Cisco Live 2014 Experience

I can't tell if time moves faster before, during, or after Cisco Live. It has been two weeks since Cisco Live 2014 in San Francisco, yet it feels like I was at Lefty O'Doul's just yesterday. 

Before it got too far away from me, I wanted to recap my experience. For no reason other than I feel "wrong" if I don't. This year, I think the best way to sum up my Cisco Live 2014 experience is to focus on how, over time, my connection with the Live! event has evolved from being a member of the audience to becoming part of the event.

Cisco Live 2014, Is That Really You?

 I am amazed at how fast May has arrived. I am definitely not what I would consider prepared for the annual pilgrimage to the convention that is Live! May is a tough month to be doing the convention thing. Graduations, kids in school, etc. etc..

Fortunately, I don't need to waste energy thinking about it. This thing is going off whether I am ready or not, and I am looking forward to the ride. I think this will be my 6th or 7th Cisco Live event (formerly Networkers). I guess I could pull out hats and do an official count but I am sure no one cares. 

This year will be my 2nd Live! event in San Francisco. I am sure this time will be far more rewarding than the first go around. I am really looking forward to seeing some of my colleagues that I haven't seen since Orlando 2013. I am also going to get to spend time with some NetCraft folks that I don't get to see often. We work together but, well, we work and that falls under the category " 'Nuff said".

The absolute best thing about Live is the first day. The nerd herd, in all of its triumphant glory descending upon the Moscone Center like we own the place. That is what I am looking forward to because it is the sign that Live! has started. A signal that sets the train in motion, gets the gears going -- mind alignment complete. A trumpet sounding an off-key tune that blasts a warning: "THIS house is OUR house.... for about a week, and then we'll leave you be. We promise...."

Before I get back to the grind I'd like to send a special thanks to Dan Bruhn and the team that runs the Cisco Support Community and the Cisco Designated VIP program. I appreciate the invite to participate in the program and the support in getting to Live! this year. You are all tops in my book.

If anyone wants to hookup at Live! send me a tweet (@ucguerrilla). I will be there starting Saturday.

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Thanks for reading. If you have time, post a comment!

Cisco Live 2012 Recap

It has been two weeks since Cisco Live and I am finally finding some time to do a write up. The original plan was to write a "daily" blog series on my experience at Cisco Live 2012 in San Diego, CA. Well, as anyone who has attended Cisco Live knows, Cisco's annual networking event has a way of warping space and time. My Cisco Live experience technically was five 24-hour chunks of time more commonly known as "days". In reality, it felt like one, long day. I barely remember going back to the hotel, much less sleeping.


Following Live!, I found myself 460 miles north of San Diego in San Jose, CA. feeding my brain at a CCIE bootcamp. Here I am two weeks after Live! started and I am finally finding some time to blog about the experience. So, instead of a series of short "dailies" I will try to capture the key pillars of my Live! experience.

Cisco Live 2012 is Right Around the Corner

The hours are ticking away quickly and over the course of the next few days, techies of all ages will begin to converge on San Diego, CA. By Monday of next week throngs of back-pack wielding techno-geeks will be filing down 1st Avenue, Front Street, and West Harbor Drive. With badges swinging to and fro, these back-packing silicon adventurers will be marching steadily to the San Diego Convention Center (SDCC) to pay homage to all that is Cisco. That's right, I am talking about Cisco Live packet fans.


I am amazed at how fast a year has come and gone. In just 24 hours or so, I will be hopping on a "short flight" from Washington, D.C. to San Diego. To join my fellow cyber lemmings in the great "Gathering".