Thursday, June 2, 2011

Cisco Live 2011 Schedule - Focusing on Wi-Fi Security, Performance, & Mobile Devices

I will be attending Cisco Live! 2011 in Las Vegas, NV between July 8-15th. This will be my first ever trip to Networkers / Live and I am excited to see what the event has to offer. Working for a customer has typically limited how many individual seats we are able to send to the event due to staffing requirements back at the office and funding for travel and expenses. I've heard many good things over the years, along with some cautionary tales, tips, and tricks to get the most out of the event.

Here is my schedule for the event (emphasis on topics added by me):

Friday / Saturday
  • Fly into Las Vegas on Friday (time TBD), get settled into the hotel, and network with other peers that may be travelling in early.

    If anyone is available on Friday or Saturday to network, hit me up via email or twitter (@revolutionwifi).
Sunday
  • 08:00 - 17:00
    TECSEC-2041 Identity and Security Group Access with 802.1X and TrustSec

    This session is a deep dive on 802.1X and the technologies that make up Cisco’s TrustSec solution. This includes the functions of access control and the application of policy derived from end-point profiling, Security Group Tags (SGTs), Network Device Admission Control (NDAC), guest access, change of authorization, and MACSec. With these technologies businesses can address many existing and emerging network access control issues, such as regulatory compliance, virtualization, and guest services. A basic knowledge of 802.1X is assumed.
I decided to go with the ISE / TrustSec technical session on Sunday, instead of the CCIE Wireless session. With the growing explosion of mobile devices in corporate environments, understanding the latest context-aware security architectures is a must in my current position. I've already acquired my CCIE digits, so real-world applications of ISE / TrustSec take priority over an exam refresher.

  • 18:30 - 20:30
    GENCOL-1002 Collaboration Welcome Reception - WAITING LIST
I am registering for the event a bit later than I would have liked, so I'm on the waiting list for this reception. I don't hold out much real hope of getting on the list.

Monday
  • 08:00 - 17:00
    TECEWN-3002 Advanced Enterprise WLAN Deployment with Centralized Controllers

    Attendees will be given a comprehensive walk through on the technology and design that enables Cisco’s WLAN solution to support tablets and other mobile devices while still providing appropriate performance, security and quality of service for the user. The session starts with an exploration of 802.11n and CleanAir, highlighting deployment best practices and an exploration of the client capabilities in tablets today. Second, the topic of strong authentication will be discussed along with advanced policy capabilities leveraging device fingerprinting to identify who and what is accessing the network with an example from a real-world customer case study. Next, the topic of multicast best practices over wired and wireless networks will be explored as a means of delivering high-quality video to many users. Lastly, the session will culminate with quality of service implementation guidelines for the end to end solution to properly meet the demands of challenging applications like voice and video while contending with the ever present needs of reliable data service.
This session should provide a nice transition from the previous day session on ISE / TrustSec with real-world application of the solution to support a large enterprise WLAN environment. Additional topics include multicast and QoS considerations, which are typically very difficult solutions to architect for large customers and require extensive planning and expertise. As a bonus, my local wireless CSE, Alex, is one of the presenters!

Tuesday

  • 08:00 - 09:30
    BRKEWN-2019 Managing the Mobile Device Wave: Best Practices

    Learn how to plan, evaluate, and implement wireless in demanding high density environments such as lecture halls, classrooms, and auditoriums. Learn how to evaluate end user throughput requirements and translate this into the number of channels required. Learn how to manage cell size, co-channel interference, and successfully apply these principles using Cisco's Unified Wireless Network.

  • 10:00 - 11:00
    GENKEY-4700 Welcome and Keynote Address

    Come hear John Chambers paint a compelling picture of the future of networking and communication technology and the ways it will transform business practices, education, and social relationships. He will help you put your week of learning and training into the broader context of the industry’s evolving future.

  • 12:30 - 14:30
    BRKEWN-2010 Design and Deployment of Enterprise WLANs

    This session focuses on design and deployment concepts for enterprise and branch office WLAN deployments, i.e. the core technologies that drive and enable mobility services. Topics covered include protocol comparisons between LWAPP and CAPWAP, deep-dives into new controller features, mobility protocols and design recommendations, and the latest in design and deployment recommendations for new WLAN controllers, including centralized and distributed deployments.

  • 16:00 - 18:00
    PNLUCC-4004 The Workforce of the Future

    Today’s younger generations are technically savvy by default. Video and social networking are how they collaborate. As this new talent enters the work force, what will they expect? In what ways are you calibrating your global IT infrastructure to accommodate for changing work patterns and demands for any device on the network from anywhere? Follow-the-sun, 24-by- 7 work time is upon us now. With talent pools spread across the globe, what architectural strategies will work best for your enterprise to ensure employees can collaborate, innovate and execute with the highest levels of productivity? This panel of experts will discuss how to approach these questions, touching upon security, video, collaboration tools, and more.
  • 20:00 - 24:00
    Private CCIE Party!!!

