Good news today. I passed the CCDE Written Beta Exam.
The question is - "can you?"
The beta period is over and Cisco, today, officially launched the CCDE Written exam. The CCDE Practical (lab) comes later this year.
In keeping with Cisco's intent to have the CCDE at the same level of the CCIE tracks, the CCDE written exam is tough. Cisco is expecting about 30% passing rate on the written beta exam. Taking a look at the blueprint shows a lot of topics that may not be common knowledge. Do you know what "fate sharing" is? How about "EIGRP considerations for point-to-multipoint" interfaces?
It's an impressive list that good network engineers and architects should know. As I wrote about before, the CCDE is separating the network engineers from the techs. Now, the CCIE makes you a technical expert. The CCDE makes you an engineer.
Will you step up to the challenge?
CCDE Intro Page
CCDE Program Page
CCDE "At a Glance" PDF
CCDE PowerPoint Overview
Insight on the New Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) and Network Infrastructure Architect Certification
Insight on the New Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) - Part II
Insight on the New Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) - Part III
Took the CCDE Written Beta Test Today
Separating Network Design and the CCIE
More Thoughts on Network Engineers and the CCDE
Will Cisco's Master Architect Certification Test Leadership?
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Michael Morris is a communications engineering manager at a $3-billion high-tech company. His background is in enterprise WANs working with telcos and developing large-scale routing designs. He has worked on networks at government and corporate organizations, including networks at two Fortune 10 companies. In his current role, he leads a team of 10 engineers responsible for large-scale IT networking projects and architectural standards for data networks, storage area networks, IP telephony, contact centers, and security. Michael is CCIE #11733 and recently became one of the first three Cisco Certified Design Experts (CCDE) ever (#20080002). He has 11 years experience in networking and communications, including four years as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. He has a bachelor's degree in MIS from the University at Buffalo and is working on his MBA from NC State University. In 2008, he was awarded the Network Professional Association (NPA) Professional Excellence and Innovation Award for his work on network architecture, templates and enterprise MPLS design.
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Congrats!
I'm glad you passed! I know a few others I talked to were taking the written at Networkers Barcelona, and I know at least two who passed this week, the first week the written exam is up and running. I spent a lot of time in Barcelona talking to folks about it, as well--we're going to try and get more information about the practical out in the next month, I hope. We're shooting to be ready for the beta at Networkers Orlando....
The practical has been hard to write, but we are halfway through the material we need to launch the beta, and we're confident we can plow through the rest before then, get it all psychometrically reviewed, etc.
It would be great to hear about other's experiences with this test.
Russ
Congrats!
I'm glad you passed! I know a few others I talked to were taking the written at Networkers Barcelona, and I know at least two who passed this week, the first week the written exam is up and running. I spent a lot of time in Barcelona talking to folks about it, as well--we're going to try and get more information about the practical out in the next month, I hope. We're shooting to be ready for the beta at Networkers Orlando....
The practical has been hard to write, but we are halfway through the material we need to launch the beta, and we're confident we can plow through the rest before then, get it all psychometrically reviewed, etc.
It would be great to hear about other's experiences with this test.
Russ
Great Exam!
I do agree with Michael though, about half way through the exam I developed one heck of a headache!
I figured it was from staring at those high-quality monitors at the Vue testing center set at that "minimally necessary" resolution! :)
There were some questions with problems, but one expects that in a beta. All in all though I was impressed with the breadth of topics that were asked on the lab. Some thing I knew off the top of my head, other things I had to stare at a while, and a few (like Michael noted) I had absolutely no idea.
The only thing I'd add is a few "Layer 1" questions when it comes to things like ethernet network design and cabling choices. While that's never been a strong spot from many designers' viewpoint, it's definitely something that can impact the usefulness of a network in the long-run, and it also represents one of the most expensive pieces to fix and/or replace!
Anyway, enough on that fun. It was a good exam, and I'm looking forward to seeing the progress of things on the practical testing side!
Great work thus far!
Scott
Congrats
thats great news... I've tried time and again to study for the CCIE but more often than not I stumble because I'm more interested in how and why BGP works than - as you said it - which command to use to adjust timers. I've been out of the field for about two years and looking to get back into it and the CCDE seems like the perfect way to show prospective employers that I have a good grasp of the basics...
Looking at the recommended reading list, would you suggest the more important ones that should be read first and then which ones can be glanced over? I've finished the TCP/IP routing vol 1 and 2 already...
RE: Congrats
That's a tough one I cannot really answer. I would align the reading list:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccde/booklist.html
with the blueprint:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccde/ccde_exam_information.html
And develop your own list. I would recommend an intense focus on routing protocols and MPLS.
Michael J. Morris
CCIE #11733, JNCIA