Configuring Cisco Mobile 8.0 for iPhone
I finally was able to get this setup in my lab, obviously this doesn’t relate to my CCIE studying, but I needed a little mental break. It all works pretty well, but there are a few things with the application that I wish worked a little better. For instance, when your iPhone goes to sleep, the phone unregisters. But, with how Apple implemented their ‘multitasking’, I don’t know if this is really something that can be fixed.
Everything else is pretty cool. Being able to send calls back and forth between your desk and iPhone, utilizing Visual Voicemail and being able to transfer from the VoIP to the Mobile Voice Network (GSM).
Using IOS Menus to Load Labs
Since I am using my home lab for the bulk of my training, I have been trying to find a way to easily load different lab configurations so I can rework different things or just practice a lab over and over. One easy and pretty slick way to accomplish this is to use the menu command built into the IOS.
In the example below, I have created a menu that prompts me to choose which lab I would like to load. All of the configuration files exist in a LabConfigs directory within the root of my TFTP server. Once I choose an option, the router/switch reaches out to the TFTP server for the configuration file and copies it to the startup-config. After this is complete, I have to issue a reload command to bring up the device with the selected configuration.
CCIE Voice Written Refresh v3.0
It appears that the CCIE Voice Written exam has finally been brought up to date. [See Cisco Announcement] So, if you are looking to take your written exam after October 12, 2010 make sure you have been using the v3.0 blueprint for a guide.
Looking through the new blueprint, the two major additions are Presence and all of the sections now include troubleshooting. Even though it wasn’t explicitly defined in the v2.0 blueprint, troubleshooting was pretty much assumed.
News from CCIE Voice Techtorial
Some very interesting information regarding the upcoming future of the CCIE Voice lab exam from Cisco Live!. I have reposted some of the more interesting ones below.
- Troubleshooting tasks could potentially include in depth knowledge of the protocols used for establishing call setup. Detailed knowledge of the call flow involved in protocols such as SIP/MGCP/H323/SCCP/Q931/etc will be required in order to explain why certain calls to the “provider” are failing. It was mentioned that the candidate may not even have to fix the problem and instead create a text file with the relevant traces/debugs and a suitable explanation. A process not too dissimilar when you create a TAC case
- The Voice CCIE pass rate is currently between 20% and 25% but expect that figure to drop as the impending lab updates will no doubt increase the difficulty of the test.
- Cisco will continuously modify the content of the lab and this includes changing the number of UCM and UCME sites. You can expect 3 UCM sites, 3 UCME sites or anything in between!
Read the full update from IPExpert here
New Site Scheme / Twitter
If there is anyone out there that follows my intermittently updated site, you will have noticed a brand, spanking new site design and color scheme. I have always had a problem with staring at the same design on my sites for too long. Obviously this site is no exception. There a still a few things that I need to do: redesign the logo, tweak some poorly written coding, etc… But, everything else should be running smoothly. When I make these design decisions, they are mostly aesthetic. I try not to move around the navigation or where you find the articles/information.
If you care to, let me know your thoughts. If it is too dark, which I am still debating, let me know. Otherwise, this is the new design and color scheme you will have until the urge hits me again.