10/16/2002 -- Cisco will be making changes to its CCIE lab exams next month.

Beginning Nov. 4, all CCIE labs will test candidates on features specific to Catalyst 3550 switches. Previously, candidates were tested on 5000-series switches.

Also, on the same date, the following topics will no longer be tested in the Routing & Switching lab exams: IGRP, Token Ring, Token Ring Switching and IPX. Cisco said that no new topics will replace the ones above; however, "many features currently tested will now be able to receive more weight on the exam."

The company's official announcement on these changes can be found here. -B.N.