I sure would LOVE to start now, no doubt especially after a couple months of research.  However, the reason I mentioned January is because I am about to finish my CCNP this month and had enrolled in eLearn's modules, so I feel I'd have too much on my plate for December (especially with my time frame goal of the CCNP).

I absolutely will enroll as soon as I get my CCNP this month, just about 3 weeks to go (given I don't fail the last, TSHOOT), which I won't..

I see no reason why I couldn't attend the dojo and finish up eLearn concurrently in Jan though (since I already commited my payments and don't want to lose $450) so far.

Any chance you could ever get anyone (such as myself  ) in on a random hour skype, one day just to check it out and get extra hungry for it?

Man, I'm really looking forward to being part of your classes soon, they seem awesome.  There's nothing like having direct access to your instructor and LIVE sessions! Can't beat that, especially from a published author.  Hopefully starting Jan ther'll be some openings.

ohtechwiz, contrats on passing your CCNA. Just a suggestion though... I wouldn't mention using anything like Pass4Sure or 9tut on message boards, because it could get you de-certified, if one were inclined to "report" you. At least I think, because of the ethics agreement you digitally sign before testing.

I'll be taking my CCNP Route exam probably by the end of next week, have CCNP Switch down, so only TS after that.  If all goes well and as planned I should be CCNP certified probably by the end of February I'm thinking (at the pace I'm going + previous work experience).  Passing Cisco exams feels good lol, they're the only one's I've had to take multiple times.

For the CCNP (new track of course) I've been studying CBT Nuggets' by Jeremy Cioarra.  Man he is really a great instructor, you never get bored.  For the CCENT/CCNA series he was using live equipment, but he started using GNS3 for the new series' and even has a video dedicated to explaining it and setting it up.  So, I went ahead and downloaded GNS3 and gave it a try even though I have an actual lab (which gives me the IOS').   Also reading the Cisco Press books from my SafariOnline, but dang can they be dry and boring…

It's really cool, but man GNS3 is a resource hog.. I mean it can literally halt your computer taking up 100% resources.. You can put the "routers" in standby mode and it will stop using all the resources, but aside from needing a very powerful computer to run fine and still multitask (powerful can very by perception of course, but to give an idea.. I had problems with a clean O/S install on a 4 GB DDR3 machine, with no other ‘real’ processess running).  Aside from that, you still need the IOS’ for the routers, so no way to get that unless you buy them, or just ‘unethically’ find them somewhere..

Anyways, to the others who may be interested in this thread, I’m still considering selling my lab (which I was just gonna sell in parts on eBay to make more..), so if anyone is interested..  I have 3 2950 switches (one is an FX model), latest IOS’ with 256mb, 4 2600 Routers (2611XM, 2620MX, 2610 and 2650) which also have the lastest IOS’ and vary in memory, but can definitely handle SDM.  One PIX 515-E unrestricted 7.0 IOS and a 2509 to use as an access server (can’t live without the last if you get more than like 3 pieces of equipment).  They’re racked with a very nice heavy duty SKELETEK C16U-HD rack. 

Just now that I’m getting close to finishing up my CCNP studies, I don’t see going for my CCIE any time soon.  Oh and hope it’s okay I posted this last part Don, don’t mean to advertise or anything,  just let me know and I’ll delete this last paragraph if needed.

Anyways that’s my post for the day, since I’m in Cisco mode right now.  Hope all reading are well!                                                 

Congratulations, that's awesome man I'm happy for you!

Thanks guys, I greatly appreciate the recognition! 

I also have to agree with you 100% on the hermit part.  I think one of the most important aspects of life is balance.. I don't wanna end up looking like the dude on the cover Zeppelin IV lol..

I suppose I just have a bit of say.. More than a little extra time the last and next couple of months, so I hope to get as much out of it knowledge and credential wise, because I really want a long term stable career (or a consulting / tiger team to be part of).  I'm definitely gonna take it easier though.

I hope all is well with you all!

So I passed my C|EH yesterday!  I got a 91 out of 70 passing.
The exam consisted of 150 questions and you have a 4 hour time limit, which I actually took a while, three and a half hours to complete.  The nice thing about the test is that you can go back and check your answers, or those you marked during the exam.  I used the extra 30minutes for that.
Here is how I passed, or the materials that I used.

-   Read Kimberly Graves 2010 CEH book twice (once two days before exam).
-   Wen through all the practice tests included in the book until all information was second hand.
-   Used Shon Harris’ CEH flash cards daily certflashcardsonline.com
-   Used and memorized most of the commands/ switches from the NMAP Cookbook.
-   Installed fresh installs of Linux distributions and knew at least the basic commands.
-   Installed and learned how to configure SNORT, not in depth, but working on it still.
-   eLearnSecurity’s course I’m going through (Armando’s section) helped a lot.
-   A lot just was previous knowledge that helped from my CCNA/P studies (ports etc.)

I studied for a month and a half immediately after passing my CCNP Switch exam.  However, don’t use my time frame to base anything on, because I literally studied 10hrs a day everyday with no outside life… So, for those who don’t want to be a hermit geek, maybe 2 – 3 months, depending on your knowledge level..

