Cisco Certified Architect: How to

Complete the Journey from CCIE to

CCDE to CCAr
BRKCRT-3004
Bill Parkhurst Chief Network Architect - CCIE# 2969 CCDE# 20070005
wparkhurst@solielcom.com

Elaine Lopes CCDE and CCAr Exam Product Manager Cisco CCIE# 4478
elopes@cisco.com
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Agenda
Introduction
Overview and History of CCIE, CCDE and
CCAr
The BIG Picture Architecture vs. Design
Technology Architecture Examples
CCAr Certification Process and Preparation
Conclusion


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Overview CCIE, CCDE and CCAr
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Overview: CCIE and CCDE Tracks
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Security

Expert level knowledge of security
and VPN solutions

Demonstrate in-depth
understanding of Layer 2 and 3
network infrastructure; Solid
understanding of Windows, Unix,
Linux and HTTP, SMTP, FTP and
DNS
Service Provider
Expert level knowledge of IP
fundamentals and technologies
Expertise in building an extensible
service provider network

Expert level knowledge to
troubleshoot and maintain complex
service provider networks


Data Center
Expert level knowledge of Data
Center Technologies, including DC
infrastructure, storage, compute and
virtualization

Capable of building, configuring,
and troubleshooting an end-to-end
virtualized Data Center using Cisco
DC technologies
Wireless
Expert level knowledge of WLAN
technologies

Provides next step for individuals
interested in a career in managing or
working with Cisco wireless
technologies

Design

Expert level knowledge of
network design principles for the
Layer 2 and 3 network
infrastructure

Capable of assessing and
translating network business
requirements into technical
designs
Routing &
Switching
Expert level knowledge of
networking across LAN and WAN
interfaces and variety of routers and
switches
Solve complex connectivity
problems to increase bandwidth,
improve response times, maximize
performance, and support global
operations
Collaboration

Expert level knowledge of Cisco
Voice over IP (VoIP) products and
solutions

Capable of building and configuring
complex end-to-end telephony
network, troubleshooting and
resolving VoIP-related problems
SP Operations
Expert level knowledge of SP IP
NGN technologies

Capable of troubleshooting SP
networks, managing SP processes
(incident, fault, change,
configuration, and performance),
and knowledge of NMS technology
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Cisco Certified Design Expert
No pre-requisites
2-hour written exam
Design Theory
Protocol Operation
Technology Operation
8-hour scenario-based practical exam
Analyze design requirements
Develop network designs
Implement network design
Validate and optimize network design
CCDE
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Cisco Certified Architect
Highest-level Cisco certification
Valid CCDE CCAr Application and Interview Board Exam CCAr
Focused on
Infrastructure (Technology)
Business requirements and Long Term Architecture
Conflict resolution and communication skills
Not focused on
Technology implementation
Detailed deployment
Processes and standards
Application, enterprise, IT or solutions architect

CCAr
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Cisco Certified Architect - Definition
A Cisco Certified Architect gathers the business requirements and technical
objectives necessary to produce a blueprint for an integrated, large-scale,
complex, possibly global network. He or she can translate business parameters
and objectives into functional requirements for a network design. In addition,
Cisco Certified Architects can clearly communicate and advocate proposed
network architectures which meet both business and technical requirements.
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History
CCIE to CCDE to CCAr

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1993
The CCIE Program begins
where other vendors'
certification programs leave
off," said John Chambers,
Cisco senior vice president.
CCIE Program
Introduced
2000
CCIE Design
Introduced
and Retired
2002
CCDE
Program
Development
(with Cap Gemini)
2004
CCDE
Program
On Hold
2007
CCDE
Program
Development
2008
CCDE
Introduced
2009
CCAr
Development
2010
CCAr
Introduced
The industry is moving from products to solutions to architectures
2012
CCDE
v2
2014
CCDE
Expanded
Footprint
The BIG Picture
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Audience Participation
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What is
Architecture?
What is
Design?
What is the
difference?
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The Big Picture
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Business
Requirements
and Constraints
(Use Cases)
Customer Architecture Design Implementation
Conceptual Logical Physical
What
and Why
How With
What
Functional
Specification
(Properties of the
network to support
the use cases)
Design
(A realization of
the architecture)
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The Big Picture
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Design Implementation
Logical Physical
How With
What
Design
(Realization of
the ?)
?
Without an architecture a
Design is just a guess
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Architecture Design and Deployment
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CCAr
CCDE
CCIE
Overlap
Overlap


Architecture
Design
Deployment
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Definitions
Product
An individual piece of hardware or software
System
One or more products (hardware and software) that serve a specific requirement
Technical Solution
The application of one or more systems to meet a business requirement.
Design
An integrated set of solutions that meet the business requirements of the customer
A realization of an architecture (not THE realization)
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Architecture Which One?
Business Architecture
The business strategy, governance, structure, and key business processes of the
organization
Technology (Infrastructure) Architecture
A blueprint for an integrated, large-scale, complex, network environment
Solution Architecture
Description of how the functional elements of a solution are assigned to their constituent
sections or subsystems, and how they interact.
Product Architecture
Description of how the functional elements of a product are assigned to their constituent
sections or subsystems, and how they interact.
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Architecture
Components

