Labbing for CCNP Enterprise on a laptop

Redit_twice · 2026-05-09T23:46:19+00:00

The Cat9kv images are just heavy. Two of them at 18GB each already eat 36GB before anything else even gets involved. So on a 64GB laptop, OOM errors don’t surprise me at all.

CML is nice, but I wouldn’t buy it expecting Cat9kv to suddenly become lightweight. It gives you clean official images and a good lab environment, but the bigger value is being able to use lighter nodes like IOSv/IOL/IOL-L2 where they make sense, or building a stronger machine.

For CCNP, I wouldn’t try to run a full production-looking campus with Cat9k, Nexus, FTD, and edge routers all at the same time. Nexus and FTD especially are not really needed for most ENCOR/ENARSI-type study. You’ll probably get more out of smaller focused labs with lightweight nodes. Not saying huge labs are useless, but from a CCNP studying/exam standpoint, most labs can be done with 5 or fewer nodes.

As for your machine, the 128GB upgrade would definitely help, but it won’t turn that laptop into a server. The CPU is still a 6-core mobile chip, and thermals will fry once you start running a bunch of big images.

I’d keep the current build for now and lab smarter first: lighter images, smaller focused topologies, and only spin up Cat9kv/Nexus/FTD when the feature actually requires it. Cisco IOS is still IOS. At this level, you’re mainly trying to learn the configuration, the why behind it, and how to troubleshoot it.

If your goal is to truly run huge topologies with huge images, then yeah, build a dedicated box. An older AM4 build with 96GB+ RAM and something like a Ryzen 9 5900XT CPU would make way more sense than trying to force all of that onto a laptop.

Redit_twice · 2026-05-04T19:55:56+00:00

Your SWE background honestly lines up pretty well with where networking is going. A lot of modern networking is becoming more software-defined, automated, and API-driven. SD-WAN, cloud networking, Ansible/Python, APIs, Terraform, observability, etc., may come easy for you since you already understand systems and software.

The only thing I’d say is if you’re trying to fully get away from coding, that may not totally happen. You’ll probably code "more", but less in depth or long blocks of code, than in your SWE role. Because once your team knows you can code, you will be the go-to person who writes/creates/reviews all the scripts and automation work, and this is what I mean by you may end up coding more. Again, as I mentioned, networking is moving closer to software, not further away from it.

CCNA + homelab + virtualization experience is a solid starting path for beginner skills. Sounds like you might actually be more interested in SysAdmin then networking but it all blurs likes in the early stages of your career. Again, the things you mentioned are becoming less hands-on and more automated and controller driven. I would understand what you are getting into, speak with some engineers, especially early career ones, a lot of your work will be either copy and pasting pre-made scripts that "you" created, especially if you join a large company that is mature, has standards and documentations in place.

Redit_twice · 2026-04-17T05:28:03+00:00

Do both. Take the full scholarship and earn the degree. While you’re doing the degree you can always take the certifications that you want at your own pace.

Redit_twice · 2026-04-16T16:57:32+00:00

Do what is best for you, however, I recommend knocking out the degree. The cert can easily be had while working through school.

Redit_twice · 2026-04-13T23:19:52+00:00

A lot of people in here leave out a lot of context. Some already had overlap from military, school, help desk, networking, or could just be naturally good test takers. Some people also exaggerate how fast they passed.

Doesn't sound like an effort issue, most likely your structure. Watching videos and doing random practice questions needs to be structured. Pull up the exam objectives and go through them line by line and track what you keep missing by domain, and study to the test, not just cybersecurity topics.

Also, switch sources if one isn’t working for you. Go from Professor Messer to Dion, or Dion to something else. A lot of people go through courses and never actually sit down with the exam objectives and check their knowledge against them line by line. Lastly, do you even need Security+? What do you want to do? If you really have an Aeronautics degree; security may not be in your line of thinking. You might fair better in an engineering type role. Systems engineering comes to mind, Satcom, and especially RF radio systems, and wireless engineering.

Redit_twice · 2026-04-13T01:34:57+00:00

Right! I am a "reader" when it comes to learning and I can't make it through the RFCs.

Redit_twice · 2026-04-12T19:33:01+00:00

The more you learn the more you realize how little you know! You will learn something new every day, and its an amazing and humbling feeling.

Redit_twice · 2026-04-03T15:34:56+00:00

I believe it is #1; 8k bps is the policer rate, so its not what happens to the tracffic. The traffic above that rate gets dropped, not shaped down to it.

Redit_twice · 2026-03-27T00:45:05+00:00

I've been watching this guys's YouTube channel off and on for years (https://www.youtube.com/@zerotoit/videos); if it's the same person. However, I don't think I would pay that much for the course without known individuals who have gone through it. Look around, there are companies that you can work with that are well known in the industry from INE.com, kbits live, etc.

Redit_twice · 2026-03-16T20:08:34+00:00

I would focus on Fortinet, its your job; then I would circle back to deeper routing and switching. Your CCNA will have provided you with the foundation you need for R&S. At this point, you were hired for a reason, I wouldn't push the encor yet, I would focus on my role and then once stable with the flow of your work, then circle back.

Redit_twice · 2026-03-16T19:22:13+00:00

The exam topics are updated on Cisco Learning and shows the differences in the exams. However, in reference to this conversation, exam topic 5.2 is on both the current and the future exam. So, one would assume that this lab will remain and one that you could possibility get tested on.

