New CCIE SP Blueprint

I've been analyzing the new SP blueprint and I have some thoughts and doubts
to
share and hopefully get some feedback.

Extended blueprint:
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-10145

I've been trying to nail
down what will be the actual IOS used on the devices,
since from the
blueprint we know that a 12.2 (33) SR IOS version will be used on
the 7600
routers, but there are many different revisions to it. Searching
through the
features, I think that 12.2 (33) SRE is the one that includes all
features of
the blueprint, the feature that requires this IOS specific version
is MP2P
TE. One thing to have in mind for this version is that it changes
completely
the way to debug multicast packets.

My thoughts/doubts:

1. Is TE supported
on IPv6? I've seen that the TE router id can only be an IPv4
address and
this is what's used to build the paths, so if the network is pure
IPv6, the
path computation fails, maybe it's done in another way?

2. What do the 5.1
and 5.2 points on the extended blueprint mean?, I don't
understand what does
that imply or what special considerations we should have,
maybe QoS for 5.1?:
5.1. Managed Voice/Video services traversing the core
 
5.1.1. Traverse
Voice/video packet
5.1.2. Traverse call signal packet
 
5.2. Managed Security
services traversing the core
 
5.2.1. Traverse IKE packet
5.2.2. Traverse
ESP, AH packet
5.2.3. Traverse SSL packet

3. Since the 7600 are supposedly
simulated, what does that imply in regard to
NSF/SSO, can it be tested or
configured on a simulated platform? (dual
supervisors?)

4. There's
"inter-domain TE" and "inter-area TE" on the blueprint, what does
"inter-domain" mean? is it inter-AS, or just another way to say inter-area for
ISIS?

5. Is there any info on the number of each device that will be there?,
specially
the number of switches. I think we should expect two XR, 6 or 8
7600 and two or
four ME3400's (not counting BB's)

6. Provider bridges is
not supported on ME3400 switches, and these are the only
switches on the
Lab, does this mean that this cannot be tested?

7. VPLS, can it be tested
on simulated 7600?, if not, I guess any VPLS would go
on the XR's.
Ultimately, can we expect the level of the lab to be harder then the previous
one or more or less the same? I know this is highly speculative, but how is it
when the R&S lab get's updated for instance? (just the lab)

Francisco

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Received on Sun May 08 2011 - 07:09:22 ART