that I took yesterday in Brussels and it's showing that I passed.
I made it. I finally passed CCIE Security. I can't believe it.

According to Cisco, as per January 1 2006 there are only around 700 guys who have passed more than 1 CCIE lab all around the world. There are less than 600 CCIE security. Only 400 who have CCIE in Routing & Switching and Security track. Most probably I'm the only double CCIE in Middle East.
This makes me feel good. Makes me feel really good! O yeah!

For couple of hours, I was totally uncontrolled. I was really happy.
Jumping around on my bed. I went to nice restaurant and ordered expensive food. I walked around Brussels city even it's 0 degree temperature.

Then, it's time for the classic question: what's next?
Double CCIE is good, but it's not enough.
I know I will never have any chance to setup complex network technology. Not as long as I stay with my current job.
So the only time I can deploy all the fancy stuff is when I learn CCIE.
This means next stop will be CCIE Service Provider.
Fortunately I still can use my current equipments.
But for now I need to sell some of them to get my financial status back into balance again.

So.. pix firewall, anyone?

Life Is Beautiful

Nine precious days that God gave me makes my life simple and cheerful.
Before I was planning to divide my time by 3: 8 hours for CCIE, 8 hours for my family and 8 hours for sleep. But looks like I would miss a lot of fun things in life with 8 hours sleep.
So now I sleep only 5 hours a day, just like before. Maintain the 8 hours to study for CCIE, and spend more time with my family.

I went to the beach several times. Wasting my tyme by lying on the white sand of Jumeirah beach for whole day is not wasted time at all. Playing with waves next to the most prestigous hotel Burj Al-Arab makes me feel alive.



My life is almost perfect.
I'm missing only one more thing: CCIE security.

I have changed the way of studying CCIE.
Before it was practice, practice and practice. Now it's practice, read CCO, and pray. I'm slowing down my speed but working on accuracy to answer lab questions. I'm trying any possibilities for Firewall, VPN and IDS configuration in any scenarios.
I'm spending more time to read CCO, technical tips, sample configuration, technology support and networkers presentation.

I dont' know if my new way will make me pass CCIE lab.
I still have 10 more days to find out.

Ready to Strike Back

30 days ago I failed my CCIE security lab in Brussels.
It took me 3 weeks to accept the fact.
I felt like I was well prepared, but obviously I'm mistaken.
Now it's not the time to discuss again why I failed.
It's time to prepare for my 2nd attempt.
If everything works as per the plan, I have only 17 days left to prepare.

Thanks God I have already got Schengen visa to enter Europe.
And this time, it's multiple entry for 3 months.
So even I'm not planning to take the lab several times, but at least if I screw up in my next attempt I can just book the ticket and go to the lab again without any needs to beg for visa from the embassy.

Due to the sad demise of Sheikh Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday, all government offices and universities will be closed until next Friday.
This gives me 9 days total without work.
Nine precious days.

During these 9 days, my 24 hours time is divided equally:
8 hours for CCIE
8 hours for my family
8 hours to sleep

Sounds good, eh?
Enough talking, more IPSEC please.