Overview
The CCIE Routing and Switching exam covers IP and IP routing, non-IP desktop protocols such as IPX, and bridge and switch related technologies. It is recommended that you read the section on Preparing for your CCIE Exam before reading this page. You can also find information on test policies in the Policies Section.
Required Evaluations
The two requirements to become a CCIE are a passing grade on the Routing and Switching qualification exam and a passing grade on the Routing and Switching lab exam . The qualification exam is a prerequisite for attempting and scheduling the lab exam.
Routing & Switching Written Exam
Format
The three-hour, multiple choice exam is computerized and administered at Cisco authorized testing centers. The exam is closed book and contains 150 questions. No reference materials are allowed in the exam room. Find out more about scheduling your Routing and Switching Qualification exam (#350-001) and an authorized testing center near you.
Blueprint
Please see the Routing and Switching Blueprint for details.
Sample Questions
The sample questions from the Routing and Switching qualification exam are included here to give an approximate idea of the level of difficulty of the exam.
Recommended Reading List
Internetworking Technology Overview Available through cisco.com at MarketPlace under doc # DOC-785777
ITM from the Cisco Connection Training CD (DOC-CCTCD) Order ITM online
Cisco Documentation
Internetworking Technologies Handbook (Ford et.al., Cisco Press)
CCIE Professional Development, Routing TCP/IP Vol I (Doyle, Cisco Press)
Cisco CCIE Fundamentals: Network Design and Case Studies, Second Edition (Cisco Press)
OSPF Network Design Solutions (Thomas, Cisco Press)
Internet Routing Architectures, Second Edition (Halabi, Cisco Press)
Performance and Fault Management (Maggiora, Cisco Press)
Cisco Internetwork Design (Birkner, Cisco Press)
Developing IP Multicast Networks, Volume I (Williamson, Cisco Press)
EIGRP Network Design Solutions (Pepelnjak, Cisco Press)
Advanced IP Network Design (Slice, Cisco Press)
Cisco LAN Switching (Clark, Cisco Press)
Large-Scale IP Network Solutions (Raza, Cisco Press)
Cisco ATM Solutions (Pildush, Cisco Press)
Advanced Cisco Router Configuration (Chappel, Cisco Press)
CCIE Professional Development, Routing TCP/IP
Vol II (Doyle, Cisco Press)
Cisco OSPF Command and Configuration Handbook (Parkhurst, Cisco Press, April 2002)
IP Quality of Service (Vegesna, Cisco Press)
IS-IS Network Design Solutions (Martey, Cisco Press)
LAN Protocol Handbook (Miller, M&T Press)
Interconnections: Bridges & Routers, Second Edition (Perlman, Addison Wesley)
Internetworking with TCP/IP, Vol. I (Comer, Prentice Hall)
ATM Resource Library , Volumes 1, 2 And 3 (Black, Prentice Hall)
ISDN : Concepts, Facilities, and Services (Kessler/Southwick, McGraw Hill)
TCP/IP Illustrated : Volumes 1, 2 and 3 (Stevens/Wright, Addison Wesley)
Routing In the Internet (Huitema, Prentice Hall)
Inside Cisco IOS Software Architectures , (Bollapragada, Murphy, White, Cisco Press)
BGP4 Command and Configuration Reference , (Parkhurst, Cisco Press)
Internetworking Troubleshooting Handbook, 2nd ed . , (Cisco Press)
Voice and Data Integration on Cisco Networks , (Keagey, Cisco Press)
Building Scalable Cisco Networks , (Teara, Paquette, Cisco Press)
Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks , (Webb, Cisco Press)
Building Cisco Remote Access Networks , (Paquet, Cisco Press)
Cisco Internetwork Troubleshooting , (Chappell, Farkas, Cisco Press)
Cisco Internetwork Design , (Birkner, Cisco Press)
CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide (Bruno, Cisco Press)
CCIE Practical Studies Vol. 1 (Solie, Cisco Press)
Troubleshooting IP Routing Protocols (Shamim et. al., Cisco Press)
Additional References on cisco.com
Designing ATM Internetworks
ATM Technical Tips
Cisco Service & Support Technical Tips
LAN Technical Tips
Bridging
DLSw+ Reference Guide
WAN Technical Tips
Frame Relay
ISDN
Routing Protocols
Configuring IP Routing Protocols
OSPF Design Guide
LSA Synchronization
BGP Tech Tips
EIGRP
IGRP
Router Management
Security Technical Tips
Voice and Multimedia Technologies
Also, many other commercially available reference guides and text books are available, and Cisco highly recommends that the candidate study native vendor text and reference guides, RFCs and other sources of pertinent technical information. (i.e. Novell, DEC, Apple, IBM, Sun, etc.).
Routing & Switching Lab Exam
Format
The CCIE?team at Cisco is continually evaluating how the prestigious CCIE certification is delivered in the context of the changing needs of our industry. The latest step in this process has resulted in a format change to both the CCIE qualification and lab exams. Taking advantage of knowledge and experience gained from Cisco's long and distinguished history in the certification field, these changes will allow Cisco to continue to offer the same rigorous certification but with more convenience and availability. For more information on the new CCIE lab exam format, effective October 1, 2001, please read the following Q&A.
The Routing and Switching lab exam is a practical exam. Find out more about scheduling your CCIE lab exam and testing sites near you.
The CCIE candidate will be presented with a complex design to implement from the physical layer up. Candidates are not required to configure any end-user systems, but are responsible for any device residing in the internetwork, including hubs, etc. Network specifics, point values and testing criteria used to assess correctness of the individual configurations are provided.
Each configuration scenario and problem has pre-assigned point values. The candidate must obtain a minimum mark of 80% to pass.
IOS Versions
IOS features up to and including version 12.0 will be tested on the exam until November 14, 2001.
To keep pace with the evolution of new technologies in the industry, all CCIE labs worldwide will change to IOS version 12.1, effective November 15, 2001 . Specific features new to IOS version 12.1 can appear on CCIE lab exams starting on this date.
Exam Content
The Routing and Switching Lab exam tests any feature that can be configured on the equipment in the Equipment List , except as noted below. The following topics have been removed from the lab exam content:
LAT
DECnet
Apollo
Banyan VINES
ISO CLNS
XNS
ATM LANE
X.25
Appletalk
NOTE: These changes only affect the Routing and Switching Lab exam. Some of the test topics may continue to appear on the Routing and Switching Written exam. Readers are advised to consult the Content Blueprint for the Routing and Switching Written exam for a detailed list of topics tested on the written exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
ATM content
Voice content
Equipment List
2600 series routers
3600 series routers
Catalyst 3550 series switches
Suggested Training Courses
Cisco Training Classes are RECOMMENDED, a