CCIE - Category - Fryguy's Blog

Cisco Live and Cisco Continuing Education Program

Fryguy — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 19:56:14 +0000

Well, the Cisco Live Scheduler is now open and there is one thing that I forgot to mention. If you are a CCIE, Cisco Live sessions can help you with your recertification by earning you CE credits via the Continuing Education Program. Here are some links to my Original post on the announcement and Review post when I recertified last time using CE credits.

Could the Cisco CCIE lab in RTP be moving? CONFIRMED!

Fryguy — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 13:00:01 +0000

Let me preface this post by saying that this post is not Cisco official nor sponsored. This post should be taken as speculation and I am presenting what I have been able to put together. Until Cisco has announced something official, take everything I have here with a grain of salt and do not assume it as fact. If something changes I will update the post as appropriate.

Jump to updates – SJC too?
11/12 – New Cisco Learning thread on this topic

Adding the latest updates to the top.

In a series of tweets today from @LearningatCisco they have confirmed today (14-Nov-2018) that RTP and SJC are transitioning to mobile test sites and the new home of the lab is Richardson, TX. The last on-sites dates for CCIE testing in SJC is 28-Nov-2018 and for RTP is 07-Dec-2018.

Effective immediately, the last on-site testing date before San Jose, CA CCIE lab is transitioned to a mobile test site is November 28, 2018. For RTP, NC the last on-site testing date is December 7, 2018.
— LearningatCisco (@LearningatCisco) November 14, 2018

Cisco is adding a new, permanent #CCIE lab in Richardson, TX. RTP, NC and San Jose, CA will now become mobile test sites, adding to the 40+ locations we offer globally for convenient access to lab testing, https://t.co/mzGeE7DqBE. Scroll to News section.

While the CCIE Lab in Richardson, TX, is not on the lab locations page it is an on-site testing facility as of now. Any available seats can be seen on the schedule, please check current availability by logging in to the CCIE Online Lab Scheduler.
— LearningatCisco (@LearningatCisco) November 14, 2018

https://t.co/mzGeE7DqBE. Scroll to News section. While the CCIE Lab in Richardson, TX, is not on the lab locations page it is an on-site testing facility as of now. Any available seats can be seen on the schedule, please check current availability by logging in to the CCIE Online Lab Scheduler. — LearningatCisco (@LearningatCisco) November 14, 2018

Tweets from @LearningatCisco (opens in a new tab)">Tweets from @LearningatCisco

— END OF UPDATE ABOVE, now back to regular post.

Last night I saw a post on my Facebook social media feed about that CCIE lab in RTP that caught my attention. The post was about the CCIE lab in RTP moving at the end of December 2018 to Richardson, TX!

I had a hard time believing this, so I did some quick research that actually leads me to some job postings for a CCIE Proctor in Richardson, TX. Both of these posting are no longer live, so I have included links to their cached copies.

10 Year CCIE – My Reflection

Fryguy — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 13:30:56 +0000

How time flies – it is now over 10 years ago that I earned my Cisco CCIE R&S number of 22061. It was the culmination of failing the lab quite a few times, trying to study as hard as I could, and had the pressure that my CCIE written prequalification was going to expire soon. I want to do a quick post with my reflection of the CCIE, what it means to me, what it has done for me, and what I see with it now.

When I first earned my CCIE, like many people out there I suspect, my head was bigger than my shoulders could carry and I would let everyone know that I am a CCIE. Looking back on that I realize how much of an arse I probably sounded (and may have acted) like. _Lesson learned – just because you have a cert does not mean you need to tell everyone. My advice to you – be proud of what you have accomplished, but don’t let it get to you. _

CCIE Recertification Continuing Education Review

Fryguy — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 19:04:52 +0000

Way back in 2008 I passed the CCIE R&S lab to obtain my CCIE #22061. Over the past years, I have taken recertification written exams including the CCIE Voice, CCIE Service Provider, CCIE R&S, as well as the CCDE written tests to maintain active CCIE status. Last June, Cisco announced a change to the recertification procedure and made available the ability to use a Continuing Education Program as well to the standard written tests. This time around I chose to take advantage of that program to recertify and wanted to share my results and experiences with the process.
To access the Continuing Education Program dashboard for your certification, you just need to navigate to https://ce.cisco.com/#/dashboard. Once there you will be able to see your current certification status (CCIE and any other certifications associated with your account). To renew your CCIE certification, you are required to earn 100 credits and submit the appropriate proof of attendance. For more FAQ information, see the Cisco FAQ at https://fryguy.me/2sc8hXG.
I took three courses, all online and delivered by Cisco Learning Systems, in order to recertify:

