brkcrt-3004 - cisco certified architect how to complete the journey from ccie to ccde to ccar (2014...

Cisco Certified Architect: How to Complete the Journey from CCIE to CCDE to CCAr

BRKCRT-3004

Bill Parkhurst – Chief Network Architect - CCIE# 2969 CCDE# 20070005 [email protected]

Elaine Lopes – CCDE and CCAr Exam Product Manager – Cisco – CCIE# 4478 [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

© 2014 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. BRKCRT-3004 Cisco Public

Agenda

• Introduction

• Overview and History of CCIE, CCDE and CCAr

• The BIG Picture – Architecture vs. Design

• Technology Architecture Examples

• CCAr Certification Process and Preparation

• Conclusion

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Overview CCIE, CCDE and CCAr

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Overview: CCIE and CCDE Tracks

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Security

• Expert level knowledge of security

and VPN solutions

• Demonstrate in-depth

understanding of Layer 2 and 3

network infrastructure; Solid

understanding of Windows, Unix,

Linux and HTTP, SMTP, FTP and

DNS

Service Provider

•Expert level knowledge of IP

fundamentals and technologies

Expertise in building an extensible

service provider network

•Expert level knowledge to

troubleshoot and maintain complex

service provider networks

Data Center

•Expert level knowledge of Data

Center Technologies, including DC

infrastructure, storage, compute and

virtualization

•Capable of building, configuring,

and troubleshooting an end-to-end

virtualized Data Center using Cisco

DC technologies

Wireless

•Expert level knowledge of WLAN

technologies

•Provides next step for individuals

interested in a career in managing or

working with Cisco wireless

technologies

Design

•Expert level knowledge of

network design principles for the

Layer 2 and 3 network

infrastructure

•Capable of assessing and

translating network business

requirements into technical

designs

Routing &

Switching • Expert level knowledge of

networking across LAN and WAN

interfaces and variety of routers and

switches

• Solve complex connectivity

problems to increase bandwidth,

improve response times, maximize

performance, and support global

operations

Collaboration

•Expert level knowledge of Cisco

Voice over IP (VoIP) products and

solutions

•Capable of building and configuring

complex end-to-end telephony

network, troubleshooting and

resolving VoIP-related problems

SP Operations

•Expert level knowledge of SP IP

NGN technologies

•Capable of troubleshooting SP

networks, managing SP processes

(incident, fault, change,

configuration, and performance),

and knowledge of NMS technology


Cisco Certified Design Expert

• No pre-requisites

• 2-hour written exam

– Design Theory

– Protocol Operation

– Technology Operation

• 8-hour scenario-based practical exam

– Analyze design requirements

– Develop network designs

– Implement network design

– Validate and optimize network design

CCDE

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Cisco Certified Architect

• Highest-level Cisco certification

• Valid CCDE CCAr Application and Interview Board Exam CCAr

• Focused on

– Infrastructure (Technology)

– Business requirements and Long Term Architecture

– Conflict resolution and communication skills

• Not focused on

– Technology implementation

– Detailed deployment

– Processes and standards

– Application, enterprise, IT or solutions architect

CCAr

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Cisco Certified Architect - Definition

“A Cisco Certified Architect gathers the business requirements and technical objectives necessary to produce a blueprint for an integrated, large-scale, complex, possibly global network. He or she can translate business parameters and objectives into functional requirements for a network design. In addition, Cisco Certified Architects can clearly communicate and advocate proposed network architectures which meet both business and technical requirements.”

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History CCIE to CCDE to CCAr

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1993

“The CCIE Program begins

where other vendors'

certification programs leave

off," said John Chambers,

Cisco senior vice president.

CCIE Program

Introduced

2000

CCIE Design

Introduced…

and Retired

2002

CCDE

Program

Development

(with Cap Gemini)

2004

CCDE

Program

On Hold

2007

CCDE

Program

Development

2008

CCDE

Introduced

2009

CCAr

Development

2010

CCAr

Introduced

The industry is moving from products to solutions to architectures

2012

CCDE

v2

2014

CCDE

Expanded

Footprint

The BIG Picture


Audience Participation

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What is

Architecture?

What is

Design?

What is the

difference?


The Big Picture

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Business

Requirements

and Constraints (Use Cases)

Customer Architecture Design Implementation

Conceptual Logical Physical

What

and Why

How With

What

Functional

Specification (Properties of the

network to support

the use cases)

Design (A realization of

the architecture)


The Big Picture

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Design Implementation

Logical Physical

How With

What

Design (Realization of

the ?)

? Without an architecture a

Design is just a guess


Architecture Design and Deployment

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CCAr

CCDE

CCIE

Overlap

Overlap

Architecture

Design

Deployment


Definitions

• Product

– An individual piece of hardware or software

• System

– One or more products (hardware and software) that serve a specific requirement

• Technical Solution

– The application of one or more systems to meet a business requirement.

• Design

– An integrated set of solutions that meet the business requirements of the customer

– A realization of an architecture (not THE realization)

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Architecture – Which One?

• Business Architecture

– The business strategy, governance, structure, and key business processes of the organization

• Technology (Infrastructure) Architecture

– A blueprint for an integrated, large-scale, complex, network environment

• Solution Architecture

– Description of how the functional elements of a solution are assigned to their constituent sections or subsystems, and how they interact.

