Introduction

      Networking is uniquely challenging in that it's not a single technology, but a collection of interdependent technologies that every other aspect of IT depends on. Without networking, there are no connected applications and that means there are no IT employees. Even if you're not sure that you want networking to become your permanent career, becoming an expert at networking will open the doors for other in-demand areas of IT, including security, software development, and cloud computing.

      Cisco's Professional Network Certifications

      In 2019, Cisco announced updates to its Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification program. There are six professional level certifications to choose from:

      Each certification requires passing one core exam and one concentration exam. The core exam for the CCNP Enterprise certification is 350-401 ENCOR, “Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies.” The concentration exams let you focus on a specific specialty, such as routing, wireless, network design, automation, or software-defined networking (SDN). Regardless of the concentration exam you choose, you must pass the ENCOR exam to attain your CCNP Enterprise certification.

      Is CCNP Certification Right for You?

      Many who attain the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) don't go on to pursue more advanced Cisco certifications. So why should you consider the CCNP Enterprise certification, and is it right for you? It may be right for you if

Study Tips

      Before taking the CCNP ENCOR exam, there are a few things to keep in mind. There's no reason that you can't pass the exam the first time. To help you do that, I want to share with you some study tips that have helped me pass several Cisco certification exams on the first try. One of the neglected skills required on any Cisco exam is speed. Being able to troubleshoot a 10-router Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) topology is good. Taking 15 minutes to do it is not so good. I can't stress enough the importance of spending quality time with the command-line interface (CLI). You should spend at least 50 percent of your study time on configuring and troubleshooting a variety of topologies and technologies.

      There's an old Latin proverb that repetition is the mother of learning. Repetition—in terms of both study and practice—is going to be your best friend. Understanding networking requires making connections that aren't always obvious, and the more you practice and study, the more opportunities your mind has to make those connections. For years I've used SuperMemo (https://super-memory.com), a flashcard-like program that lets you create your own question-and-answer pairs, quizzes you, and shows you how well you're retaining the information. What makes SuperMemo superior to flashcards is that it identifies the information you've already retained, and it doesn't waste time continuing to quiz you on it. That means you can safely load your collection with hundreds of items while still using your time efficiently.

      One last tip: As you read this study guide cover to cover, keep a running list of questions and things you're not sure about. Chances are if you find something confusing, a lot of other people did too, and that makes it good fodder for the exam. Be sure to visit https://benpiper.com/encor for book resources, updates, and errata.

      Prerequisites and Lab Requirements

      The CCNA certification isn't required to attain the CCNP Enterprise certification. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend that you obtain your CCNA certification or the equivalent experience before embarking on your CCNP Enterprise journey. Refer to the CCNA exam blueprint (www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/associate/ccna.html) for a full list of topics you should already be familiar with. Because the CCNP Enterprise is a professional-level certification, I don't review some of the basics covered by the CCNA such as subnetting, IPv4, and IPv6 addressing.

      You'll need a virtual or physical lab, which you should already have from your previous networking studies. Your lab should be able to support at least eight routers and two layer 3 switches running IOS version 15.2 or later. You should be able to configure your lab on your own by looking at layer 2 and layer 3 diagrams. Topology diagrams will be included in each chapter.

If your existing lab doesn't meet the requirement, Cisco Virtual Internet Routing Lab (http://virl.cisco.com) includes virtual machine images for a variety of switches and routers. These images are virtual machines that run using QEMU and are light on CPU and memory, so you don't need a beast of a server to run simulations, although more resources always help. Other options, although not blessed by Cisco, are GNS3 (https://gns3.com) and EVE-NG (www.eve-ng.net).

      How to Use This Book

      Hands-on experience is crucial for exam success. Each chapter in this study guide contains hands-on exercises that you should strive to complete during or immediately after your reading of the chapter. The exercises are there to test your understanding, and not to cover every possible permutation of configurations. The exercises are your foundation, and you should build on them by experimenting with them, breaking things, and then figuring out how to fix them.

      Each chapter contains review questions to thoroughly test your understanding of the services and concepts covered in that chapter. They also test your ability to integrate the concepts with information from preceding chapters. I've designed the questions to help you realistically gauge your understanding and identify your blind spots. Once you complete the assessment in each chapter, referring to the answer key will give you not only the correct answers but a detailed explanation as to why they're correct. Even if you feel comfortable on a certain topic, resist the urge to skip over the pertinent chapter. I strongly encourage you to carefully read this book from cover to cover so that you can discover your strengths and weaknesses—particularly the ones you may not be aware of. Remember, even though you can't learn networking