CCIE Enterprise: How to Study SD-Access Without Breaking The Bank

Summary

The video discusses a Cisco webinar about the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab exam, focusing on building and studying lab environments. It highlights the high hardware requirements for software-defined access (SDA) and provides cost-effective alternatives for preparation. The presenter recommends resources like Tim McConaughey's workbooks, Lab Minutes' free videos, and Kbits.live subscription for extensive SDA content. For hands-on practice, DevNet's DNA Center sandbox is suggested. The video aims to help candidates prepare affordably, without investing in expensive hardware, and invites viewers to share additional resources or feedback.

Takeaways

• 📅 Cisco hosted a webinar on building your own lab for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab Exam on April 8th, 2021.
• 💻 Hardware requirements for the lab are quite high, with the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) needing 8 CPUs and 64GB RAM, and the DNA Center requiring 88 virtual CPUs and 256GB RAM.
• 🖥️ Emulating Catalyst 9000 series switches is not possible, so physical switches are necessary, which are expensive for personal labs.
• 💵 SDA (Software-Defined Access) constitutes 12-15% of the exam but is the most costly component due to hardware requirements.
• 📚 Tim McConaughey's Leanpub books are recommended for learning SDA underlay configuration, costing $19 for the full bundle.
• 🎥 Lab Minutes offers free videos on SDA fundamentals, providing a cost-effective way to learn about DNA Center.
• 📺 KBits.live offers a $100 yearly subscription with extensive videos on SDA and SD-WAN, providing in-depth training.
• 🔧 Cisco DevNet Sandbox provides free, hands-on access to DNA Center for clicking around and basic interactions.
• 🤔 For those with access to necessary hardware through work or other means, the video may not be as useful.
• 💡 The video suggests a budget-friendly approach to studying SDA: using Leanpub books, Lab Minutes videos, KBits.live subscription, and DevNet Sandbox access, totaling around $140.

Q & A

What was the primary focus of the Cisco CCIE webinar mentioned in the transcript?

The primary focus of the Cisco CCIE webinar was on building your own lab and beyond, specifically for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab exam.

What were some of the hardware requirements discussed for software-defined access (SDA)?

The hardware requirements discussed included the Identity Services Engine (ISE) with 8 CPUs and 64 GB of RAM, and the DNA Center appliance with 88 virtual CPUs and 256 GB of RAM.

Why are Catalyst 9000 switches necessary for the SDA part of the lab?

Catalyst 9000 switches are necessary for the SDA part of the lab because there are no images available to emulate these switches, and DNA Center virtualization is not officially supported.

What percentage of the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab exam does SDA cover?

SDA covers approximately 12 to 15% of the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab exam.

What are some resources recommended for studying SDA on the CCIE lab exam?

Recommended resources include Tim McConaughey's books on SDA underlay configuration, Lab Minutes videos on SDA fundamentals, and KBits.live's subscription plan for comprehensive video courses.

What is the cost of the Leanpub bundles by Tim McConaughey for studying SDA?

The cost of the Leanpub bundles by Tim McConaughey for studying SDA is $19 for the full bundle.

What does the Lab Minutes video series offer for free?

The Lab Minutes video series offers free videos on SDA fundamentals, which can be watched without creating an account.

What is the annual subscription cost for KBits.live and what does it include?

The annual subscription cost for KBits.live is $100, and it includes a course on implementing SDA as well as numerous other videos, including those on SD-WAN.

What alternative to physical lab setup does the transcript mention for hands-on practice?

The transcript mentions the DevNet Sandbox for hands-on practice, where users can access the always-on sandbox to click around and explore DNA Center.

Why might someone prefer using the recommended resources over setting up a full physical lab?

Someone might prefer using the recommended resources over setting up a full physical lab due to the high cost and resource requirements of purchasing hardware like Catalyst 9000 switches and DNA Center appliances, making the recommended resources a more affordable and practical option.

Outlines

00:00

🖥️ Overview of the CCIE Webinar on Enterprise Infrastructure Lab

The speaker discusses a recent Cisco webinar focused on building your own lab for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab exam. The webinar, which is recommended for exam candidates, covered various topics, including hardware requirements and software-defined access (SDA). The blog post linked in the video contains screenshots and detailed insights from the webinar.

