Cisco just announced new certifications in the market and they’re super exciting! Of course, a lot of you are already writing me about when my books will be out… All I can say is I’m pounding the keyboard as fast as I can and that yes, I wish I could figure out some way to do that while sleeping too! But since I haven’t figured out how to do that yet, just hang in there-at least I’m not on strike!

Anyway, I actually want to talk to you a bit about the old network certification path first, starting with the CompTIA certifications that led to the CCNA. Referring to the figure below, a newbie to the networking field would start off by studying, learning, practicing on LANs and probably some hosts and servers as well. After that, they’d possibly take the CompTIA Network+, Security+, Server+, A+, etc:

Moving right along, with the foundational background of the CompTIA certifications in hand, our newbie’s next logical move would be to dive straight into the Cisco CCNA — either through the Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT) or by just taking the CCNA exam (640-802). Of course, all this assumes that the Newbie has made a career choice and opted for the “Networking” path.  Makes sense…

Once you’ve nailed your CCNA, you’re good to go for the professional level certifications like, Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) or Cisco Certified Voice Professional) (CCVP) as shown here in the next figure:

But let’s say you still want more. At this point, all paths lead to the veritable PH.D. of Cisco Certs-the Cisco Certified Internetworking Engineer (CCIE). People really don’t have to subject themselves to the special torture of the lower level certification process CCIE gauntlet, but getting through it alive and well definitely has benefits. (At the very least, you get major props and bragging rights!)And, although many people have tried many paths (many times), the most popular way to tackle this monster is step by step: CCNA, CCNP, then the CCIE Routing and Switching (R&S) lab. Over 50% of the pushes for the CCIE summit take this route!

But as I said, Cisco has tweaked things and changed its various professional paths to networking nirvana. Yep…Cisco even put a new one on the radar — it’s all pretty cool!

For instance, if you were going with the foundational CompTIA certifications, you can still take:

1. Your basic CCENT/CCNA Routing and Switching Cisco foundational certifications.
2. The CCNA, CCNA Security, then the CCSP, and finally the CCIE Security.
3. The CCNA, CCNA Voice, the CCVP, then the CCIE Voice.
4. The new, most exciting one of these is the new CCNA Wireless Certification path. Start with your CompTIA foundation, grab your CCNA, and then head straight for the CCNA wireless. In the near future you’ll go to the Cisco Certified Wireless Professional (CCWP) and then on to the CCIE Wireless.

Cisco has my full attention here — are you with me?

(Note: The basic CCNA, either through the two test method of ICND1 or ICND2, or the one test method of the 640-802 exam, is a requirement before any other CCNA certifications.)

Let me show you what Cisco’s new approach to certification looks like:

Okay-you can see that yes, it’s true, there are now four paths, and you get to choose any of them from beginning to end-sweet! (Again, the advanced Wireless certs are not announced yet - hopefully soon.)

So which path is for you? Since they’re all awesome, I’d say, “take them all!” But that’s just me. I bleed Cisco blood, what can I say? Seriously, you really can’t go wrong with any of them, which is why the changes Cisco has made are so exciting. So many options — so many ways to succeed!

Oh, and just so you know, I’m going to be teaching all of these new courses soon at GlobalNet Training, inc, in Dallas, Texas-the exclusive reseller of my “Cisco Authorized Todd Lammle BootCamps” *.

Cheers!

Todd Lammle

*All courses are delivered by Internetworking Training, inc. a Sponsored Organization of FastLane.

This new entry-level certification has been dubbed Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT).

Why is this so important? Well, because the CCNA exam—especially the new CCNA announced today—is now extremely hard, that´s why! So basically, it´s CCENT to the rescue. It gives unsuspecting network professionals the opportunity to take a much easier stepping stone-like approach to getting that all-important CCNA certification instead of trying to gulp all the information in a one week class, or by reading a book.

Yes, it´s true—the GlobalNet Training bootcamp approach works really well for most people that have networking experience, but for those people trying to become network professionals with no prior experience whatsoever, diving straight into the sometimes overwhelming and unforgiving depths of the CCNA is a pretty formidable challenge! The CCNA course/exam just isn´t the entry level program of days past, so the new CCENT certification is a terrific introduction—it´s the answer for inexperienced people who want a much more user-friendly, (read, possible), way to break into the internetworking profession!

Okay—here´s what Cisco has to say about this new entry certification:

• Optional step toward CCNA or all other Certification Programs
• Certifies Practical Skills
• Tangible first step to CCNA
• Assesses aptitude & competence for working with Cisco Networking Devices and Software

Oh, and by the way, Cisco has done a bit of research that just so happens to confirm the fact that there´s some serious interest among employers for a certification that covers entry level IT skills that mitigates and reduces the risk inherent when hiring employees with little or no previous networking experience.

Note: This new entry level certification exam is not a prerequisite to obtaining your CCNA.

• ICND1 640-822
• ICND2 640-816
• CCNA Composite 640-802

In order to obtain your CCNA you can take and pass the ICND1 and ICND2 exams at $125 bucks a piece, or try your hand at the CCNA Composite 640-802 exam at $150.

This is the same approach Cisco has been using for years—you either take two relatively easier tests, or one super hard test.

