Load balancing

Cisco Express Forwarding: per source/destination load balancing
Fast-switching: per destination load balancing
Process switching: per packet load balancing

CEF is default for IPv4
Process is default for IPv6


Since CEF relies on source/destination pair for forwarding, the inbound interface must be set to CEF. Otherwise, the outbound interface decides which type of switching is used. CEF on the outbound interface results to fast-switching for IPv4 or process-switching for IPv6. Fast-switch takes precedence over process-switching.

Divide and Conquer

Well, I've been studying for the BSCI (642-901) exam, and pretty much planned out my study schedule for the next couple of months. My original goal was to go for the CCIE Lab around this time next year, and while that goal hasn't changed, I'm not going to kill myself to reach it. In a years time, I'll reevaluate whether I'm prepared to take the exam or not.

Anyways, my current plan is to learn as much as I can about a topic before taking the exam, and not just learned to the exam. While I haven't committed to exactly which path I'm going to take, as it stands now, I plan on taking:

BSCI (2 Months)

• Routing TCP/IP Volume 1 & 2
• Troubleshooting IP Routing Protocols
  
• CCNP BSCI Official Exam Certification Guide
  

BGP (1 Month)

• Internet Routing Architectures, 2nd Ed.
  

BCMSN (1.5 Month)

• Cisco LAN Switching
• CCNP BCMSN Official Exam Certification Guide, 4th Ed.

QoS (2 Month)

• Cisco Catalyst QoS: Quality of Service in Campus Networks
  
• Cisco QoS Exam Certification Guide

ONT (1 Month)

• CCNP ONT Official Exam Certification Guide

MPLS (2 Month)

• MPLS and VPN Architectures Vol 1 & 2
  

ISCW (1 Month)

• CCNP ISCW Official Exam Certification Guide

* End of CCIP and CCNP Certs (Total Time: 10.5 Months)

While I won't get either of the professional certs (CCNP and CCIP) until I've almost completed both, I figured this path has the most continuous flow of information into one subject to the next. Once I reach this point, I should be fairly capable of moving forward into acquiring CCIE in about a year after I reach professional level.