Where to start with new Service Provider track

Heero

I've been out of the certification game for a couple years now. I have 9 months left on my CCNP and I obviously need to renew it. I would like to take a professional level exam towards the CCNP Service Provider certification to do so.

First of all, what is the general test order for this certification? Are there any tests that shouldn't be taken before others?

Second, if I have my CCNP, do I have to take then SPROUTE test? Seems to have a huge overlap with the CCNP ROUTE exam (though I took the BSCI).

Also, any tips or whatever would be appreciated.

srg

I'm also looking at this track and probably gonna do SPROUTE -> SPEDGE -> SPCORE. If I've got the time also SPADVROUTE, but I dont necessarily need to do that since I got the BGP and BGP+MPLS exams to count against it.

Depending on which BSCI you took you might or might not need to do SPROUTE: CCIP-CCNP Service Provider Tool - Cisco Systems

Heero

Huh. Well I was looking at that site and I guess BSCI=ROUTE=SPROUTE. So any current CCNP will be able to skip the SPROUTE. I guess I will look into the SPADVROUTE since that is just advanced BGP, Multicast, and IPv6 basically. I was very close to being ready to take the BGP exam back when it was still offered so it shouldn't be too hard I suppose.

Any book suggestions for the SPADVROUTE exam?

srg

Heero wrote: »

Huh. Well I was looking at that site and I guess BSCI=ROUTE=SPROUTE. So any current CCNP will be able to skip the SPROUTE.

Not quite, you have had to do the BSCI called 642-901. I did BSCI 642-801 and thus I must do SPROUTE as well.

networker050184

The exam pass must still be valid as well. If you passed your BSCI more than three years ago the exam is not valid towards other certifications anymore.

srg

networker050184 wrote: »

The exam pass must still be valid as well. If you passed your BSCI more than three years ago the exam is not valid towards other certifications anymore.

That's usually the case yes, but doesnt apply in the context of the CCIP->CCNP:SP conversion. I did my 642-661 BGP in '08 and I can still count that against the SPADVROUTE today.

edit: Actually it even said so in the tool I linked

The tool identifies the specific exam numbers that are valid for migration to the CCNP Service Provider certification. Cisco is honoring specific exam numbers for CCNP Service Provider certification only, even if they are beyond their 3 year expiration date. These exams will be accepted until July 24, 2015.

networker050184

Sweet! I might look into one of these as I'm due ot recert this year. Thanks for the info!

Heero

Okay, I was finally able to get into the Cisco Certification tracker which wasn't working last time I tried to log in. I did pass the 642-901 BSCI. Next to the fulfillment of that item in the CCNP Service Provider cert tracker, it says valid until 07/04/2015 like SRG said. So I guess if I pass the SPADVROUTE in the next 9 months it will recert my CCNP and then all I will have to do is complete the SPCORE and SPEDGE by July 04, 2015 to finish the cert. Somewhat complicated I think.

Any suggestions for books for the SPADVROUTE? I already own IRA and was using that previously to study for the BGP exam.

srg

Heero wrote: »

Okay, I was finally able to get into the Cisco Certification tracker which wasn't working last time I tried to log in. I did pass the 642-901 BSCI. Next to the fulfillment of that item in the CCNP Service Provider cert tracker, it says valid until 07/04/2015 like SRG said. So I guess if I pass the SPADVROUTE in the next 9 months it will recert my CCNP and then all I will have to do is complete the SPCORE and SPEDGE by July 04, 2015 to finish the cert. Somewhat complicated I think.

Any suggestions for books for the SPADVROUTE? I already own IRA and was using that previously to study for the BGP exam.

Seems like a plan! If you won't attend the official course I think this post is a good resource: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/thread/42687

I've started looking at SPROUTE today, probably gonna use the course materials, XR book and some OSPF and BGP videos.

lrb

Anyone taking the SPEDGE exam yet? I'm gonna take it at Cisco Live in March and have used XR fundamentals, MPLS fundamentals, and INE SP ATC videos to prepare so far.

srg

did SPROUTE last week, started to look at SPEDGE yesterday.. using the same material as you . Haven't booked a exam date yet though, depending on work load I might do it in feb.

srg

passed SPCORE today, so got my CCNP:SP \o/

filkenjitsu

Congrats srg!! How many tests did you have to take to get your CCNP SP? I was not sure if there was any crossover with previous tests you have taken. I just recently got my CCNA SP and am moving forward with my CCNP ROUTE exam right now. Make sure to update your profile with your new certification!

