1. There are no vendor labs – Cisco have seen this and placed a Sample Lab together on the Cisco Learning Network -> https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccie_service_provider?view=all

Note the lack of V3 discussion on the forums.

2. There are no rack rentals – only Gigavelocity are looking to potentially put a rack together depending on feedback from potential customers -> http://www.gigavelocity.com/blog/gigavelocity/gigavelocity-news/ccie-service-provider-v30-sample-lab/

3. No passes from INE or IPExpert – I have reviewed their Hall of Fames – Highest SP Number I have seen is 28471 and that was for V2.

4. The number of CCIE’s is dwindling anyhow – some good research done by Morton & Reese here -> http://bradreese.com/blog/5-24-2011.htm

5. To finish on two positive notes for potential candidates – here is a solid breakdown of the sections of the V3 Lab from a recent candidate and combined with the Sample Lab provided in Point 1 above may assist those still brave enough to dive back in -> http://ieoc.com/forums/t/15652.aspx

&

Our friend Antonio Soares has updated some Dynamips files & topologies for candidates here -> http://www.ccie18473.net/dynamips5/dynamips5.htm

HTH, Regards

Steve.

Here is my public profile -> http://ie.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-bowes/29/863/60b

As you will see from the profile – the Cisco\Networking side has fallen away over the last year from a professional perspective and this is reflected in the additions to my blog. Combining that with the SPv3 changes announced [I have no IOS-XR experience] means there is little benefit to my continuing to pursue the service provider track. Nevertheless I intend to maintain blogging on Cisco and other tech related issues and I’m curious to see how future candidates find the new SP track.

The CCIE is definitely changing and I’m not sure for the better – statements from Wayne Lawson over at IPExpert regarding not providing materials for the CCDE\CCIE SP Operations and other tracks indicates a niche-ness that is not good given that Cisco have in the past dropped tracks that were not profitable – Design springs to mind. Combined with the large % of current CCIE’s allowing the cert to expire speaks volumes.

Anyhow I hope you continue to touch base – feel free to connect up via Linked In and I look forward to talking to you through 2011.

Thanks, Steve.

Ref: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/11/prweb4957114.DTL

I started this journey at that time and apart from the impossibly expensive ccbootcamp the cheapest alternative was IPExpert and my first version of the R&S labs was 2.1. Since then I migrated to the SP path in 2007 and have been an SP customer since. I hope they continue strong for the next 10 years and that I no longer need them at that time!!!!!!!!

1. Cisco 7609 Router = $3000 each [2/3 required?]
2. Cisco 7204 Router = $1000 each [4/5 required?]
3. Cisco ME3400E Series Switches = $2000 [2 required?]
4. Cisco XR12000 Router – Basic 4 Slots List Price = $18000 – will require chassis, IOS s\w, PRP, memory\ATA, relevant cards, etc. [1/2 required?]

In summary looking at about $35000+ for a multiple of the above.

Currently no rack rentals advertising pricing – I would not be looking forward to the 1st day this puppy goes live in April if that was my date!

This content is only accessible by Registered Users. If you have not yet registered, you will be prompted to Register, before proceeding to access this content. The practical exam tests any feature that can be configured on the equipment and the IOS versions indicated in the document below. You may see more recent IOS versions installed in the lab, but you will not be tested on the new features of a release unless indicated below.

Lab Equipment •

Cisco XR12000 Series Routers

Cisco 7200/7600 Series equivalent Routers (Using Simulator)

Cisco ME3400E Series Switches Software Versions

XR12000 routers running IOS-XR Software Version 3.9.1 

7200/7600 routers running IOS Software Version 12.2-33 SR

ME3400E switches running IOS Software Version 12.2-54 SE

Ref: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-10121

Detailed Checklist of Topics to Be Covered

Please be advised that this topic checklist is not an all-inclusive list of Cisco CCIE Service Provider lab exam subjects. Instead, we provide this outline as a supplement to the existing lab blueprint to help candidates prepare for their lab exams. Other relevant or related topics may also appear in the actual lab exam.

We would like to get your feedback please comment and/or rate this  document.

