Vendor
Cisco certifications such as the CCNA -- Cisco Certified Network Associate -- are the premier certifications for networking hardware. Microsoft's MCSE certification concentrates more on the software, naturally since that is Microsoft's business.
But Cisco makes the hardware that carries the software, whether by Microsoft, Novell, Linux or any other. Cisco routers and switchers hold the Internet together.
Over 70% of the routers used today are made by Cisco. Cisco was started in 1984 by two professors, Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, husband and wife, who designed and built their own router.
|
Standard disclaimer: Whether or not any certification is "worth it" is an individual decision. You alone must decide what your career goals and needs are. Look at certifications from a cost/benefit or Return On Investment (ROI) basis. If they help you get a better paying job or make more money at your current job, they are obviously "worth it." The problem is, there is no real way of measuring how much you can expect your income to go up as a result of any given certification. It also depends on non-related job search skills such as how well you network. |
Cisco's certification system looks a little complicated at first, but there is a logic to it. Besides, if you can't figure out the certification system itself, you sure can't pass the tests anyway:)
They have two basic tracks:
OK, logical enough, right? If you want to be the one called in by a business when they need to design a network, you go for the Network Design track. If you want to keep working there running the network once it's in place, you go for the Network Support track. Of course, a lot of knowledge and skills overlap. Logic tells us that in the long run there will be a lot more job demand for network support specialists.
Within each track, there are three tiers of expertise. Naturally, you start out at the lowest tier and work your way up.
The CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate is the first tier certification for the Network Support track. According to Cisco, the CCNA indicates "a foundation or apprentice knowledge of network design for the small office/home office (SOHO) market."
The CCNA comes in two tracks:
To attain the CCNA, you must pass one test, the 640-507 CCNA. The test contains 63 objectives. Cisco provides a comprehensive list of the skills covered by this exam on their web site, in a PDF file format. In short, they are:
For small businesses and home offices involving less than 100 nodes.
You are tested in these 7 areas:
You must know at least these protocols:
The CCNA is not only the first tier certification for the Network Support track, it is also a prerequisite for anyone in the Network Design track to move up from the CCDA certification to the second level, CCDP Cisco Certified Design Professional.
This is a little confusing, but it makes sense in that it must be difficult for someone to properly design networks if they don't also have a solid foundation of knowledge of how how to run them.
It would actually make a lot of sense for everyone to pass both certifications, so that no matter where you go from there, you have a solid basic foundation of all aspects of networks. You increase your chances of getting a job.
Plus, the difference between the tracks at the Professional level, is only one additional test, so that reaching the top of the Network Design track is not a huge amount of extra work for someone who is gunning for the Network Support track.
Cisco also has another type of CCNA certification, the CCNA WAN Switching certification:
Cisco CCNA WAN Switching certification
The CCNA/WAN Switching certification indicates an apprentice knowledge of WAN switched networks. It shows you can install:
To attain the CCNA WAN Switching certification, you must pass one test, the 640-410 CCNA WAN Switching.
After you pass either test, your CCNA is good for three years. After that, you must retake the test, unless you've already moved up to the next level, which I recommend if you have any ambition in you at all, or any greed to support your family in comfort and have a financially comfortable retirement.
This is a summary of the CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate certification.