Summertime and the livings...(it's hot),

Summer is here and it is hot in Florida, school is out and the kids are home and time is ticking by day by day. Studies have been a mute point for a few weeks. Checking the calendar and seeing when I have to get this done while suffering from a lack of desire brings me full circle again. So what have I been doing? I have purchased a few training aids for the iPad (videos), more flash cards and conformation on my Wireless LAN controller delivery was made. So I guess I have been studying but not as much as I need to or should while addressing health issues.

Two of the fields that continue to change and progress are Security and Wireless; tele-presence along with routing and switching keep getting new "tweaks" to them as well but with in the first two listed those fields are continuing to grow. As I have read recently that they are changing weekly with new approaches and vulnerabilities being found. So the desire is there - it is just buried a bit with a few other concerns. No worries though as all be be addressed and I shall fall into my slip stream and progress forward going onward and upward. Still liking the Cisco base of products compared to others but I am becoming more aware of the other vendors and there offerings. I was reading over an offering from Firetide today for MESH with wires. OK So the to get done list is as follows:

Two exams to take, CWNA and CCNA Wireless (maybe get my CWSP as well)
Place Dry erase board in bedroom with list of topics and chapters to drill into my personal knowledge base.
Keep the children busy so I can study as much as humanly possible
And keep my updates here updated...

One thing I am going to check into is developing better study habits. I have read over how the others are planning on going about there studies and they do seem like sound practices. I know that Rick, listens to the audio files while driving regarding the different topics and Darby, well I think he is just a learning machine. Hmmm, I wonder if I were to go to a hypnotist if favorable habits can be instilled in ones subconscious. Better yet, continue to have audio files playing in the back ground as our minds absorbs all f the events in our surroundings at all times.

Time to get at it and get back on the CWNP and CLN forums.

Running from the Theories

June 8, 2010 ~ JC.Bogard

Well what is there to say, except that when going into a different technology there are new theories to learn and it can get really truing at times. It would most likely be a lot faster in do if I were doing this at work or in library somewhere but I am not.

I read in another blog where someone had just achieved his second CCIE and it appears from my understanding of how things were worded that boredom affects us all when it comes to amassing all of the the theories in to our gray matter. Really good to know that.

I strayed back off into Cisco land again. I think it would be really great is CWNP.COM were to make/have training modules available for mobile devices. Little videos one can place on a device and listen to when ever they want or can make the time. One of the odd things is that while reading something it often appears to be nothing more than common since. Using "cheap" parts will result in a less than disable signal strength or the same with the gear one is using.

I truly like quality things and they are expensive. So in manning up to the plate it is back to the book and prepare for an early August test. No date in my mind yet but the sooner I know the details the better off I will be.

I downloaded nine training modules from The Cisco Learning Network and purchased two after I had see the depth of the freebies. The voice overs are difference and there appears to be a story lines of two people (employees) working together to learn about different technologies. That part of there conversation is really dry - boring is an understatement. On the free ones it was a persons voice going over the details and fact with the others there is a little idle conversations and the voices really turn me off BUT the purpose is not to enjoy them it is to learn from them.

I had been reading a new blog, in which that person just received his second CCIE and I was very fortunate that a friend of mine had given me some books with some really good reading material, some even cover IP Design for Mobile Networks (being that the title too) Thanks man (you know who you are).

My WLC and other APs were a bit delayed but I think they are en-route now, I am thinking this will help resolve the boring theory issues I was having - read about it try it out, understand it better then on to the next topic.

Regards,

JCB

Slacking 101 ~ what not to do

OK, so I can not use the APs I have to bridge a connection with one radio and use the other for providing/acting as an access point... why.. because there is only one radio per unit. Hence a new plan, 1 Access acts as a bridge... connections to switch where another APs is connected as well and located "deeper" with in deployment location on various floors (I have three I can work with/on). Use those APs to act as access points with in locations and signal is then carried back to switch and connection is bridged. This would appear to be a viable solution. The part of what not to do is... not act upon it. Think the idea though, write it out and see what are the points that may need additional thought/research.