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Core IP Technologies

1.1. Packet over SONET

1.1.1. Cisco HDLC encapsulation
1.1.2. PPP encapsulation
1.1.3. Frame Relay encapsulation
1.1.4. Maximum transmission unit (MTU)
1.1.5. Cyclic redundancy check (CRC)
1.1.6. Keepalive timer
1.1.7. Frame Relay DLCI on point to point sub-interface
1.1.8. SONET Controller
1.1.9. POS channel

1.2. GE/10GE in the Core

1.2.1. MAC accounting
1.2.2. Speed
1.2.3. Duplex mode
1.2.4. Carrier Delay
1.2.5. MTU
1.2.6. Flow control
1.2.7. 802.1Q VLAN sub-interface

1.3. IGP routing

1.3.1. IS-IS Multi topology
1.3.2. IS-IS Multi instance
1.3.2. IS-IS System Type
1.3.3. IS-IS Metric Type
1.3.4. IS-IS Area
1.3.5. IS-IS Designated Intermediate Systems
1.3.6. IS-IS Interface Circuit Type
1.3.7. IS-IS Interface Metric
1.3.8. IS-IS Retransmission Throttle Interval
1.3.9. IS-IS LSP Interval and Lifetime
1.3.10. IS-IS Point-to-point Adjacency over Broadcast Media
1.3.11. IS-IS route leaking
1.3.12. OSPF multi instance
1.3.13. OSPF Multi Areas
1.3.14. OSPF router ID
1.3.15. OSPF over different physical network
1.3.16. OSPF neighbor
1.3.17. OSPF interface cost
1.3.18. OPSF designated router
1.3.19. OSPFv3 support for IPv6
1.3.20. EIGRP multi instance
1.3.21. EIGRP Autonomous System Configuration
1.3.22. EIGRP Cost Metrics
1.3.23. EIGRP Equal and Unequal Cost Load Balancing
1.3.24. EIGRP support for IPv6
1.3.25. RIP v2
1.3.26. RIP support for IPv6
1.3.27. Redistribution between OSPF,IS-IS and EIGRP
1.3.28. Redistribution of Directly connected routes
1.3.29. Redistribution of Static routes
1.3.30. Route summary
1.3.31. IOS-XR routing policy language (RPL)
1.3.32. Routing policy using route-map

1.4. MPLS and LDP

1.4.1. IP CEF
1.4.2. LDP router ID
1.4.3. LDP interface
1.4.4. LDP neighbor auto discovery
1.4.5. MPLS MTU
1.4.6. MPLS LDP Static label
1.4.7. MPLS LDP—Local Label Allocation Filtering
1.4.8. MPLS LDP-IGP synchronization
1.4.9. MPLS LDP Inbound/outbound Label Binding Filtering

1.5. MPLS Traffic Engineering

1.5.1. IS-IS support for MPLS TE
1.5.2. OSPF support for MPLS TE
1.5.3. RSVP for MPLS TE
1.5.4. MPLS TE tunnel setup
1.5.5. MPLS TE Tunnel bandwidth
1.5.6. MPLS TE Automatic Bandwidth
1.5.7. MPLS TE Static route
1.5.8. MPLS TE Auto route
1.5.9. MPLS TE Policy route
1.5.10. MPLS TE Forwarding adjacency
1.5.11. MPLS TE Metric
1.5.12. MPLS TE LSP attributes
1.5.13. MPLS TE Class-based Tunnel selection
1.5.14. MPLS TE Policy-based Tunnel selection
1.5.15. MPLS Pseudowire Tunnel Selection
1.5.16. Point to multi point ( P2MP) MPLS TE
1.5.17. Inter-Domain MPLS TE
1.5.18. Inter-Area MPLS TE

1.6. BGP

1.6.1. IBGP IPv4/IPv6 Peering
1.6.2. EBGP IPv4/IPv6 Peering
1.6.3. EBGP IPv4/IPv6 multi hop peering
1.6.4. BGP IPv4/IPv6 routes advertising
1.6.5. EBGP IPv4/IPv6 peering using local-AS
1.6.6. EBGP IPv4/IPv6 peering using AS-override
1.6.7. BGP IPv4/IPv6 using private AS number
1.6.8. Dual AS configuration for Network AS migration
1.6.9. BGP Next-Hop
1.6.10. BGP Weight
1.6.11. BGP Local Preference
1.6.12. BGP MED
1.6.13. BGP Origin
1.6.14. BGP Communites
1.6.15. BGP Confederation
1.6.16. BGP Router reflector
1.6.17. BGP Cluster list
1.6.18. BGP Peer Groups
1.6.19. BGP Synchronization
1.6.20. BGP Aggregation
1.6.21. BGP Conditional Advertising
1.6.22. BGP Routing policy
1.6.23. Redistributing IGP, static and connected route into BGP
1.6.24. BGP Multi-path Load Sharing
1.6.25. BGP Link Bandwidth

