« May 2008 | Main | July 2008 »
June 30, 2008
More CCNA Voice Information
Cisco has just launched a new learning site that has great info about all the new certifications. Click here to check it out.
One of the documents they posted to the site is excellent. It's the CCNA Voice prep session from the Networker's conference. If you want to get a good idea of the question types, topics, etc, download this document.
Posted by JC at 3:02 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
June 25, 2008
Training in an Alternate Universe
So...I'm sitting in the Cisco keynote speech featuring Padmasree Warrior (Cisco's new CIO) who is talking about the power of collaboration in the world. She was mentioning things like Twitter, vLogs, and Second Life...suddenly, a brilliant idea hits me: training in Second Life?!? Is it possible?
Okay, I admit, up until now, I thought Second Life was going to lead us into the Matrix...where everyone lived in and was controlled by machines. I steered clear of it. But, now I'm thinking - is it possible to deliver live, interactive classes through Second Life? Help me out here second-lifers...Here's my idea...
Build a "virtual classroom" in second life where "virtual students" can come and see a whiteboard, ask questions, watch live demos on Cisco gear, maybe even do labs themselves? Is it possible? What would it take to make it happen?
This could be really cool...
Posted by JC at 7:44 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBack
New CCNA Certifications: The Cat is Out of the Bag!
Finally, on Tuesday afternoon, Cisco announced the new CCNA-level certifications...and they are (drum roll please):
CCNA Security
CCNA Voice
CCNA Wireless
I'm actually creating the CCNA Voice Official Exam Certification Guide for Cisco Press as we speak. I've got to tell you - this certification is awesome. It completely fills a much needed gap of knowledge that's needed before you get into the CCVP program. I can't speak for the Security & Wireless certs, but in the CCNA Voice, you'll be learning:
VoIP & Legacy System Integration
CallManager Express setup
Unity Express setup
Basic QoS, Dial-Peers, and other technical nuances
Having this foundation before someone gets into a CCVP will be awesome. Yesterday afternoon, Cisco Press conducted a "podcast video interview" with me about the cert. I'll post the link as soon as it's available. I was actually interviewed by none other than Jeff Doyle (the TCP/IP routing genus) - I'm honored! Anyhow, I'm finally free to talk about this stuff, which is relieving. I'm sure I'll talk plenty about it in my 4:00pm session today at Networkers.
UPDATE: It looks like the Routing and Switching CCNA (the original) will be the prerequisite for all the other CCNA specialties.
UPDATEx2: CCVP and CCSP will now require CCNA Voice and CCNA Security as official prerequisites as of June 2009.
Here's more information, if you're interested:
Official Cisco Press Announcement
Cisco's CCNA Voice Preparation Course
Posted by JC at 5:14 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
June 20, 2008
A Cisco Tip Repository
Cisco has converted their "Reader TIPS" from the TAC newsletter into a WIKI. Plenty of cool stuff here:
http://supportwiki.cisco.com/ViewWiki/index.php/Tech_Insights:Homepage
Posted by JC at 9:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 13, 2008
My New Favorite IOS Command
I know I mentioned this command in passing a few posts ago, but this command has become so valuable to me, it needs its own post. It's the show run | section command. This allows you to define any "major heading" from the IOS configuration and it will filter the running configuration down to just those sections. This is very similar to how the ASA "show run" command works.
For example, I'm working on a book focused around CallManager Express (CME) right now. In CME, you create "ephones" which represent the IP Phones on your network. If I wanted to see the configuration for all my ephones, I can just type:
CME_Voice#show run | s ephone
max-ephones 24
ephone-dn 1
number 1000
ephone-dn 2 dual-line
number 1001
ephone-dn 3 dual-line
number 1003
ephone-dn 10 dual-line
number 1010
huntstop channel
ephone-dn 11
number 1010
preference 1
ephone 1
device-security-mode none
mac-address 0014.1C48.E71A
button 1:10
ephone 2
device-security-mode none
mac-address 0019.D122.DCF3
button 1:11
ephone 3
device-security-mode none
mac-address 0014.A89E.F845
button 1:1 2:2 3:3
ephone 4
device-security-mode none
(FYI - "s" is short for "section") As you can see, this shows all the sections of running-config that start with "ephone", which is all my ephones and ephone-dns (their directory numbers). Gotta love it!
Posted by JC at 9:11 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
June 4, 2008
Cisco Networkers is Here Again!
It's that time of year again. Starting June 23rd, Cisco Networkers kicks off in Orlando, FL...okay...who's idea was it to move this to the East coast... (ugh...3 hours earlier wake up time...)
This should be a week of technology fun - some of the sessions are a little dry, but have great information. I'll be teaching a couple CCVP certification prep sessions, so stop on by and say hello if you happen to be roaming the halls! Here's my session info:
CCVP Prep: Cisco IP Telephony Essentials, Tuesday 8:00am (Yes, that'd be 5:00am my time...I'm begging for pity on this time thing...)
CCVP Prep: Cisco IP Telephony Essentials, Wednesday, 4:00pm
I'm just excited to hear that the Blue Man Group will be performing this year along with Barenaked Ladies (who came up with that name anyway???) for the "Cisco Event".
Anyone up for karaoke on "If I had a million dollars"?
Posted by JC at 3:00 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
June 2, 2008
Cisco Command Reference
Handy tip from Cisco TAC - if you've ever wanted to generate a command guide for your router, you can use the show parser dump command. Just type show parser dump <mode> where <mode> is the config mode of the router you'd like to see. For example:
CAT3550#show parser dump interface
Mode Name :interface
0 exit
0 help
15 description
15 switchport access vlan Number
15 switchport access vlan dynamic
15 switchport host
15 switchport mode access
15 switchport mode trunk
15 switchport mode dynamic auto
15 switchport mode dynamic desirable
15 switchport mode dot1q-tunnel
15 switchport trunk allowed vlan add
15 switchport trunk allowed vlan remove
15 switchport trunk allowed vlan except
15 switchport trunk allowed vlan all
15 switchport trunk allowed vlan none
15 switchport trunk allowed vlan
15 switchport trunk encapsulation isl
15 switchport trunk encapsulation dot1q
15 switchport trunk encapsulation negotiate
...
Generates a list of all commands from interface configuration mode. You can even see all the sub-commands and syntax description by typing show parser dump <mode> extend.
Posted by JC at 2:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack