New CCNA Certifications: The Cat is Out of the Bag!
Finally, on Tuesday afternoon, Cisco announced the new CCNA-level certifications...and they are (drum roll please):
CCNA Security
CCNA Voice
CCNA Wireless
I'm actually creating the CCNA Voice Official Exam Certification Guide for Cisco Press as we speak. I've got to tell you - this certification is awesome. It completely fills a much needed gap of knowledge that's needed before you get into the CCVP program. I can't speak for the Security & Wireless certs, but in the CCNA Voice, you'll be learning:
VoIP & Legacy System Integration
CallManager Express setup
Unity Express setup
Basic QoS, Dial-Peers, and other technical nuances
Having this foundation before someone gets into a CCVP will be awesome. Yesterday afternoon, Cisco Press conducted a "podcast video interview" with me about the cert. I'll post the link as soon as it's available. I was actually interviewed by none other than Jeff Doyle (the TCP/IP routing genus) - I'm honored! Anyhow, I'm finally free to talk about this stuff, which is relieving. I'm sure I'll talk plenty about it in my 4:00pm session today at Networkers.
UPDATE: It looks like the Routing and Switching CCNA (the original) will be the prerequisite for all the other CCNA specialties.
UPDATEx2: CCVP and CCSP will now require CCNA Voice and CCNA Security as official prerequisites as of June 2009.
Here's more information, if you're interested:
Official Cisco Press Announcement
Cisco's CCNA Voice Preparation Course
Comments
JC, Sounds great but some
JC,
Sounds great but some quick questions for you:
How does one become certified without having Call Manager?
Will there be a version available for people to work with who are trying to get certified or is there a different product that we can get our hands on (a demo version perhaps)?
When are you going to let us know what a CCNA Voice lab should look like? =)
Lastly, I would like to:
1. Thank you and Cisco Press for the new CCNA Exam Cram Book I won via your NW blog.
2. Invite you to play CounterStrike GG on my friends server: BobDeath's Realm (bobdeath.googlepages.com).
Hope all is well and have fun with your daughter! (Yes, I read the about the author and dedication sections in the book).
P.S. Your email @ciscoblog.com seems to not be working.
Later,
Paul
Good question - The CCNA
Good question - The CCNA Voice is geared around CallManager Express (CME), which runs on a Cisco router and supports networks up to around 250 people or so. The best & cheapest lab environment for this is a 2801 router equipped with CME and Unity Express and a couple IP phones. I'm sure you could buy more, but just buying the 2801 will probably set you back quite a bit (they're pricey compared to typical 2500/2600 routers).
Thanks for the kind words as well! Also, I had to kill my email @ciscoblog as it was being spammed to death.
Hi, I have a looked at the
Hi,
I have a looked at the link that you provided for CCNA Voice. It seem like before you can go for CCNA Voice you have to have CCNA first, is that right? (CCNA Voice Prerequisites)
Thanks,
hhs
@ HHS - Yes - it looks like a
@ HHS -
Yes - it looks like a R&S CCNA is the prereq for any of the other CCNA specialties. That doesn't make ANY sense to me at all - I thought for sure CCENT would be the only prereq... That's what I was told it would be early on - Cisco must have changed their mind at the last minute...really doesn't make sense.
Looks like the CCNA Voice & Security will be the official prereq for the CCVP and CCSP, respecively as of June 2009 as well.
I hate to say it but the net
I hate to say it but the net result of this is to make it really hard on small partners. I'm sure it'll only be 6 months or so before they announce that the CCNA Voice is a requirement for the Advanced UC partner cert. It wouldn't surprise me if it's even a part of "Foundation Express".
It seems Cisco keeps layering on all these different levels. Is it really good at demonstrating engineer talent? This probably doesn't apply to most of the folks reading this but I'd rather have someone that can demonstrate talent than a person that can demonstrate their test taking abilities. You wouldn't believe how many CCNP's I've interviewed that struggled to figure out basic dynamic routing.
More power to you on the book writing. I don't mean to begrudge you of that. But there's another side to the rapidly growing cert portfolio that's always overlooked.
Hi JC, I am so glad that you
Hi JC,
I am so glad that you are working on a book that deals with ccme and cue. There are simply no good materials out there regarding the topics. I am looking forward to the release of this book.
I have deployed ccme in certain instances but i still dont fully understand the technology perfectly. This is a complete breath of fresh air.
JC, please consider coming out with a CBT as well on the subject matter. Many people are suffering out there because of lack of good material on the subject matter.
Hello, I'm pursuing the CCNP
Hello,
I'm pursuing the CCNP (ONT is the last one left) I was reviewing all this CCNA specialization issue and suddenly a question pop up:
¿It wouldn't be possible that Cisco were retiring CCNP?
I see the landscape and see: new Association level certificacions which contains topics from CCNP and other Professional level curriculua.
AND
All the professional level specialized.
¿Isn't supsicious that there isn't a Routing/Switching specialization?
I'd love you answer my question, and better if you tell me that ¡I'm so wrong!
HiGuys, I am thinking of
HiGuys,
I am thinking of studying for the new CCSP certification from zero. I already have a CCNA (switching and routing) but according to Cisco this doesn't count anymore if I'm pursuing the CCSP. Unfortunately I haven't had much experience in the industry with Cisco.
Could anyone advise if by completing the CCSP certification (with hard study, of course) will I be able to gain the necessary security Cisco knowledge to succeed in the industry without doing a CCNP first?
Your advice its highly appreciated
Thanks
Hi! Very interesting blog! I
Hi! Very interesting blog! I have blog too. Welcome!
Hi ! Greetings All !!! I have
Hi !
Greetings All !!!
I have a question :
Q1. Is there any pre-requisite for CCNA Voice as well? I am CCNA (December 2007) Certified and now want to get into CCVP.
Q2. Now, if I give CVOICE within a month then Can I continue with further exams and also can I give the CCNA Voice later or do I need to re-start the process and have to give CVOICE again?
I would appreciate if anyone clears this doubt.
Thanks in advance !!!
Hi friends, My CCNA is
Hi friends,
My CCNA is expired and I want to do CCNA Voice. Is it necessary to have a CCNA to give CCNA Voice.