As part of the CCDE Practical (Lab) development, Cisco had planned to run a beta test beginning at Networkers in June. This beta test would actually certify an individual as a CCDE for the few (if any) who passed. Cisco would use this beta test to track its progress on the test's development and content.
Just two weeks ago, Cisco sent an e-mail asking CCDE Beta Team members if they were available to take the CCDE Practical Beta at Networkers:
From: Cisco CCDE Team
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 8:52 PM
To: <>
Subject: CCDE Beta Availability -- Orlando?Dear CCDE Beta Participant:
The CCDE program team is in the process of mapping out the logistics of the beta delivery of the CCDE practical exam.
In an effort to forecast our beta deliveries, we would like your feedback regarding your availability and ability to participate in the beta process of the practical exam. Our primary beta delivery venue will be immediately prior to the Cisco Live event in Orlando, co-located in Orlando Fl. It will be an 8-hour practical exam delivered the over the weekend of June 21-22, 2008. Please indicate your availability to participate in this delivery by responding to the CCDE beta alias <>.
Please indicate if you will be available and prepared to participate in the CCDE practical exam. As you know, we need a sizeable sample for the beta. We really appreciate your candid feedback.
Logistics including locations are still in development. We will relay them to you as soon as we have details.
Thank you,
Cisco CCDE Team
I immediately replied saying I could take the test on Sunday, before Networkers gets into full swing on Monday and Tuesday.
But then this week, to my astonishment, Cisco cancelled the entire practical beta test, instead going right to the practical exam later in the year:
From: Cisco CCDE Team
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 3:39 PM
To: <>
Subject: Orlando Beta StatusDear CCDE Beta Participants:
Recently, we sent you a message inquiring on your availability to participate in a BETA delivery of the CCDE practical exam (exam 2) at the upcoming Cisco Live! Event in Orlando. We sincerely appreciate all responses to the inquiry and we appreciate your candor in communicating your availability during the June 2008 event.
Due to program changes and feature enhancements, we have removed the need to deliver a large scale BETA version of the CCDE practical exam. The nature of the CCDE practical exam delivery will enable us to move forward with our first delivery in a production environment without the need to develop a “cut score” in the traditional way we do with our current exams. Also, the exclusivity and low volume of the CCDE practical exam enables us to control the delivery environment so we can offer improved security and more meaningful test results to our candidates. In effect, this enables us to better preserve the value placed on the certification, as well as ensure that integrity of the exam will remain intact for the individuals who are truly Sr. level Designers and Architects.
In the next few weeks we will be communicating to you the various details of the CCDE practical exam, including the exam blueprint, our exhibits and breakout sessions at the Cisco Live event, and various ways you can preview the testing environment for the CCDE practical exam.
Again, we appreciate your efforts and sacrifices to be a part of the BETA pool for the CCDE certification, and we look forward to sharing more details with you in the near future.
On behalf of the CCDE team,
Thank you,
Cisco CCDE Team
I spoke with a CCDE team member and he indicated they are still on track to deliver the practical exam in the fall. The need for a beta test, like the one they conducted for the written exam, was unnecessary based on their analysis of the practical format and their internal progress on the test.
Still, it seems awkward that the new, expert level design certification will be released to the public without a test run. Sort of like running your core routers on 12.5(99)T code.
More >From the Field blog entries:
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No Love For Central Office Techs
Go to Cisco Subnet for more Cisco news, blogs, discussion forums, security alerts, book giveaways, and more.
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 large-scale IT networking projects and develops and maintains architectural standards for data networks, storage area networks, IP Telephony, and security. Michael is a CCIE and 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. Recently, he was awarded the Network Professional Association (NPA) Professional Excellence and Innovation Award for his work on network architecture, templates and enterprise MPLS design.
The opinions expressed in this Weblog are those of the writer and may not represent the opinions of Network World.
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RE: CCDE Beta Practical
“Sort of like running your core routers on 12.5(99)T code."
I thought the same thing when I received the email. I hope that they are as detailed in the practical blueprint as they were in the written blueprint, and moreover would hope that they at least throw us a bone in relation to the format and grading of the exam.
Spending 1450 (or whatever the price may be) on a test that was never in Beta and is very subjective is a bit worrisome. On the flip side I can appreciate the level of effort that is being exerted to try and protect the “integrity” of the certification. Time will tell if this new approach will be successful. It’s too bad they cut out the Techtorial at Networkers; I guess we’ll have to get by with a 2 hour breakout session.
Jason Viera
CCIE 12534
Lining up to donate my 1400
I got that email too, and scratched my head about what exactly is going to happen. Quite a few of us are making a large personal investment to prepare for an exam that is full of questions marks. Heck, except for a very small minority, none of us even have a clue about what format or structure the test will be structured around. At least when there is a new CCIE we can be reasonable assured that we have to know how to configure the items in the blueprint EXTREMELY fast.
Without a beta at networkers, I am pretty sure that those of us in the beta program who are likely to be the first test takers are signing up for a 1400 dollar donation program to Cisco.
Just my 2 cents (or 1400 dollars)
Colin McNamara
CCIE #18233
RE: Cisco Donations
"Without a beta at networkers, I am pretty sure that those of us in the beta program who are likely to be the first test takers are signing up for a 1400 dollar donation program to Cisco."
I would have to agree. For a CCIE exam I wouldn't be as concerned becuase there is in many cases only one correct solution in Cisco's eyes,; either your configuration works or it doesn't. The grading of this exam could lend itself to be somewhat subjective, and that is what scares me. Not sure I'm interested in a $1400 (+Travel) donation to Cisco.
;-)
Jason Viera
CCIE#12534
Clearing the Air on the CCDE Practical Beta Exam
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/27000
Mike
Are you serious??
I am so tired of the haughty attitude and whining of "cisco professionals"! OK, so you're a CCIE. And now you're getting ready to test for CCDE. And you're soooo concerned about "donating" 1400 to Cisco, because you don't know what will be on the test. Wah wah wah. If you are cut out to pass, then you will. Otherwise, you're not a CCDE, right? And I'm sure that as a CCIE, your wallet will not suffer very much. Most CCIE's are around 150K, so please quit whining about how roguh you have it. Try serving in the Army, or being a waiter. Pathetic!
RE: Are you serious??
Wow, tell us how you really feel. :-(
And, yes, I have served in the Army. 4 years as an officer and paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne.
Mike
Re: Are you serious??
So I haven’t served in the Military or been a waiter, but have worked 12 hour night shifts in a paper mill on the plant floor, and have worked as a painter in 120 heat. So yes I can relate to what you might qualify as hard work, and I would ask you to consider the amount of time, effort, and sacrifice that many of us "cisco professionals" have put in to be where we are today. On a separate and unrelated note I’m personally not aware of any CCIEs that heat their home by burning $100 bills in their fireplace (Someone please correct me if I’m mistaken).
Jason
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