My tale started at the same starting point as Shailen's, obtaining the CCNP certification as a preparation for the CCIE.  I went a step further and decided to also get the CCDP certification as a step in the direction of the 350-001.

I achieved CCNP status in April 01 and CCDP status in June 01.  Reading a lot of other people's experiences on the web I also came to the conclusion that the combination of these two certification's was a good preperation for the CCIE R&S qualification exam.

After passing the CID I began to get my preparation library together.  I already bought Bruce Caslow's Bridges, Routers and Switches for CCIE's 2nd edition (reviews Amazon.com, Prentice Hall) earlier in the year to use as a quick reference when I was doing my job.

I extended this library with:

- Routing TCP/IP Volume 1 by Jeff Doyle (reviews Amazon.com, Cisco Press)

- Internet Routing Architectures 2nd edition by Sam Halabi (reviews Amazon.com, Cisco Press)

- Cisco LAN Switching by Kennedy Clark (reviews Amazon.com, Cisco Press)

- Routing TCP/IP Volume 2 by Jeff Doyle (reviews Amazon.com, Cisco Press)

- Token Ring White Paper by Lou Rossi Sr. (Token Ring)

- Internetwork Design Guide from Cisco.com (Internetwork Design Guide)

- CCIE Practical studies volume 1 by Karl Solie (reviews Amazon.com, Cisco Press)

- CCIE Practical studies volume 2by Karl Solie & Leah Lynch (reviews Amazon.com, Cisco Press)

 As you might notice it's mostly the recommended reading list from the Cisco website.

What I also would like to mention is the fact that these books are easier to read and give much more information then the CCNP books (except for Halabi, which I found very technical).

I had booked the written exam for Friday 13th July 01 but due to personal circumstances (not because of the specific day :-)  ) I had to cancel it. I then started my new job at iVASP so study for the CCIE was not on the menu but more getting my head around Windows 2000, Checkpoint Firewalls and Citrix.  I concentrated on the MCSE accelerated exam to obtain my MCSE Win2k in which I succeeded. And then the quest was put on hold... My contract jobs did not gave me enough exposure to get studying again and in a way it was good to let it rest of while.

When Cisco announced the beta exam for the new written I booked it but I did not pass... I found it very fair exam and was not that disappointed not having passed it. Now that I found role that involves working with Cisco kit again the quest is on and have extended my library with those last 2 additions on my list.

I also started to build my own CCIE lab. So the quest for the famous number is on again…

To be continued .......