05:01

🔧 Detailed Hardware Requirements and Challenges

A significant point of discussion was the hardware requirements for setting up a lab, particularly for SDA. The Identity Services Engine (ISE) requires 8 CPUs and 64 GB of RAM, while the DNA Center appliance demands 88 virtual CPUs and 256 GB of RAM. Non-virtualized parts of the lab need SDA switches, as there are no emulation images for Catalyst 9000s. This makes the lab setup quite expensive, especially for personal use.

💸 The Cost Implications of SDA in the CCIE Exam

SDA constitutes only about 12-15% of the CCIE exam but is notably more expensive to set up compared to other components. Cisco has mentioned possible rack rentals and digital solutions in the future, but current options remain costly. The speaker aims to present more affordable resources for studying SDA.

📚 Recommended Resources for SDA Underlay Configuration

Tim McConaughey's LeanPub books are highlighted as valuable resources for SDA underlay configuration. His bundles, priced at $19 each, provide comprehensive guides and workbooks on the subject. These books cover the entire SDA underlay configuration and are considered affordable compared to other available materials.

🎥 Video Resources for Learning DNA Center

LabMinutes offers free videos on SDA fundamentals, which are useful for understanding the product in use. Kbits.live provides a more extensive collection of videos, including an SDA course, for an annual subscription of $100. This subscription offers hours of video content, including SD-WAN and SDA portions of the lab.

🔍 Exploring Free Hands-On Labs with DevNet Sandboxes

DevNet's always-on sandbox for DNA Center allows users to click around and familiarize themselves with the interface for free. While it doesn't allow full lab setups, it's a useful tool for understanding the product's basics. This, combined with other resources, provides a good preparation strategy for the SDA portion of the exam.

💡 Combining Resources for Effective SDA Study

The speaker summarizes a plan involving Tim McConaughey's books, LabMinutes videos, Kbits.live subscription, and DevNet sandboxes to prepare for the SDA portion of the CCIE exam. This approach aims to balance affordability and comprehensiveness, totaling around $140. The speaker acknowledges that a full lab setup would be ideal but highlights this plan as a cost-effective alternative.

📝 Final Thoughts and Additional Recommendations

The speaker reiterates the effectiveness of the proposed study plan and invites viewers to share their feedback and additional resources. They mention CBT Nuggets as another option for SDA courses but prefer LabMinutes and Kbits.live for their cost-effectiveness. The speaker encourages comments and discussion to improve the study plan.

Keywords

💡CCIE

CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) is a prestigious certification for network engineers offered by Cisco. The video discusses resources and strategies for preparing for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure lab exam, emphasizing the importance of this certification for advancing in the field of network engineering.

💡Enterprise Infrastructure

Enterprise Infrastructure refers to the large-scale network infrastructure used by organizations to support their operations. In the video, the focus is on preparing for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure lab exam, which tests knowledge and skills related to managing and troubleshooting such infrastructures.

💡Software-Defined Access (SDA)

Software-Defined Access (SDA) is a network architecture that automates and secures access to network resources. The video highlights SDA as a significant but costly component of the CCIE exam, discussing its hardware requirements and the challenges of setting up a lab environment for it.

💡Identity Services Engine (ISE)

The Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a Cisco product that provides identity management and policy enforcement. The video mentions the high resource requirements for running ISE in a lab environment, highlighting it as a critical component for SDA.

💡DNA Center

Cisco DNA Center is a network management and control platform that helps with automation and security policies. The video points out the significant hardware requirements for running a virtualized DNA Center, making it a challenging but essential part of the SDA lab setup.

💡Catalyst 9000

Catalyst 9000 is a series of Cisco switches designed for SDA and other modern network applications. The video discusses the need for physical Catalyst 9000 switches in the lab since virtual images are not available, adding to the cost and complexity of setting up an SDA lab.

💡Lab Minutes

Lab Minutes is a resource offering video tutorials on various networking topics. The video recommends Lab Minutes for free and accessible video tutorials on SDA fundamentals, positioning it as a cost-effective way to prepare for the CCIE exam.

💡LeanPub

LeanPub is a platform where authors can publish and sell books and courses. The video highlights Tim McConaughey's books on SDA available on LeanPub, recommending them as affordable and comprehensive resources for understanding SDA underlay configuration.

💡Tim McConaughey

Tim McConaughey is an author known for his books on SDA. The video promotes his books on LeanPub as valuable resources for preparing for the CCIE exam, specifically for learning SDA underlay configuration.

💡DevNet Sandbox

DevNet Sandbox is a Cisco platform offering free, pre-configured environments for learning and experimenting with Cisco technologies. The video suggests using the always-on DNA Center sandbox to gain hands-on experience with SDA, despite its limitations in providing a full lab setup.

Highlights

Cisco organized a webinar called 'Build Your Own Lab and Beyond' for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab exam.

The webinar is recommended for those preparing for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Lab exam.

A blog post with screenshots from the webinar was created to summarize key points.

Hardware requirements for the lab are substantial, especially for the DNA Center Appliance with 88 virtual CPUs and 256 GB of RAM.

Software-Defined Access (SDA) requires physical switches due to the lack of available images to emulate Catalyst 9000s.

DNA Center virtualization is not officially supported and requires significant resources to run.

SDA accounts for only 12-15% of the exam but is disproportionately expensive compared to other components.

Cisco may offer rack rentals in the future, but details and costs are unknown.

Cisco is researching ways to make the lab experience digital, but the timeline is uncertain.

The presenter suggests affordable resources for studying SDA for the CCIE lab exam.

Tim Mcconaughey's books on SDA underlay are recommended for understanding the underlay configuration.

Lab Minutes offers free videos on SDA fundamentals.

Kbits.live provides a subscription plan with comprehensive videos on implementing SDA.

DevNet offers free sandboxes, including an always-on option for hands-on experience with DNA Center.

The total cost of the suggested study plan is around $140, which is significantly less than the full lab setup.

The presenter acknowledges that while the suggested plan is cost-effective, it may not fully replace the experience of a complete lab setup.

CBT Nuggets also offers an SDA course, but it is more expensive and not included in the cost-effective plan.