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Products
Systems
Solutions
Technology
Architectures
Technology Integration
C
u
s
t
o
m
e
r

R
e
l
e
v
a
n
c
e

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Architecture Components
Connected Stadiums
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Connected Stadium
Wireless
Access
Ticketing Stadium
Vision
Physical
Security
Point of
Sale
Digital
Signage
Unified
Communications
Network
Infrastructure
Digital Content Manager
Encoders
Transcoders
Demodulators
Digital Media Player
Stadium Vision Director
Unified Communications
Manager
Unified IP Phone
Video Distribution Switch
Access Switch
Core/Distribution Router
Multicast
Traffic Separation
Use Case
Solutions
Systems
Products
Technology
Architecture
Technology Architecture Examples from
the Real World
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Architecture Examples
Connected Stadiums Gather, clarify, and analyze business and technical
requirements
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Understand Business Use Cases and the solutions that
support them:
Ticketing
Point of Sale
Telephony
Video
Wireless Access
Video Surveillance
Building Control
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Architecture Examples
Connected Stadiums Identify critical, incomplete, conflicting, and unrealistic
requirements
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Understand the network requirements and limitations of each
solution and how they interact:
Ticketing Vendor deploys their own layer-2 networkunacceptable.
All solutions must run on the same network infrastructure
Point of Sale PCI compliance (for ticketing too)
Wireless Access Unrealistic number of users, free and paid access
can we do that?
Regulatory considerations?
League considerations? (NBA, NFL, MLB, etc.)
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Architecture Examples
Connected Stadiums Develop a functional specification for the network that
supports all the required solutions
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Be able to articulate your approach
To a business audience
Demonstrate an understanding of the business
Tie everything in the network back to a business requirement/objective
To a technical audience
Communicate rational for technology decisions and direction based on
business objectives
Demonstrate technical expertise

Certification Process and Preparation
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Skills
Gather, clarify, analyze
requirements
Business requirements
Technical requirements
Align business and technical goals and
direction
Perform cursory rough estimations for
new or changing requirements and/or
informal whatifs and requests
Develop functional specification for
network
Devise a solution
Perform risk analysis (Technologies,
Security, Legal, Dependencies)
Create a road map
Create a migration and transition
strategy
Convey decisions and rationale
Communicate to a business audience
Communicate to a technical audience
Demonstrate technical expertise

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Preparation
There are no formal training programs for CCAr
Assumption is the CCAr candidate brings into the program the required experience and
expertise
Experience is key
Lead or co-lead more than one reasonably complex technology architecture project
Work with the customers senior leadership on both the business and technical sides
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Summary
Distinct differences exist between CCIE, CCDE, and CCAr
Much time/effort/input spent in developing the Architect certification
Details about CCAr
Relationship between architecture, design, and implementation
Important Skills:
Gathering, clarifying, and analyzing requirements
Developing functional specification for network
Creating a road map
Conveying decisions and rationale
Demonstrating technical expertise
Process, Evaluation and Preparation
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Certification Process
Step One Application and Interview
Submit payment USD $3,750
Submit application materials: resume,
networking architecture project,
supporting project materials, agreement
to resume and project verification, NDA
Observe Exam Topics and Evaluation
Criteria
Participate in phone interview process
Step Two Board Exam
Submit payment USD $11,250
Develop and defend an architecture
which supports a given set of business
requirements
Applicant receives the scenario, prepares
and submits a solution
Applicant presents findings and proposed
solution to board panel of judges
Board introduces a scope change to which
the applicant must respond
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Panel of judges
determine if submission
meets criteria for
admission to Board
Exam
Selective
process; not all
applicants are
expected to
qualify for
Board Review
Panel of judges
determine if solution
meets criteria to grant
the Cisco Certified
Architect certification
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Evaluation
CCIE
Candidates are evaluated on performing a series of tasks
Specific and well defined outcomes (end-state)
CCDE
Good and distracter information is provided to set the context, and candidate is
evaluated for making solid decisions within that context
Multiple valid outcomes are possible (end-state and branches)
CCAr
Judged by a 3-person committee of CCArs
Each judge makes an individual decision regarding the candidate within established
criteria
Judgments follow strict scoring rubrics
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Recertification
CCAr certification is valid for 5 years
To stay current, on the last 24 months before the expiration deadline the CCArs
need to:
Contribute to CCAr exam development; and
Participate as judge on the Application and Interview process for 2 candidates (if not
approved to progress to the Board Exam, OR on both Application and Interview and
Board Exam for 1 candidate
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References
CCAr
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/cisco_certified_archit
ect
Blueprint: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-6356
CCDE https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccde
Practical blueprint
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccde/practical_exam?tab=stu
dylearn
Written blueprint
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccde/written_exam?tab=2
Cisco Press http://www.ciscopress.com

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