ISDN Dead for CCIEs!!

I just received the following mail out from Cisco.

These changes are also reflected in the online blueprint:

formatting link
I guess this means a drop in the cost of ISDN simulators now, huh?

"On January 1, 2006, Cisco will make the following content changes in CCIE lab exams to reflect current networking practices:

- Routing and switching written and lab exams will no longer include the following protocols or media types: DLSW, IS-IS, ISDN, PPP over Ethernet, and ATM.

- Security lab exams will no longer test on ISDN technology, and ATM will no longer be used as a Layer 2 transport protocol for WAN connectivity.

- Voice lab exams will no longer use ATM as a Layer 2 transport protocol for WAN connectivity.

Note: CCIE Service Provider lab exams will continue to test ATM and IS-IS, as they are widely deployed in service provider networks."

Reply to
yamahasw40
Loading thread data ...

It brings a tear to my eyes....

Reply to
John Agosta

That's stupid.

While I have yet to run into live IS-IS, I cannot count the number of times having an ISDN backup circuit would have saved the customer's butt.

There are way too many idiots out there with 256 and 512k frame-relay circuits with no backup, and when those circuits go down, they always say that they are losing billions an hour because it is down.

Now, with ISDN being removed, there will be even less chance that circuit will be backed up.

Hey, maybe they will remove frame-relay traffic shaping next.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Reply to
Anthrax

Sure it is, we just removed the incentive to learn it.

ISDN was the only area I got 100% on.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Maybe for this test it is, but not in the real world. Those points on the test could be some of the hardest most time consuming tasks, so its a bonus for those who havent passed yet.

Reply to
jw

Considering that the primary driving force behind all of Cisco's exams is TAC, the real world most decidedly is reflected by the exam.

Listen to the cheers and joy, I doubt it was the easy section (even though it was for me, but I did ISDN every day when I took the lab).

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Since when this exam reflects a real world?

Maybe that is one of the reason of removal? Probably too many people got

100% on it ;-).
Reply to
Ivan

My guess is that if they follow this course, they will remove OSPF and Frame-Relay from the exam shortly.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

------->

Reply to
Anthrax

Agreed. ISDN is a bread and butter technology. Almost every larger environment has some of it and I personally thinks is a foundation which should be known in this biz.

Reply to
Billl George

Removing IDSN is not real world, removing token-ring switching was. I had both in my labs. TR switching was easy and I have never seen it since, ISDN differnet story.

Reply to
jw

The trend of eliminating ISDN is right, though. I cannot backup my ever-increasing bandwidth circuis with ISDN. At least in many international locations I support the network for may company, I run min 2Mbps port speed connections (in the States we are behind in decent technology), and ISDN would do nothing to back such things up. IN fact, based on another aspecct requiring backup (possibility of cables being cut in the ground, in the proximity of the building), I would almost always loose both the primary and the ISDN.

Bottom line - today - the backup needs to be of the same capability as the primary, and the ISDN won't cut it, anymore. In countries like UK, Germany, Netherlands, Costa RIca, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, China, etc, the approach I am using is one land line, and another (of same capacity) is microwave of some sort. In the US we are still forced to use land-land (primary-backup), but more like "nT1" active, and site-to-site VPN for passive, over SDSL, for example.

Just my $0.02, papi

Reply to
papi
Reply to
Brandon Bennett

Agreed. I've been bidding on ISDN sims on ebay for the last few months, but given that I've got to pass a couple of specialisation Certs for work before I can look at the IE again, I wasn't bidding to win... just hoping for a bargain.

Now that ISDN and ATM have gone from R&S, there's a good slab of lab equipment I wont need to for out for. I think I'll now consider buying a Cat3550 or two (closer to the date - then onsell them once I've passed).

Does anybody know anything about the Dial track of the CCIE SP? Is there any ISDN backup involved in either the core or option part? Its not clear from the blueprint.

In terms of "real world" though, I think ISDN is still important to some extent. The underlying technology still runs around the place, even if 2B+D doesn't come into the customer premises. However, if you are dealing with that sort of stuff, you are going to learn it anyway. In a few years it may be a point of differentiation. Then again, in a few years it may all be 10gigE end-to-end. :)

Matt

Reply to
yamahasw40

While I would agree that an ISDN line is not going to back up a 3MB IMA pipe, but having a 128k backup is better than nothing.

And most people are doing the 'nothing' and going ballistic when they don't even have the 128k...

No, it doesn't.

It needs to restore as much functionality as possible.

I would rather have 128k than nothing at all.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Well, that is one area where ISDN isn't going away... I work on CCM clusters all the time and nothing (and I mean, nothing) beats a PRI for trunking voice lines.

I know Cisco is a big fan of CAS lines, but I don't have a single customer using the bloody things.

Jonathan

Reply to
Jonathan

Cabling-Design.com Forums website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.