I got my results this morning. I passed the CCIE Service-Provider lab exam I took in RTP, first attempt on the dreaded Friday the 13th of August! (I’m not superstitious, that stuff is for the special kind).
I’ve had overwhelming support from family and friends. HUGE THANKS!!
The last 4 months was without a doubt the most difficult time I have ever experienced. Initially the time frame looked good, and my schedule was nicely packed with some study leave. But then life happens. Changing jobs in July (no more study leave), a very demanding 3rd baby, my boys getting sick a couple times, and all this while my wife was working and running the house.
My wife has been unbelievable, juggling work and house stuff in my absence. Without her support this would not have been possible. Okay I’m not getting soppy. There are many guys in similar positions that needs encouragement.
It is with great pleasure, pride and excitement that I am typing this, despite the painful agony of waiting a whole weekend for the result.
(My advice, NEVER do your lab on a Friday)
On Friday the 17th April, I passed the R&S Lab Exam on my 1st attempt with the Cisco Mobile-Lab in Bryanston SA.
It was an experience unlike anything I have had before, the build-up, the exam, the agony of waiting, then the result and now the afterglow.
My biggest fear was the possibility of becoming a statistic that most candidates only pass on the 2nd /3rd attempt.
But despite the natural fear and anxiety, Friday belonged to me, it was my day to earn my number:
#24163
Now that I have taken the LAB, I can really share my comments and views regarding the structure/experience.
Ever wondered who the kings of the CCIE Mountain in Cisco Land are?
To achieve 3 CCIE’s is a remarkable achievement. Although there are a handful of Quadruple CCIE , I would like to mention the following four. Let me know if you would add another and the reason.
Scott Morris – is very well known, not only for his training abilities, but also for his uber lab and his extraordinary resume. He recently joined the power house of CCIE training, Internetwork Expert. In addition to being a QUAD CCIE, Scott also holds CISSP, 2x JNCIE, and since December 2009, a CCDE. The only thing left for Scott is the Cisco Architect.
Marius Holmsen – distinguished himself by being the first person to acquire 3 CCIE certifications in one year.
Petr Lapukhov – one of the few to acquire 4 CCIE certifications in less than 2 years, at intervals of 5/6 months.
Brian Dennis – is definitely one of the top CCIE’s in my humble opinion. Besides having acquired 5 CCIE certifications, he has been a CCIE for more than 10 years. Brian is very well-known for his brilliant ability to explain the most complicated technologies. When Brian talks, it’s just pure knowledge and experience!
Tom Glennon – Was the second person to acquire 5 CCIE certifications.
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Sextuple CCIE’s (The Dukes of the CCIE Mountain)
4110
Michael Purcell
R&S, ISP-Dial, SNA-IP, Security, SP, Voice
4699
Noritaka Tamehisa
R&S, Security, SP, Voice, Storage,Wifi
5531
Michael Crane
R&S, Security, SP, Voice, Storage, DC
7927
Roman Rodichev
R&S, Security, Voice, Storage, SP, Wifi
14533
Matthew White
R&S, Security, SP, Voice, Storage, Wifi
Michael Purcell was the first person to acquire 6 CCIE certifications on the older tracks.
Roman Rodichev passed his 6th CCIE on the 28 July 2009 making him only the second person to have 6. HUGE achievement, for someone who is not even 30 yet.
Noritaka Tamehisa prefers doing a new CCIE track to re-certify, since the drake is apparently just to easy!
Michael Crane has done 68 Cisco certification since 1996 to get to this point, talk about commitment!
Matthew White did 6 CCIE’s in less than 5 years!
Septuple CCIE’s (The King of the CCIE Mountain)
10044
Neil Moore
R&S, Security, SP, Voice, Storage, Wifi , DC
Niel Moore is the first person to obtain 7 different CCIE’s. This is remarkable. Well done indeed!!
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I would also like to mention the following CCIE’s :
Stuart Biggs – The creator of what most strive to obtain, deserves the necessary credit due to him.
Terence Slattery – The Alpha CCIE.
Jerzy Sliwinski – Has the coolest CCIE number.
Narbik Kocharians – passed his security CCIE 21 days after passing his R&S CCIE. No matter how you look at that, that is impressive!
NOTE: This post was originally created in 2008. I have not been actively updating it unless someone with the relevant missing info contacted me. I am sure there are CCIE’s missing on this list today. If you are or know of a quintuple/sextuple, please feel free to contact me.
I came accross this old article, and found it quite inspiring.
Brad Wright was the new CCIE program manager who tasked Cisco senior customer engineer – Stuart Biggs- to write up the CCIE test and assemble the gear for the CCIE test lab.
Cisco didn’t have switches at the time, so the lab gear consisted of AGS, AGS+ and MGS routers.
The first lab was assigned the first number, CCIE # 1024, and originally they placed a plaque with that number on the lab room door. They have since moved it to bldg K – ground floor by the lifts.
Stuart Biggs was awarded the second number, CCIE # 1025, because afterall, Stuart created both the CCIE written test and the CCIE lab test.
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So who really was the very first Cisco CCIE in history?
Terry was helping lead Cisco CLI development and training as a consultant to Cisco in 1993 when he first heard about the CCIE program and inquired about participating.
Brad Wright (the CCIE program manager) told Terry what he needed to do.
So Terry quickly re-worked his schedule, took the written CCIE qualification test, attended the Cisco troubleshooting class and setup a time for the hands-on test, all within two weeks.
In those days, the hands-on test lasted two days. One day of build-it and one day of fix-it after they break it.
Terry passed the hands-on test, designing and building the network in one day, then fixing the things that Stuart Biggs (the lab test creator) broke in just over half a day.
Terry was awarded the third number, CCIE # 1026, in August 1993, the first non-Cisco person to achieve the CCIE and the first person to pass both the written CCIE test as well as the hands-on CCIE lab test, making Terry Slattery the first real CCIE.
A bunch of Cisco employees soon followed and many of them are still working at Cisco. Apparently five of the first ten CCIEs worked in the same building at Cisco.
Routing-Bits 