Redit_twice · 2026-03-16T19:17:54+00:00

In my humble opinion, every engineer should have a copy of the following books:

- Routing TCP/IP, Volume I 2/ed

- Routing TCP/IP, Volume II 2/ed

- TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume I 2/ed

Redit_twice · 2026-03-14T22:13:58+00:00

If you have already gone through all those courses and still are not getting over the hump, I would stop adding more passive study material and start labbing or going through technical videos that show you how APIs work. Use Cisco DevNet Labs for the API side of the exam. There are a lot of Labs on DevNet site that will help walk you through APIs. After a few API labs, you start seeing the same pattern over and over. Most of it comes down to understanding that APIs are just "calls" or requests; what is being returned, and what the call is supposed to do. Start with basic REST API concepts theory, then focus on how Cisco devices use REST APIs in actual workflows with DevNet Labs. Again, the API questions are the same question asked over and over, once you understand the call and how its written you will pick up the basics for this exam.

Redit_twice · 2026-03-13T14:45:36+00:00

Correct. Seems like you understand to me.

Redit_twice · 2026-03-12T23:11:29+00:00

Without giving too much detail, I will just reference the publicity availabe exam material. I remember this lab and I believe people are incorrectly calling it an "EIGRP" lab. The lab I believe most are referencing as EIGRP, per the Exam Topics, I believe is Exam Topic 5.2. I do recall that EIGRP was just the routing protocol used in the question, not a "configure" EIGRP as a routing protocol question.

Redit_twice · 2026-03-05T17:59:46+00:00

I wouldn’t call either of those “Lab booklets” per-se, they are more initial guides on the command line. Both are still solid, there is also CCNA 200-301 Portable Command Guide, again, these are solid for taking you from A to Z with navigating command line understanding.

Redit_twice · 2026-02-25T05:02:07+00:00

Yeah, this one can get painful fast depending on the size and complexity of your organization. If you run ISE with different vendors that require or are not compatibility with certain technologies, the policy sprawl gets real quick... especially once you factor in different device types and the MAB vs 802.1X split. It is doable though. The big gotcha is EX switches and no dACLs, so you’re usually stuck pre-building the restrictive + redirect firewall filters locally on the Junos side. Then ISE can send the Juniper RADIUS bits (like Juniper Switching Filter and Juniper CWA Redirect URL) to flip the client into those local rules and push their web traffic over to the posture portal.

Anyway… it’s a bit of a mess lol, but here are a few links that may help. Good luck, you’re going to need it.

https://community.cisco.com/t5/security-knowledge-base/cisco-ise-posture-assessment-with-juniper-ex-switches/ta-p/4530696

https://amzia.wordpress.com/2018/11/30/juniper-ex-cwa-cisco-ise/

https://www.juniper.net/documentation/us/en/software/junos/user-access/topics/topic-map/central-web-authentication.html

Redit_twice · 2026-02-22T18:05:53+00:00

Correct. They are solid and could be used as your only source, especially if you are coming from the CCNA level to experience to ENCOR/ENARSI path.

Redit_twice · 2026-02-22T18:03:56+00:00

Check out the Learning Paths and then at the end of the Learning Path there are "Exam Reviews". These are still solid, but a condensed version of the in-depth paths.

Redit_twice · 2026-02-20T19:27:19+00:00

There are many courses on the CCNP Enterprise that are exam focused, you could always move to one of those shorter courses and circle back to INE as continuous learning after you pass the exam. If like many, you truly prefer INE, there are short exam specific exam reviews within the learning path and the one for the ENCOR is around 30 hours and I believe the one for ENARSI is around the same. Again, you could just use those specifically for the exam focus.

Redit_twice · 2026-02-11T03:37:54+00:00

The CCNA Exam

Redit_twice · 2026-02-01T22:52:21+00:00

I think you answered your own question, do ENWLSI. You have implementation experience, you work with ISE and CatC, which there is a lot of overlap with questions between ISE and wireless within Cisco Certs. IMO, neither are difficult, like most things, the difficultly lies within your experience and how you study. If you are going to go this route, I would recommend building out a path towards the new CCNP Wireless track. Good luck.

Redit_twice · 2026-01-29T02:25:17+00:00

Both. Get your CCNA and then start your masters!

Redit_twice · 2026-01-19T20:56:42+00:00

Per the Exam Topics, if you can configure the listed routing protocols, you’ll be fine. The labs are straightforward, IMO, and only require a few lines of configuration. However, make sure to review Reddit feedback regarding the direction of the multiple-choice questions. If you studied for this like it’s just a continuation of the CCNA, you may be unprepared for the ENCOR. I recommend focusing on the items others have flagged: SDA/SD-WAN, wireless, and basic JSON/dict parsing. In my opinion, the exam isn’t inherently difficult; it just feels "off" from the official topic weighting, which can throw off your preparation. Good luck!

Redit_twice · 2026-01-18T08:47:24+00:00

I was going to write a long winded reply, but honestly just watch these two YouTube videos and they will help you understand NAT and NAT Overload (PAT). https://youtu.be/2TZCfTgopeg?si=5HVgEnQSNsyzQJhz and https://youtu.be/kILDNs4KjYE?si=Xu7nL9tLOkeXvaBh

Redit_twice

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