First off I am thinking that the bridging AP should have a G enabled radio with in it for speed. Like most things it will only be as fast as it's slowest part, with that being said N would be the better choice but then I would have to upgrade the other location as well - not in the budget.

Doing this will get the lightly moss covered ball rolling again as it will peak interest in the how to & whys department once again. Human nature being what it is often times a situation to solve/tweak/deploy get the learning juices and the desire stepped up a good bit. There is something at hand that can be addressed, something to figure out and get the most out of.

On other fronts... eNews: Avaya-Cisco Battle Hotter than Ever

From NoJitter.com:

Avaya bought Nortel for one reason above all others: To capture Nortel's installed customer base. But if Allan Sulkin's on the mark with his first TEQConsult market numbers since the acquisition's closing, it looks like Avaya's going to have a much tougher time holding off Cisco than many might have thought.

Full story:
http://www.nojitter.com/blog/archives/2010/05/cisco_versus_av.html;jsessionid=PT0SWPU3Q0MUXQE1GHPCKH4ATMY32JVN

May 12, 2010 ~ JC. Bogard & I know some Winners

Some friends on mine have won... So I guess I know some Winners...

Pete won an iPad, grate study tool! Darby won more training material. Both of them have vouchers now too, very nice. Been slacking a bit on my posting as I try and study more and battle with the kids for time to get it all done. It comes down to this has to be done (learning that is) and of course they have to be tended too as well or else I will raise children that will/may be a burden... which I do not think is would be the case at all. They are pretty sharp... so on to a re post of my latest CWNP or Bust post:

May 12, 2010 ~ JC. Bogard

Studies… oh my. Trying to study can be a chore unto it self. Grasping the topics is one thing, having the time to do it is something all together different itself. I am on to chapter 4 and will have to continue to revisit the RF Math until it is 100% concrete in my mind. There is a lot of topics that appear to over lap from my Cisco reading which is good as some of them are more in-depth and you really can not know to much about a topic. On the mend with children & learning.

Some ideas have come to mind with the APs I was able to get my hands on. Using on radio to bridge a connection and the other to act as an access point or I could bridge one and use the other as a repeater. Planning on trying some of this out this evening and will post tomorrow on how it goes. Now I see that all of the spacing is correct in what I have written… will it appear that way after posting is yet to be seen.

Regards,

JCB

Off & Running ... again kinda

OK, today my Ipad arrived (loving it), writing this from it now. I ordered my exam voucher for the CWNA certification as well. Reading through chapter three of the CWNA book and was going over RF math. At first it came pretty ease until going into the formulas... Then. I was a bit lost of course it was very late and I thought better to sleep on it and take a stab at it in the morning. 10's & 3's ais very straight forward but I am going to master the formulas as well. The. Goal is to know it inside outa and no shortcuts will do.

Study plan has changed a bit, going to push through two chapters a week at a minimum and ensure Iam aware of all the term presented. There was a conference call a few a days ago for the CWNP or BUST group where we got to know each other better as well as each others study habits. I see where mine can use some tweaking...

This week is to read and understand the topics in chapters three and four. And to update a few of the links on this blog with information to comment to memory. I think it is easier to have everything in one location than several, we shall see how that goes. More to come as I press on.

Still no word from Cisco regarding my crashed exam... May just have to bite the bullet and payafull price for it again - I guess that they way it goes. So if you exam crashes n you ger up walk out advise them of it and have them get on the phone with person right away and ere schedule the exam ... That is what I am doing if / when it occurs again.

1st CWNP Posting

MY first CWNP Posting on my path to being a Wireless Engineer:

My Journey into the depths of understanding wireless and is underway, my books arrived Monday the 26th. I am about to take my IUWNE exam, I know there is more info to learn OK, I am not a writer nor was I a blogger before - so this is a new experience for me, here we go.

