Cisco credentials demonstrate that a certificate holder has enough knowledge to support Cisco products and solve technical problems. Each level of the Cisco certification path presents one or more credentials. In this article, we are going to analyse a professional-level and associate-level credentials. We are going to describe the Cisco 300-135 exam in a more detailed way and also provide some information about 300-101, 300-115, and 210-060 tests.
CCNP Routing & Switching
This Cisco Certified Network Professional certification can be obtained after passing three exams: 300-101 ROUTE, 300-135 TSHOOT, 300-115 SWITCH. They are dedicated to routing, troubleshooting, and switching correspondingly. The certificate is useful for support engineers, network technicians, systems engineers, and etc. To attain the CCNP Routing and Switching credential, you should have CCNA Routing and Switching, which is an associate-level credential, or any CCIE. Only after earning one of these certifications, you can take the three exams on this url.
Cisco 300-135 exam
The test is also called Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (TSHOOT). It is designed with 15-25 questions, and candidates should answer them within two hours. There are some guidelines that may be included in the exam content. According to Cisco, there are some topics that have been highlighted as general guidelines to help the students guide their study properly. These topics can be included in the real exam. However, it is important to mention that there are other associated topics, and they can appear during the real test. To help you learn and prepare, Cisco has provided guideline for the exam content as detailed below.
The first mentioned is Network Principles. It presupposes that an exam candidate must be skilled in using Cisco IOS tools for troubleshooting and applying troubleshooting methodologies. The weight of the Layer 2 Technology topic is 40%. It covers questions about troubleshooting layer 2 protocols, VLANs, trunking, EtherChannels, spanning tree. Questions related to Layer 3 Technologies also contribute 40% to the test. Candidates must be good at troubleshooting IPv4 addressing and subnetting and IPv6 addressing and subnetting, as well as understand troubleshooting of static routing, default routing, VRF lite, passive interfaces. Troubleshooting of loop prevention mechanisms, suboptimal routing, loop free path selection, EIGRP metrics, OSPF operations, eBGP are also important areas. The test also involves questions regarding VPN technologies, as well as Infrastructure Security and Infrastructure Services. Japanese and English can be used to write the 300-135 exam.
As mentioned earlier, there are other topics that have not been highlighted here but that may appear during the exam. To follow the actual 300-135 information, visit the official Cisco website.
Cisco 300-115 exam
This is a two-hour exam that consists of 30-40 questions related to switching skills, so it is called Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks. 65% of the test questions are about layer 2 technologies. To pass the exam, candidates must be well familiar with configuring and verifying switch administration, layer 2 protocols, VLANs, trunking, LAN switching technologies, etc. Infrastructure security and infrastructure services are also covered in this test.
Cisco 300-101 exam
Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE) exam lasts two hours and contains from 45 to 65 questions. You can write it in English or Japanese. According to the official website, there are six areas that are considered to be guidelines of the exam: layer 2 and 3 technologies, network principles, infrastructure security, infrastructure services, and VPN technology.
One more sought-after certification that deserves our attention is CCNA Collaboration.
CCNA Collaboration
The CCNA Collaboration certificate is based on the concept of voice and video. It focuses on how end users can effectively collaborate through interaction while using both video and voice during communication. Earning the CCNP TSHOOT does not require you first obtain CCNA Routing & Switching, but before you earn the credential, you will need to pass both the Cisco 210-060 CICD and Cisco 210-065 CIVND exams. In this article, we will explore only the Cisco 210-060 test.
Cisco 210-060 exam
Cisco 210-060, Implementing Cisco Collaboration Devices,is a certification exam designed to measure the individual’s knowledge of various Cisco UC (Unified Communications) solutions. The test takers will be evaluated based on their knowledge of telephone and mobility attributes, end-user and administrator interfaces, and UC solutions support. The exam consists of 55 to 65 questions, and the time allotted to its completion is 75 minutes.
Cisco 210-060: content overview
The certification test covers wide topic areas, and the candidates are expected to cover these areas in their exam preparation.
Description of characteristics of Cisco UC solutions
This topic covers 15% of the total exam questions. The test takers are expected to know how to describe the components of Cisco UC along with their innate functions. In addition to this, they must also learn how to describe media flows and call signalling. The quality connotations of VoIP network are also an integral part of this topic, and the candidates are expected to be versed in it.
Provision for associated devices and end users
This topic covers 24% of the total exam questions and focuses on different aspects of creating options of Cisco CU for user engagement. The exam candidates are required to know how to describe the options of creation for Cisco UC Manager and Cisco UC Manager Express. The applicants should also be able to create or alter the accounts of users for Cisco UC Manager. The candidates will be required to discover how to do this using GUI. Other skills and knowledge areas that the students are expected to develop in the exam preparation include:
- Generate or adapt endpoints for Cisco UC Manager Express
- Create or adapt endpoint for Cisco UC Manager Express through the use of GUI
- Explain the functions of calling privileges and how it impacts the features of system
- Develop or adapt directory numbers
- Allow user features alongside the associated calling liberties for mobility extension, intercom, call coverage, configuration of unified mobility distant destination, and native presence
- Verify that the features of users are operational
- Enable the end-users on Cisco Instant Messaging & Presence
Configuration of presence and voice messaging
The professionals who are going to pass the 210-060 certification exam will also be evaluated on their knowledge and skills in terms of how to configure presence and voice messaging. This part of the test content builds 27% of the exam questions. Under this topic, the candidates are required to learn how to describe the creation of user options in relation to voice messaging. The test takers are also expected to discover how to create or adapt the accounts of user for the Cisco Unity Connection. The skills and knowledge on the process of configuring Unified Instant Messaging will also be measured.
Maintenance of Cisco UC system
The candidates will also be tested on their skills and knowledge related to the maintenance of Cisco Unified Communication system. This aspect of the exam content will cover 10% of the total exam questions. The test takers will be tested on how to carry out the following functions during this certification test:
- Creating CDR & CMR reports
- Creating Capacity reports
- Creating RTMT reports for the monitoring of system activities
- Generating usage reports
- Removing directory numbers that are unassigned
- Monitoring of usage of voicemail
- Manually performing system backup
Provision of support to end users
The test takers will be evaluated on support provision for end users. This aspect of the exam content makes up about 24% of the total exam questions. The skills and knowledge that will be measured under this topic include the following:
- Authenticating PSTN connectivity
- Troubleshooting endpoint problems
- Explaining fault domains with the use of information and insight collated from end-users
- Recognizing voicemail issues
- Reorganizing a single device
- Explaining sources and indications of issues relating to call quality
- Describing the process of using phone applications
Conclusion
Thus, we have discussed two Cisco credentials (one is of the associate level and another – professional level) and associated exams. The registration for all the exams is available at Pearson VUE. You should choose a certification that is appropriate for your career plans and competence. Preparing for the Cisco 300-135 exam takes a lot of dedication and focus. It is crucial that you have a study plan to keep tab on your preparation progress. There are various resource tools that are available to help you with your study. All you have to do is take the advantage of them and make the best of your preparation. Finally, do not underestimate the power of practice tests. No matter how much you study, you need to evaluate yourself to know how well you have mastered the exam content and how much you still need to study.