Cisco certification changes Feb 24th 2020

yoba222

After all those free Cyber Ops trainings and exams Cisco gave away. That was a lot of fun (and much appreciated from Cisco for providing it).

This is probably better though. After having done the CCNA R&S and then the Cyber Ops later, I personally feel that if an employer required someone with a CCNA, having the Cyber Ops alone shouldn't be a worthy qualifier because too much networking stuff wasn't on the Cyber Ops.

chriscurtis83

NetworkingStudent said:

What does the training badge do?

Is just for your linked in?

NetworkingStudent said:

What does the training badge do?

Is just for your linked in?

I guess, it really doesn't mean anything since its not something new CCNA's can get. Just shows you are a old timer.

bjpeter

Will candidates now be able to move back and forth between questions or mark them for review later in the new CCNA exam?

stryder144

bjpeter said:

Will candidates now be able to move back and forth between questions or mark them for review later in the new CCNA exam?

That is an excellent question that I have not heard anything about.  I have listened to David Bombal and Network Chuck and I don't think they even asked the question.

k4ppla

Cisco just announced that the Ccna Cyber Ops will not be retired.

Officiel announcement 

JDMurray

It's true! This page indicates that CCNA CyberOps is NOT one of the CCNA tracks to be replaced by the new CCNA exam in 2020. Now if only Cisco would either make the content of 210-250 SECFND worth the $300 they charge for it or lower the price. (NOTE: Cisco's decisions are subject to change pending an outcry from its customer community.)

bjpeter

stryder144 said:

bjpeter said:

Will candidates now be able to move back and forth between questions or mark them for review later in the new CCNA exam?

That is an excellent question that I have not heard anything about.  I have listened to David Bombal and Network Chuck and I don't think they even asked the question.

That will be great if candidates can review their answers prior to submitting their exam for scoring.

stryder144

bjpeter said:

stryder144 said:

bjpeter said:

Will candidates now be able to move back and forth between questions or mark them for review later in the new CCNA exam?

That is an excellent question that I have not heard anything about.  I have listened to David Bombal and Network Chuck and I don't think they even asked the question.

That will be great if candidates can review their answers prior to submitting their exam for scoring.

I agree.  I made a mistake on the second exam that a question several down answered for me.  Would have liked to have been able to go back and change that answer.  Still, a pass is a pass.

kaiju

Not written in stone but from what I hear, there will be more associate level specialty exams available by Feb 2020. This info is from a certified Cisco instructor. 

LonerVamp

I hope they continue that route. I mean, it helps them hire for Talos, at least!

The current language is definitely really strange and out there. Sure, the CCNA isn't replacing Cyber Ops, but there's no indication the Cyber Ops cert gets you anywhere special yet, either. Unless I've missed something.

Paycheck

Okay, here is a question that I kind of found half an answer to in the Cisco documentation, but I need opinions.

If I am a current CCNA R&S, and I take another CCNA exam, like CCNA Wireless or CCNA Data Center to renew my CCNA R&S before the end of 2019, I would have my original CCNA R&S and this other CCNA Wireless / Data Center / whatever.

Now here's the question:  On February 24, am I still a CCNA R&S and CCNA Wireless / Data Center / whatever, or am I just now one "CCNA"?

I'd prefer to put on resumes my multiple CCNAs instead of just one "CCNA", as most employers and contract agencies will not understand the nuances of the latest Cisco changes.

Packing 10 separate exams into one, it is going to have to be one big test, if they will ask questions from each track.

I don't like this new idea, I'd rather keep the CCNAs more separated, like Security, Wireless, Data Center, etc.

NetworkNewb

Paycheck said:

Now here's the question:  On February 24, am I still a CCNA R&S and CCNA Wireless / Data Center / whatever, or am I just now one "CCNA"?

Q: What will happen to my existing certification when the new program goes into effect February 24, 2020?
A: For CCNA, Specialist and CCNP: Your current certification is still valid and will be active until its expiration date. When the new program goes into effect February 24, 2020, your current certification will be transitioned to an equivalent in the new program.

Source: https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/training-events/training-certification-faqs.pdf

From what I've read you'll just be a CCNA and the expiration date on your cert will still be the same expiration date on the new CCNA title.  I'm sure no one would care if you listed them out though.  

yoba222

I don't know much about software development on Cisco products. It seems like DevNet Certification is a term invented by Cisco to describe developing things for "the new network." The new network, a marketing term also invented by Cisco,  describes what seems to be mainly web development that's focused around real time web traffic type things (e.g. voice and video chat), but also more than that.

While Devnet has been used as a term to describe Cisco's well-regarded resources at developer.cisco.com for a number of years, DevNet certification appears to me to be vaporware. Or maybe vaporpaper is a better term. 

Or am I wrong and DevNet has been a thing for a number of years? Please chime in if I need schooling here. The whole point of this cert revamp, according to Cisco (and I quote), is "unleashing the full capabilities of the new  network."

I wonder if this is Cisco playing catch-up to Zoom and all the others with Cisco's mediocre WebEx product, but with much more ambitious goals than just having the best video chat client. Sort of Cisco's pogo-stick message of "developers, developers, developers. . ." in the hopes that you get vendor-locked into Cisco's proprietary video API for your IoT app or whatever. . .

