Introduction
,The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification might be the most challenging
and prestigious of all networking certifications. It has received numerous awards and
certainly has built a reputation as one of the most difficult certifications to earn in all of the
technology world. Having a CCIE certification opens doors professionally, typically results in
higher pay, and looks great on a résumé.
Cisco currently offers several CCIE certifications. This book covers the version 5.0 exam
blueprint topics of the written exam for the CCIE Routing and Switching certification. The
following list details the currently available CCIE certifications at the time of this book’s
publication; check www.cisco.com/go/ccie for the latest information. The certifications are
listed in the order in which they appear on the web page:
CCDE
CCIE Collaboration
CCIE Data Center
CCIE Routing & Switching
CCIE Security
CCIE Service Provider
CCIE Service Provider Operations
CCIE Wireless
Each of the CCDE and CCIE certifications requires the candidate to pass both a written exam
and a one-day, hands-on lab exam. The written exam is intended to test your knowledge of
theory, protocols, and configuration concepts that follow good design practices. The lab exam
proves that you can configure and troubleshoot actual gear.
WHY SHOULD I TAKE THE CCIE ROUTING AND
SWITCHING WRITTEN EXAM?
The first and most obvious reason to take the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam is that it
is the first step toward obtaining the CCIE Routing and Switching certification. Also, you cannot
schedule a CCIE lab exam until you pass the corresponding written exam. In short, if you want
all the professional benefits of a CCIE Routing and Switching certification, you start by passing
the written exam.
The benefits of getting a CCIE certification are varied, among which are the following:
Better pay
Career-advancement opportunities
Applies to certain minimum requirements for Cisco Silver and Gold Channel Partners, as
well as those seeking Master Specialization, making you more valuable to Channel Partners
Better movement through the problem-resolution process when calling the Cisco TAC
Prestige
Credibility for consultants and customer engineers, including the use of the Cisco CCIE logo
The other big reason to take the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam is that it recertifies
an individual’s associate-, professional-, and expert-level Cisco certifications, regardless of
his or her technology track. Recertification requirements do change, so please verify the
requirements at www.cisco.com/go/certifications.
,CCIE ROUTING AND SWITCHING WRITTEN EXAM 400-
101
The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam, at the time of this writing, consists of a two-hour
exam administered at a proctored exam facility affiliated with Pearson VUE
(www.vue.com/cisco). The exam typically includes approximately 100 multiple-choice
questions. No simulation questions are currently part of the written exam.
As with most exams, everyone wants to know what is on the exam. Cisco provides general
guidance as to topics on the exam in the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam blueprint,
the most recent copy of which can be accessed from www.cisco.com/go/ccie.
Cisco changes both the CCIE written and lab blueprints over time, but Cisco seldom, if ever,
changes the exam numbers. However, exactly this change occurred when the CCIE Routing
and Switching blueprint was refreshed for v5.0. The previous written exam for v4.0 was
numbered as 350-001; the v5.0 written exam is identified by 400-101.
The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam blueprint 5.0, as of the time of publication, is
listed in Table I-1. Table I-1 also lists the chapters that cover each topic.
,
,The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification might be the most challenging
and prestigious of all networking certifications. It has received numerous awards and
certainly has built a reputation as one of the most difficult certifications to earn in all of the
technology world. Having a CCIE certification opens doors professionally, typically results in
higher pay, and looks great on a résumé.
Cisco currently offers several CCIE certifications. This book covers the version 5.0 exam
blueprint topics of the written exam for the CCIE Routing and Switching certification. The
following list details the currently available CCIE certifications at the time of this book’s
publication; check www.cisco.com/go/ccie for the latest information. The certifications are
listed in the order in which they appear on the web page:
CCDE
CCIE Collaboration
CCIE Data Center
CCIE Routing & Switching
CCIE Security
CCIE Service Provider
CCIE Service Provider Operations
CCIE Wireless
Each of the CCDE and CCIE certifications requires the candidate to pass both a written exam
and a one-day, hands-on lab exam. The written exam is intended to test your knowledge of
theory, protocols, and configuration concepts that follow good design practices. The lab exam
proves that you can configure and troubleshoot actual gear.
WHY SHOULD I TAKE THE CCIE ROUTING AND
SWITCHING WRITTEN EXAM?
The first and most obvious reason to take the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam is that it
is the first step toward obtaining the CCIE Routing and Switching certification. Also, you cannot
schedule a CCIE lab exam until you pass the corresponding written exam. In short, if you want
all the professional benefits of a CCIE Routing and Switching certification, you start by passing
the written exam.
The benefits of getting a CCIE certification are varied, among which are the following:
Better pay
Career-advancement opportunities
Applies to certain minimum requirements for Cisco Silver and Gold Channel Partners, as
well as those seeking Master Specialization, making you more valuable to Channel Partners
Better movement through the problem-resolution process when calling the Cisco TAC
Prestige
Credibility for consultants and customer engineers, including the use of the Cisco CCIE logo
The other big reason to take the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam is that it recertifies
an individual’s associate-, professional-, and expert-level Cisco certifications, regardless of
his or her technology track. Recertification requirements do change, so please verify the
requirements at www.cisco.com/go/certifications.
,CCIE ROUTING AND SWITCHING WRITTEN EXAM 400-
101
The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam, at the time of this writing, consists of a two-hour
exam administered at a proctored exam facility affiliated with Pearson VUE
(www.vue.com/cisco). The exam typically includes approximately 100 multiple-choice
questions. No simulation questions are currently part of the written exam.
As with most exams, everyone wants to know what is on the exam. Cisco provides general
guidance as to topics on the exam in the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam blueprint,
the most recent copy of which can be accessed from www.cisco.com/go/ccie.
Cisco changes both the CCIE written and lab blueprints over time, but Cisco seldom, if ever,
changes the exam numbers. However, exactly this change occurred when the CCIE Routing
and Switching blueprint was refreshed for v5.0. The previous written exam for v4.0 was
numbered as 350-001; the v5.0 written exam is identified by 400-101.
The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam blueprint 5.0, as of the time of publication, is
listed in Table I-1. Table I-1 also lists the chapters that cover each topic.
,
