We could debate the TR vs. Ethernet thing 'till the cows come home.... Are there any "new" Token-Ring networks being deployed? Probably not.
Unfortunately, there are still a TON of Token-Ring networks in use. Lately, I've seen these in financial settings mostly. I know of one brokerage company (who shall remain anonymous) that recently moved some "legacy" AS/400's from one location to another and had to update a bunch of DLSw peering statements (~200) so a customer contact database application still worked. The Financial industry (banks, brokerages, etc.) is notorious for using really old technology. Anyone ever see how ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) networks are built? There are a lot of them still running on analog multi-drop 4.8K lines. Some of the "on-line" brokerages send their orders via old bi-synch or x.25 technology rather than the various IP-based methods available (don't believe all the commercials you see to the contrary). What are the chances that a CCIE candidate will see Token-Ring in a production network? I guess it depends on the industry they work in. Up until a year ago CCIE candidates needed to know AppleTalk for the lab; I would bet that the percentage of engineers who have to support TR/DLSw/Bridging in their regular jobs is quite a bit higher than those who support AppleTalk networks. (sorry Priscilla :) Cisco may remove TR at some point just as they did with AT and DECNet, etc. but for now it's on the test so buck-up and learn it :) My $0.02 Ben -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Priscilla Oppenheimer Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 8:19 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Off Topic - CCIE LAB and NDA [7:34244] Token Ring is still on the written because Cisco doesn't seem to have the resources to update the test?? Is it still on the lab? (Or can't you tell me because of NDA?) ;-) I haven't run into a Token Ring shop that wasn't planning to update to Ethernet in a long time. But that "planning to update" can take years...... Priscilla At 12:32 AM 2/3/02, Chuck Larrieu wrote: >before I shut down for the evening, a few random thoughts on the CCIE Lab >and NDA. Inspired by several posts here of late from persons asking about >topology, IOS versions, or speaking of rumors about equipment changes. > >1) It is unclear what really constitutes NDA. Caslow? The ECP1 class? NLI's >practice labs? Caslow's new prep class? Cisco's own ASET lab? All of these >could be considered violations of NDA in many ways, from topic content to >lab topology. Cisco's own ASET program used real but "retired" CCIE labs. > >2) what is it Cisco really considers CCIE level skill? In the past, things >like DecNet, Apollo, and Vines were core topics. Cisco has recently dropped >those, plus ATM LANE, presumably in response to market conditions. Which >leads one to ask - why token ring? The only real world token ring project I >have been involved with the past couple of years is ripping them out and >replacing them with ethernet. The apologia that there are still some major >token ring networks around is a bit lame. There are still some major DecNet >networks around, I'm sure. Until very recently ( and maybe they still are ), >a major utility company out this way was still running Vines. As was the U.S >Navy. > >3) Is the CCIE a forward looking certification or not? Based on what I am >seeing in the marketplace, the advanced skill levels that one needs to meet >demand center around VPN, VoIP, wireless, security, and the underlying >infrastructure required to support these technologies. that means lots of >QoS, switching, L2-L3 interaction, ATM, giga-whatever, etc. > >I would purely love to see discussed good focused discussion on core >competencies, core issues. But there is that awful specter of NDA that hangs >over all of our heads. > >In a very strange way, NDA is kinda like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. >We all know what's in the Lab. We all know what study materials are designed >to model the Lab. But we don't dare speak the truth in front of the children >( those who haven't been yet ) for fear that some higher authority will trou >nce on us if we do. > >I'm not sure if there is a real point to this message. Maybe what I want to >say to all of those who keep asking about Lab equipment, Lab topology, Lab >IOS versions, and the like, is that understanding of the core topics is the >most important thing. If you have them down cold, the equipment and the >topology will not matter. > >I'd like to comment on the rumor about changes in the equipment, but that >damn NDA..... ________________________ Priscilla Oppenheimer http://www.priscilla.com Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=34333&t=34244 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
