
Meeting Sponsor for March 2012 - DFWCUG Welcomes: GDH
It’s our pleasure to announce that GDH Consulting will proudly sponsor the March meeting of the DFWCUG.
The GDH Consulting Information Technology Division provides resource solutions for the top software and hardware Information Technology professionals with clients across the United States.
Our client list ranges from Fortune 500 companies to new organizations looking to build an Information Technology department from the ground up. We offer flexible resource solutions such as contract, contract- to- hire, and direct hire opportunities, as well as project based services that allow each engagement to be successful.
Due to our high quality of service and our ability to meet Cisco Advanced Services qualifications, GDH has been selected as one of only two Global Partner organizations to be utilized in providing contract resources for their entire organization.
Local Contacts:
Ashton Ayres, Technical Recruiter, aayres@gdhconsulting.com 972-535-2400 ext. 115
Ginny Baker, Technical Recruiter, gbaker@gdhconsulting.com 972-535-2400 ext. 109

President's Queue
Cisco still dragging feet on OpenFlow
Cisco's software defined networking strategy is still vague after the company stated last fall that it planned to add the OpenFlow protocol and API to its Nexus switches, and with this week's much anticipated debut of network virtualization start-up Nicira.
And last week, Network Computing ran a story that said Cisco's SDN strategy and implementation may be proprietary and not based on OpenFlow, the open source network programmability technique developed at Stanford and UC Berkeley.
The pervading belief is that this would commoditize routing and switching hardware and leave it with little more than the ability to perform basic routing and switching. It would not be in Cisco's proprietary interest to allow this to happen to its hardware. Especially when the company is reporting bang up quarters in which it beats Wall Street estimates and jacks its stock price based on its status quo approach in which network configurability is a highly specialized and Cisco-specific - vendor-specific -- undertaking.
Reprinted from Network World - By Jim Duffy on Thu, 02/09/12
Education and Certs
Here Yee, Here Yee, Cisco has announced another certification update….Updated Cisco CCNA Wireless and CCNP Wireless Certification Exams and Training Courses. The Cisco CCNA Wireless and CCNP Wireless certification programs have been updated with more relevant materials that include an update to the current version of software including Autonomous, WLC, and Clients. In addition, the program refresh expands the content based on new 802.11n support and places more emphasis on rich media deployments such as Voice over WLAN and Video over WLAN. Visit the CCNA Wireless Certification or CCNP Wireless Certification program for more information on the latest updates. Availability of the revised exams are offered through Pearson VUE.
New Ways to Study for Cisco CCNA Certification
Now available: the all-new Cisco Certification Practice Exam for CCNA 640-802, now with 270 more practice questions, and Cisco Certification Practice Exams for ICND1 and ICND2.For practice exams on the go, check out the just-released Cisco M-Learning Test and Study application on iTunes, featuring the same practice questions for your Apple mobile device. Learn more
For Cisco Partner Employees - Announcing the Cisco Advanced IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) Architecture Specialization
Cisco’s intelligent IP NGN architecture can help service providers create, enable, and integrate a variety of high-quality video, mobility and cloud solutions for businesses and consumers alike—all on a single IP-based network. Available February 13, the Advanced IP NGN Architecture Specialization confirms expertise in the IP NGN architecture, from sales to support. Register for webcast.
Cisco Live! Is being hosted in San Diego this year. For Exam Candidates, you can take one FREE exam! “Make an investment in your future by acquiring the skills that benefit your career and your employer — and by documenting your expertise. The popular Cisco certifications program allows you to take proof of your technical competence and skills back to your workplace. IMPORTANT: Scheduling To schedule your free exam, you must register with Cisco’s test delivery partner, Pearson VUE. All exam registrations must be completed before the conference. After June 8, 2012, candidates who wish to take an exam at Cisco Live 2012 can register onsite at a 50 percent discounted rate, depending on available space. You will not be able to register for a free exam onsite. However, if you need to move a previously scheduled free exam to a different appointment time during the conference, you may do so at no charge. The free and discounted exams can only be taken at Cisco Live and cannot be taken offsite. No-shows for previously scheduled exams will result in a $35 fee. If you cannot make it, please stop by the testing center to cancel or change your appointment to avoid that fee.”
Study Groups
Well, it’s been an amazing 2012 thus far. The interest is joining a study group has been wonderful, as our CCNA Study Group Leaders can attest. We announced a new group forming last month, and there were more than 50 packet heads that were interested in joining. As a result, there are now four CCNA study groups going on concurrently! Way to go Tripp!
If you are interested in joining or forming a study group for CCNA, CCNP, or even CCIE tracks, come see Mark Odette at the CUG meeting, or fire him an e-mail – modette@cisco-users.org. As a reminder, the DFWCUG helps facilitate getting groups started, by leveraging our Registered Users e-mail list to make announcements, just like the newsletter. The DFWCUG does not provided facilities to study at, or materials to study with. We provide guidance on how to successfully conduct a study group, and give you pointers on what not to do.

Door Prizes & Free Books
At each meeting, we give away a handful of Cisco Press books that have been donated by Cisco Press. These
are typically brand new releases by leading experts in the field - thanks Jamie!
Meeting sponsors June also provide door prizes, so make sure you get your ticket and as always - you must be present to win.

Upcoming Presentations
- Apr - Cisco IPTV - Ben Holder - meeting sponsored by Glow Networks
- May - Topic TBD - Todd Lammle - meeting sponsored by TEKsystems
- June - TBD - meeting sponsored by Experis
Let us know what you would like to see presented at our meetings! We are always looking for good speakers. We are especially interested in entry level, intermediate level and tutorial topics. If you would like to do a presentation for the group or if you
know someone that would like to do a presentation, please contact us.
Eric Severson

Contact Us
The Dallas / Fort Worth Cisco Users Group officers:
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President & founding officer in 1996, web
- Ken Cooper
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Vice President & Presentations Director - Eric Severson
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Education/Certifications Director - Mark W. Odette II
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Marketing Director - Mark Szewczul
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Technical Advisor - Tom Young
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Cisco Liaison and Technical Advisor - Mark Egan
You may contact any officer at `first-initial``last-name @ cisco-users.org, ie, kcooper -or- go
directly to the DFWCUG officers page.

Sponsorships
The Dallas-Fort Worth Cisco Users Group is an all volunteer group that receives its support from generous
companies. We encourage our members to patronize our sponsors in order that we continue to receive contributions.
So how does your company become a sponsor of the Dallas / Fort Worth Cisco Users Group? Contact
us and we'll describe the benefits of Gold, Silver and Bronze level sponsorships.
Mark Szewczul