Taking a Cisco Exam

Cisco exams are known for being quite hard. They often include scenarios in which a networking problem is described and you must figure out a cause. Cisco exams also typically include simulations, in which a problem description is accompanied by a network diagram. The diagram contains one or more objects that you can click on to open a simulated command-line interface (CLI) session with a networking device (such as a router, switch, or PIX firewall). You must understand the problem situation described in the text, know at least in general what must be done to resolve it (or which commands to use to diagnose it further), and then be able to input the correct commands to resolve the problem. The interactive command-line help is available, but depending on that to find the commands you need will consume a great deal of time. If you are not prepared for the exam, that is time you cannot afford to waste. If you are prepared, it will not take you long to find what you need and don't immediately remember.

The Cisco exams I have taken have been about both the underlying technology and the Cisco implementation of it, in about equal portions. That is, you must know how a technology works in general and also specifically how to configure it on a Cisco product. As an example, you must know how a variable-length subnet mask (VLSM) works to avoid classful addressing problems, and then you must know how to create such a mask and input it on a router's CLI.

The fee for most Cisco exams (except the CCIE exams) is $125 (U.S.) as this is written. If you are employed by an organization that supports certification or needs a certain number of certified personnel for its own partner status, your employer might pay for the exam (in advance or as a reimbursement). You might even receive training paid for by your employer. However, you can master this material on your own, without such support, if you have to. Thousands of people have, including me.