I always recommend the one test approach because, well, no one, including Cisco, has proved that the two-test approach is actually easier. So why go there?

Anyway, since the new exam won´t be released for another month, this could all change very soon. But no worries—I´ll give you the dirt on all of this somewhere around August 1st, as soon as I get back from Networkers.

And, it´s also good to know that if you´re still are studying for the old exam(s), you haven´t wasted your time/effort/cash, because you get until November of 2007 to take them.

A really cool thing I like about the new exam is that it covers all the new cutting edge stuff—no more of that ISDN crap! Here´s a short list of the new technologies covered:

• Secure Device Manager
• Virtual Private Networks
• IPv6 (my favorite!)
• 2960 Switches
• Cisco Network Assistant
• Advanced EIGRP and OSPF
• Introduction to Wireless networks
• More security
• Lots of troubleshooting

Should be a hoot…

In the meantime, come on over to www.globalnettraining.com and get yourself signed up for the newest courses using the latest and greatest gear.

And, don´t forget to nick a copy of my latest CCNA Composite 640-802 Study guide from Sybex because it truly is, far and away, the best book I´ve written to date—I´m so happy with how this book turned out!

Effective August 15, 2006
The CCNP® certification validates a network professional´s ability to install, configure and troubleshoot converged local and wide area networks with 100 to 500 or more nodes. Network Professionals who achieve the CCNP® certification have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to manage the routers and switches that form the network core, as well as edge applications that integrate voice, wireless, and security into the network.

Updated Course Information:
BSCI v3.0 has replaced BSCI v2.2
BCMSN v3.0 has replaced BCMSN v2.2
BCRAN v2.2 will reach End Of Life October 15, 2006
CIT v5.2 will reach End Of Life October 15, 2006
ISCW v1.0 is a new course as part of the CCNP® certification track
ONT v1.0 is a new course as part of the CCNP® certification track

Updated Exam Information
Building Scalable Cisco® Internetworks (BSCI 642-901) is a qualifying exam for the CCNP®, CCDP®, and CCIP® certifications. The BSCI 642-901 exam will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to use advanced IP addressing and routing in implementing scalability for Cisco® ISR routers connected to LANs and WANs.

The exam covers topics on Advanced IP Addressing, Routing Principles, Multicast Routing, IPv6, Manipulating Routing Updates, Configuring basic BGP, Configuring EIGRP, OSPF, and IS-IS.
* FYI, the last day to test for BSCI 642-801 is December 31, 2006.

Building Converged Cisco® Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN 642-812) is a qualifying exam for the CCNP® and CCDP® certifications. The BCMSN 642-812 exam will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to implement scalable multilayer switched networks.

The exam includes topics on Campus Networks, describing and implementing advanced Spanning Tree concepts, VLANs and Inter-VLAN routing, High Availability, Wireless Client Access, Access Layer Voice concepts, and minimizing service Loss and Data Theft in a Campus Network.
* FYI, the last day to test for BCMSN 642-811 is December 31, 2006.

Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (ISCW 642-825) is a qualifying exam for the CCNP® certification. The ISCW 642-825 exam will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills necessary to secure and expand the reach of an enterprise network to teleworkers and remote sites with focus on securing remote access and VPN client configuration.

The exam covers topics on Cisco® hierarchical network model as it pertains to the WAN, teleworker configuration and access, frame mode MPLS, site-to-site IPSEC VPN, Cisco® EZVPN, strategies used to mitigate network attacks, Cisco® device hardening and IOS® firewall features.
* FYI, the last day to test for BCRAN 642-821 is December 31, 2006.

Optimizing Converged Cisco® Networks (642-845 ONT) is a qualifying exam for the CCNP® certification. The ONT 642-845 exam will certify that the successful candidate has important knowledge and skills in optimizing and providing effective QoS techniques for converged networks.

The exam topics include implementing a VOIP network, implementing QoS on converged networks, specific IP QoS mechanisms for implementing the DiffServ QoS model, AutoQoS, wireless security and basic wireless management.
* FYI, the last day to test for CIT 642-831 is December 31, 2006.

The Composite exam (642-891) is the quickest way for currently certified CCNP® and CCDP® professionals to obtain recertification. The exam tests skills and knowledge pertaining to the Building Scalable Cisco® Internetworks (BSCI) and Building Cisco® Managed Switched Networks (BCMSN) courses. Composite may be taken to recertify CCNP® and CCDP® certifications; it may also be taken in place of the BSCI and BCMSN exams required for CCNP® and CCDP® certifications. Candidates must successfully pass both routing and switching subsections of the Composite exam to successfully pass the exam.
* FYI, the last day to test for Composite 642-891 is December 31, 2006.

A Note about CCNP® Recertification:
CCNP® certifications are valid for three years. To recertify, pass any 642 exam that is part of the professional level curriculum after 8/18/06, or pass a current CCIE® written exam.
* The second level in general Cisco® Career Certifications is professional-level certifications such as CCNP®, CCSP™, CCDP®, and CCIP™ each falling within a different certification path (or track) for meeting varying career needs. Think of this level as the advanced, or journeyman, level of certification that shows expertise with networking foundations.