Cisco’s exam 642-811, “Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks” (BCMSN) is a core requirement for the four-exam path to the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification, and a core requirement for the three-exam path to the Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) certification. 

It is a mid level exam for IT professionals who have the “knowledge and skills necessary to build scalable multilayer switched networks; create and deploy a global intranet, and implement basic troubleshooting techniques in environments that use Cisco multilayer switches for client hosts and services.” The candidate must hold a valid CCNA certification as a prerequisite to this exam.

CISCO CCNP Certification Requirements

Technology

• •  Describe the Enterprise Composite Model used for designing networks and explain how it addresses enterprise network needs for performance, scalability and availability

• •  Describe the physical, data-link and network layer technologies used in a switched network

• •  Explain the role of switches in the various modules of the Enterprise Composite Model (Campus Infrastructure, Server Farm, Enterprise Edge, Network Management)

• •  Explain the function of the Switching Database Manager [specifically Content Addressable Memory (CAM) and Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM)] within a Catalyst switch

• •  Describe the features and operation of VLANs on a switched network

• •  Describe the features of the VLAN trunking protocols including 802.1Q, ISL (emphasis on 802.1Q)

• •  Describe the features and operation of 802.1Q Tunneling (802.1QinQ) within a service provider network

• •  Describe the operation and purpose of managed VLAN services

• •  Describe how VTP versions 1 and 2 operate including domains, modes, advertisements, and pruning

• •  Explain the operation and purpose of the Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) on a switched network

• •  Identify the specific types of Cisco route switch processors, and provide implementation details

• •  List and describe the operation of the key components required to implement interVLAN routing

• •  Explain the types of redundancy in a multilayer switched network including hardware and software redundancy

• •  Explain how IP multicast operates on a multilayer switched network, including PIM, CGMP and IGMP

• •  Describe the quality issues with voice traffic on a switched data network, including jitter and delay

• •  Describe the QoS solutions that address voice quality issues

• •  Describe the features and operation of network analysis modules on Catalyst switches to improve network traffic

• •  Describe Transparent LAN Services and how they are implemented in a service provider network

Implementation and Operation

• •  Convert CatOS to native IOS on Catalyst switches and manage native IOS images according to best practices

• •  Configure access ports for static and multi-VLAN memebership

• •  Configure and verify 802.1Q trunks

• •  Configure and verify ISL trunks

• •  Configure VTP domains in server, client and transparent modes

• •  Enable Spanning Tree on ports and VLANs

• •  Configure Spanning Tree parameters including: port priority, VLAN priority, root bridge, BPDU guard, PortFast and UplinkFast

• •  Implement IP technology on a switched network with auxiliary VLANs

• •  Configure and verify router redundancy using HSRP, VRRP, GLBP, SRM, and SLB

• •  Configure QoS features on multilayer switched networks to provide optimal quality and bandwidth utilization for applications and data

• •  Configure Fast EtherChannel and Gigabit EtherChannel to increase bandwidth for interswitch connections

Planning and Design

• •  Compare end-to-end and local VLANs, determine when to use each

• •  Design a VLAN configuration with VTP to work for a given specific scenario

• •  Select multilayer switching architectures, given specific multilayer switching needs

• •  Describe the general design models when implementing IP telephony in a switched network environment

• •  Plan QoS implementation within a multilayer switched network

Troubleshooting

• •  Troubleshoot common VLAN problems on a switched network

• •  Tune and troubleshoot spanning-tree protocol on a multilayer switched network to enhance network performance, prevent network loops, and minimize downtime

• •  Identify interVLAN routing performance and scalability issues, and propose solutions

• •  Verify and troubleshoot interVLAN routing on a switched network

• •  Identify QoS implementation issues at the network access layer

• •  Identify QoS implementation issues at the network distribution and core layer