One of the first things I repeatedly came across when I was beginning my preparation for the CCIE lab was don’t focus on the commands, having a deep understanding the core technologies is key.

The official CCIE Book List by Cisco is mental, I don’t think its really practical to read through the entire list in any reasonable amount of time. Below is some of the books I have read in my preparations, although I am not suggesting that what was right for me will be right for you, I am also only going to mention hard copy books stuff like the DocCd and RFCs are invaluable aswell.

I started this with a decent enough CCNA/CCNP level of knowledge, from the CCNP track I would recommend
the books from the BSCI and BCMSN as a casual warm up. The smaller portable command guides for BSCI and BCMSN are also quite handy for a quick reference on how to set stuff up, but they are not at CCIE level so don’t plan on using them for long unless you have a temporary brain malfunction.

I also read through a generic non vendor orientated book on networking and would highly recommend it, reading though a non Cisco book really clarified alot of things for me. This is as the book focuses entirely on the technology and protocols and less about a vendors implementation or view of protocols.

Routing TCP/IP, Volume 1 (2nd Edition) – People sometimes refer to this book as the bible of networking, its deep thorough and enjoyable. Doyle and Carroll have done an amazing job on this and its definitely a must read for the core technologies, I personally consider this the best book to read for IGPs.

Routing TCP/IP, Volume II (CCIE Professional Development) – the second volume of Routing TCP/IP focuses on technologies not covered in the original mainly BGP, Multicast, IPv6 and IP Services. I don’t believe its the best book for BGP but it does have alot of detail and is written well although it could do with an update notably in the IPv6 section.

Troubleshooting IP Routing Protocols (CCIE Professional Development Series) – This book is incredible, I don’t know why this wasn’t in my life sooner. When the troubleshooting section came out, I was quite concerned about my methodology. This book as shown me that any routing protocol problem can be solved with the right approach. It has a nice and reasonably brief overview of each routing protocol and then provides systematic processes to solves problems with them, it has flow charts, example problems, show command outputs with the problems, its freaking awesome!

MPLS Fundamentals – although the title has “fundamentals” in it, don’t be tricked into thinking this is a basic level book. It goes from basic knowledge to SP level CCIE stuff in a reasonable short amount of time. Its all good stuff and I particularly enjoyed the section on the background and the false truths about MPLS. I read through chapters 1 to 7 and the chapter on MPLS L3 VPNs, its very well written and I am sure I will be referring to it many times in the future past my CCIE.

Cisco QOS Exam Certification Guide (IP Telephony Self-Study) (2nd Edition)Now this is a good book and it goes into detail in all the right and interesting places, for instance a random fact I found in this book was, the speed of light in a vacuum in 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s, we have all probably come across at some point but the speed of transmission over copper and optical media is generally measured not at the speed of light but 2.1 x10⁸m/s. But please dont get me wrong I had real difficulty reading this as my own personal tastes just find QoS boring, I genuinely couldn’t read more than 20 to 50 pages (if that) while staying awake. The book is well written and a great reference guide I just couldn’t personally read it cover to cover as I don’t enjoy QoS.

CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide (4th Edition) – This is the official guide for the written, its designed for the 350-001 written and not so much for lab but it does have most of the topics in a single book. I haven’t read the latest version 4 as of yet.

Books which I am yet to read, but planning to

Developing IP Multicast Networks, Volume I by Beau Williamson – this has been recommended in some other places in regards to multicast, I have heard it could do with a bit of an update but is still very vaulable. I am planning on getting it soon.

Internet Routing Architectures (2nd Edition)
by Wendell Odom, Michael J. Cavanaugh – Another one on my to read list, I have heard this is THE book for BGP, will defiantly be getting this next.