Before this exciting news, a quick introduction. My name is Josh Finke, Director of Operations for Internetwork Expert. Along with Brian Dennis and Brian McGahan, I am currently attending CiscoLive Networkers 2008 in Orlando Florida.

After speaking with multiple Cisco employees within the wireless group, the Wireless CCIE has been confirmed. Beta candidate registration should begin this fall, along with a blueprint release. Beginning early 2009 the Wireless CCIE beta testing will begin! As of now, topics of the test are expected to cover all aspects of wireless from design through implementation including the implications of security, routing and switching and voice technologies. Check back often for any additional information!

Along with Brian Dennis this week I’m at CiscoLive Networkers in Orlando, FL., and will be blogging about the sessions I’m attending.  Tomorrow will be CCIE Security.  For those of you attending feel free to stop by and say hi, otherwise check back tomorrow as I post any pertinent information about upcoming changes to the CCIE Security Lab Exam for 2009!

The word from Cisco is that there will be no changes for the Voice CCIE lab anytime soon.  The earliest “changes” will be June/July 2009.  I wasn’t sure if it meant changes will be announced then or changes will be implemented then.  I’ll talk to the speaker (Ben Ng) on the next break to try and get more details on the date of the announcement and the date of the actual changes.  The new version of CallManager will be between 5 and 7

The word “video” was thrown around when talking about changes for the Voice lab.  This is the second time I’ve heard video mentioned in regards to voice lab changes.  There was a joke about the Voice CCIE becoming the UC CCIE (Unified Communications CCIE).  That actually sounded pretty logical to me.

There were a few people who complained about the current Voice CCIE lab containing outdated software and hardware.  The speaker mentioned that Cisco is aware of these concerns and they will be addressed in the next lab update but the versions currently used are widely deployed in the field.

This week I’m at CiscoLive Networkers in Orlando, FL. I will be blogging about the sessions I’m attending (CCIE Voice, CCIE R&S, etc) trying to hear about any word on possible updates for upcoming CCIE lab changes. I’ll also be passing along any rumors that I hear The first one that I’ve heard “again” this year is concerning a Wireless CCIE. This of course wasn’t any sort of official announcement but someone was asking about wireless IP phones for the CCIE Voice lab and the presenter for the Voice CCIE session mentioned unofficially that wireless IP phones would be covered by the Wireless CCIE.