CCNP Wireless v2 & CCNA Wireless v2

Well at first glance looking at the exam topics for each of the exams there does not seem to be a massive amount of change. Each of the exam numbers is incremented by a single digit however the core topics remain largely unchanged.

From converstaions with various people and reading the forums such as CLN the biggest changes are updates due to code. Also how Cisco are approaching the exams is alleged to have changed in some cases quite a lot which could add to the fun.

One of the difficulties I had sitting the CCNA Wireless was remembering how things used to be done and as an entry level exam many candidates will not have seen the older code versions. I think the refresh will make a much fairer environment for the candidates however there is one major issue, no study materials.

Its been a major gripe of most candidates taking the Cisco wireless exams that there is scarecly any training or self study material. Pretty much the same for any wireless vendor exams actually! Without simulators and the need for hands on you need to be working with the equipment or very wealthy to buy a lab and or take the official traing which will have course materials, or like me determined and prepared to make the sacrifices and buy a lab and spend hours looking through the design guides. OK for me its almost a hobby.

The few books that were about for the CCNA Wireless will now be well out of date for the new exam. The CCNP Wireless Quick Reference guides will be equally out of date, that said only three of the four promised were ever released, Cisco Press still says the forth, IUWVN,will be released soon and states January 2011, hmmmm OK.

Well I think the core technologies are still relevant OK we have to forget about LWAPP now, that seems so long ago and think CAPWAP. New features like CleanAir, MSE replacing the Location Appliance etc. Largely I think alot of great information is still contained in these publications and they will help analyse your weaknesses. Once you know your weaknesses its into the design and deployment guides.

Good luck anyone taking these I have my first CCNP Wireless booked for 3/2/2012 which is CUWSS, this I should pass! Then I will take my IAUWS before the end of the month, I really want to get this before I have to start thinking about v2. I migh even dabble in v2 to see how different they are.

CCNA Wireless Experience

I took the CCNA Wireless exam and passed thankfully about two weeks ago, before I started blogging, I would have been gutted to get a fail with my experience and would have probably quickly resat the exam and kept quiet!

I think the exam was fair however you either needexperience or alot of reading as there are just some questions that you would find it hard to pick up.

Look at all the practice questions from Boson and on the Cisco site and it will give you a good idea what to expect. The harder part for me was definitely on the 500 series controller as I have only configured one and its alot different to the enterprise controllers so had to read some on the 500 series. Being intimately familiar with the enterprise models, the 4400 and 2100 series, I automatically think about what I would do if deploying them. Know the limitations of the 500 series access points and controllers. Also get some hands on even if its just a sandalone access point.

I studied for about a week pretty solidly but was involved in the Cisco CCNA Wireless Study Group quite actively that has helped me get into study mode and probably think more aboute the minutae that would be on the exam rather than just being able to configure and understand the processes. At the time I was on there I was studying for my CCDA, I still am, I should be sitting the CCDA tomorrow but have delayed it for about a week.

All in all I thought it was a pretty straight forward test and a fair assessment of what you could expect at that level.

I did however give myself quite a bit of stress as I also sat the Cisco AWLANFE exam on the same day, thats the Advanced Wrireless Field Engineer 642-631. I thought the material would be pretty similar and to a large degree it is. The only issue I had was time and a few of the less familiar topics like EAP-FAST that I had to read up on. The main issue is that it is based on older code so you have to think in terms of code 4.0 and also know the 1000 series access points.

Finally sitting two Cisco exams in one day is stressful even if you know the sbject matter. I have pledged to do the same for my CCDA and AWLANSE, thats the 642-681, but I know it will be a lot tougher than the CCNA and AWLANFE. Most people I spoke with thought I was mad even attempting it. I onestly can't see myself doing the same for my CCNP Wireless, R&S or teh CWNO stuff, the detail and depth is so much harder and alot of the routing stuff will be new though the concepts are alot more meaningful now and are actually making sense.