Just a quick note…
Recently I have had some discussions with the people over at INE and they have offered to extend a special to the visitors of this blog.  Just click on the URL  https://members.ine.com/dash/aap/sign_up/premium/FryGuySpecial and you will save $500 off an all-access pass subscription.
 
I have had access in the past and it is well worth the cost, especially if you are studying for any of the Cisco certifications!
Please feel free to share this link!
Jeff
 

 
There has been some talk on the twitter-verse and at Cisco Live around some of the changes that Cisco is making to the CCIE/DE written and lab policies.  Last month they posted those changes to their Certification Exam Policies website to let everyone know and read.  The ones that are key to CCIE/DE candidates (and some will be effective August 2, 2014) are:
Written:

• Candidates who fail the CCIE/DE written must want 15 calendar days, beginning the day after the fail, before retaking the exam
• Once passed, you cannot retake the same written exam within 180 days
• Candidates may attempt the CCIE/DE written exam up to four (4) times per rolling calendar year.

Lab (here is the big one):

• Candidate must wait 30 days between CCIE lab attempts (30 days starts the day after the failed attempt)
• For your 1^st  attempt there is no wait time.
• For your 2^nd  attempt, there is a 30 day wait time
• For your 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th attempt, there is a 90 wait time between each
• For your 6^th , 7^th  and onward, the there is a 180 day wait time between each.

I have been meaning to write a post about my upcoming NANOG 61 trip, just have not had the time to. Between Cisco Live, Kindergarten graduation, pool installation planning, and life –  time was focused on other things. So, here is the post!
I have been a member of the NANOG mailing list for a few years now, and if you are into networking you really should be as well.  There is alot of great conversations there around network technologies, outages, contact information, as well as many other things.  If you want to sign up for the NANOG mailing lst, you can do so here –  LINK, but please be sure to also read the Mail LIst Charter and Policy page first.
NANOG 61 is being held in Bellevue, WA at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue from June 2 to the 4th, 2014. The company I work for, Dimension Data, was nice enough to invite me to attend with some of my co-workers –  and how do you say no to being invited to an awesome event!
Some of the topics of discussion, based on the NANOG page, include:

 π

 
Ok, that video probably dates me a bit, and that is OK.  This will be my 9^th consecutive time attending Cisco Live (aka Networkers).  Just a few final things to share before the event kicks off.
The other day I received an e-mail from Cisco Live with a special announcement.  It reads:
This is a special announcement for all Cisco Live lab and technical seminar attendees and speakers.
Sunday morning please expect traffic delays in San Francisco due to the annual Bay to Breakers race.  Howard Street outside of the Moscone Center will be closed from 3rd Street to 9th Street from 6am – 11am and you will not be albe to cross Howard Street between Moscone Center North and Moscone Center South during this time.  If you are commuting into the city on Sunday, we highly recommend using public transportation.  If you are staying at a hotel on our shuttle bus route bus service will continue as scheduled, but buses will be dropping off on Mission Street where we will have staff to direct you to Moscone North.
Please allow for extra time at registration and getting to your scheduled session.
We look froward to seeing you in San Francisco!
Thanks, 
Cisco Live Content Team
A crude map of the race can be seen here in red:

• Saturday 5/17

  • Arrive in the afternoon to SFO
  • Register for Cisco Live (registration open 3PM –  7PM)
  • Grab grub at Mel’s

    ---

• Sunday 5/18

Watching all the tweets and e-mails, Cisco Live is getting close!
There are few fun updates that I wanted to share with you, and by fun I mean FUN AND GAMES! First up… Monday Night Lego Mania!

Can you believe that it is almost time for CiscoLive! 2014 –  San Francisco?  Where has the time gone! Want to just share a couple quick updates that may be of interest.

First –  if you have not had a chance (and are on Twitter), please add your name over at The Networking Nerd Cisco Live 2014 Twitter list –  http://networkingnerd.net/cisco-live-2014-twitter-list/.  It is a great way to know who is going to be there as well as know who to be following for the event.
 
OK, now the reason for this post –  the Cisco Live Mobile App is not available on on iTunes and Android!  When this gets released, you know it is getting close.  To download the app for Android, you can click here –  DOWNLOAD ANDROID APP, to download it for Apple, you can click here –  DOWNLOAD FOR IOS.
Once you have downloaded it, open it up and sign in (I have an iPhone, so my information will be based on that experience).

 
Once you are signed in, you are presented with a well thought out and easy to navigate screen.  If you want to see the event’s schedule, just click on Event Schedule, you want to see your schedule, click on My Event.  Looking at the menu, once again you can do your surveys from here, and even social media (twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and UStream).