Cisco CCIE/CCDE Recertification Update

Fryguy — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 12:19:52 +0000

This morning while looking at new blog posts I came across one that grabbed me. For forever and a day the Cisco CCIE recertification policy was that you are required to take a CCIE/CCDE level written exam every two years to stay active. Well, reading Daniel’s blog over at LostInTransit, it seems that has finally changed. Seems today (6/6/17) Cisco has updated their recertification policy to also include a Continuing Education Program where you earn credits that will count towards recertification. This brings their recertification policy in line with other certification tracks (CISSP, CISA, ISC2, etc.). Reading the Cisco Continuing Education Program site, it seems that the program is based on three principles – Flexibility, Diversity, and Integrity. Flexibility means that there are now additionals ways for CCIE/CCDE to recertify besides the written exams. Diversity is by allowing individuals to take approved courses and training, as well as Cisco Live offerings. Integrity is based on having Cisco authorized providers to validate the class and credits that a person takes. Here is a bulleted list of the information that I have been able to find:

It is time to drop the CCIE written

Fryguy — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 07:00:12 +0000

Back in 1993 the CCIE Cisco Certification, the first Cisco certification, was created and tested. Yes, the CCIE certification came years before the CCNA certification (1998) and thus Cisco needed a way to weed out candidates who were not ready for the CCIE lab exam. What they came up with was a Written pre-qualification exam to show that the candidate was ready to attempt the CCIE Lab exam. The CCIE Written is not a certification in itself, even though many job seekers seem to think that it is, it is just a qualifier to show that the candidate is ready to attempt the CCIE lab exam. To this day the CCIE written is still needed, regardless if the candidate does not have or has other Cisco certifications. Today though, with all the Cisco certifications, training, and the amount of Cisco networking gear in the enterprise, it is quite different and begs the question, “Does the CCIE Written still make sense today?”

Cisco Exam Policy Changes and Cost Increases

Fryguy — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 18:15:33 +0000

There has been some talk on the twitter-verse and at Cisco Live around some of the changes that Cisco is making to the CCIE/DE written and lab policies. Last month they posted those changes to their Certification Exam Policies website to let everyone know and read. The ones that are key to CCIE/DE candidates (and some will be effective August 2, 2014) are:
Written:

Candidates who fail the CCIE/DE written must want 15 calendar days, beginning the day after the fail, before retaking the exam
Once passed, you cannot retake the same written exam within 180 days
Candidates may attempt the CCIE/DE written exam up to four (4) times per rolling calendar year.

Lab (here is the big one):

Candidate must wait 30 days between CCIE lab attempts (30 days starts the day after the failed attempt)
For your 1^st attempt there is no wait time.
For your 2^nd attempt, there is a 30 day wait time
For your 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th attempt, there is a 90 wait time between each
For your 6^th , 7^th and onward, the there is a 180 day wait time between each.

Cisco IOS-XRv (V as in Virtual!)

Fryguy — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 02:50:25 +0000

There was a tweet on Friday that some may have missed, but it is one that you do not want to miss. It was a subtle little announcement from @CiscoIOSXR about IOS XRv!

Your wait for IOS XR is over! Download IOS XRv here! 🙂 http://t.co/0WVMAuHqU1 #IWantIOSXR #IOSXR
— IOS XR (@CiscoIOSXR) February 7, 2014

Note: On Tuesday, February 11th there was an update that they are still working on the entitlement issue. Tweet is included below as well.

@fryguy_pa @steve We have a plan to resolve the entitlement checking issue, but this means images will be pulled off CCO for 3 days 🙁
— IOS XR (@CiscoIOSXR) February 11, 2014

So yes, that is a V as in Virtual! Finally, IOS XRv has been released – and on the latest IOS-XR code, 5.1.1!

So a few things about IOS XRv – first of all, it is a 32–bit softwrae version running on the QNX microkernel. The VM contains a single RP and a some LC Interfaces.
The demo version of the software is FREE for users, has AAA hard-coded users in it, and is rate-limited to 2 Mbps. There is also a Simulation Image available and has no hard-coded users and is rate-limited to 50 Mbps. Finally there is a Production Image that has no hard-coded users and no rate-limit.
To run the IOX XRv Router you will need:

Cisco Live 2013 – CCIE Labs Available!

Fryguy — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:49:49 +0000

Well that image there might be familiar to some of us! But good news, once again, the CCIE Labs will be available as Cisco Live 2013!

Below is an e-mail I just received, so if you are ready, no better place to take the lab then Cisco Live!

CCIE Lab Exams Available June 22-23 at Cisco Live 2013, Orlando

Attending Cisco Live in Orlando? You can take your CCIE lab exam while you are there.
We encourage you to take advantage of the CCIE lab exams that will be available in Orlando June 22-23 as part of Cisco Live. The CCIE labs being offered during the event will allow qualified candidates who are registered for Cisco Live to more easily and quickly take the exam, reducing the waiting time, effort, and costs accrued by having to travel separately. The eight-hour lab exam tests your ability to configure actual equipment and get the network running in a timed-test situation.

IOS XR – Cisco Videos and Training

Fryguy — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:02:15 +0000

Ok, I know I said I was done with the IOS XR stuff, but just had to share this.
Cisco has posted some Videos on YouTube, they are below for your enjoyment.

Also, if you are looking for an IOS XR book – here is a link to the one on Amazon.

Introduction to IOS XR CLI and Configuration

[youtube=http://youtu.be/v16-jJE5_yA]