What is next for you?

srg

Thanks! I had to do the SPROUTE, SPCORE and SPEDGE, using my previous BGP+MPLS exams as 'tradein' for the SPADVROUTE and CCNA:SP

I'm gonna do one of the IPNGN Specializations first (CCNP:SP was a prerequisit) for partner status, then probably gonna look for the green light on CCIE:SP.

filkenjitsu

God be with you in this journey! INE seems to have a great CCIE SP program, will your employer cover the costs?

lrb

Congrats on the SP! Good luck for the specialization studies

I'm taking SPCORE in about a month I think - been a while since I've done QoS so might have to dust off Odom's QoS guide, and use IOS XR Fundamentals and INE SP ATC vids.

Seeing as you used the official courseware, did you find there was a lot of coverage on ROADM/DWDM/IPoDWDM?

srg

filkenjitsu wrote: »

God be with you in this journey! INE seems to have a great CCIE SP program, will your employer cover the costs?

Thanks! I really hope they will, looking into that now.

lrb wrote:

Congrats on the SP! Good luck for the specialization studies

I'm taking SPCORE in about a month I think - been a while since I've done QoS so might have to dust off Odom's QoS guide, and use IOS XR Fundamentals and INE SP ATC vids.

Seeing as you used the official courseware, did you find there was a lot of coverage on ROADM/DWDM/IPoDWDM?

Thanks! ROADM/DWDM/IPoDWDM is acouple of pages, nothing major. Its definitely a bigger topic on the IP NGN Arch Specialist.

powmia

Anyone else bitter that this wasn't grandfathered in like the CCSP and CCVP? I feel like an old timer with a (Retired) by one of my certs.

NetworkVeteran

powmia wrote: »

Anyone else bitter that this wasn't grandfathered in like the CCSP and CCVP? I feel like an old timer with a (Retired) by one of my certs.

I'm not. Quite a bit of that material was out-of-date.. for example, the Cisco pre-mpls tag switching commands.. and it didn't cover many of the popular MPLS technologies of the day--MPLS-TE, L2CKT, VPLS, etc. While a CCIP has a leg-up on someone w/ no service provider certifications, the CCNP-SP seems much more relevant. I also appreciate that the new exam covers the protocols in combination rather than as mostly separate pieces with their own exams.

The IOS-XR bit? I'm mixed. While it's a more relevant OS, the cost to rent one is high, and at least I find it harder to find multiple spare non-production IOS-XR devices to play on. With IOS that's much easier.

Also, the effort to replace CCIP w/ CCNP-SP may not be recognized.

powmia

NetVet, I'll give you that. I agree the exams themselves were pretty dated. I suppose I'm just bitter that I actually did cover the newer technologies when I got by CCIP a few years ago. It would have been great if one of the possible routes to the CCNP SP was having a CCIP plus one fill-in-the-gap exam. If that were the case, I would get it. Instead, I already met the 4 exam requirement to get my CCIP once, I'm not taking 4 more to renew it.

srg

powmia wrote: »

NetVet, I'll give you that. I agree the exams themselves were pretty dated. I suppose I'm just bitter that I actually did cover the newer technologies when I got by CCIP a few years ago. It would have been great if one of the possible routes to the CCNP SP was having a CCIP plus one fill-in-the-gap exam. If that were the case, I would get it. Instead, I already met the 4 exam requirement to get my CCIP once, I'm not taking 4 more to renew it.

Depending on which ROUTE/BSCI you used to gain your CCIP, you would need to do only the SPCORE and SPEDGE exam which really fills the gap with the new services etc. SPROUTE and SPADVROUTE is basically your old ROUTE and BGP exams with a little extra XR sprinkled, so those may be skipped.