Following the Certification Path

When the first edition of this book was written, the CCIE was the only certification Cisco Systems offered. Now, there are a number of levels of certification and even a number of specialties within the CCIE program. Taking advantage of these levels is encouraged (although none of them are required prerequisites), as it gives you milestones along your road to the CCIE and also awards you with meaningful certifications along the way.

The first goal to work toward is the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA). This certification proves that you have mastered the basics of networking and network protocols, can install and operate small LAN, WAN, and access networks, and understand essential Cisco hardware and IOS Software.

Your next goal is the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP). This advanced certification indicates a mastery of the technologies necessary for running and troubleshooting larger enterprise networks. With the CCNP in hand, you are ready to move to the expert level and prove it with your CCIE.