CISCO Live 2011 Las Vegas

Bill Becker Network Administrator/HonCC Professor

One of our very own, Bill Becker, Network Administrator and HonCC Professor attended the Cisco Live event in July which was held in Las Vegas. He was among the 15,000 who attended along with approximately 40,000 who attended virtually. We asked Bill if he could give us a run down of what he did there. "If you are a serious technology buff that is interested in networking system, technology trends, or industry predictions then this is the place to be."

       "This is not lightweight stuff.  It is like a week of engineering school.  Classes, workshops and all day labs are available on all aspects of technology, specifically relevant to Cisco products.  Conference participants sign up for classes starting when class registration opens, about 6 weeks before the conference.  It is like the signing up for college classes at a busy university.   There are typically over 12,000 people attending so some classes close quickly.  Generally there is always something for everyone, but you cannot just show up and walk in.  A well planned schedule is a must. The conference runs 5 days and classes run from 8:00 to 5:00 with events also offered in the evening." 

       "This type of conference is a good fit for individuals taking PCATT courses. Both PCATT and Cisco Live have courses that directly lead to Cisco Certifications.  The conference also has a security component that would be of interest to anyone taking the PCATT CISSP or Security+ exam prep courses."    

       "There are various tracks laid out to guide you in your session choices.

 For example: The Video track helps you better understand the range of video solutions and services that can help guide you in designing, planning, building, and managing a media network infrastructure. Working as a Network Planner and Network Administrator I mostly chose from the Network Infrastructure and Systems track with session names such as Advanced Enterprise Campus Design: Resilient Campus Networks and Catalyst 4500 Switch Architecture".  

       "The presenters are often the Cisco engineers who are working on the development of the products that are the focus of the session, and thus can offer insight into the operation of the devices. Most sessions include time for questions and answers with the engineers."    

       "The conference runs very smoothly.  There is a large and helpful staff ready to guide you to the location of sessions. Next year the conference will be held in San Diego. This is the third time I have attended and it is always a very satisfying as well as challenging experience.  I would recommend this conference to anyone taking PCATT networking courses, who wants a technology deep dive to help them advance in their career or prepare for certifications."

       For a complete listing of our Cisco courses visit our website.

Apple recently launched it newest operating system that seeks to claim its title at the top of the OS food chain in Apples' line up of operating systems. Lion OS X 10.7, released on July 20th, 2011, will be presented at Maui Community College on September 12th -13th, and at HonCC/PCATT on September 15th-16th. The briefing will consist of a 2-Day seminar that will have sessions offered twice a day. Apple will have presenters on hand to discuss the features and applications of its new operating system and how they have integrated blended technology environments into Lion.

       Sessions held on the first day are designed to give attendees a comprehensive view of the changes and additions that are new to Lion. New enhancements and Profile Manager are explained in detail as they relate to OS X Lion Server, and coverage of how OS X, iOS devices, and Mac OS X server compliment each other to form a complete computing environment.   This session will repeat itself again in the afternoon on the first day.

       On day two, sessions will be held that show how Lion's imaging tools work, as well as the ideal methods of deployment into multiple environments. Network management, directory services, and best practices will also be covered. Education settings that use 1-1 computers and "I" devices will be introduced to Lion's method of network sharing and usability.  

       For more information and registration, go to the PCATT website  and click on the Lion link/banner.