Expanded BluePrint - Part 1
One of the ways I'm sorting through what I already know and what needs more attention is by using the exam blueprint from the Cisco site. If I already know and understand the topic, I will be putting down some pertinent points about it. If I don't, I will study/research the topic and then put down some pertinent points about it.
So - by its nature - these Blue Print posts (although related) will be sporadic and sprinkled throughout the list of posts. You are welcome to read/use these notes, but you should really make your own. They are an example to give you an idea of how you might use the Blue Print for your own studies.
Here's the beginning of the first topic:
1.0 Infrastructure, Connectivity, Communications, and Network Security 20%
First thing to note is that there are around 30 sub-topics under Topic 1. Out of 90-110 questions, there will be about 20% of your test on this topic. Remember this as you study. So if you were creating a question for this exam, what would you pick about these topics? Keep this in mind.
1.1 Network addressing basics
Good IPv4 subnet chart: http://masscommgroup.com/resources/ipv4-subnetting/
[Click to enlarge - still tiny but readable]
Another good post is by MeadIT (second post) on : subnetting in your head
[Two tables to memorize/use for subnetting]
Mainly this is just a matter of practice, practice, practice to be able to do these quickly and move to the next question. If you've taken the CCNA or CCNP exams - you will have encountered subnet questions. This is an Expert level exam. These questions will be different. I may not have taken the CCIE Security Written yet, but I have passed the CCIE R/S Written (multiple times) and this same topic was there and it was not like the CCNA or CCNP format. It will be integrated into a question on something else. It will be part of the difference between several choices in a configuration example - and knowing how to subnet will be the difference between the correct and incorrect answers. So you really have to know how to do this, but it won't be a straight-forward question.
1.2 OSI layers
There is no way a CCIE-level exam is going to ask you an easy question on the OSI layers. What you may find is that they may ask you about some relevant technology and ask which layer of the OSI model is involved. So this section is actually folded into all of the other sections. Remember that as you're reading about the types of firewalls or security technologies. If you understand the technology and what it does -and- you understand the layers of the OSI model, you should be able to figure it out. All People Seem To Need Data Processing.
1.3 TCP/UDP/IP protocols
Again, this is a basic concept. But, you may see this integrated into another technology’s question. Review your protocols – which ones normally use tcp and which ones normally use udp – and know your protocol IDs and numbers. You don’t have to memorize all of them, just know the ones for Section 3.0 (applications and infrastructure) and your routing protocols and security protocols. Expect that this will be imbedded in a question about another technology. Some of the choices can be weeded out in a route-map or ACL question just based on wrong protocol or protocol number.
Well, that's a good start. This should give you an idea to start with - and perhaps improve upon. Remember - the things that are already routine to me may be something you might want to delve into further. I make no claims of completeness for the materials on this site. It's just a documentation of my path and a way I am using to study. YMMV