思科CCNP考试变动，感叹搭上幸福末班车

刚考完CCNP-CIT（642－831）的考试没多久就看到论坛里面有人说CCNP的考试要发生大变化了，开始我以为只是升级题库而已，因为之前经常这样搞，后来才知道新版的CCNP考试不仅考试号上面发生了变化（将原来BSCI的考试号642－801调整为642－901；将原来BCMSN的考试号642－811调整为642－812），而且取消远程（BCRAN）跟排错（CIT）两门考试，取而代之为ISCW（Implementing Secure Converged Wide-Area Networks，对应考试号为642－825）和ONT（Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks，对应考试号为642－845）两门考试，看来安全跟语音已经提升到战略高度了

还好自己刚好把NP的考试给考完，不然这样一来就大乱阵脚了。但是其他很多正在准备NP考试的人怎么办呢？难道把手中原本已经准备好的远程、排错资料给扔了，调头重新复习ISCW跟ONT？不知道了，希望所有人都顺利吧

今天打开电子邮箱收到思科发来的邮件，我还以为是恭喜我顺利通过NP考试来着，结果证实有关考试变化的消息。下面就是思科发来的邮件，里面有有关考试变动的详细消息：

 

Dear Yu Lei,

Cisco Announces CCNP Certification Updates
Cisco® announces comprehensive updates to its premier CCNP® professional-level networking certification. The new program provides networking professionals with the knowledge and skills required to deploy and maintain fully integrated network infrastructure services and applications.

Integrated Networking Expertise in Demand
The new CCNP program maintains its focus on the advanced skills required to manage the routers and switches that form the network core, but also expands to include techniques to deploy and support wireless, voice, and security applications on the network edge. Network professionals who achieve the new CCNP certification will demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to fully utilize Cisco intermediate session routing (ISR) routers, which provide wire-speed delivery of concurrent data, voice, video, and wireless services applications. By passing the exam, you will also demonstrate the expertise necessary to integrate and manage converged networks, quality of service (QoS), and virtual private networks (VPNs).

CCNP Certification Curriculum
Four recommended training courses and four required exams comprise the new CCNP certification curriculum. A valid CCNA® certification is a prerequisite for taking the CCNP exams.

New Required Exams as of August 15, 2005	Exam Topics
642-901 BSCI Building Scalable Cisco Inter-networks	ISR routers, updates to Cisco IOS® Software 12.4 routing protocol, routing authentication security, multicast routing, IPv6
642-812 BCMSN Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks	High availability, new wireless LAN fundamentals for Airespace thin-client, voice, and Cisco IOS switch security
642-825 ISCW Implementing Secure Converged Wide-Area Networks	Cable and DSL broadband access, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)/MPLS VPN fundamentals Cisco IOS Security featuring S2S VPN (IPsec and generic routing encapsulation/IPsec [GRE/IPSEC]), Cisco Easy VPN, Cisco IOS Firewall, Cisco IOS Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), Cisco AutoSecure, Role-Based CLI Access, and Cisco Security Device Manager (SDM)
642-845 ONT Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks	Voice over IP (VoIP) fundamentals, techniques to address VoIP challenges, concepts and implementation methods for quality of service (QoS), wireless security standards, and Cisco wireless LAN (WLAN) networks

Previous Exams Count for Three Years Towards Completion of CCNP Certification
Visit the and locate the mix and match tables to find out how you can combine exams that you may have already taken with the new exams to achieve your CCNP professional-level certification. All recommended training associated with the retiring exams will expire on October 15, 2006. The last day to test for the retiring exams will be December 31, 2006.

Course	Course Retirement	Current Exams	Current Exams: Last Day to Test
BSCI	October 15, 2006	642-801	December 31, 2006
BCMSN	October 15, 2006	642-811	December 31, 2006
BCRAN	October 15, 2006	642-521	December 31, 2006
CIT	October 15, 2006	642-511	December 31, 2006

New CCNP Prep Center
To assist networking professionals who are preparing for the CCNP exam, the is now live. Open to Cisco Certification candidates and those who are already certified, the CCNP Prep Center provides CCNP certification candidates access to a wide variety of resources, including practice questions, labs, simulations, tips, expert advice, success stories, and peer discussion forums. The CCNP Prep Center also allows networking professionals to easily access information and formal training from Cisco Learning Solutions Partners.

Updates to CCIP and CCDP Certification Programs
Cisco’s CCIP™ and CCDP® professional-level certification programs have also been updated to include the newly revised Building Scalable Cisco Inter-networks (BSCI) exam and recommended training. Network professionals pursuing CCIP and CCDP certifications will benefit from these curriculum updates, which provide the up-to-date knowledge required to install, support, and optimize ISR routers using Cisco IOS 12.4 routing protocol, routing authentication security, multicast routing, and IPv6.

For More Information
Visit the Certifications home page for more information on CCNP, CCIP, and CCDP programs as well as all certifications offered by Cisco. For instant answers to your certification questions, visit the .