The new CCNA voice - Did it just get harder?
Certification: Cisco CCNA Voice - c700
Cisco Certified Network Associate Voice (CCNA Voice) is a credential certifying the knowledge and skills of a professional in administering voice network at associate level. A CCNA Voice certified professional is proficient in VoIP technologies like IP telephony, call control, IP PBX, voicemail solutions and handset, and is appropriate for taking up specialized jobs such as voice manager, voice technologies administrator and voice engineer.
The CCNA Voice certification was introduced by Cisco in the year 2008 and has undergone changes twice since then. During introduction, the certification required candidates to take up one exam known as Introducing Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Administration (IIUC) 640-460 which broadly covered topics including voice using UC500, Call Manager Express, and Cisco Unity Express.
Cisco changed the requirements in 2009 by introducing CVOICE 642-436 exam with the candidates having the option to take either IIUC 640-40 or CVOICE 642-436 for getting the CCNA Voice certification. This change was beneficial for candidates as the CVOICE exams also fulfilled the prerequisite criteria of Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Voice certification. CCNP Voice is the professional level certification and the higher level of CCNA Voice which is an associate- level certification. Moreover, taking CVOICE exam also saved the candidates the cost of accessing UC500 if they did not have one.
The Cisco further made some improvisation in the requirements in 2010 introduced another exam known as the Introducing Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Administration (ICOMM) 640-461 exam. For a short duration from October, 2010 to the end of February, 2011, the candidates had the option to take three exams including IIUC 640-40 or CVOICE 642-436 or ICOMM 640-461 exams. However, effective from 1st March, 2011 the only option for getting the CCNA Voice certification was to take up the ICOMM 640-461 exam.
The new exam ICOMM 640-461 was designed for professionals in the junior voice administration roles as most of the job roles in the voice technology had administration of voice systems and their components as the focal point. To address this requirement, Cisco increased the focus on administration in the new exam and included administrative topics such as Cisco Unity Connection Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Cisco Unified Presence, and CUCM Express.
Difference between the three exams
To understand why Cisco made changes in the exam requirement and how each exam varies from each other, it is important to understand the course structure for each exam.
IIUC:
The prerequisites that a learner must possess to take up this course was Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices 1 (ICND 1) which aimed at providing the candidates the required knowledge and skills for implementation and supporting a small routed and switched network. The course of IIUC could be broadly classified into four topics including Introduction to Cisco Unified Communications Systems (CUCM), CUCM Express Implementation, Cisco Unity Express Implementation and Implementation of Cisco Smart Business Communications System. The course would make the students proficient in implementation and configuration of IP Telephony solutions of small to medium size.
CVOICE
The topics covered in the course of CVOICE exam included Introduction to the Course, CUCM Express Endpoints Implementation, Introduction to Voice Gateways, Implementation of Dial Plan, VoIP Call Legs, Gatekeeper and Cisco Unified Border Element Implementation and Quality of Service. For understanding this course strsuture, a student must have the knowledge and work experience of the basics of computer concepts and terminologies including IP routing and switching, (Wireless Area Network) WANs, and Local Area Network (LAN); CCNA level proficiency in configuring and operating Cisco IOS routers in IP environment; and CCNA level understanding of data networks, traditional voice an converged voice. The course would make the students proficient in voice-related QoS mechanisms required in Cisco Unified Communications networks.
ICOMM
The ICOMM course is designed to equip the candidates with the competence to attain associate- level knowledge and skills for Cisco Unified Communications. Thus, before taking up this course the students must have operating knowledge of data networks and converged voice, fundamental knowledge of Cisco Unity Connection, CUCM and Cisco IOS gateways. The ICOMM course included introduction to the features, architecture, functionalities and components of Cisco Unified Communications solutions, description of performing adds, changes, moves and system monitoring on CUCM, Cisco Unified Presence, CUCM Express and Cisco Unity Connection.
Difficulty Levels of ICOMM
The ICOMM course extensively covers the administration and maintenance aspects of Cisco voice technologies including advanced topics such as application of Real-Time Monitoring Tool, Call Detail Reports, and Disaster Recovery System (DRF). The course also has enhanced information on working and design concepts of Cisco Unified Communication Manager, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Unified Presence and handling its users, interface, and user configuration. It also provides insights on quality of service concepts, dial-peer configuration, presence server configuration, call flow, voicemail integration, and various other mobility concepts and features.
Suggestion to take up the new exam
A candidate aspiring for the CCNA Voice certification has to be proficient enough to understand the Cisco Unity Connection and CUCM before starting the ICOMM course. Completing CCNA being the first step, the candidates can follow any of these ways to take up the course:
- Take up a class for gaining basic knowledge on administration of voice technology. Though these classes may not be related to Cisco United Presence or CUCM Express, it will help the candidates before beginning to prepare for CCNA Voice certification.
- Expand the operating knowledge of voice technology in the current job environment.
- Getting a study partner is also an effective way to gain deeper insights on difficult topics and constantly be motivated for preparation.
- Gaining knowledge by studying and understanding the topics for the exam through Cisco documentation read, Cisco press books and Quick Reference guides.
- Getting practical knowledge and better understanding of concepts by building a Cisco Voice lab at home.