Cisco is one of the largest networking companies in the world and is responsible for a considerable amount of the infrastructure which you use every single day. They are leading the way in terms of innovation, sparking several industry shifts over the last few years, and promising exciting opportunities for those who are engaging in computer networks. How exactly can you build yourself into a professional Cisco technician, though?
What is CCIE?
CCIE stands for Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. It was conceived as a way to make it easier for businesses to recognize the World’s brightest Internetworking experts, providing them with accreditation which is recognized across the globe. To keep up with the ever-evolving networking field, Cisco is always updating CCIE, improving it to make sure that their engineers use the latest tools, technology, and methods. If you decide to take a course like this, you will have to go through both exams and practical coursework, creating a balance which will appeal to a broad audience.
[solidLine]
How does CCIE Certification Help an IT Engineer?
There are a lot of courses available around the web which can teach you about various aspects of computing and networking, often making it hard for engineers to choose an option which will be recognized. Thanks to the Cisco name, along with the popularity of the CCIE program, you will struggle to find an employer who doesn’t recognize this certification. Along with this, being kept up to date with the latest developments in your field is also crucial, and is something which Cisco can provide to engineers through CCIE. Companies like FieldEngineer.com can help you to find roles in this field, but you will need to have the qualifications to match.
Types of CCIE Certification
There are five different types of CCIE certification, all of which are aimed at various kinds of network technicians. Each will put your Internetworking skills to the test, and you are allowed to take more than one, giving you the chance to become a real expert in this field.
Routing & Switching: Having an understanding of the way data moves around a network is crucial as an expert technician. The Routing and Switching elements of CCIE proves your ability in this area, teaching you to control the flow of data around networking, using a mixture of theory and practical work.
Data Center: CCIE Data Center is designed to validate expert-level skills which are needed when working on complicated data centers. From the design to implementation, CCIE Datacenter is one of the only qualifications out there which proves an engineer’s worth in this environment.
Collaboration: Building complex networks will often take more than one person. Working together effectively in this environment can be a challenge, with designing, implementing, and troubleshooting infrastructure being crucial. CCIE Collaboration is the key to solving this issue.
Wireless: Wireless networking is becoming more critical to networks across the globe. CCIE wireless will test your understanding of this area, with knowledge ranging from correctly balancing signals to troubleshooting major connection issues being essential for engineers working with these tools.
Security: Keeping a network secure is critical for businesses of all shapes and sizes, and Cisco is stringent when it comes to giving engineers qualifications surrounding it. Candidates will need to demonstrate their ability to design, implement, and maintain a network secure before being awarded this certification.
[solidLine]
[solidLine]
Skills Measured by CCIE Certification
Cisco takes their CCIE certification very seriously, and this is for a good reason. Those with this sort of qualification will be very highly regarded in this industry, with Cisco themselves hiring a large portion of the people going through it, making it crucial that they cover the right skills with it. You can find some of the skills candidates are expected to demonstrate below.
Implementing and configuring an EIGRP based solution.
Creating a multi-area OSPF Network and configuring OSPF routing.
Implementing an eBGP based solution and configuring eBGP routing.
Setting-up an IPv6 based solution and documenting implementation results.
Implementing and configuring an IPv4 or IPv6 redistribution solution.
Creating Layer 3 Path Control Solutions and broadband connections.
Determining the necessary resources and implementing VLAN based solution.
Planning and implementing a Security Extension of Layer 2 solutions.
Designing and configuring Switch based Layer 3 services.
Implementing advanced VoIP, video, and wireless support solutions.
Implementing High Availability and confirming using show & debug commands.
Maintaining the network and developing a plan to monitor performance.
Troubleshooting Multi-Protocol systems, such as EIGRP, NAT, and OSPF.
Cisco CCIE Certification Exams (How to prepare for Cisco CCIE Certifications?)
Each of the CCIE tracks comes with its written exam and lab practical for candidates to complete. These tests have to be taken within 18 months of one another, and all of the exams sit between 90 and 110 questions, with 120 minutes to get it all done. Preparing for this takes a lot of work, and it is recommended that you sit past exams before doing the real thing to get to grip with the format and questions.
[solidLine]
Cisco CCIE Certification Prerequisites
Before you’re allowed to sit a CCIE exam, you will first have to have either a valid CCNA or CCIE qualification at a pass level. Along with this, Cisco recommends that you have at least eight years of industry experience before taking on this sort of course. Some employers can help you to prepare yourself for your CCIE exams, but most people do it on their own.
[solidLine]
Cisco CCIE Certification Training (How to Get the Training?)
No one will be able to sit down and take a CCIE course without some training to start them off. There are a lot of self-teaching tools around the web which can help with this, and these are perfect for those who are already in networking engineer roles. Alternatively, you could consider going to school to develop the skills you’ll need for CCIE, and this will be better for those with limited experience. It’s recommended that you use Cisco’s practice labs to help with your learning, along with utilizing the exam feedback you get with each attempt.