Once I learned I was one of the people selected for the CWNP or BUST my house was all excited. Having three children, two cats, a dog and a wife leads to some interesting study habits. Read it when you can; a standard answer is "Yes I am listing to you" while other topics are going throughyour mind. I read two chapter of the CWTS and the same with the CWNA, the combined four chapters I have read so far have been a much easier read than some of the other technical documentations I have read. I am planning on experimenting with 802.11n and b&g signals, doing some packets capturing to see how the beacons, probes and frames are affected. I have a neighborhood to play in so it will be interesting to test things out. While reading through the first two chapters of the CWTS I discovered some things that Iwas not aware of and having completed the first two chapters of the CWNA book the same is true. More technical postings will follow. I am just getting my feet wet so to say.

After having spoken with a few other people via email and on the phone, I am thinking that my study habits may need a little tweaking. I would rather go slower and retain more that rush through and not be able to recall as much.Thanks for reading and I am looking forward to the path before me.

Study gear is an Itouch for a mini sniffer to detect open networks and I am going to hunt around for other tools I can use on it. Laptops are an HPNX9600 and an Apple Mac Book Pro for sniffing, reading, digital flash cards,practice test questions, packet captures... OS are Win7 Pro, Win XP Pro, and Snow Leopard with a fare amount of Linux tools (that I really don't know how to use very well yet, but I will S00N™), There are a several older computers I can/will use to test connections and see about turning one or two of them in to rouge APs - an Ipad for reading/studies, connecting to AP's; going to see if there are tools I can install on it for a portable sniffer or Rouge AP as well... I have a couple out Netgear Wireless APs, Westell D90 AP, alot of routers and switches... no controllers (WLCs). Looking foreword to working with those Cisco 1200 AP's.

I noted several words that ran together after the post was sent to the BloG for posting... some how they did not show up before...very odd. Have to do a pre posting to ensure that does not occur again.

2 Chapters of CWTS down on to CWNA

Read two chapter of the CWTS this evening and tested on them - there are a few things I need to say about this. I found the material to be very easy to read. This may be due to by involvement with a group of guys on the Cisco Learning Network in part and that it was worded well. The topics are one I have seen in the past and a few were areas that were refreshed in my mind. The book was in a more logical manner than most I have read. Now on to a chapter of the CWNA, lets see if I am thinking the same way after it...

JCB

They have arrived!

They have arrived, my books are here in hand... Three of them to be exact: CWTS (Certified Wireless Technology Specialist), CWNA (Certified Wireless Network Administrator) & CWSP (Certified Wireless Security Professional).

The formulated plan, my plan that is: Read through the CWTS book first starting with the Glossary to ensure terms and meanings. Then on to the chapters. There are eleven chapters in the book; which I believe I should be able to get through with in two weeks and move on to the CWNA book reviewing the glossary of it and eight-teen chapters which I should be able to get through with in four weeks. Then review for exam prep along with the 802.11n video on CWNP.com. Use the practice test engines and set a test date. From that point I shall plan the studies of the CWSP.


Let the Reading begin.

Study Plans

Morning is here and plans need to be made. Study schedule, family time and maintaining a healthy balance between the two. I have taken notes and completed tasks with the topic of study, this appears to reinforce the learning process considerably. Having given thought to what is the best way to study a new topic. One of the chief concerns is being able to remember what you have read, reviewed or have been exposed to, I believe that treating it like an experiment may be best for me. Write out a process and follow through then review by either self testing or practice tests. Personally, I am fairly certain that a lot of the underlying foundation for Wireless will be route memorization, to understand how the end result is reached. To know what is being done to achive this goal. How the different standards are able to work together, how they affect each other and the overall environment.

Hoping that my books for the CWNA or Bust arrive today.

More to Come

Waiting

I am awaiting the arrival of several books. I am looking forward to this very much, I will have a deeper understanding of wireless, WiMax and most likely several other topics I am not yet aware of.

I am reviewing my CCNA Wireless (IUWNE) materials - I wonder, if an exam crashed on you then how sure can you be that it is all correct...

There is going to be a blog and RSS feed from MY80211.com and the tests for this were completed... as for the RSS that is being completed this week I believe. The information should show up on CWNP.COM as well. Time to sleep lots to read.