Cisco CCIE DC v2 and new sections to all CCIEs

[that1guy15]

Saw on the twitters that CCIE DCv2 has been announced (kinda, mostly leaked by cisco...so announced???). Looks like a ton of overlap with CCIE Cloud. 7Ks are still there just not as predominate. 9Ks of course are the big boys now.

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/expert/ccie_dc/index.html
and an IPX blog post for an overview
http://blog.ipexpert.com/ccie-dc-v2-silently-announced/

Also just saw this blog post from the twitters.
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/ccie-enhancements
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-29253

I guess they think we need to start focusing on emerging technologies and not just whats on the test I dont disagree with this but looking at the reference material for the emerging topics section, there is a of topics here... Its going to be interesting to see how they build these into the written. But it is only 10% of the test.

[wintermute000]

Yep, I wonder how it will (and when it will) trickle down to CCNP-DC..... I want to knock this over next so of keen interest.
To be honest the new blueprint looks like a mix between the current DC and new Cloud tracks.
Will they retire the DC track like the old IP track?

[icecream-guy]

summary write up on new cert changes
http://www.networkworld.com/article/3006668/cisco-subnet/cisco-tweaks-certs-for-changing-it-landscape.html

[wintermute000]

Its bad enough they are putting the moving target that is ACI in there, what about these vague 'cloud' offerings. In fact given how quickly ACI is iterating, I wonder what its going to mean say in 18 months when candidates walking in are examined against a completely out of date ACI version.
Looks like a very difficult track unless you are lucky/unlucky (:p)  enough to have lots of XP on both ACI and the undefined cisco flavoured cloud things/UCS director (Vblock/Flexpod/VSPEX aka propietary mashup cloud time?).
Also what are they going to put into CCIE Cloud if they are putting the automation and cloud bits in CCIE DC?
Need moar details

Honestly though if its heavy on UCS director and those proprietary integrated stacks etc. then its going to be difficult for many (most?) to gain the requisite exposure unless you're from the systems side of the fence, and if so, you're totally boned re: Nexus/ACI LOL (I walked out of the 5 day ACI field engineer course completely confused, and that was everyone else's reaction as well). Looks like this one will be tough as nails and require access to all the big boy toys


Going to need to step up my CCNP-DC run before I get obsoleted! LOL


EDIT Just found this resource - for all of you who are working for partners, sign up for this - Cisco Labgear - its like dcloud except focused on DC/Cloud stuff including ACI, UCS director etc.


http://www.dcv-labs.labgear.net/Home.asp


And if you haven't already signed up for PEC and dcloud then get on it ASAP, going to be the only way a lot of us will be able to get hands on with above malarky

[NetworkGroover]

In fact given how quickly ACI is iterating, I wonder what its going to mean say in 18 months when candidates walking in are examined against a completely out of date ACI version.

Or when ACI no longer exists.... 

[that1guy15]

Its bad enough they are putting the moving target that is ACI in there, what about these vague 'cloud' offerings. In fact given how quickly ACI is iterating, I wonder what its going to mean say in 18 months when candidates walking in are examined against a completely out of date ACI version.
Looks like a very difficult track unless you are lucky/unlucky (:p)  enough to have lots of XP on both ACI and the undefined cisco flavoured cloud things/UCS director (Vblock/Flexpod/VSPEX aka propietary mashup cloud time?).
Also what are they going to put into CCIE Cloud if they are putting the automation and cloud bits in CCIE DC?
Need moar details

Honestly though if its heavy on UCS director and those proprietary integrated stacks etc. then its going to be difficult for many (most?) to gain the requisite exposure unless you're from the systems side of the fence, and if so, you're totally boned re: Nexus/ACI LOL (I walked out of the 5 day ACI field engineer course completely confused, and that was everyone else's reaction as well). Looks like this one will be tough as nails and require access to all the big boy toys


Going to need to step up my CCNP-DC run before I get obsoleted! LOL


EDIT Just found this resource - for all of you who are working for partners, sign up for this - Cisco Labgear - its like dcloud except focused on DC/Cloud stuff including ACI, UCS director etc.


http://www.dcv-labs.labgear.net/Home.asp


And if you haven't already signed up for PEC and dcloud then get on it ASAP, going to be the only way a lot of us will be able to get hands on with above malarky

Yeah, you hit several of my main points on not hunting down the CCIE DC and also why I dont have anything outside RS and Design.

1) Data Center (even within Cisco) is moving way to fast for Cisco Certification to keep up. Honestly I could see this track refreshing every year. They have a huge challenge keeping up with this and still keeping the DC certs relevant. I cant see investing in the CCIE DC track unless im 100% Cisco DC in my job.

2)  I have never branched out of the RS and Design tracks because none of my previous jobs (and well maybe my current) ran large amounts of cisco in any area outside of RS, maybe wifi but who likes wireless With this update I think the only other CCIE I would consider is SP. DC was always on my radar second but not sure it is anymore. Maybe a CCNP-DC but thats it. Sad because the DC is where my passion is.

[wintermute000]

In fact given how quickly ACI is iterating, I wonder what its going to mean say in 18 months when candidates walking in are examined against a completely out of date ACI version.

Or when ACI no longer exists.... 

I know you're just jesting, but in all seriousness they're doubling down on it and I don't see it going away anytime soon. They are pushing it HARD and pulling out all the stops including the commercial dirty tricks as we've talked about on some other threads here.


Unfortunately for them its also generating some blowback as customers realise that they've bought something really complex that isn't going to do anything for them unless they rewrite their entire stack and also bring in an orchestrator (which also of course involves actually understanding their apps in the first place... which of course nobody does).


I could go on and tell you hilarious real life deployment stories but I don't want to get in trouble, even without mentioning names. Suffice to say that in every case so far (could change, but so far anyway) the deployments have had such severe boundaries or restrictions as to make them completely pointless IMO. not to mention that there's no sign of an orchestrator anywhere to actually make it useful - in all cases the parameters are so simple that I reckon I could achieve the same result using arista or NX-OS mode 9ks with NX-OS restAPI etc. and achieve the same level of 'SDN' by firing python scripts to create VLANs/SVIs etc.


That reminds me, I got vEOS running in UNETLAB so looking fowards to following your ansible tutorials after I come back from holidays