CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide - Hardcover

CCIE No. 1624, has been in the networking industry since 1981. He currently teaches QoS, MPLS, and CCNA courses for Skyline Advanced Technology Services. Wendell also has worked as a network engineer, consultant, and systems engineer, and as an instructor and course developer. He is the author of all prior editions of CCNA Exam Certification Guide

as well as Cisco QOS Exam Certification Guide , Second Edition, Computer Networking First-Step , CCIE Routing and Switching Official Exam Certification Guide , Second Edition, and CCNA Video Mentor, all from Cisco Press.

Rus Healy, CCIE No. 15025, wrote Chapter 20, “IP Version 6,” and made updates, large and small, to most other chapters in updating the book for the Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching version 3.0 blueprint. He has worked on several Cisco Press projects, including the second edition of this book, as a technical reviewer. Rus is a principal SE with Annese & Associates, the largest Cisco Upstate New York Silver partner. He was instrumental in guiding Annese to Cisco Silver partnership and their three Cisco Advanced Specializations (Wireless LAN, Security, and Unified Communications). In addition to the CCIE Routing and Switching certification, Rus holds Cisco CCDP and CCVP certifications, several Cisco Qualified Specialist certifications in Unified Communications, and the Cisco Technology Solution Specialist (TSS) designation in Unified Communications. Along with his wife, Nancy, and children, Gwen and Trevor, Rus lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York. He and his family enjoy camping, boating, skiing, bicycling, and many other family activities. Rus is also an avid amateur radio contest operator, particularly using Morse Code. He was a member of the U.S. team in the 2002 World Radio Team Championship in Helsinki, Finland. Rus is also active in the Ontario County, New York chapter of Habitat for Humanity and in St Mary’s Church in Honeoye, New York.

CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide, Third Edition

Introduction

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification may be the most challenging and prestigious of all networking certifications. It has received numerous awards and certainly has built a reputation as one of the most difficult certifications to earn in all of the technology world. Having a CCIE certification opens doors professionally typically results in higher pay and looks great on a resume.

Cisco currently offers several CCIE certifications. This book covers the version 3.0 exam blueprint topics of the written exam for the CCIE Routing and Switching certification. The following list details the currently available CCIE certifications at the time of this book's publication; check http://www.cisco.com/go/ccie for the latest information. The certifications are listed in the order in which they were made available to the public.

• CCIE Routing and Switching

• CCIE Security

• CCIE Service Provider

• CCIE Voice

• CCIE Storage Networking

Each of the CCIE certifications requires the candidate to pass both a written exam and a one-day, hands-on lab exam. The written exam is intended to test your knowledge of theory, protocols, and configuration concepts that follow good design practices. The lab exam proves that you can configure and troubleshoot actual gear.

Why Should I Take the CCIE Routing and Switching Written Exam?

The first and most obvious reason to take the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam is that it is the first step toward obtaining the CCIE Routing and Switching certification. Also, you cannot schedule a CCIE lab exam until you pass the corresponding written exam. In short, if you want all the professional benefits of a CCIE Routing and Switching certification, you start by passing the written exam.

The benefits of getting a CCIE certification are varied, among which are the following:

• Better pay

• Career advancement opportunities

• Applies to certain minimum requirements for Cisco Silver and Gold Channel Partners, as well as those seeking Master Specialization, making you more valuable to Channel Partners

• Better movement through the problem-resolution process when calling the Cisco TAC

• Prestige

• Credibility for consultants and customer engineers, including the use of the Cisco CCIE logo

The other big reason to take the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam is that it recertifies an individual's associate-, professional-, and expert-level Cisco certifications. In other words, passing any CCIE written exam recertifies that person's CCNA, CCNP, CCIP, CCSP, CCDP, and so on. (Recertification requirements do change, so please verify the requirements at http://www.cisco.com/go/certifications.)

CCIE Routing and Switching Written Exam 350-001

The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam, as of the time of publication, consists of a two-hour exam administered at a proctored exam facility affiliated with Pearson VUE (http://www.vue.com/cisco). The exam typically includes approximately 100 multiple-choice questions. No simulation questions are currently part of the written exam.

As with most exams, everyone wants to know what is on the exam. Cisco provides general guidance as to topics on the exam in the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam blueprint, the most recent copy of which can be accessed from http://www.cisco.com/go/ccie.

Cisco changes both the CCIE written and lab blueprints over time, but Cisco seldom, if ever, changes the exam numbers. (Cisco changes the exam numbers of the associate- and professional-level certifications when it makes major changes to what is covered on those exams.) Knowing that the content will change over time, this book includes Appendix C, "CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Updates: Version 1.0." This appendix will include coverage of any newly added topics to the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam. When Cisco changes the blueprint, the authors will add content to cover the new topics at http://www.ciscopress.com/title/9781587201967 and make that content available to all readers who have bought the earlier edition of the book. For future printings, Cisco Press will put that new content into Appendix C.

The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam blueprint, as of the time of publication, is listed in Table I-1. Table I-1 also lists the chapter(s) that cover each topic.

Table 8-1 CCIE Routing and Switching Written Exam Blueprint