Transcripts

hey everyone

so yesterday cisco put on a ccie

webinar for the enterprise

infrastructure lab

and it was called you know build your

own lab and beyond

um it was a good webinar and i do

recommend watching it especially if

you're going for the ccie

enterprise infrastructure lab exam but i

put together this blog post and i'll put

it in the description

and in this blog post i took a lot of

screenshots

and one of the most um

i would say contentious you know points

maybe the point that brought up the most

discussion

was hardware requirements

and what specifically is going on with

software-defined access

so you could see in these hardware

requirements here

um ice the identity services engine

is eight cpus and 64 gig of ram

which is pretty hefty and then to dwarf

that

we actually have the dna center

appliance which is

88 virtual cpus and 256 gig of ram

holy cow right so to make things even

worse

um if we scroll down further

you could see the non-virtualized part

of the lab now consists of

sda switches because there's no images

available to emulate the

cat catalyst 9000s and then also dna

center

virtualization is not officially

supported and it requires huge resources

to run which we

just saw for the sda

part here you could see that

you know it must be physical like i just

said

and then here are the different switch

options

but you know these cat 9k switches

are really expensive um

not necessarily i mean for your business

but for your personal lab these are

crazy you're not just going to pick up a

couple

couple off ebay for 20 bucks um

so the the point here is that

sda it's only probably about 12 to 15

of the exam but it is way more expensive

than anything else in the entire you

know blueprint

so cisco has kind of said you know maybe

they'll do some rack rentals but who

knows when that's going to come out or

how expensive that'll be also internally

they're researching ways to make this

all digital

but you know again who knows how long

that's going to be

so today april 8th

2021 i want to show you what i consider

to be the best

and most importantly most affordable

resources there are

to la well let's say lab but we're good

to study

sda to use um on the ccie lab exam

so in the the webinar

one of the things he said was that we

will need to know

the underlay configuration you know it's

going to be very important

so the best way i think

and if you go on lean pub again i'll put

this in the description

from tim mcconaughey he has

four books on the sda

underlay now the first book is the lisp

vxlan basic workbook and then there's

the solutions guide and then the

expanded word book and the expanded

solutions guide

uh there's two bundles for them so i'm

just going to click in you know one of

the bundles

just so you can kind of see the price

and it's 19

for the full bundle right so you get

both the bundles

this will go over basically the entire

sda underlay configuration

um i think well worth it you know i

don't i don't know of anywhere else that

kind of has this

for this price especially because

there's not a lot of workbooks out there

for the ccie enterprise you know

to be fair so again i will put

tim's lean pub page in the description

and you can scroll down and you can grab

both bundles

now for the actual dna center

part of it um let's take a look at

videos

so the the absolute cheapest way

would be to come in here to lab minutes

and you can see this is the first video

in the series which is sda fundamentals

part one

and you can download the video for 17 or

you can just watch it right so this is

free

there's no account i'm not logged in or

anything you can see up here there's no

login or anything like that

it's just free and on the rest of his

page

um i didn't mean to open him in a new

window but regardless

you could you know come in here to

videos

again i'll link this below and you can

see all these sda videos um and there's

three pages worth of it so again

free great way to actually see the

product in use

the other videos would be

um kbits.live so

he has a subscription plan that's a

hundred dollars for the whole

year and in this

you have this implementing sda course

this

is hours of video of core going through

all of this dna center stuff

i mean this is a lot of video so

more expensive than the free one

obviously from lab minutes

but the reason why i wanted to bring

this up because in this

there's tons of other videos obviously

including

sd-wan so if you're looking to

tackle the sd-wan and sd access

portion of the lab for a hundred bucks

to have a year you know

a yearly subscription and get all these

videos

feels like it's worth it all right so

now we're at a hundred bucks

plus you know maybe forty dollars for

tim's books

we're at 140 bucks not too bad

now the only thing i'm missing is that

i'm not

actually getting hands-on so

for free

it's if you go to devnet search for dna

center

click on sandbox you'll see there are a

few sandboxes including the always-on

sandbox

so i just happen to be in it right now

um it requires no reservation

you could pop in and at least click

around

again this doesn't really fix

all the problems of i'm not going to be

able to provision you know a fabric

myself

i'm not really setting up a lab myself

you know whatever

but considering that this is only 12

of the exam maybe 15 of the exam

i feel like this is going to be okay

um doing tim's workbook for the

underlays

watching the videos and then getting

actually in here to like click around

i feel like you're gonna get mostly

there

now would i rather have a appliance with

the switches and be able to do it all

myself

there's no question so if you have that

in your environment or you use it at

work

then this video is going to be useless

for you just go ahead and do that

but if you're someone like me who's

staring down

you know oh gotta buy these switches for

thousands of dollars

i gotta get these ridiculous hardware

resources for

again more thousands and thousands of

dollars i feel like spending a hundred

and forty dollars here

and then maybe the 1600 bucks on a lab

lab exam attempt really is not that bad

compared to how much money you would

have to spend to

actually lab it fully um

i i think this is a pretty good plan um

again this is

in april so if if you're watching this

video in december

of 2022 or something

and cisco has come out with a

virtualized dna center that works in

your esxi or even g

you know whatever again as of today

this is in my opinion the best way to

study software to find access

i will put all of these links in the

video description

if you know of more stuff or a better

way to learn it

please let me know i guess i shouldn't

say before i

uh sign off if you are a cbt nuggets

member

cbt nuggets does have an sda course i

didn't put them in this video because

quite frankly k bits is cheaper and

uh lab bit lab minutes is also cheaper

and i just

also trust both those things um no

offense to cbt they're actually great

and the guy who does the

sd access course is fantastic um just

for the price point

i think this is is really you know my

plan is going to get you there

cheaper so again please leave any

comments

um questions discussion points below i

look forward to your feedback and thanks

for watching this video we'll see on the

next one