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Cisco has announced a refresh to their CCIE Security Lab exam.  Already known as a tough exam, the CCIE will be updated as follows:

“Effective April 2009, important content changes will be implemented
in the CCIE Security Lab exams. Candidates for lab exams scheduled
mid-April 2009 or later should prepare using the v3.0 Lab Equipment and Software Versions and v.3 Blueprint. Candidates prior to mid- April 2009 should continue using the v2.0 Lab Equipment and Software Versions and v 2.0 blueprint“

Following Microsoft’s lead with exam retakes, IBM will give testers a second chance to successfully complete their certification if the first attempt was unsuccessful.  These exams are related to the Lotus and Power Systems tests, and they must be purchased by November 30, 2008.  Testers will then have one month to complete the exam.

This offer covers the following IBM exams:
Lotus

* 834 - IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 Application Development Foundation Skills

* 835 - IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 Application Development Intermediate Skills

* 836 - IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 Developing Web Applications

* 847 - IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 System Administration Operating Fundamentals

* 848 - IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 Building the Infrastructure

* 849 - IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8 Managing Servers and Users

Power Systems

* 330 - Power Systems Technical Support for AIX and Linux

* 331 - Power Systems Sales for AIX and Linux (also in Japanese, European Spanish, and French)

* 973 - Power Systems Technical Sales for the IBM i Operating System (also in Japanese, European Spanish, and French)

* 974 - Power Systems Techical Support for i

Visit Prometric to order the exam and schedule a date.

Microsoft recently announced they will be retiring many certification exams related to the MCAD, MCSD and the MCDBA certifications.  While these exams are set to be retired by Microsoft, they are still very valuable to employers, and now obtaining one of these certificaitons won’t break the bank.  Microsoft recently announced the following exams, that’s set to retire March 31st of 2009, will be available at a lower cost of 40% off.

Exams set to retire include:  70-228, 70-229, 70-447, 70-300, 70-301, 70-305, 70-306, 70-310, 70-315, 70-316, 70-320, 70-330, 70-340, 70-551, 70-552, 70-553, 70-554, 70-558 and 70-559.

The price reduction will be reflected in the total cost upon registering at Prometric’s site for the exam.  No discount code will be needed.

Those individuals wishing to participate in the SCSNI beta have less than two weeks to test.  Beta testing started October 15th and is slated to end November 5th.  Candidates should contact their local Authorized Prometric testing center to schedule an exam date.

Candidates testing in the SCSNI beta will have 195 minutes to complete 160 questions.  Sun recommends candidates should have six to twelve months experience programming with the Netbeans IDE.

Exam Testing Objectives

Section 1: IDE Configuration
• 1.1 Demonstrate the
  ability to configure the functionality available in the IDE, including
  using enabling and disabling functionality and using the Plugin
  Manager.
• 1.2 Explain the purpose of the user directory and the netbeans.conf file and how these can be used to configure the IDE.
• 1.3
  Demonstrate the ability to work with servers in the IDE, such as
  registering new server instances and stopping and starting servers.
• 1.4 Describe how to integrate external libraries in the IDE and use them in coding and debugging your project.
• 1.5
  Demonstrate knowledge of working with databases in the IDE, including
  registering new database connections and tables running SQL scripts.
• 1.6 Describe how to integrate and use different versions of
  the JDK in the IDE for coding, debugging, and viewing Javadoc
  documentation.
• Section 2: Project Setup
  • 2.1 Describe the characteristics and uses of a free-form project.

  • 2.2
    Demonstrate the ability to work with version control systems and the
    IDE. (Which VCS’s are available, which ones you need an external client
    for, how to pull sources out of a repository, view changes, and check
    them back in).
  • 2.3 Describe the ways in which you can change the build
    process for a standard project, such as configuring project properties
    and modifying the project’s Ant build script.
  • 2.4 Configure your project to compile against and run on a specific version of the JDK.
• Section 3: Java SE Development
  • 3.1 Demonstrate the ability to create NetBeans projects from the source code of an existing Java SE program.

  • 3.2
    Describe how to manage the classpath of a Java SE project, including
    maintaining a separate classpath for compiling and debugging.
  • 3.3 Demonstrate the knowledge of the NetBeans GUI Builder and the ability to lay out and hook up basic forms using it.
  • 3.4 Demonstrate the ability to package and distribute a built Java Desktop project for use by another user.
• Section 4: Java EE Web Development
  • 4.1 Describe how to create a NetBeans project from the source code of an existing Web application.

