This just in, Cisco announces the retirement of the CCIP track to be replaced by the CCNP Service Provider track.
This definitely will put an acceleration on plans, or change them altogether for those studying for this certification, including myself.
The official announcement including a link to a migration tool for those wanting to transfer passed exams to the CCNP Service Provider track can be found here:
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-14595
Well what to do now? Having only passed the Route test that is/was relevant to both tests, it is not feasible to finish with the QOS, BGP, and MPLS tests. Especially since BGP,MPLS, and BGP+MPLS last days to test is July 27th 2012. The new replacement tests will be:
SPRoute- Deploying Cisco Service Provider Network Routing
SPADVRoute- Deploying Cisco Service Provider Advanced Routing.
SPCore- Implementing Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Core Network Service
SPEdge- Implementing Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Edge Network Services
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/docs/ccnpSP_oView.pdf
New tests means more books, and a different set of exam objectives.
Two more bits of bad news. There is a new prerequisite for a CCNA Service Provider (not Service Provider Ops) to obtain the CCNP Service Provider. AND the tests will be using IOS XR and IOS XE, which is a little harder to get a hold of unless you already work in a Service Provider network.
Well what to do now? Comments? Suggestions? Not really wanting to finish the Design Professional and not sure if I want to study for an environment that I do not work in, yet. So shoot for the top and start the long process off CCIE greatness??
