Cisco

Cisco has an entry level design certification called the Cisco Certified Design Associate, or CCDA. This is similar to the CCNA in that it is a foundational certification that goes a mile wide and an inch or two deep. If you have passed your CCNA and you are looking for the next challenge, take some time to consider the available options...

1. Specialize in an area of networking with Cisco's Voice, Security, or Wireless CCNA Certifications.
2. Take your CCNA level knowledge to the next level and focus on the CCNP
3. Focus on the design track, starting with the CCDA.

If you are interested in persuing the CCDA, there are some great resources to get started. First, check out the Tekcert articles section for writeups on the CCDA or on specific topics that align with exam topics. Also, check out the Exam Topics, CCO login required.

Some handy links I just discovered on Cisco's website for the new CCNP:

CCNP Cert Combination Tool: Figures out what CCNP exams to take based on what you have

ESIM Tutorial: A walk-through on how to work with the new CCNP question types

TSHOOT Demo Simulation: Give you an idea of the question types on the new TSHOOT exam (wow - this looks intense!)

Cisco recently revised their CCNP track to make it align with actual job requirements (such as troubleshooting problems on networks full of Cisco equipment).What do these changes mean for current Cisco Certified Network Professionals? Well, not much other than  you still get to take a 642 level exam to renew it. However, for all you non-CCNPers out there, tighten your belts and sharpen your pencils because you are in for a bit of a change.

You may be asking yourself which certification track you should focus on. If you are already in a set career path, like network engineering or system administration, then your best bet is to select something from your given area of expertise. Cisco's track for networking or microsoft's track for systems administration are rock solid.

If you are interested in taking any direction with your career or are looking for some change, take a look at certification magazines annual certification salary survey to get some ideas. The highest paid certifications are typically some of the hardest to earn, but if you really want to change your careers direction, you are bound to ride the wave with a high paying cert.

Here's a link: Certification Magazine's 2009 Salary Survey

Okay, here's the scoop:

• CCNP will now be three exams, ROUTE, SWITCH, and TSHOOT
• Exam price will increase from $150.00 to $200.00 per exam
• ROUTE and TSHOOT courses (typically 1 week Cisco official courses) are now supplemented with e-learning material (nearly 8 hours for ROUTE and 9 hours for TSHOOT) which is exam material
• Classes / Exams are becoming even MORE real-world (TSHOOT class is 92% hands-on)
• New ROUTE and SWITCH exam is available in March, TSHOOT is available in April.
• BSCI exam can substitute for ROUTE or vice versa
• BCMSN exam can substitute for SWITCH or vice versa
• ONT and ISCW exams can substitute for TSHOOT until end of July (ONT/ICSW exams expire then...BSCI and BCMSN are no longer offered after July 31, however can substitute for ROUTE / SWITCH for their entire 3 year expiration period).
• New CCNP exams now prepare you more for the CCIE R&S

While randomly searching for a Cisco DSP Calculator, I came across this link with a plethora of free Cisco tools - go Brad Reese! (a fellow I commonly see in Network World magazine).

I was on a call with someone today who said they just ordered an ISR G2 from Cisco. Huh? (That'd be my response). Wow - just looked into this; welcome to the "next level" of ISR routers:

Comparing the ISR to the ISR G2

I'm just excited about the "one IOS image" finally coming to consumer-level routers!

Now this is cool. Someone from the Phoenix Cisco Users Group gave me a link to a group who has virtualized the ASA platform. You can download a VMWare image (or self booting CD) that runs the full Cisco ASA software (fully functional).
Click here to check it out!