    I'll cap off the day by attending the private CCIE party. I can't wait to network with other brilliant minds. I wonder what I should wear?
On Tuesday, I will be focusing on wireless network performance with the onslaught of mobile devices, both personal and corporate liable. Managing high density network performance is critical given the growth of enterprise and public WLAN deployments needing to support smartphones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks, and other consumer electronics. In addition, the method by which we work and collaborate at work is merging with how we conduct our personal lives. Technology solutions are blurring the line, and the it is important to understand how to enable younger generations of workers that integrate technology much more deeply into their lifestyle.

Wednesday

  • 08:00 - 10:00
    BRKEWN-2016 Architect Networks for Branch Offices Using Cisco Wireless

    This session focuses on the architecture concepts of the branch office WLAN deployments, emphasising the core technologies that drive and enable mobility in retail, banking, education, entreprise or managed wlan services. Topics covered include in-depth protocol description of H-REAP (FlexConnect), all deployment options in practice, and are based on customer case studies for their application into the branch environment.

  • 10:30 - 11:30
    GENKEY-4701 Cisco Technology Keynote

  • 12:30 - 14:30
    BRKEWN-2011 Managing an Enterprise WLAN with Wireless Control System (WCS)

    This session focuses on Wireless Control System (WCS) as a deployment, management, and troubleshooting tool for Cisco Unified Wireless Networks.

  • 16:00 - 18:00
    BRKEWN-3013 Wireless LAN Radio Spectrum Management Best Practices

    Managing the Radio Frequency and Spectrum is a critical challenge for modern WLAN networks, especially with advanced applications like VoWLAN. This session looks at the theory of operations and best practices for taking advantage of Radio Resource Management and usage of several tools included or available from Cisco like 'Planning Mode' and 'Cisco Spectrum Expert'. This session is updated to reflect new advances contained in release 7.0 of CUWN, and is of an advanced level.
On Wednesday, I will be focusing on branch office WLANs, a topic near and dear to my heart working for a large retail organization. I will be interested to hear the latest information on the Flex 7500 controller platform and applications in branch environments. Second, I'll be interested to hear about network management with the WCS platform, and hopefully, a healthy amount of detail surrounding the new Cisco Prime NCS platform that will replace WCS (despite not being listed in the session description). Finally, I'll wrap up with some more RF performance considerations, including spectrum analysis.


Thursday

  • 09:00 - 10:00
    BRKCDN-1111 Evolution of the CCX Program and Services Solutions

    Cisco has driven Enterprise WiFi thought leadership since 2001 and offered the Cisco Compatible Extension (CCX) program as a pre-standard innovation program to certify that Cisco and third party WiFi devices are “Cisco Compatible” (CCX Certified) and take advantage of Cisco innovation in the WLAN Infrastructure and the extension to Wireless Carriers (Hotspot 2.0).  If your company makes WiFi enabled devices, attend this session to learn more about the latest innovation and schedules of the CCX Program and how Cisco continues to lead with pre-standards innovation in laptops, tablets, dual mode phones, digital media players, medical devices and anything WiFi.  Also, learn about how the Cisco Developer Network (CDN) Program is evolving include application solutions from partners from the "client to the cloud".

  • 10:30 - 11:30
    GENRST-4640 Town Hall: Borderless Networks

  • 12:00 - 14:00
    BRKSEC-3005 Advanced IEEE 802.1X for Wired Networks

    This session builds on the concepts introduced in BRKSEC-2005, with a focus on design optimization and troubleshooting IEEE 802.1X. Drawing on real-world examples, we examine complex system interactions that can occur when deploying IEEE 802.1X and how to prepare for those situations. We take another look at the three deployment models introduced in BRKSEC-2005 (Monitor Mode, Low Impact Mode, and High Security Mode), focusing on best practices, benefits, limitations, and advanced features such as MACSec and NEAT. The session will also address how to troubleshoot common problems in each model, including authentication failures, authorization failures, IP telephony failures, and other complex system interactions. Understanding of IEEE 802.1X is required, BRKSEC-2005 is recommended.

  • 14:30 - 15:30
    GENKEY-4702 Closing Keynote: William Shatner

  • 16:00 - 17:30
    BRKEWN-2018 Secure Mobility in the Cisco Unified WLAN Networks

    The proliferation of Wi-fi enabled devices creates important challenges for IT, perhaps the chief challenge being security and scalable, efficient, secure roaming. This session will cover the state-of-the-art technologies for proper authentication and encryption and fast, secure roaming. Topics include 802.11i/WPA/WPAv2, TKIP/AES & Fast roaming with CCKM, PKC, and the emerging 802.11r standard. Different EAP types like PEAP, PEAP-GTC, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-FAST will be covered in this session. The session will include best practices for implementing latest WLAN security techniques and design and deployment recommendations for device roaming.
On Thursday, the final event day, I'll be focusing on wireless client performance optimization with the CCX program and secure fast roaming. Sandwiched in-between, I'll dip into a session on wired 802.1X, which is gaining momentum in large organizations that are finally realizing their physical controls are insufficient and need to place more controls around enterprise wired switch ports. Perhaps organizations are also realizing just how secure the wireless network has become and are jealous!


I'm excited to be going to the event for the first time! See you networking nerds at the event! (yes Tom, this means you).

Cheers,
Andrew

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