Cisco has introduced important upgrades of the Cisco Certified Networking Associate. The changes in the certification are very important in the information technology careers. Cisco Certified Networking Associate is very significant in enhancing the effectiveness of various routing and switching activities.
Cisco certification has new exam versions. The change in version is from 2.0 to 3.0. Additionally, Cisco introduced new concepts of the CCNA exams.
Examination
Routing and switching exam are administered in two approaches. The first approach is taking two tests known as Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices (ICND).
The second test is known as CCNA. CCNA is a composite test because it combines ICND1 and ICDN2.
The three new numbers for Cisco examination are ICND1 v3.0: 100-105, ICND2 v3.0: 200-105, and CCNA v3.0: 200-125.
Changes in ICND1 Exam
Some examination topics have been introduced, moved, and removed. Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) was taken to ICDN2. Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is important in teaching CCENT students about IP routing protocols.
Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF) and Dual IPv4/IPv6 topics have been removed because of the emerging transition technologies. Infrastructure components topic has been introduced. The topic shows the interactions of computer infrastructure with capabilities such as Data Security, Wireless Controllers and Firewalls. Syslog message logging is a newly introduced topic.
The exam strives to make the learners understand the concept of device monitoring. RIPv2 for IPv4 topic has been introduced to impart knowledge about the routing protocols. Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) has been introduced to enhance Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP).
Review of ICND2 Exam
Some topics have been introduced or removed. Study of Frame Relay has been removed. VRRP and GLBP concepts have also been removed from the First Hop Redundancy Protocols topic.
Many exams areas have been introduced. External BGP (eBGP) has been added to link the Enterprise branches. VPN topics currently comprise Site-to-Site VPN and DMVPN technologies for ordinary Enterprise use. Cloud resources concept has been added to show how the cloud processes influence network flows.
