How to use Cisco Documentation for CCIE

When you are studying for CCIE you will have to become familiar with the so-called “doc cd”. There is no such thing as a Cisco Documentation CD anymore, but that’s what most people still call it. Everything that you need can be found on the Cisco support site.

During the CCIE lab exam, you will have access to the “configure” section of the Cisco support site. This is the URL that you should save:

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/psa/configure.html

You will end up at the following screen:

Now the big question is…what can you use and more importantly, what is not available to use during the CCIE exam? Let’s start with the things that we can’t use during the lab exam:

The technology section has some very interesting FAQs, standards, design guides, white papers, and config examples but they are NOT available to us during the CCIE lab exam. Don’t ignore it however, this is great stuff as you are studying and preparing at home. Remember that it’s not available during the CCIE lab exam! So what can we use during the lab exam? Let me show you:

We will have access to the products section -> Cisco IOS -> Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4 Family -> Cisco IOS Software Releases 12.4 T. Once you click on it, you will see this screen:

Here you will find everything you need for all the protocols that are running on our routers. Things like OSPF, EIGRP, BGP and everything else. You will find the most interesting information in the Configuration Guides. If you click on it and scroll down, this is what you will find:

For example, you can see the configuration guides for BGP, EIGRP, OSPF, and RIP. If you click on them, you will find everything you need. You also might want to look at the Master Index if you are looking for one particular command. Go back to the 12.4T overview and click on “Software Downloads, Release and General Information”:

The Master Index is an overview of all available commands. It’s useful when you forgot about a certain command. You can use your web browser’s search function to look up commands.

If you want to look up something for your Cisco Catalyst 3560 switches, you can use the following section on the support website:

Just click on Products -> Switches -> Campus LAN Switches – Access -> Cisco Catalyst 3560 Series Switches, and you will find the Configuration examples /guides. Here’s what it looks like:

Remember that search is disabled during the CCIE lab exam, so you must familiarize yourself with the navigation. You can use your web browser’s search function, however. Make sure you become familiar with the documentation support section from Cisco and don’t rely on Google too much as you are studying. This is the only tool that you will be allowed to use.

I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck studying!