Study Tip: Gathering Configurations

I am fond of checking Cisco website and other blogs. Whenever I come across a configuration I am interested whether its something familiar or unfamiliar, I copy that config, save it on a notepad. Though I might not understand some of the configuration files I gather, I find time researching what those config lines mean, try it in Dynamips and read more about it.

If you work doing network configuration changes, doing configs line by line will really get in your nerves. One best practice is to prepare yourself a template config per technology or per setup and save this in a notepad. Network configs in an enterprise environment usually have standard format so this will really save time and you can use time reviewing the config you prepared using the template. In the future the configs you have gathered will surely come in handy.

Study Tip: Audio Recordings

I take 2 trains and the company bus going to work each day so I spend around 1.5 to 2 hours travel from my house to my work vice-versa. It's really a waste of time just standing there and looking at the scenery which I have been looking at everyday for almost 2 years. I need to study and make most of my time even when traveling, so what I did is record some of my Cisco notes in audio and convert it to mp3. With my cheap Creative Zen Stone mp3 player, I am able to review even in the train and I am amazed how effective this is for core knowledge. I'll bet if you do this you will even laugh listening at your own voice. An audio class from a reputable vendor is also a great way to study if you don't have time to record your own notes. Listening to audio notes will become one of my daily habits.