CCDE
From Internetworkpro
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[edit] CCDE
This is a very different exam from any of the CCIE exams. It does not aim to test you knowledge of the CLI, it does not require knowledge about specific models of switch and router, and it is (in theory at least) vendor-agnostic - so if you come from a Juniper background then you should be able to take this exam without having to learn much about Cisco (ok, so they might ask about EIGRP).
This exam will test your knowledge of design concepts. You will be expected to know what every technology is used for, what it does, how it does it (but not in great detail), when to use it, advantages and drawbacks. Some of the time it is not even at the detailed design level - it is more like design templates (known as design patterns in some places). You need to know the "Cisco view" of design for this exam - so anything that they consider good design practice is fair game for the exam.
This exam is very wide in its coverage of topics. You could be asked questions on just about any current network technology. Having said that, older WAN technologies like ISDN and Frame Relay will be given a smaller amount if time or may even not come up at all. In addition LAN switching is de-emphasised in the exam. It is just assumed you know the basics. But you still have to know what these technologies are/were used for, when to use them, advantages and drawbacks.
[edit] Requirements for Certification
As with the CCDE there are no formal prerequisites. You can do this without even having taken CCNA. You are expected to have a minimum of seven years of experience in a design role or design plus some operations experience. Not having the required experience is the most likely cause of failing the CCDE lab exam - it is there to measure your experience.
[edit] Step one: written exam
As with CCIE, there are two written exams, they are called "written" and "lab". The written exam is the normal format for a qualification exam: two-hour, multiple choice. It tests your knowledge of things like routing protocols, tunnelling, management, security. You should be able to pas this with the usual amount of prep.
[edit] Step two: lab exam
The second exam is called a "lab" but it is not a real lab - there is no hardware involved, and you will not build a working network. This exam is there to test your thought processes. The exam is scenario-based, you will be given a number of scenarios that need designs creating. The answers are free-format, so you can type text in a box and draw network diagrams. The exam is marked by hand and it takes 2 months to get the result. At the time of writing (Aug 2009) it is thought there are less than 10 qualified CCDE's in the world. Just in case you think this is an easy exam, the first-time failure rate on the CCDE lab exam is higher than for CCIE. Yes, you read that right. It is estimated that the pass rate is around 10-12% of candiates. The scenarios in the lab are stinkers and will be difficult even for experienced designers who do the job every day.
[edit] Preparation
You are expected to read widely for this certification. Any of the CCDE books, or CCIE R&S books with a design focus, would be good.