I though Cyber Ops was great, but I'm a cynic and I hope to be pleasantly surprised.

stryder144

Their DevNet certification hasn't been released yet, at least not to my knowledge (and I am NOT an expert by any stretch of the imagination).  From the David Bombal/Network Chuck videos I watched, it seems to me that DevNet certification is intended for network automation specific tasks, so not really building apps for use on Cisco networks...again, not even close to being an expert so take my words with a grain of very, very small salt.  It might be the integration of DevOps with Cisco networks?

NetworkNewb

yoba222 said:

Or am I wrong and DevNet has been a thing for a number of years? Please chime in if I need schooling here. The whole point of this cert revamp, according to Cisco (and I quote), is "unleashing the full capabilities of the new  network."

 Devnet is Cisco's term for their developer program that has been around since 2014...  And no, doubt you won't find any jobs looking for a certification that hasn't even been released

thomas_

@yoba222 - The new DevNet certs haven't been released, but Cisco does have Network Programmability certs that have been around for awhile:

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/network-programmability/

Also, DevNet is also what they refer to the developer portion of their website.  They have sandboxes for various technologies that you can use for free:

https://developer.cisco.com/

You might have better luck searching the job descriptions for the technology areas covered in the current Network Programmability certs such as:

Python, RESTful APIs, RESTCONF, NETCONF, OPENFlow, YANG models, Puppet, Chef, Ansible, APIC-EM, JSON, XML, etc.

bowmatty

Hi guys, 

Just preparing for the new CCNA exam by going through the Exam Objectives. "Describe characteristics of network topology architectures" would you think Cisco 2 Tier topology as in Distribution switches & Access Switches or would that mean neutral 2 Tier network topology??

What do you guys think?

1.2 Describe characteristics of network topology architectures

• 1.2.a 2 tier
• 1.2.b 3 tier

bowmatty

Thanks NetworkNewb

Lunchbocks

I personally think they are referring to the Cisco 2-Tier and 3-Tier topologies like in the current exam. This is not based on anything I have heard or read, but the 2 and 3-tiered topology has been the core topology that their network designs are based on, so I don't think that would change.

bowmatty

So with regards to the new exam would you base all describing characteristic questions on cisco products?

K-9

For those of us with multiple CCxAs, we are screwed over. 

baghdaddy19

This change to the CCNA is so dumb.
I don't think it is a good idea to get rid of all of those certs and just make one generic CCNA that is a combo of all those fields. The CCNA R&S was already a challenging cert by itself and now they are making one behemoth cert that will include R&S, Security, Cloud, etc.
I agree with @DZA_, upkeep is getting ridiculous    

I was already studying for the ICND1 but I guess i will wait until mid next year to study for this new CCNA.

DFTK13

@baghdaddy19

The only redeeming factor for this overhaul is the fact that we can renew with CE credits, in my opinion. 

I’ve decided to just go for the new CCNA exam as well, Wendell Odom released vol. 1 of his 200-301 book a couple months ago, and vol 2. Will be out in Dec. A lot of it is the same as his previous book. Although what made me mad was, I bought the Boson ICND1 software in April, but Boson announced a couple months later that they would provide free upgrades to the new 200-301 exam if you had purchased ExSim-Max after June. Sighhhhhh...

baghdaddy19

@DFTK13

Interesting, I did not know that CE credits can be used to renew the cert. I definitely like that.
Although, people who have done multiple CCNA certs still got screwed over imo.

**** man that sucks, i would reach out and see if they would give you the free upgrade as well

bigdogz

I have been waiting for the CE credit program. They should have implemented it during the previous changes. It would made more sense but I can see using the DevNet and having it expand as more automation is possible. 

Hawk321

Crazy development in my eyes.
Cisco doesn't publish up to date exam prep guides (look at the CCNP Sec mess) and at the same time, no one knows how to practice the stuff. Paket Tracer is garbage for most of the topics and used hardware has a high price tag once you want to use features like Nexus has. Still I don't know if VIRL is a possible solution.

DFTK13

Hawk321 said:

Crazy development in my eyes.
Cisco doesn't publish up to date exam prep guides (look at the CCNP Sec mess) and at the same time, no one knows how to practice the stuff. Paket Tracer is garbage for most of the topics and used hardware has a high price tag once you want to use features like Nexus has. Still I don't know if VIRL is a possible solution.

Packet tracer really works well for me for the CCNA studies, only just a few missing things but not an exam deal-breaker. I know that it’s not the same for CCNP, it’s bad but it looks like hardware is really the only way to go. 

Hawk321

@DFTK13
Yeah I meant the CCNP track. R+S is doable with GNS3 and old used hardware....but anything on DC, Sec or Dev you are lost.

Iristheangel

Packet tracer and hardware aren't the only ways to go. There are tons of emulators out there that do the job: GNS3, Eve-ng, VIRL, etc.

As far as certifications guides being out of date, fear not. There are new official certification guides coming for each track. I'm even writing one: 
http://www.ciscopress.com/promotions/new-cisco-certifications-142035

Iristheangel

You absolutely can do sec on GNS3 or eve. Most of my ccie sec was virtualized. I'm not 100% about dev but I don't see why you couldn't with dev. GNS3 and Eve have supported containers and other platforms for a long time