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Cisco announced a new exam; Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions exam (640-863 DESGN), which is a requirement for Cisco CCDA certification.
The updated DESGN curriculum and exam emphasize the converged enterprise network model and presents services virtualization based on the Cisco Service?Oriented Network Architecture (SONA), providing a foundation for students to gain the knowledge and skills required to design routed and switched network infrastructures and services. Concepts are reinforced with extensive case studies that enable students to apply the new skills learned. The old exam (640-861) will remain available until July 13th, 2007. And the topics have change so much that Cisco says ?The recommended course prerequisite is CCNA level knowledge, with additional recommended knowledge as taught in the BCMSN course.? The new exam topics are the following: Describe the Cisco Service-Oriented Network Architecture Identify Network Requirements to Support the Organization Characterize an existing network Describe the top down approach to network design Describe Network Management Protocols and Features
Describe the Network Hierarchy Describe the Modular Approach in Network Design Describe the Cisco Enterprise Architecture
Design Basic Enterprise Campus Networks
Describe Campus Design considerations Design the Enterprise Campus Network Design the enterprise data center
Design Enterprise Edge and Remote Network Modules
Describe the Enterprise Edge, branch, and Teleworker design characteristics Describe the functional components of the central site Enterprise Edge Describe WAN connectivity between two campuses Design the branch office WAN solutions Describe Access Network solutions for a Teleworker Design the WAN to support selected redundancy methodology Identify Design Considerations for a Remote Data Center
Describe IPv4 & IPv6 Addressing Identify Routing Protocol Considerations in an Enterprise Network Design a Routing Protocol Deployment Design a Routing Protocol Deployment--merged with 5.3
Describe the security lifecycle Identify Cisco technologies to mitigate security vulnerabilities Select appropriate Cisco security solutions and deployment placement
Describe Traditional Voice Architectures and Features Describe Cisco IP Telephony Identify the design considerations for voice services
Describe Cisco Unified Wireless Network Architectures and Features Design wireless network using controllers Design wireless network using roaming
This huge change in topics was necessary as I see it. The old CCDA topics did not cover the true needs for Internetwork designers. The most important topics that were not covered in the old CCDA exam are VoIP and wireless networks. These two topics are becoming more and more integrated into every network being installed nowadays and an important part of the development of old networks. The exam price remained the same. The number of questions is not 55-65 any more, its 60. And the time was increased from the old 75 minutes to 90 minutes. No self-study guide is out yet, but Cisco has announced new training course for the new exam at their learning partners. The new exam (640-863) is currently available. I believe CCDA now will grow more important because of these changes. And employers should demand CCDA certified people for the network design jobs. Of course, this increase in the demand for CCDA will not happen in few weeks, it might take few months or maybe a year to take the lead in the network design certifications. For further reference, please refer to: http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le0/le4/learning_certification_type_home.html Thank you for writing a comment |
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