I am so excited to know about these latest developments, especially after the introduction of Nexus Switches there is a need for specialist who can manage complex data center. CCIE data center will equip the networking professionals with all the skills required to design, implement, operate, monitor, and troubleshoot complex data center networks. Products tested in this certification include Cisco Catalyst 3750, MDS 9222i, Nexus 7009, 5548, 2232, 1000v and Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS), and Cisco Application Control Engine Appliance.

The beta version of the CCIE Data Center Written Exam will be available for scheduling and testing at all worldwide Cisco-authorized Pearson VUE testing centers beginning May 1 through June 15, 2012.  And the lab exam is expected to be available in September2012.

Currently Cisco is offering US$ 50 as a discount for the beta exam of CCIE Data Centre.

Some of the topics covered in CCIE Data Center are as follows

• General switching technologies
• NX-OS with VPC, OTV, Fabric-Path, RBAC, etc.
• Storage with Fiber Channel, VSAN, FCoE, etc.
• UCS with LAN, SAN connectivity, server profiles, pinning, etc.
• Cisco ACE features in SLB and HA deployments.

For further details on please do check this link.

Cisco also announced the winner of the 2nd I-Prize competition,an open, global innovation contest developed to encourage collaboration among entrepreneurs and help identify new potential billion-dollar business ideas for Cisco . A team of five university students from Mexico submitted the winning idea of a ‘Life Account’ that gathers information about users through connected devices in the physical world and online data available in the virtual world. The winners receive a cash prize of $250,000!

As we all know the biggest event of the year for Cisco Systems has already started at Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. Most of the Cisco Experts are already there enjoying the biggest Technical party. Just for your info Cisco Live 2010 comes in two flavors

 -Cisco Live , which will be in Mandalay Bay Hotel  in Las Vegas
-Cisco Live  virtual, – June 29 to July 1st -which offers an opportunity to visit the Cisco booth, including the Data Center of the Future demo (see below) and attend on line numerous speaking sessions

Pic Courtesy: Cisco Systems

The theme of this year is “Knowledge is Power” , which perfectly reflects the main purpose of the show – Thousands of visitors will attend hundreds of informative sessions, delivered by Cisco trainers and partners designed to educate them on new concepts and new solutions . In addition, Labs and demos (World of Exhibitions) will give an opportunity to go deeper.

Tuesday  June 29th  
10:00-11:30am  John Chambers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cisco
11:45 -12:15 pm  Executive chat session with Carlos Dominguez Senior Vice-President, Office of the Chairman and CEO, Cisco
12:30-2:20 pm   Bridging in the Data Center, with or without Spanning Tree
2:45 -3:45 pm  Understanding of Application Performance and Network Usage in the Data Center – Ward Cobleigh, Business and Partnership Development Director, Fluke Networks
Wednesday June 30th
10:30-11:30 am  Padmasree Warrior, Chief Technology Officer, Cisco
11:45- 12:15 pm   Executive Chat Session with Padmasree
12:30 – 2:30 pm   Cisco Announcing New Innovations for Breakthrough Data Center 3.0 Architecture
2:45 -3:45 pm  Video: What Next? – Featuring Marthin De Beer, Senior Vice President, Emerging Technologies Group, Cisco
Thursday July 1st
10:30-11:30 am   Ben Mezrich,author  ”The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook: A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal;”
 12:30 -2:30 pm  Planning the Migration to Cisco Unified Computing System or
12:30 -2:00 pm  Data Center Customer Panel: Insights on Data Center, Computing, and Virtualization  

Since I am in other part of the Globe I will be attending Cisco Live virtual and I will try to keep you all updated on the sessions and activities. Don’t miss this opportunity as the theme of the event “Knowledge is Power” is more than enough to experience some new concepts and new solutions. You still have a chance to be part of this event virtually.

Cisco Systems is hosting successful Tech Days series in your region to keep you informed about the latest developments in borderless networks, virtualization, and collaboration technologies starting 9^th June to 30^th June 2010.

They are offering three tracks, unfortunately I am leaving the other part of the World, I know I am missing a great opportunity, I love Borderless Networks.

Borderless Networks Track

Learn how systems innovations across routing, switching, wireless, acceleration, and security help organizations deliver mobility, security, and performance to transform the way IT delivers and scales those services on the network.

- Focus: Using the Network to Optimize TCO and Business Agility

Unified Communications Track

Learn how IP-based collaboration technologies can better position companies to operate more efficiently while using new mobile and web-based applications. Each session will cover solution strategies and roadmaps, practical demonstrations, and technical configuration and design principles.

- Focus: Unified Communications on Cisco Unified Computing System: Virtualizing Cisco Unified Communications

Virtualization Track

The proliferation of data center virtualization is promoting an architectural transformation from network to storage to computing. Learn how Cisco and its partners provide an adaptive IT architecture that enables organizations to realize benefits today and in the future.

- Focus: Unified Computing with Unified Fabric

 Last week, I have received the newsletter from Cisco Systems about announcement of four new Cisco certifications.

“In response to the growing demand for IT professionals who can design, manage, and maintain converged technologies across global network infrastructures, Cisco announced the release of four new certifications at the Cisco Live! show, held this week in San Francisco, CA.

Cisco Certified Architect, CCNP Wireless, and two new Cisco Datacenter Unified Computing Specialists reinforce Cisco’s commitment developing state of the art, technology driven, role based certifications that meet the demands of today’s network professional.”

• Cisco Certified Architect (Available January, 2010): Cisco Certified Architect is highest level of accreditation achievable within the Cisco Career Certification program. It is the pinnacle for individuals wishing to show their formal validation of both design and IT skills in Cisco technologies and infrastructure.
• CCNP Wireless (Available July 24th, 2009): Built on the growing need for professionals responsible for the design, implementation, security, and operation of wireless networks and mobility infrastructures, CCNP Wireless certification recognizes the critical importance of professionals who support and manage Cisco wireless LANs and networks.
• DC Unified Computing Design Specialist: It is designed to test students knowledge of the fundamentals of the Cisco Unified Compute System and their ability to implement a virtualized Data Center environment. In addition the student also tested on how to implement the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) in an enterprise data center routing and switching infrastructure with the next-generation Cisco Nexus product family.
• DC Unified Computing Support Specialist: It validates an engineer’s ability to design scalable, reliable, and intelligent Data Center Virtualization solutions based on the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) along with other Cisco Data Center products, server virtualization software, and server operating systems.

References:

https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/community/certifications/cisco_certified_architect

https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/community/certifications/ccnp_wireless

https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/community/certifications/data_center/unified_computing_support

https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/community/certifications/data_center/unified_computing_design