  • 4.2 Distinguish between a visual web application and web application.
  • 4.3
    Demonstrate knowledge of which web frameworks are available in NetBeans
    IDE and how they are added to and used in a web application.
  • 4.4 Describe how to monitor HTTP requests when running a web application.
  • 4.5
    Demonstrate a knowledge of basic tasks related to building and
    deploying web applications to a server, such as changing the target
    server and undeploying an application.
• Section 5: Editing
  • 5.1 Describe the purpose and uses of refactoring and demonstrate the ability to perform basic refactoring on Java source code.

  • 5.2 Describe how to use the Options window to change the default appearance and behavior of the Source Editor.
  • 5.3 Describe the ways that the IDE highlights errors in source code and the tools the IDE offers for correcting those errors.
  • 5.4 Demonstrate the ability to use editor hints, such as implementing all the methods for an implemented interface.
  • 5.5
    Demonstrate the ability to use live code templates such as automatic
    generation of constructors, try/catch loops, and getters and setters.
• Section 6: Testing, Profiling, and Debugging
  • 6.1
    Demonstrate the ability to work with JUnit tests in the IDE, such as
    creating JUnit tests and interpreting JUnit test output.
  • 6.2 Describe how to debug a local (desktop) application, including setting breakpoints and stepping through code.
  • 6.3 Describe the difference between local and remote debugging and describe how to debug a remote (web) application.
  • 6.4 Describe the purpose of profiling applications and how to profile a local desktop application in the IDE.

A small bit of news crossed the Apple PR wire late yesterday stating that Joel Podoiny, dean of Yale’s School of Management, has left Yale to join Apple Computer as a new VP.  Joel is said to be heading up a new, unannounced Apple program called Apple University.  There are no details as to what Apple University will consist of, but I expect we could see a large certification push on Apple products along with training programs from Apple.  With iPhones outselling BlackBerrys and the Macintosh market share growing at an impressive rate, it would be expected Apple would build a strong educational program.

More news to follow.

A poor economy and wild stock markets haven’t stopped tech companies from dressing up like Santa and showering CompTIA’s Creating Futures with donations.  Acting on Santa’s behalf this week is Ingram Micro Inc.  The world’s largest technology distributor recently donated $10,000 worth of computer equipment to Creating Futures educational foundation.  The equipment is to auctioned off for the Creating Futures Bids 4 Futures online auction.

Brian Wiser, senior vice president, sales and vendor
management, Ingram Micro North America told the press “There is no greater satisfaction than to be able to contribute to
building a better future for someone who typically wouldn’t have this
opportunity.  That’s what Creating Futures
is all about and that’s why this was a good fit for our organization.
This partnership also provides Ingram Micro and CompTIA a platform to
advocate careers in the exciting and ever-changing world of IT.”

For more information visit CompTIA’s Creating Futures Bids 4 Futues program.

LearnKey, a leading self-paced training solutions provide, has released new MCITP training.  LearnKey has been in the business for 20 years new and is an industry leader. 

New training series include:

• Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
• Windows Server 2008 Administrator
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator
• Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration

Each series will cost around $450, and they can be purchased online or mailed on CD-ROM discs.

Xsans 2 Administration certification has been released by Apple Inc. The Xsans 2 Administration certification verifies an in-depth knowledge of Apple’s SAN file system for Mac OS X. The exam tests individuals on installation, deployment, and integration of Xsan.

The Xsan 2 Administration course will be available at Apple Authorized Training Centers. Apple course resources coming soon.

CompTIA’s Educational Foundation Creating Futures announced they were presented a donation from exam preparation material and video training producer ExamForce.  The donation, IT exam preparation software, valued at $23,400, was provided to assist veterans transitioning out of the military become certified IT professionals.

John Venator, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA Educational Foundation thanked ExamForce for their donation. “Military veterans are held in high regard by many potential employers because they bring a high degree of commitment, dedication and discipline to their second careers.  Creating Futures builds on these attributes by providing our vets with the technical training and certification that prepares them for the IT workforce. This generous gift from ExamForce will go a long way toward bringing even more veterans into our industry. We are extremely grateful for their support.”

“This is a great program and a noble initiative,” said John Mongeon, corporate sales manager, ExamForce. “Not many companies are doing something like this for our vets, providing them with new career choices and opportunities. We are happy to be a part of it.”