1.7. Multicast

1.7.1. IPv4/IPv6 Multicast addressing
1.7.2. IPv4/IPv6 Multicast routing
1.7.3. PIM Sparse Mode for IPv4/IPv6
1.7.4. IGMP V2/V3
1.7.5. IPV6 Multicast Listener Discover (MLD)
1.7.6. PIM Source Specific Multicast (SSM) for IPv4/IPv6
1.7.7. Multicast Rate-limiting
1.7.8. PIM Bidirectional (BiDir)
1.7.9. PIM Static RP
1.7.10. PIM Bootstrap Router (BSR)
1.7.11. PIM Auto RP
1.7.12. PIM Anycast RP
1.7.13. Multicast Administrative Boundaries
1.7.14. MSDP
1.7.15. MP-BGP peer for Multicast
1.7.16. MP-BGP Multicast route advertising

1.8. High Availability

1.8.1. NSF/SSO for IGP routing
1.8.2. NSF/SSO for BGP routing
1.8.3. NSF/SSO for LDP, TE, Multicast
1.8.4. HSRP, VRRP, GLBP
1.8.5. Graceful Restart
1.8.6. Control Plane Policing (CPP)
1.8.7. Bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD)
1.8.8. IP event dampening
1.8.9. IGP Fast Re-route
1.8.10. MPLS TE Fast Re-route (FRR)
1.8.11. Link Protection using MPLS-TE
1.8.12. Node Production using MPLS-TE
1.8.13. Embedded event management (EEM)

1.9. Convergence

1.9.1. IS-IS fast convergence
1.9.2. IS-IS to utilize the Overload Bit
1.9.3. OSPF fast convergence
1.9.4. BGP fast convergence
1.9.5. BGP Route Dampening
1.9.6. BGP Fast Peering Session Deactivation
1.9.7. BGP Prefix Independent Convergence (PIC)
1.9.8. BGP next hop tracking
1.9.9. BGP address tracking filter
1.9.10. BGP path MTU discovery
1.9.11. IP fast reroute (IPFRR)
1.9.12. Multicast-only Fast Re-Route (MoFRR)
1.9.13. MPLS LDP convergence

1.10. SP QoS

1.10.1. Marking using DSCP, IP precedence and CoS
1.10.2. Priority Queuing
1.10.3. Custom Queuing
1.10.4. Weighted Fair Queuing
1.10.5. WRED
1.10.6. Policing
1.10.7. Class-based Weighted Faire Queuing (CB-WFQ)
1.10.8. Low-Latency Queuing (LLQ)
1.10.9. Random-Detect using MQC
1.10.10. NBAR for QoS
1.10.11. MPLS EXP
1.10.12. Differentiated Services Traffic Engineering (DS-TE)
1.10.13. Maximum Allocation Model (MAM)
1.10.14. Russian Dolls Model (RDM)
1.10.15. Class-Based Tunnel Selection: CBTS
1.10.16. Policy-based Tunnel Selection: PBTS

1.11. Security in core

1.11.1. Standard Access-lists
1.11.2. Extended Access-lists
1.11.3. Routing Protocol Authentication for RIP V2
1.11.4. Routing Protocol Authentication for EIGRP
1.11.5. Routing Protocol Authentication for OSPF
1.11.6. Routing Protocol Authentication for IS-IS
1.11.7. Routing Protocol Authentication for BGP
1.11.8. BGP TTL Security Check
1.11.9. Infrastructure ACL
1.11.10. Anti Fragment Attacks
1.11.11. Filtering RFC 1918 Routes
1.11.12. uRPF for Anti-Spoofinng
1.11.13. Selective packet discard (SPD)
1.11.14. LDP authentication
1.11.15. Remote triggered black hole (RTBH)
1.11.16. NTP
1.11.17. Attack mitigation
1.11.18. SNMP Management
1.11.19. IP packet Accounting
1.11.20. Syslog

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Access/Edge Connection Technologies

2.1. FE/GE and Ethernet Trunk

2.1.1. Ethernet channel
2.1.2. Virtual Trunking Protocol (VTP)
2.1.3. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
2.1.4. 802.1Q VLAN
2.1.5. 802.1QinQ
2.1.6. 802.1ad Provider Bridges (PB)
2.1.7. 802.1ah Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB)
2.1.8. Connectivity Fault Management (CFM)

2.2. Frame-Relay connection

2.2.1. Frame-Relay DLCI
2.2.2. Frame-Relay map
2.2.3. Frame-Relay switching
2.2.4. Frame-Relay multilink
2.2.5. Frame-Relay LMI-Type
2.2.6. PPP over Frame-Relay

2.3. PPP connections

2.3.1. PPP encapsulation
2.3.2. PPP multilink
2.3.3. PPP Multi chassis multilink
2.3.4. PPPoE client
2.3.5. PPPoE server
2.3.6. PPP authentication

 Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot L3VPN Technologies

3.1. Intra AS L3 MPLS VPN

3.1.1. MP-IBGP VPNv4/VPNv6 peering
3.1.2. MP-IBGP peering using loopback interface
3.1.3. VPNv4/VPNv6 Route Reflector
3.1.4. VRF definition
3.1.5. Route Distinguisher
3.1.6. Route Target
3.1.7. Route Target import/export
3.1.8. Intra AS MPLS VPNV4/VPNV6 load balancing
3.1.9. SOO Community
3.1.10. PE-CE – RIP V2
3.1.11. PE-CE – IS-IS
3.1.12. PE-CE – OSPF
3.1.13. PE-CE – EBGP
3.1.14. PE-CE – Static Routes
3.1.15. Redistributing dynamic PE-CE routes into VPNv4/VPNv6
3.1.16. Redistributing static PE-CE routes into VPNv4/VPNv6
3.1.17. Redistributing VPN4/VPNv6 routes into PE-CE routing table
3.1.18. Intra-AS MPLS VPN multipath
3.1.19. Intra-AS MPLS VPN path selection

3.2. Inter AS L3 MPLS VPN

3.2.1. MP-EBGP VPNv4/VPNv6 peering using direct interface
3.2.2. MP-EBGP VPNv4/VPNv6 peer using multi-hop interface
3.2.3. MP-EBGP VPNv4/VPNv6 peer between RRs
3.2.4. VPNV4/VPNv6 next-hop unchanged
3.2.5. VPNV4/VPNv6 next-hop self
3.2.6. Multi VRF between ASPEs
3.2.7. Inter-AS MPLS VPNV4/VPNv6 multipath
3.2.8. Route target rewrite
3.2.9. Inter-AS MPLS VPN path selection

3.3. Carrier supporting carrier

3.3.1. MPLS LDP in customer carrier site
3.3.2. EBGPv4 + label between CSC-PE and CSC-CE
3.3.3. IGP + LDP between CSC-PE and CSC-CE
3.3.4. MPLS VPNv4 between customer carrier sites PEs
3.3.5. CSC VPN load balancing
3.3.6. VRF definition in customer carrier site
3.3.7. Customer carrier site PE-CE routing

3.4. VPN Extranet and internet access

3.4.1. MP-BGP VPNv4/VPNv6 Extra-Net
3.4.2. MP-BGP VPNv4/VPNv6 internet access

3.5. VRF service

3.5.1. Multiple VRF
3.5.2. Multiple VRF routing
3.5.3. VRF Selection based on Source IP Address

3.6. Multicast VPN

3.6.1. Default MDT
3.6.2. Data MDT
3.6.3. MP-BGP mdt peering
3.6.4. Multicast routing in VPN site
3.6.5. PM-SM in VPN site
3.6.6. RP in VPN site
3.6.7. Multicast VPN extranet

3.7. GRE L3 VPN

3.7.1. MPLS VPN—L3VPN over GRE

4. Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot  Layer 2 VPN

 Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot AToM

4.1.1. Psuedowire class
4.1.2. Ethernet over MPLS (EoMPLS)
4.1.3. Ethernet VLAN over MPLS
4.1.4. Frame Relay over MPLS (FRoMPLS)
4.1.5. HDLC over MPLS (HDLCoMPLS)
4.1.6. PPP over MPLS (PPPoMPLS)
4.1.7. PWE3 control using LDP
4.1.8. Psuedowire redundancy
4.1.9. AToM interworking
4.1.10. AToM local switching
4.1.11. AToM intra-as support
4.1.12. AToM inter-as support
4.1.13. Traffic Engineering with AToM

4.2. VPLS and Carrier Ethernet

4.2.1. VPLS
4.2.2. H-VPLS
4.2.3. VFI definition
4.2.4. VPLS BGP auto discovery
4.2.5. VLAN attached circuit
4.2.6. QinQ attached circuit
4.2.7. 802.1ad attached circuit
4.2.8. 802.1ah attached circuit
4.2.9. VPLS/H-VPLS redundancy

4.3. L2TPV3 for L2VPN

4.3.1. L2TPv3
4.3.2. L2TPv3 VPN local switching
4.3.3. L2TPv3 VPN interworking

4.4. GRE L2VPN

4.4.1. L2VPN over GRE

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Managed Services Traversing the Core

5.1. Managed Voice/Video services traversing the core

5.1.1. Traverse Voice/video packet
5.1.2. Traverse call signal packet

5.2. Managed Security services traversing the core

5.2.1. Traverse IKE packet
5.2.2. Traverse ESP, AH packet
5.2.3. Traverse SSL packet

5.3. Service Level Agreements for managed services

5.3.1. IP SLA sender
5.3.2. IP SLA responder
5.3.3. IP SLA for MPLS VPN
5.3.4. Netflow
5.3.5. Netflow for MPLS
5.3.6. Netflow for Multicast

Ref: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-10145

A lot of topics and this announcement has raised more questions than answers.

