CCIE Data Center Lab, v2 – iPexpert’s Plan
The announcement of the CCIE Data Center Version 2 blueprint has changed the exam that we once knew. No longer are the MDS switches around, plaguing us with the perfectly rational fears of iSCSI gateway configuration, or FCIP configuration nuances. Gone too are the days of fighting the IP protocol stack running on the ever-finicky MDS switches. While some rejoice these facts, I take a step back and try to wrap my head around “what’s next?”
At iPexpert we strive to stay ahead of the proverbial curve within the training market; so immediately after analyzing the impact of the changes (and subsequently drinking quite a bit of beer), we began planning and calculating the changes that we would need in order to adapt to the new version of the exam.
We will most definitely be updating our product portfolio to accommodate the changes. This includes, but is not limited to our:
• CCIE Data Center, Volume 1 – Technology Workbook
• CCIE Data Center, Volume 2 – Full-Scale Mock Lab Workbook
• CCIE Data Center Lab VoD
• CCIE Data Center Written VoD
• CCIE Data Center Lab Bootcamps (Live and Online)
• CCIE Data Center Rack Rental Options
Many topics have remained consistent between the two blueprints, however much has been added. So, within the workbooks and VoD series, some of the first topics I plan to attack are:
• VXLAN
o Flood and Learn
o eVPN
o Etc.
• Layer 3
o PFR
o LISP
o BGP (iBGP and eBGP)
o Etc.
• ITD
• ACI (et all)
While there are more topics that have been added, these are the ones that immediately drew my attention. Honestly, protocols such as LISP and BGP have needed to appear on this exam for quite a while now, so I’m happy to finally see them added! Topics such as ACI however, were a bit of a surprise to me. I expected to see the Nexus 9K’s make an initial appearance in standalone (NX-OS) mode, so the addition of the entire ACI solution was shocking! Again, I am happy to see it, but there is going to be quite a learning curve, I believe, for candidates wanting to learn this product at the expert level.
Now, the topic I’m sure everybody is wondering about… online CCIE Data Center Racks. Who will provide these super-expensive racks for everybody to practice upon? Let’s face it, it’s going to be borderline impossible to build home racks to practice on (unless VIRL gets substantially better, and the ACI emulator starts getting pushed for free ); not to mention, the CCIE program itself requires hands-on practice. Will we be modifying our racks to accommodate this new blueprint? Short answer is: Yes! Below is a high-level breakdown of what we plan on doing:
• Decommissioning our technology racks and moving to 6 full-scale mock racks
• Replacing all 7K SUP1’s with SUP2E’s
• Replacing all M1 and F1 cards with newer F3 modules
• Replacing all 5548-UP’s with the new 5672-UP’s
• Replacing 6140 FI’s with 6248-UP’s
• Taking out all MDS 9222i’s
• Taking out ACE’s
• Adding an APIC controller, 93xx Spine, and multiple 93xx Leaf switches
We believe that this, along with the existing UCS chassis and server blades, will give us enough flexibility to train all of you for this new CCIE DC (v2) blueprint!
We’ve already ordered our first full-scale rack, and I’ve begun the planning and outlining of our new content. With that being said, I will be designing our new content to fit into our new methodology – which will allow us to release content in a very applicable fashion. We’ll start releasing a each section of our Volume 1 Workbook along with the DSG and Video on Demand recordings that fall into this technology breakout. I’ll also be scheduling my Workbook Mentoring Sessions to coordinate with this, so students can watch along and ask questions as I’m completing each lab on a new rack of V2 hardware from my HD studio, located where I’m based – in Tulsa.
Once I finish the Volume 1 Workbook, we’ll be decommissioning all of our V1 racks, except 1, and then pushing the V2 racks live for your usage. I’ll then start on our course content. Our last V1 DC course is scheduled for June 13th, and I’ll be delivering that online. The first V2 course will be happening in late July or August (we may run this immediately after Cisco Live, in Vegas, starting July 18th, but that’s not set in stone). If it doesn’t happen then, we may be looking at August 1st for this first V2 course.
Upon completion of our course content, I’ll jump over to the Volume 2 Workbook (5 Mock Lab Scenarios) and Detailed Solution Guide (along with Video Solutions).
The final phase of this will be me conducting a CCIE Data Center V2 Written course, online. This will be a recorded course, which we’ll then make available as our V2 Written VoD.
We’d like to forewarn everyone – that this rollout of new content won’t be instant. It will likely span over the course of 2016 (at least through Q3). However, as I mentioned, we’ll be releasing this in bits and pieces, so you’ll be able to digest each topic and technology in a strategic, laid out fashion. Another bonus is that customers who are currently subscribers will be eligible for all V2 updates as they’re released!
Well, that covers my update. We’ve received a large number of inquiries, and I wanted our DC candidates to let you know our plan, and that we are already taking this very seriously, and moving forward to support you throughout this blueprint change! It’s an exciting time for us, we’re excited, because we couldn’t agree with Cisco more – this is what a DC lab should entail!
Stay tuned for more announcements and updates. These will be made available on our blog, as well as my CCIE Data Center Study Group (on Facebook).
-Jason
Jason Lunde is iPexpert’s CCIE Data Center Program Manager & Sr. Technical Instructor. Jason Lunde is a dual CCIE who passed the R&S v4 lab in 2011, and the data center lab in December of 2013, both on his first attempt. He also holds a BS in CIS from Colorado State University, and a MS in Infosec. Mgmt. from Colorado Technical Institute. Jason has been in and around the networking industry for over a decade, and his real-world expertise spans many verticals such as oil & gas, education, banking, entertainment, and retail. Jason’s continued hands-on expertise makes him one of the only CCIE Data Center instructors on the planet who has the luxury of true, large-scale, enterprise hands-on experience along with several years of classroom and training experience.
