Let's not split hairs here, as I doubt Cisco is/would. I agree with Ed's
last statement
Cisco provides a list of topics for the exam. We can express our personal
opinion of TECHNOLOGY that we think is important for a career regardless if
it appears on an exam. Even if that opinion has been influenced by test
questions, we still would not violate the NDA if we phrased our question
and answer in terms of GAINING KNOWLEDGE rather than passing an
exam. Relating the question or answer as it pertains to the test is a
violation.
Why not keep it simple - leave the fact of a test question out of the
inquiry. Besides, what is the REAL goal of us being here - to pass an exam
or to gain knowledge to enhance our career? (Seriously, ask yourself this
question and you will gain insight to your career.) One may influence the
other, but the REAL reward as I see it comes from the knowledge we
gain. Who gets ahead faster - the paper tiger or the engineer who gained
knowledge through experience and research?
Back to the topic...If your real desire is to gain knowledge and
understanding, how does mentioning the test in your post here have anything
to do with this? Sure you want to pass, but post your question in terms
and context of gaining knowledge, not passing a test.
What is the difference between "On the such-and-such test, they ask what is
the purpose of a subnet mask. Please help." and "What is the purpose of
the subnet mask? Please help." I think either question would get the same
response. The only difference is that the wording of the first question
CAN be considered a violation of the NDA.
Cisco CAN NOT include public knowledge in the NDA - they can only protect
things that pertain to their tests. I think if we do not mention the test
when we ask questions - even those requiring specific detail - we will
still get the answer we are looking for, but without violating the NDA. I
believe had Elijah Landreth, the originator of this thread, asked his
questions without framing them around a test, we would not have had so much
of an uproar and he MAY have gotten all his questions answered!!
So how about this for a "policy": Regarding TESTS - don't ask about it,
don't tell about it. Cisco provides all the information they want us to
know. Regarding networking, let's teach one another all we can.
-Eddie
At 02:47 PM 1/14/01 -0600, Ed Moss wrote:
>This does cause a bit of confusion.... I took the CCIE writen twice. I saw
>the same question on each test. It was in the format of select all that
>apply. After each test, I looked and looked on CCO to find the possible
>answer. I researched each of the possible answers that I was presented...
>and still was unable to find the correct "Cisco" answer. I do like to know
>where I went wrong - how can I ask this, without violating the NDA?
>I mean exactly where is the line that will violate the NDA. How many have
>read version 7 of the Cisco Career Certifications Agreement? In the
>agreement they make a very broad statent regarding "proprietary inforamtion"
>that includes:
>Section 6... "questions, answers, worksheets, diagrams, lenghth and/or
>number of exam segments and/or questions, or any communication, including
>verbal communication regarding or related to the exam..."
>
>In the broadest sence, I take this to mean, if it was on the test, we can
>not discuss the topic as it relates to the test. If this is the case,
>everyone on the list is guilty! Case in point, If I took the test,
>and saw a question that is related to decoding the RIF, and someone is going
>to take the test asks "how is the RIF put together." Under the agreement,
>that would be confidential. Even if Cisco has previously disclosed this
>information!
>
>Hmmm... even in Secion 8, Conduct of Business, of the agreement, "... shall
>conduct his business in a manner which reflects favorably upon the
>products, services, reputaion and goodwill of Cisco..." Does this mean that
>if we work for a reseller, and a customer asks us to compare Cisco's product
>X to Competitor's product Y, that we have to say the Cisco product is
>better? I mean if we say that the competitor's product is better, it
>dosen't "refelct favorably" upon the Cisco product, even if it is true!
>
>The above are taken to the extreme. In my mind, a violation is if I ask "I
>had this question on the exam, what are the answers". Or if I say "I had
>the following on my exam...."
>
>If someone asks a question, with the intent of learning the technology, and
>not to just pass the exam, I will help where I can. Of course, the grey
>area of violating the NDA is out there somewhere.
>
>Ed
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