Mastering the CCIE Routing and Switching (R&S) Lab Exam: Essential Knowledge

The CCIE Routing and Switching (R&S) Lab Exam is an 8-hour, hands-on examination that tests a candidate's ability to configure and troubleshoot complex networks according to given specifications. In this CCIE R&S lab exam, troubleshooting skills are paramount, as candidates must diagnose and resolve various issues presented during the exam. Candidates are responsible for configuring not only end-user systems but also all devices within the network.

CCIE R&S Lab Exam Format

The 8-hour lab exam consists of three modules that must be completed in the following progression:

Module 1: Troubleshooting

The Troubleshooting module presents independent incidents that require resolution. The topology used in this module differs from the ones used in the Configuration module. This module lasts 2 hours, but candidates can borrow up to 30 minutes from the Configuration module if needed. Conversely, any unused time from the Troubleshooting module is added to the Configuration module's time, ensuring a total lab exam time of 8 hours.

Module 2: Diagnostic

The new Diagnostic module focuses on the skills required to properly diagnose network issues without direct access to devices. Candidates are provided with documentation representing a realistic scenario, simulating a network engineer's investigation process. The objective of this module is to assess the following skills:

- Analyzing
- Correlating: Discerning multiple sources of documentation, such as email threads, console outputs, logs, network topology diagrams, and traffic captures.

These activities are part of overall troubleshooting skills but are evaluated separately due to the different format of the items compared to the Troubleshooting module, where candidates troubleshoot and resolve issues on actual devices.

Module 3: Configuration

The Configuration module presents a setup similar to an actual production network with various security components providing multiple layers of security at different points. While primarily based on virtual instances of Cisco appliances, candidates may also work with physical devices. At the beginning of the module, candidates are given full visibility of the entire module and can choose to resolve items in the presented sequence or in a preferred logical order.

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