Major update to the CCNP Certification

On August 15th 2006, Cisco released a comprehensive update to the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification.  DDLS provides you with a summary of the changes that have occurred.

CCNP Overview
In summary, Cisco has redesigned and upgraded the CCNP curriculum to include Advanced Technologies and integrate Cisco’s next generation network platform products, which are experiencing record growth in the market.

The updated certification will focus on the following areas and includes two new courses which replace two long time CCNP courses:

• BCMSN 3.0: WLAN content added

• BSCI 3.0: added ISRs as its platform and multicast to better support VoIP

• ISCW 1.0: extensive lessons on access networking (cable, DSL) basic MPLS and VPN, including router security (IPSec, IOS Firewall)

• ONT 1.0: extensive lessons on basic VoIP, QoS and wireless security

Those new courses are:

• Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (ISCW) 1.0

• Optimising Converged Cisco Networks (ONT) 1.0

ISCW and ONT will replace the BCRAN and CIT courses which will no longer be run after October 15, 2006. The content within ISCW and ONT is significantly different than the previous two courses.

The new CCNP certification is made up of the following four courses:

New versions of existing courses:
Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) 3.0
The goal of the BSCI 3.0 course is to train network administrators to dramatically increase the number of routers and sites using best practice techniques instead of redesigning the network when additional sites or wiring configurations are added.

Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN) v3.0
BCMSN 3.0 instructs students on how to create an efficient and expandable enterprise network by installing, configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting network infrastructure equipment according to the Campus Infrastructure module in the Enterprise Composite Network Model (ECNM).

New courses:
The Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks (ONT) v1.0
ONT v1.0 covers skills in optimising and providing effective quality of service (QoS) techniques in converged networks supporting voice, wireless and security applications.

ONT features VoIP network essentials and VoIP related challenges, to ensure the quality in a converged network, concepts and implementation methods for QoS, the introduction of Wireless security standards and Cisco Wireless LAN (WLAN) network.        

Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (ISCW) v1.0
ISCW v1.0 is a five-day advanced instructor-led course that introduces techniques and features enabling or enhancing WAN and remote access solutions using one or more of the available WAN connection technologies for remote access between enterprise sites.

ISCW covers Cable and DSL broadband access, Basic MPLS/MPLS VPN, increased focus on IOS Security features including S2S VPN (IPSec and GRE/IPSEC), Easy VPN, IOS Firewall, IOS IPS, AutoSecure, and Role Based CLI. While SDM is also featured in the course and in the labs.

 

As the network evolves to support end-to-end IP solutions, several skills sets such as: Security, Wireless LANS, Quality of Service, and Voice over IP are critical for planning, implementing, and deploying Cisco’s advanced technologies. The new CCNP certification is intended to provide the student with the skills necessary to install, configure, and troubleshoot networks based on advanced technologies defined in these courses.

CCNP Course & Exam Release plus (End Of Life) EOL Timetable

Below is a summary of the changes which will occur to the current and new courses.

Current Course	Course Ends	Current Exams	Last Day to Register For Old Exam	New Course	New Course Exam Release	New Exam
BCRAN	15 Oct 06	642-821	15 Nov 06	ISCW	Now available	642-825
CIT	15 Oct 06	642-831	15 Nov 06	ONT	Now available	642-845
BSCI v2.2	15 Oct 06	642-801	15 Nov 06	BSCI v3.0	Now available	642-901
BCMSN v2.2	15 Oct 06	642-811	15 Nov 06	BCMSN v3.0	Now available	642-812

 

To improve the process of the CCNP Re-certification Policy, Cisco has released some changes which are detailed below.

There are now two options for re-certification:

• Candidates are able to re-certify by passing any 642 exam from any of the CCNP, CCSP, CCVP, CCDP or CCIP curriculum (new) or, pass any CCIE written exam (remains unchanged).

• Utilise the COMPOSITE (BSCI & BCMSN) exams which allows candidates to take three exams to certify instead of four.

This new re-certification policy will apply to CCNP, CCSP, CCVP, CCDP and CCIP curriculum and will be effective from August 15 2006.

DDLS will continue to run the current courses during August & September due to popular demand and will offer the new courses from October 2006.

For additional information on the CCNP certification, please contact your Account Manager or the DDLS Customer Care Centre on 13 12 01.

Alternatively, CCNP certification information can be viewed in the Cisco Certification or Cisco Training Course areas of the DDLS website.