Getting certified as a Cisco Professional
Organizations are continuously moving to controller-based architectures. This raises the need for network engineers to prove their knowledge and skills. In order to ensure that this networking transition will happen smoothly, Cisco introduced the CCNA Routing and Switching credential, which plays two major roles: (1) providesone with knowledge of foundational technologies and (2) keepsone updated with the most relevant skills required by next generation technologies.
This is an important certification, which you cannot afford to ignore. Having an understanding of the CCNA R&S certificate helps with the creation of a better preparation plan.
To earn this Cisco certification, the candidates are required to pass the combination of 100-105 and 200-105 exams or the single 200-125 test. It is important to mention that the passing score for the Cisco exams varies between 800 and 850. The maximum possible score is 1000.
The students are presented with a series of multiple-choice questions, testlets, simulation andsimlets. The number of questions and time allotted for each test can be found on the official Cisco website. Besides, visit Pearson VUE if you want to register for the certification exam.
- 100-105 ICDN1
The exam measures the candidate’s fundamental networking skills. The individuals are provided with 45-55 questions, all of which are supposed to be answered within 90 minutes. The certification test covers a number of topics, which will need thorough preparation to pass it. The exam topics include Network Fundamentals; Infrastructure Maintenance and Services; Routing Fundamentals; and LAN Switching Fundamentals.
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To help you with your exam preparation, Cisco recommends that you enroll in the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices, Part 1 course. The training takes the students through the steps involved in installing, configuring and verifying IPv4 and IPv6 on a network and various other topics tested in the Cisco CCNA VCE 200-125 Dumps.
The candidates obtain practical skills through a virtual lab. The hands-on exercises come in handy, especially if your organization does not allow you to operate their networking equipment. The course is basically split into 3 main sections: instructor-led training for lab practices, virtual instructor-led training and e-learning. Each of these sections takes 5 days to complete.
- 200-105 ICDN2
Similar to other Cisco exams, this test is offered via Pearson VUE. It verifies whether the candidates are able to perform different networking operations. 55-65 questions are asked, all of them are supposed to be answered within 90 minutes. The specific topics are: Infrastructure Services; Routing Technologies; Infrastructure Maintenance; LAN Switching Technologies; and WAN Technologies.
Cisco provides the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices, Part 2 course to help the students with the preparation. In this course, the test takers are taken through the installation, configuration, operation and troubleshooting of small enterprise network. It also tackles several elements related to Cloud computing.
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The examinees get a detailed explanation of QoS and their applications and the skills needed to pass the 200-105 exam. The certification test is appropriate for network analysts, network specialists, network administrators and network engineers. To be confident when answering the questions, make sure that you strongly grasp network fundamentals, as well as routing and switching.
- 200-125 CCNA
The exam checks whether or not a candidate has the skills and knowledge associated with WAN technologies, network fundamentals, infrastructure security, infrastructure services, IPv4 and IPv6 technologies and infrastructure management. The individuals are required to have a good grasp of 7 key topics to pass the test, namely: Network Fundamentals; Infrastructure Management; Routing Technologies; Infrastructure Services; Infrastructure Management; LAN Switchingand WAN Technologies.
Each of these sections is assigned given percentage weights as stipulated on the exam’s official web page. The weights represent contribution of each topic to the total questions asked in the test.
It goes without saying that the area with higher weight will account for more questions. Therefore, you ought to set aside more time for that given topic. In the previous exams, Cisco seems to have a high preference for more questions related to routing technologies.
Preparation options
To best way to prepare for the CCNA Routing and Switching certificate is to enroll inthe courses approved by Cisco. This is because the materials used in such courses are created by those experts who are likely to be involved in setting the exam questions.
Enrolling for third party courses may be a viable option, butsuch resources may lack insider information that the Cisco’s own experts have.
ICDN1 Course:It makes sure that you gain knowledge and skills for operating network layers 1-3. The topics covered in the course include wireless controllers, functions of firewalls, interactions with the firewall and access points. A special attention is paid on basic network security and IPv4 and IPv6.
ICDN2 Course:The candidates who enroll in the course are equipped with knowledge and skills required to perform installation, configuration, operation and troubleshooting of small enterprise network. Important topics handled are: Cloud services, controller types andQoS elements.
Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices: Accelerated: This course integrates elements of both ICDN1 and ICDN2 so that you do not have to go around looking for materials from other places. It is a viable choice for those students who feel that they do not have enough time and want to do their studies from a single point of reference.
Conclusion
You should always aim at taking the test and passing it at your first attempt. However, if you happen to fail, do not despair. The candidates who fail to pass their exam have an option to retake it. In this regard, you are expected to wait up to 5 days from the date you failed the test so as to schedule a new exam day.
Having understood the CCNA Routing and Switching certification, feel free to begin your preparation for the required exams.
