CCNP Switch, T-Shoot, and Linux Oh my!

The past three weeks have been busy for me. I have been studying for the CCNP Switch exam which I have scheduled in October. I started the CCNP T-Shoot class and the LPI Linux essentials class through the SCTE using cisco NetAcad. The T-Shoot class appears to be a really interesting class to say the least. One week in and I have already read the first 2 chapters. So far I have covered the different troubleshooting methodologies such as Top Down, Bottom up, Divide and Conquer, Follow the Path, compare configurations, and swap components approaches.

As I go over this information I find it quite interesting how I use a combination of these approaches during my daily job functionality at work. I have learned that using a structured approach makes troubleshooting easier for you and your colleagues as it allows for you to be able to analyze, diagnose, troubleshoot, and correct problems and should you have to pass the case to a co-worker, they are able to pick up where you left off because of documentation and best practices.

In reviewing the class further, the labs seem to be challenging. The first lab, which is in the 3^rd chapter, deals with baselining a full computer network as if you were a new employee learning an existing network. The subsequent labs focus on certain scenarios and you have to work through trouble tickets. Oddly enough, this is what I do daily so working trouble tickets aren’t that bad. To make my life easier for the labs, I set up an osTicket server on home network. osTicket is an open source trouble ticketing system.

This system allows for you to have a help desk environment used for supporting customers, employees or other entities. The software can be hosted on osTickets’s side for a fee or you can host it yourself, which is what I opted to do for the T-Shoot labs. I plan on using the osTicket software as the ticketing system for the labs. This will allow me to be able to go ahead and track the tickets from beginning to the end, simulating real world scenarios which the T-shoot class is teaching.

Other than the T-Shoot class, I started the Linux essentials class. This class appears to be interesting and will allow me to build upon the basic Linux knowledge I have accumulated over the years. The class seems to be focused on giving users a detailed overview of what Linux is, how it became Linux, and building Linux fundamentals for those who haven’t used Linux that much.

I have about 10 years of Linux experience, and I have taken multiple Linux classes and each class I take I wind up learning new material and refreshing material that I don’t often use. I think this will be beneficial for me so that I can build a solid foundation for Linux and to help me move up to higher level topics.

All in all I have been impressed with what I have accomplished over the past three weeks. I foresee my time being limited as I am working full time, studying for the CCNP Switch exam and taking two new classes to better myself. I hope to take all the lessons learnt over from these experiences and put them to work for me as it feels good to be able to use what I have learned and it make me feel accomplished. For now, I must get going. Good day.