[1] Are the SP OEQ to remain in effect?

[2] Will there be a troubleshooting section ala other tracks?

[3] Hardware requirements – not listed – SONET\VPLS require additional kit to existing blueprint – are we to assume the 2600\3600′s are gone, etc, etc

No answers to these so far so expect a rush for SP lab places prior to 18th April 2011.

Steve.

On October 19, 2010, Learning@Cisco announced updates to the CCIE Service Provider certification exams to version 3.0. The updated requirements are aligned to the job role of network engineers responsible for provisioning networks to support media-rich applications and services.

The updated version 3.0 exams will cover configuration and optimization of IP core technologies (including Packet over SONET, GE/10GE, BGP, IGP routing, LDP, MPLS and MPLS TE, multicast, HA, and QoS), aggregation/edge technologies (including Ethernet/FE/GE trunking, PPP, SONET/SDH, frame relay, ATM, T1/T3, and E1/E3), and remote access technologies (IP over wire line, DSL, and cable), Layer 2 and 3 VPNs, plus managed (voice, video, security) services traversing an IP core network.

The CCIE SP v3.0 written and lab exams are scheduled for release in all worldwide testing centers on April 18, 2011 and will replace version 2.0 exams at that time.

In February 2011, candidates can choose to take a beta version of the CCIE Service Provider v3.0 written exam at a discounted price of $50 USD. An announcement will be made several weeks before scheduling opens for candidates interested in taking the beta exam.

Beta exams are scheduled just like other written exams and are available at all worldwide testing centers. A passing grade on the beta exam qualifies a candidate to schedule the lab exam. Results, however, are typically not available until four to six weeks after the close of the beta. CCIEs in suspended status with an expiration date before April 18, 2011, should not recertify using the beta exam. A candidate may attempt the beta exam only once during the beta period.Written Exam Update v3.0
Candidates who have Lab Exams scheduled April 18, 2011 or later should prepare using the CCIE Service Provider Lab Exam v3.0 Topics (blueprint) listed below.

Candidates who have Lab Exams scheduled prior to April 18, 2011 should continue using the existing CCIE Service Provider Lab Exam v2.0 Topics. Please view the Lab Exam Study/Learn tab for more information on how to study and prepare for the Lab Exam.

1.0

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Core IP Technologies

1.01

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Packet over SONET

1.02

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot GE/10GE in the core

1.03

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot IGP routing

1.04

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot MPLS and LDP

1.05

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot MPLS Traffic Engineering

1.06

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot BGP

1.07

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Muliticast

1.08

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot High availability

1.09

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Convergence

1.10

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot SP QoS

1.11

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Security in the core

2.0

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Access/Edge Connection Technologies

2.1

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot FE/GE and Ethernet Trunk connections

2.2

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Frame-relay connections

2.3

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot PPP connections

3.0

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot L3VPN Technologies

3.1

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Intra-AS L3VPN

3.2

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Inter-AS L3VPN

3.3

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Carrier Supporting Carrier (CSC)

3.4

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot VPN extranet , Internet access

3.5

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot VRF Service

3.6

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Multicast VPN

3.7

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot GRE L3VPN

4.0

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot L2VPN Technologies

4.1

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot AToM

4.2

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot VPLS and Carrier Ethernet

4.3

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot L2TPv3 for L2 VPN

4.4

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot GRE L2VPN

5.0

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Managed Services Traversing the Core

5.1

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Managed Voice/Video services traversing the core

5.2

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Managed Security services traversing the core

5.3

Implement, Optimize and Troubleshoot Service Level Agreements for managed services traversing the core

Ref: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-9986

Do you know hoe to maintain Cisco Service Provider VPNs and MPLS Networks? Well find out using this 9 question quiz here -> https://www.ciscofeedback.vovici.com/se.ashx?s=6A5348A724F9B9A3

My score? 62.5% – Ouch!!!!

Need to know more about ISIS? Check out this free Cisco Learning Module -> https://www.cisco.com/E-Learning/bulk/public/cln/qlm/ccnp/sp-ops/is-is/player.html

Ref: http://blog.ipexpert.com/2010/07/02/cisco-live-2010-news-updates-summary/#more-4099