• Product Architecture

– Description of how the functional elements of a product are assigned to their constituent sections or subsystems, and how they interact.

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Architecture Components

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Products

Systems

Solutions

Technology

Architectures

Technology Integration

Custo

mer R

ele

vance


Architecture Components Connected Stadiums

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Connected Stadium

Wireless

Access

Ticketing Stadium

Vision

Physical

Security

Point of

Sale

Digital

Signage

Unified

Communications

Network

Infrastructure

Digital Content Manager

Encoders

Transcoders

Demodulators

Digital Media Player

Stadium Vision Director

Unified Communications

Manager

Unified IP Phone

Video Distribution Switch

Access Switch

Core/Distribution Router

Multicast

Traffic Separation

Use Case

Solutions

Systems

Products

Technology

Architecture

Technology Architecture – Examples from the Real World


Architecture Examples Connected Stadiums – Gather, clarify, and analyze business and technical requirements

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Understand Business Use Cases and the solutions that support them:

• Ticketing

• Point of Sale

• Telephony

• Video

• Wireless Access

• Video Surveillance

• Building Control


Architecture Examples Connected Stadiums – Identify critical, incomplete, conflicting, and unrealistic requirements

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Understand the network requirements and limitations of each solution and how they interact:

• Ticketing – Vendor deploys their own layer-2 network…unacceptable. All solutions must run on the same network infrastructure

• Point of Sale – PCI compliance (for ticketing too)

• Wireless Access – Unrealistic number of users, free and paid access – can we do that?

• Regulatory considerations?

• League considerations? (NBA, NFL, MLB, etc.)


Architecture Examples Connected Stadiums – Develop a functional specification for the network that supports all the required solutions

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Be able to articulate your approach

• To a business audience

Demonstrate an understanding of the business

Tie everything in the network back to a business requirement/objective

• To a technical audience

Communicate rational for technology decisions and direction based on business objectives

Demonstrate technical expertise

Certification Process and Preparation


Skills

• Gather, clarify, analyze requirements

– Business requirements

– Technical requirements

– Align business and technical goals and direction

– Perform cursory rough estimations for new or changing requirements and/or informal what‐ifs and requests

• Develop functional specification for network

– Devise a solution

– Perform risk analysis (Technologies, Security, Legal, Dependencies)

• Create a road map

– Create a migration and transition strategy

• Convey decisions and rationale

– Communicate to a business audience

– Communicate to a technical audience

• Demonstrate technical expertise

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Preparation

• There are no formal training programs for CCAr

– Assumption is the CCAr candidate brings into the program the required experience and expertise

• Experience is key

– Lead or co-lead more than one reasonably complex technology architecture project

– Work with the customer’s senior leadership on both the business and technical sides

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Summary

• Distinct differences exist between CCIE, CCDE, and CCAr

– Much time/effort/input spent in developing the Architect certification

• Details about CCAr

– Relationship between architecture, design, and implementation

– Important Skills: • Gathering, clarifying, and analyzing requirements

• Developing functional specification for network

• Creating a road map

• Conveying decisions and rationale

• Demonstrating technical expertise

– Process, Evaluation and Preparation

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Certification Process • Step One – Application and Interview

• Submit payment – USD $3,750

• Submit application materials: resume, networking architecture project, supporting project materials, agreement to resume and project verification, NDA

– Observe Exam Topics and Evaluation Criteria

• Participate in phone interview process

• Step Two – Board Exam

• Submit payment – USD $11,250

• Develop and defend an architecture which supports a given set of business requirements

– Applicant receives the scenario, prepares and submits a solution

– Applicant presents findings and proposed solution to board panel of judges

– Board introduces a scope change to which the applicant must respond

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Panel of judges determine if submission

meets criteria for admission to Board

Exam

Selective process; not all applicants are expected to qualify for

Board Review

Panel of judges

determine if solution

meets criteria to grant

the Cisco Certified

Architect certification


Evaluation

• CCIE

– Candidates are evaluated on performing a series of tasks

– Specific and well defined outcomes (end-state)

• CCDE

– Good and distracter information is provided to set the context, and candidate is evaluated for making solid decisions within that context

– Multiple valid outcomes are possible (end-state and branches)

• CCAr

– Judged by a 3-person committee of CCArs

– Each judge makes an individual decision regarding the candidate within established criteria

– Judgments follow strict scoring rubrics

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Recertification

• CCAr certification is valid for 5 years

• To stay current, on the last 24 months before the expiration deadline the CCArs need to:

– Contribute to CCAr exam development; and

– Participate as judge on the Application and Interview process for 2 candidates (if not approved to progress to the Board Exam, OR on both Application and Interview and Board Exam for 1 candidate

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References

• CCAr https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/cisco_certified_architect

– Blueprint: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-6356

• CCDE https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccde

– Practical blueprint https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccde/practical_exam?tab=studylearn

– Written blueprint https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccde/written_exam?tab=2

– Cisco Press http://www.ciscopress.com

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https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/cisco_certified_architect


https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-6356





https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccde/practical_exam?tab=studylearn


https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccde/written_exam?tab=2


http://www.ciscopress.com/



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brkcrt-3004 - cisco certified architect how to complete the journey from ccie to ccde to ccar (2014...

Documents

cisco andor

network design ccde

cisco public overview

ccar brkcrt

network designs

network infrastructure

design requirements

knowledge of nms technology