| Here I am going to give u free guidelines, video | | | | exam for up to 3 years after passing the written, |
| tutorials for all this certifications. I am working on | | | | so long as the first attempt is within 18 months. |
| that.. Expect the free stuffs soon.. | | | | There is a minimum waiting time between |
| Networking videos | | | | attempts of one month. |
| Cisco Networking: | | | | The CCIE Lab is currently $1,400 USD per |
| Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO, SEHK: | | | | attempt and are offered only at ten Cisco lab |
| 4333) is a multinational corporation with more than | | | | exam locations worldwide. The locations are |
| 63,000 employees and annual revenue of US$35 | | | | Bangalore; Beijing; Brussels; Dubai; Hong Kong; |
| billion as of 2007. Headquartered in San Jose, | | | | Research Triangle Park, NC; San Jose, CA; São |
| California, it designs and sells networking and | | | | Paulo; Sydney; and Tokyo. Some CCIE tracks do |
| communications technology and services under | | | | not have lab exams available at all locations. For |
| five brands, namely Cisco, Linksys, WebEx, | | | | example, the Storage Networking lab is available |
| IronPort, and Scientific Atlanta. | | | | only at the Research Triangle Park, NC and |
| Cisco Certifications: | | | | Brussels locations. In addition, according to a |
| Cisco Career Certifications are IT professional | | | | survey by Cisco the average cost to prepare for |
| certifications for Cisco products. The tests are | | | | CCIE certification is $9,050 as of April 2006, spent |
| administered by Pearson VUE (Prometric | | | | mostly on practice equipment and self study |
| previously administered the test; but as of 1 Aug | | | | material.This is partially offset by the increased |
| 2007, no longer does). | | | | salary the certification commands, which a March |
| There are three levels of certification: | | | | 2007 Network World article estimates at 10% - |
| * Associate, | | | | 15% over similarly experienced engineers who do |
| * Professional, and | | | | not have a CCIE. |
| * Expert. | | | | The lab is an 8-hour hands-on exam designed to |
| Associate certifications: | | | | demonstrate that the candidate not only knows |
| * Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) | | | | the theory, but is also able to practice it. Many |
| * Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) | | | | prospective CCIEs need multiple attempts to pass |
| Cisco certified network associate (CCNA): | | | | the lab exam. |
| Candidates have the option of gaining the | | | | There are no formal prerequisites for the CCIE |
| certification by passing two tests (ICND1 640-822 | | | | exam, but Cisco recommends one has at least 3 |
| and ICND2 640-816), or one single test (CCNA | | | | - 5 years experience in networking before |
| 640-802); the two-test option has the advantage | | | | attempting to become a CCIE. CCIE was the first |
| of allowing the candidate to focus on certain | | | | Cisco Certified qualification, and as such there |
| subjects. | | | | were no other certifications that could be taken |
| The certification is valid for three years; at that | | | | prior. The development of the associate and |
| time a CCNA holder must either | | | | professional certifications was due to recognition |
| * re-take the CCNA or ICND exam, or | | | | of the fact that a CCIE is overkill for many |
| * take and pass an exam for one of the | | | | networking personnel, and also for the vast |
| Professional (e.g., CCNP) or Specialist level | | | | majority of businesses who employ such people, |
| certifications (excluding the sales specialist exams), | | | | and that certifications needed to be offered at |
| or pass the CCIE written exam. | | | | lower levels. Despite the development of the |
| These exams are known by their corresponding | | | | lower certifications, Cisco has chosen not to make |
| numbers. When the curriculum of the exam | | | | them formal requirements for the CCIE |
| changes the exam number also changes. The | | | | certification. |
| current exam number for CCNA is 640-802 | | | | It is possible to hold multiple CCIE certifications. |
| (from 15 Aug 2007). New ICND Part1 (640-822 | | | | This is done by passing both the written and the |
| ICND1) and ICND Part2 (640-816 ICND2) available | | | | lab exam in a particular track. As of November |
| from 15 Aug 2007. Part 1 by itself will give you a | | | | 14th, 2007 there are 1,344 individuals who hold |
| CCENT. | | | | multiple CCIE certifications. Of those, 210 hold |
| These exams are conducted by authorized test | | | | three or more CCIE certifications. |
| centers at a cost of $125 USD each for the | | | | * CCIE Numbering |
| ICND1 or ICND2 exams and $150 USD for the full | | | | * CCIE Routing & Switching |
| CCNA exam. | | | | * CCIE Security |
| There is also the Cisco Networking Academy, | | | | * CCIE Service Provider |
| which brings the CCNA and CCNP curricula into | | | | * CCIE Voice |
| traditional educational institutions in over 150 | | | | * CCIE Storage Networking |
| countries.Students enrolled in Cisco Networking | | | | * CCDE |
| Academy can request exam vouchers that allow | | | | CCIE Numbering: |
| them to take the retired exam for an extended | | | | Upon successful completion of the hands on lab |
| period of time. | | | | exam, a new CCIE is awarded a CCIE number. |
| Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA): | | | | The first CCIE number allocated (in 1993) was |
| The CCDA certification indicates an apprentice | | | | 1024, and has increased incrementally from there. |
| knowledge of Cisco network design. Individuals | | | | A lower number indicates that the CCIE was |
| who have earned a CCDA are capable of | | | | awarded some time back, a higher number |
| designing switched or routed networks consisting | | | | indicated a more recently awarded certification. |
| of LANs, WANs, and various dial services. While a | | | | As of February 2008, the highest CCIE number |
| CCNA certification is not required to take the | | | | allocated was just over 20000. |
| CCDA exam, Cisco recommends being familiar | | | | Number 1024 was allocated to the first CCIE lab |
| with CCNA material. Also recommended is | | | | location, rather than to an individual, and featured |
| knowledge of BCMSN. | | | | as a plaque at the entrance to the lab. Number |
| Professional certifications: | | | | 1025 was awarded to Stuart Biggs, who created |
| * Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) | | | | the first written exam and first lab exam. The |
| * Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) | | | | first person to pass both CCIE written and lab |
| * Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP) | | | | exams was Terrance Slattery, who was |
| * Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) | | | | consulting to Cisco at the time when the lab was |
| * Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP) | | | | being devised. Terry Slattery (CCIE 1026) was |
| Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP): | | | | therefore the first CCIE who passed both exams, |
| The CCNP is considered proof of having the ability | | | | and the first CCIE who was not an employee of |
| to work with medium-sized networks (between | | | | Cisco. |
| 100 and 500 end devices) and with technology | | | | Any CCIE who obtains further CCIE certifications, |
| such as QoS, broadband, VPNs, and | | | | is not awarded any further numbers, the new |
| security-minded features. To acquire a CCNP one | | | | CCIE certification is awarded under the same |
| must possess a CCNA certification first and then | | | | number as the original. |
| pass three or four tests, depending on the path | | | | CCIE Routing & Switching: |
| one chooses. The four tests path requires the | | | | Routing and Switching is by far the most popular |
| candidate to pass the following tests: | | | | track with 16,355 certified individuals as of March |
| * 642-901 BSCI: Building Scalable Cisco | | | | 25, 2008. The certification covers a variety of |
| Internetworks (BSCI) - Deals with routing | | | | networking concepts and protocols including but |
| * 642-812 BCMSN: Building Cisco Multilayer | | | | not limited to the following list |
| Switched Networks (BCMSN) Deals with switching | | | | 1. Routing and Switching |
| * 642-825 ISCW: Implementing Secure | | | | * Frame Relay |
| Converged Wide Area Networks (ISCW) - Deals | | | | * Ethernet |
| with wide area networks | | | | * Catalyst Switch Configuration |
| * 642-845 ONT: Optimizing Converged Cisco | | | | 2. IP Interior Gateway Routing Protocols |
| Networks (ONT) - Deals with using Qos to tune | | | | * Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) |
| networks to work effectively with IP Telephony. | | | | * Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol |
| The BSCI and BCMSN tests can be taken as one | | | | (EIGRP) |
| single composite test known as the 642-892 | | | | * Routing Information Protocol v2 (RIPv2) |
| Composite which covers subjects for Building | | | | * Routing Information Protocol Next Generation |
| Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) and Building | | | | (RIPng) - IPv6 |
| Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN). | | | | * Open Shortest Path First v3 (OSPFv3) - IPv6 |
| In order to retain the certification one must either | | | | * On-Demand Routing (ODR) |
| re-certify or pass one of the CCIE written exams | | | | * Filtering, Summarization, Redistribution |
| before the Professional certification expires. | | | | 3. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) |
| Additional resources and tools to aid in preparing | | | | * Interior BGP (iBGP) |
| for the certification are available on the CCNP | | | | * Exterior BGP (eBGP) |
| Prep Center. | | | | * Filtering, Summarization, Redistribution, and |
| Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP): | | | | Traffic Engineering |
| The CCDP certification is an advanced network | | | | 4. Multicast Routing |
| design certification provided by Cisco Systems, | | | | * Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) |
| Inc. Candidates for the certification are tested for | | | | * Multicast Source Discovery Protocol (MSDP) |
| advanced knowledge of Cisco devices and the | | | | * Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol |
| way to interconnect them. This certification is | | | | (DVMRP) |
| considered a professional level certificate by Cisco | | | | * Anycast |
| Systems. (The CCNA and CCDA are prerequisite.) | | | | 5. Quality of Service (QoS) |
| Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP): | | | | * Classification |
| The CCIP certification is a professional certification | | | | * Congestion Management and Avoidance |
| covering the end-to-end protocols used in large | | | | * Policing and Shaping |
| scale networks. | | | | * Signaling |
| To attain this certification tests must be passed in | | | | 6. Security |
| the areas of routing, BGP, MPLS and Quality of | | | | * Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting |
| service. | | | | (AAA) |
| Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP): | | | | * Traffic Filtering |
| The CCSP certification is an advanced network | | | | * IOS Firewall Feature Set |
| security certification. Candidates for the | | | | * Access Lists |
| certification are tested for advanced knowledge | | | | * Routing Protocol and Catalyst Security |
| of various Cisco security products. | | | | 7. IP and IOS Features |
| To attain this certification several tests must be | | | | * IP addressing |
| passed in the areas of VPN, IDS, PIX firewall, | | | | * Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) |
| Secure IOS, the Cisco SAFE, as well as having a | | | | * Next Hop Redundancy Protocols (HSRP, VRRP, |
| CCNA or higher level certification (e.g. CCNP or | | | | GLBP) |
| CCIP). | | | | * IP services |
| The common practice is to take five exams | | | | * IOS user interfaces |
| which include one elective paper. The list of | | | | * System management |
| exams and elective papers can be found in the | | | | * Network Address Translation (NAT) |
| Cisco website. | | | | * Network Time Protocol (NTP) |
| Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP): | | | | * Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) |
| The CCVP is a certification covering all aspects of | | | | * Remote Monitoring (RMON) |
| IP Telephony/VOIP networks and applications. | | | | * IP Accounting |
| To attain this certification, five tests must be | | | | * Service Level Agreement (SLA) |
| passed in the areas of Quality of service, Cisco | | | | CCIE Security: |
| VoIP, IP Telephony Troubleshooting, Cisco IP | | | | The Security track concentrates on network |
| Telephony, and Gateway Gatekeeper. | | | | security and covers subjects such as ASA, IDS, |
| Expert-level certifications: | | | | IOS security, and many others. |
| The expert-level certification is the Cisco Certified | | | | CCIE Service Provider: |
| Internetwork Expert (CCIE). It is the highest level | | | | The Service Provider track focuses on |
| of professional certification that Cisco provides. | | | | networking in the service provider industry. |
| There are 5 active CCIE tracks, as shown below. | | | | Subjects include Optical networks, DSL, WAN |
| As of April 6, 2008 there are 16,335 people with | | | | switching, Voice over IP, Content Networking, |
| active CCIE certifications in the world. | | | | Broadband Cable and Metro Ethernet. |
| Cisco began its CCIE program in 1993 originally | | | | CCIE Voice: |
| with a two day lab, later changing it to the one | | | | The Voice track concentrates on voice solutions |
| day format used today. Fewer than 3% of Cisco | | | | for the enterprise and includes subjects such as |
| certified individuals attain CCIE certification, and on | | | | QoS, MGCP, Call Manager (Cisco's VoIP PBX), |
| average will spend thousands of dollars and 18 | | | | Cisco Unity (Cisco's Unified Messaging platform), |
| months studying before passing. Many candidates | | | | Unity Express and IP Contact Center Express. |
| build mock-labs at home using old Cisco | | | | CCIE Storage Networking: |
| equipment, selling it again to other candidates | | | | The latest addition to the CCIE certification tracks |
| after passing. Alternatively candidates may rent | | | | is the CCIE Storage Networking track. As the |
| "rack time" online and practice lab scenarios on | | | | name suggests, the Storage Networking track |
| Cisco equipment hosted on the Internet for that | | | | concentrates on storage networking topics, such |
| purpose. | | | | as Fibre Channel, iSCSI, FCIP, Intra VSAN Routing |
| Cisco refers to the CCIE as the "most respected | | | | and FICON. |
| IT certification", and from 2002 to 2005 it was | | | | CCDE: |
| voted as such in CertCities magazine. It has also | | | | Cisco Certified Design Expert CCDE Assesses |
| been voted the most technically advanced IT | | | | advanced Network Infrastructure Design Principles |
| certification by CertMag, and is generally reported | | | | and Fundamentals for large networks. A CCDE |
| as the highest salaried certification in IT salary | | | | can demonstrate an ability to develop solutions |
| surveys. | | | | which address planning, design, integration, |
| The CCIE is comprised of a written exam and a | | | | optimization, operations, security and ongoing |
| "lab" exam (each in the specific area of the | | | | support focused at the infrastructure level for |
| chosen track). The written exam is required to | | | | customer networks. |
| take the lab exam, and has a cost of $315 USD | | | | Prerequisites for CCDE There are no formal |
| per attempt. Upon passing the written exam, the | | | | prerequisites for CCDE certification. Other |
| candidate is qualified to have a first attempt the | | | | professional certifications or training courses are |
| lab exam for 18 months. If the first attempt is | | | | not required. |
| unsuccessful the candidate has 3 years from the | | | | Recommended Training and Experience It is |
| date the written exam was passed to | | | | expected that the candidate will have an in-depth |
| successfully complete the lab. If a candidate does | | | | understanding of the topics in the exam blueprints, |
| not pass the CCIE lab in that time, they must | | | | a minimum of seven years job experience, and a |
| pass the CCIE written exam again before making | | | | thorough understanding of networking |
| additional attempts at the CCIE lab exam. As | | | | infrastructure principles. Please view the written |
| many attempts can be made to pass the lab | | | | exam information page for more details. |