The Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Exams are no joke. As one of the highest levels of technical networking offered by companies like Cisco, you need to be on top of your game if you want to pass any CCIE track. After all, months, if not years, of hard work may be wasted if you do not pass and choose not to re-apply.
Luckily, building your own lab to practice using or a commercially offered one, using used Cisco equipment, specifically CCIE equipment, is a great way to prepare for the exams at home. However, there are many different CCIE tracks and you will have to decide which one to test for.
So which CCIE Certification is right for you?
CCIE Routing and Switching
The most popular CCIE track to certify in, the CCIE Routing and Switching covers networking concepts and protocols. If you have a home lab, or are paying to use an established commercial lab to prepare for your exam, used Cisco equipment and CCIE equipment can be very beneficial to your learning process. While the benefits of CCIE equipment for a CCIE exam are obvious, Cisco equipment is industry-leading, with a quality that has not been matched or exceeded by competitors, making it a household name in the information technology community.
CCIE Collaboration
The CCIE Collaboration track is not as popular as CCIE Routing and Switching and this is possibly due to its perceived difficulty. It is reputed that many applicants require more than 3 lab attempts to pass the exam. The collaboration track focuses on communicative devices, like virtualization, instant messaging and video, and voice messaging.
CCIE Data Center
The CCIE Data Center track is perfect for applicants that like using logistics and strategy. After all, they are required to study how complex data center networks work, and how to manage and maintain them. While this is a fairly new track, established in 2012, it is just as tough as the other tracks. Using CCIE equipment in your lab is vital to getting hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment.
CCIE Security
The CCIE Security track is for expert-level network security engineers who have a wide breadth of knowledge in application protocols, operating systems, security technologies, and security applications. Using CCIE equipment in your lab, especially used Cisco equipment, is a great way to affordably practice on industry-standard equipment to raise your chances of success in the exam.
CCIE Service Provider
The CCIE Service Provider track is best for network engineers who want to build and/or maintain Service Provider IP (Internet protocol) NGN (next-generation network) core infrastructures. Test-takers will need to have a thorough knowledge of remote access technologies, Layer 2 and 3 VPNs (virtual private network), IP core networks, and aggregation/edge. This is expert-level knowledge that simply must be learned in a lab environment, and used Cisco equipment is the best to use to achieve this certification.
CCIE Wireless
CCIE Wireless certification is great for test-takers interested in wireless technology, networks, systems, and have a thorough understanding of WLAN (wireless local area networking). Building or using a lab with IOS is now possible, allowing applicants to specialize their expert-level knowledge in Apple’s wireless technology while preparing for their exams. Due to a recent partnership between Apple and Cisco, Cisco networks and CCIE equipment are now optimized for IOS devices and applications, and focusing on IOS wireless networking is a great way to specialize your skills due to the public demand for Apple products.
Netcon Solutions has years of experience providing networking and systems products and services to satisfied clients in Toronto and across the GTA. If you have any questions or would like more information regarding CCIE Equipment or used Cisco equipment to build your own lab, please contact us on our website.