I know the CEH gets a lot of flack, but I can honestly say I learned a heck of a lot from preparing for the exam.  The thing is the above mentioned book is short and not great, but if you actually go on your own and configure/ learn to understand the output from and IDS such as SNORT, linux, NMAP, NetCat… You’ll be fine, IMHO.

So what’s next for me… Well I thought about it and I’m so into the security that I didn’t want to get back into finishing my other 2/3 of my CCNP at first, but remembered, hey I’m still going through eLearn’s course to get my ePPT.  So I’m going to balance both, get my CCNP out of the way, then worry about what vendor specific security certification to get next.  I have the SSCP in mind, since I have all the material for it, but wouldn’t mind getting my ECSA/LPT either.

Thanks for the great reply chrisj!  Now you really got me thinking, lol I didn't think it would be this hard. I've thrown the T60 into the mix and there's a few out there that are at about the same price range...

T60 has an extra USB port so 3, CoreDuo processor and ability to add upto 4GB RAM... I've read a few reviews that the graphics card and or display looks much nicer on the T43 or 42... I was just looking for an extra laptop at first, now I don't even know what to do...

Here's a couple of links (I have dozens on my saved list..)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150520859357&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170561855254&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160507027911&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150519274163&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

They say the T60 is Lenovo as where the previous 2 are IBM, but I don't know if it makes a difference and they all say Lenovo anyways..

I'm trying to decide between getting a T42 or T43 and having it solely as my pentesting machine.  I've searched for comparisons, but they are very small differences in my opinion, so maybe someone can be insightful into one of these classics..

I had a T42 with the last company I consulted with and it was fine, slow, but it had XP and I didn't get to do a fresh install, plus I'd be running linux on this machine, most likely through USB 2.0, since I find it to load distros faster than the HD.

So what's out there.. I can pretty much get either for between $120 and $200 (give or take this and that) on ebay..

Differences I've found are that the T42 use DDR vs DDR2 on the T43, but they both max out at 2GB.  Processor wise, they both range from 1.6 to 2.0Ghz.  I know the T42 uses a different chipset and video card I believe.

T42, less noisy and hot and a bit longer battery life (which when I had seemed like 3hrs max.. but this could have been the battery and XP).

Everything else is mostly identical, if anyone has had a chance to compare both or heard of which is better to run srictly on a linux distro etc.. Please help me decide.. I could probably find the T42 for lets say $50 less than a T43.. I just need a machine strictly for my tools of the trade.  Thanks!

Awesome, I'm gonna check them out!  It makes sense for people asking with so many options out there. 

It's kind of like a commercial of the overall product I suppose some people would like to see.  Of course A/V is much easier to digest than text.. Thanks for the good work, I look forward to exploring more with you in the near future.

Thanks mallaigh, your post was very helpful and I have to agree.

I am in the process of converting to openSuse (was first thinking Ubuntu), but have the physical media for it from a while ago.  I am going to have to work on locking it down best as possible, but of course this is not only going to help with the machines security, but the learning experience in itself.

I like how you mentioned to use your Windows security knowledge and port it over to whatever distro.  I know you mean in a more general and conceptual way, but it does make perfect sense in the realms applicable.

Hey and who says I'm not a better hacker than you, just cuz I don't post your SS # on forums... JK of of course 

I also gotta say, learning aside that the logo and color scheme for eLearnSecurity is pretty awesome.  Whoever came up with it is a darn good social engineer / marketeer.

Hey thanks Armando, for posting the certification, it's actually really nice, I like it!  I'm gonna frame it and put it next to my others when acheived.

I look forward to getting mine soon as the course is very engrossing, makes you want to keep going and going, although I like to go back a re-fresh the previous before continuing.

One of the things I really like about the course (that at first I wasn't sure about) are the slides.. It's very clear, sharpe looking fonts that are easy to read and not too much info is on each slide, so you don't get bored or overwhelmed.  It's a very effecient learning technique I think, especially for anyone with short attention spans.

Darn, I just put the one you have listed on the site here.. lol

I'm supposing it's the wrong one.. ?

Happy Birthday!  I dunno, I suppose I'd celebrate it when I feel most full of energy.. We tend to celebrate a birthday on a whole day, in my case being born at 7am I could use that as a reference.. Or just celebrate twice!

I'm glad you're liking the Graves book.  I'm going to start my second reading of it tomorrow as now that I've had other resources and some of eLearn's modules, going back makes what is more "vague" make more sense in a way..

I actually purchased Hacking Exposed 6 along with the Graves book, which I can see being much more beneficial in the long run, but I've only gotten through the first couple of chapters, so I plan to try and finish that up by the end of this week.

I feel like Grave's book is more like a good "guideline", then as you're doing, research on your own from there, expanding on each topic.  After I re-read what you're talking about right now tomorrow, I'll give you my opinion as to what I think..

Check your mail, I have a b-day gift for you, I know will help alot to expand on what your're getting from the CEH material you have gone through so far.

I purchased my voucher today, will probably take the exam mid to end of next week, depending on when I actually get the voucher or voucher number..