Let us know what you decide and how it turns out please.

Ian

http://www.andersonalves.net/tutorials/

http://www.mindtechcom.com/prices.html

http://www.ccierack.com/pindex.html

http://www.gigavelocity.com/

http://www.cconlinelabs.com/rates.shtml

http://ccie2be.com/BuyRackTime.html

There are likely more now. These are the ones I found a couple of years ago. Call Internetwork Expert and see if they can do anything to work with yor timezone.

Try playing with the timezone on here as well:

http://www.internetworkexpert.com/rackcal/available_racks.php?RackType=SCRR

From Internetwork Expert i’ve gotten the Class on Demand DVD and the Volume 1 & 2 labs. From IP Expert i’ve gotten the lab workbook and proctor guide. I’m about to hit the full blown 8 hour labs and am planning on alternating between the two vendors. IE lab one day, IP Expert the next etc. Both have quality material and if either vendor updates their content (which is likely in the near future as Cisco are set to update the Security Lab blueprint) you’re guaranteed access to the updated content (minus any printing & shipping fees obviously).

Just my 2c

Brad

Try playing with the timezone on here as well:

http://www.internetworkexpert.com/rackcal/available_racks.php?RackType=SCRR

http://ccie2be.com/BuyRackTime.html

http://www.cconlinelabs.com/rates.shtml

http://www.gigavelocity.com/

http://www.ccierack.com/pindex.html

http://www.mindtechcom.com/prices.html

Check some of these guys out and search for any new ones.

Also, launch the IE Rental scheduler, set your timezone, and verify the rental times to see if there is anything that might work well for you. Call IE and see if they have any plans to have a Rack with shifted hours for UK/European countries etc. Also, for me, it was best to rent the racks with 2 blocks per day. Reason being is that I get phone calls/lunch/kids etc interruptions throughout anyhow. Plus it takes quite a while to setup and work your way deep into each lab.

http://www.internetworkexpert.com/rackcal/available_racks.php?RackType=SCRR

The main issues for doing labs from a workbook seem to be precise matching physical topology, and precise IOS/FWOS/ACS versions matching the blueprint. The workbook vendors help you practice required workarounds for IOS bugs and features. Meaning, for example: DMVPN issues with EIGRP. If the rack you are using has a newer version than 12.2T the problem doesn’t show up and you will not be required to learn the workaround.

I personally use the IE materials and have the Internetwork Expert End-to-End CCIE Security Program. Depending upon where you are in your preparation, this is a good option. IPexpert seems to have a decent program, but I reviewed a friends set of their labs and was not fond of the style in which the material walked you through the process.

The COD materials from IE are sometimes hard to watch/listen to due to lack of timed index, but overall they definately help you learn the how and why of specific features / process etc.

Good luck,
Tim

The start times are 5am, 1pm and 9pm here in the UK.

Here are some Rack rental vendors I discovered a while back when I was getting started on the Security track. Most of them support several different vendor workbooks. You want to make sure they have a rack that supports the physical topo of the Workbook vendor, as well as all of the CCIE Lab specs. I have noticed that some Rack Rental vendors have you doing labs on newer IOS versions. As you likely know, there are version specific configurations/bugs that are deliberately tested. That has given me fits in the past, so I recommend you avoid it. Ask if you can test drive their rack. One thing that is really important is that they give you a clean config when you start. Also, IE has a new feature that is desirable to me: Advanced Workbook Scaffolding – Save time! Load initial configs for any task. I don’t think the Security track rentals are ready yet though.

http://ccie2be.com/BuyRackTime.html

http://www.cconlinelabs.com/rates.shtml

http://www.ccierack.com/pindex.html

http://www.mindtechcom.com/prices.html

There are likely more these days, or you can build a hybrid dynamips/physical environment for yourself. Feel free to contact me if you want to discuss any other stuff.

Note – I am not affiliated with them in any way, just like the look of their product and I’ve just been through a similar processs for CCIE Voice materials..