Lethe's Ccielogs

Hello all, as it is my costume this will be a long post, so if you’re like me and too lazy to read everything here’s the short version, this morning I’ve passed Exam 642-845 “Optimizing Converge Cisco Networks” or if you prefer ONT with a score of 965.

Ok if you’ve read so far it means you want to read more, wise decision let me thank you about this. First of I’m sorry if I’m kinda disappeared, I’ve been answering to mails and RHCE Mailing List questions but that’s it, this is mainly due to the fact that the wheel of my life keeps turning in the wrong direction and I’m still trying to come to pacts with this… I survive, I smile but yet I can’t accept. Ok enough whining don’t want to bore you more than this.

Going back to topic, as I’ve already written today I’ve sit and successfully pass my ONT exam which was the last in my CCNP certification track. I think this is an important goal both in my personal and in my professional life of which I’m really proud of as it took a lot of effort (yeah real sweat, effort, time, sleepless nights and MONEY to setup a complete CCNP/CCVP almost CCIE rack) and I’m sure it brought my professional skills to the next level specially if you think that I knew very little about the networking architectures (well actually nothing more of what MS teaches you and that you use as an MS Architect *cough* very little *cough*) and nothing and I mean absolutely NOTHING about the Cisco world and its caveats.

It took me one year (well to be exact 350 days) to complete the whole track from the CCNA level as I still remember sitting my CCNA exam July 25th back in the summer of 2008, I still remember how nervous I was then… Even after more than 60 exams successfully completed I was totally scared about Cisco stuff and well known simulations I knew I had to solve in the exam. Too much time? Too less? Yes we all know I’m not the smarter IT guy out there so maybe I took some time to complete all the required exams but please again consider I was a total 0 in the Cisco world and I wake up everyday at 5:30 AM in the morning, commute at least 3 hours a day to go work, work 10+ hours a day while trying to have a life and yes during this year I had a lot more exams in the middle (certification update to Windows 2008, Linux and much more stuff!) I don’t mind. I’m proud of myself for completing this even if life is hitting hard on me and I’m happy I had a lot of special people who helped me a lot in this (even if indirectly), you’re too many to name everyone but I want to say thank you to one for all, Gordon thanks a lot for all the information, support and kind words in my moments of down! To the rest (Andy, Charger, 13th… and many many more) THANK YOU GUYS you’re simply GREAT! Ok enough of emo

The exam was… EASY! I met and talked to a lot of people who said QoS and Voip stuff is difficult to grasp but, even if I know what’s covered in the ONT exam is just the tip of the iceberg, I’ve found it a fascinating and easy topic. The exam itself was not difficult at all, at least for me, as I’ve already stated I’ve studied all the material with great enthusiasm and more important of all no lot of SDM in this exam In all the track I’ve found ISCW being the hardest of all exams… all the topics in that exams are ok (I’m seriously considering doing MPLS exam) but I simply don’t like SDM, what I mean, I have a wonderful CLI there why use SDM eheheh

Most of the preparation was done with the CCNP Ont Certification guide but as I’ve already did in the past I’ve used other books (mainly QoS certification guide and Routing TCP/IP volumes I &II) to go deeper in some arguments that I felt weak in, I’ve solved a lot of doubts using Cisco’s website and a few other blog you can find around the net.

So what’s next? Well in November I’ll sit my RHCE exam (drool finally it is scheduled) so I think most of my time from now on will be spent on my RHCE lab but before that I need to spend some time with my GF (the Best Certified Girl Friend in the world!) as she’s been indirectly involved in this as well… so a special THANK YOU goes to her as well.

Anyhow I’m really interested in the CCVP track as well (wow voice is simply fantastic!) so probably I’ll side RHCE study with CCNA Voice study as well (I can easily do this… I think….) as I don’t want to waste all the work done in the Cisco world (plus I don’t want to waste all those FXS, FXO, Gatekeeper dusting in my lab). In the middle of this I’m going to complete the MCITP – Database Administrator certification as well as my company asked me to do it which I think it’s the easiest part of all this mess

Well it’s time to relax a little, I really need and think I deserve it. I’m sorry if I bored you with all this auto celebration but I’m so happy about this accomplishment that I feel the need to share it with you!

Best of luck with your professional life and, as a good forum mate always says, NEVER GIVE IN!

Lethe.

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Daniele Catanesi, aka Lethe, is the mind behing Lethe's Ccielogs. He is a veteran of the IT industry with more than ten years of experience in the various fields. Daniele has been mainly working as IT Architect and Trainer for a lot of Enteprise customers implementing cutting edge technologies and complex solutions. Daniele currently holds various certification among which MCITP, CCNP, LPI, Citrix and working tirelessly to his RHCE and RHCA. When he is not busy working or studying for the next exam he writes on the blog trying to give administrators and students around the world tips and suggestion to help them succeed in their career and job.