CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) syllabus : Latest Updated Syllabus for syllabus

CCNP Syllabus

CISCO Certified Network Professional i.e. CCNP is a certification offered by CISCO which is one of the leading service providers when it comes to networking hardware and solutions. The CCNP certification course is designed to make the students equipped in handling WAN (Wide Area Network) and LAN (Local Area Network) issues. It is an advanced-level course that is typically undertaken by the students who have completed the CCNA course. However, even those who have a graduate degree in computer science, engineering, or information science can apply for this programme.

Syllabus - Important Facts of CCNP

1. Course Summary: CCNP course introduces the students to networks and different types of networks. It guides them while handling switch and router networks and helps them upscale or descale the network at organisation level.

2. CCNP Exams: To acquire the CCNP certificate, the students need to clear two exams during the course duration. One is the core test and the second is the enterprise concentration test that the students need to choose by themselves.

3. Validation: CCNP certification remains valid for three years after which the students need to recertify through a continuation programme.

4. Course Duration: The CCNP certification can be completed in 3 to 5 months depending upon the availability and schedule of the candidates. It consists of 3 modules over which the syllabus has been divided.

5. Changes in the syllabus: There have been no recent updates in the curriculum. However, formerly it consisted of 3 to 4 exams which have been reduced to 2. It is considered that the newer CCNP exams are much more difficult than the older ones.

6. Prerequisites: Though there are no specific prerequisites for enrolling in the CCNP certification, it is recommended that only the candidates who have 3 or more years of experience in troubleshooting and solving network issues attempt it.

List of Subjects in CCNP

Typical Core Subjects for CCNP

Subject Title	Subject Details
IPv4 Addressing	Hardware addressing, IP (Internet Protocol), logical addressing, decimal to binary conversion and vice versa, subnet mask, and other concepts related to IPv4 addressing are explained in this subject.
IPv6 Addressing	IPv6 basics, its features, configuring IPv6 addresses, and related concepts are covered in this subject.
TCP & UDP	Transport Layer Protocols and User Datagram Protocols are explained in this subject. It includes concepts like port numbers, sockets, establishing TCP connection, etc.
The Routing Table	Routing table basics, administrative distance, metrics, how to view the routing table, and related concepts are discussed in this subject.
Classful v/s Classless Routing	The differences between Classful routing protocols and classless routing are explained in this subject.
Static v/s Dynamic Routing	The differences between static and dynamic routing along with their advantages and disadvantages are explained in this subject.
Configuring Static Routes	The syntax for configuring static routes and advanced static routes parameters are discussed in this subject.
Default Routing	The meaning of default routing and its function are explained in this subject.
Dynamic Routing Protocols	Dynamic Routing Protocols such as RIP v1 & v2, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, etc. are discussed in this subject.
Advanced Routing Functions	Advanced Routing Functions such as Route Redistribution, Access Control Lists, Route Filtering & Route-Maps, and Multicast are covered in this subject.

Detailed Syllabus for CCNP

CCNP syllabus can be divided into 4 parts and each part consists of multiple modules. The detailed CCNP syllabus is given in the below table:

Part Number	Subject	Modules	Details
Part I	Addressing	IPv4 Addressing IPv6 Addressing TCP and UDP	IPv4 addressing and IPv6 addressing along with details related to their configuration, differences, network protocols and their functions, etc. are covered in this part.
Part II	Basic Routing Concepts	The Routing Table Classful v/s Classless Routing Static v/s Dynamic Routing Configuring Static Routes Default Routing	The basic routing concepts, the key differences between classful and classless routing, static and dynamic routing differences, configuration of static and default routing and their functions are explained in this part.
Part III	Dynamic Routing Protocols	RIP v1 & v2 IGRP EIGRP OSPF IS-IS BGP	The different types of dynamic routing protocols and their differences are explained in this part.
Part IV	Advanced Routing Concepts	Route Redistribution Access Control Lists Route Filtering & Route-Maps Multicast	An introduction to advanced routing concepts like access control lists, route filtering, route-maps, etc. are explained in this part.

Specialisations offered in CCNP

CISCO has included several specialisations in its CCNP certification. These specialisations are typically known as concentrations. While the core CCNP exam remains the same for all the candidates, the concentration exam varies as per the specialisation selected by the candidates. The specialisation along with their details are given in the below table:

Specialisation	Specialisation Subjects	Details
CCNP Enterprise	IPv4 and IPv6 architecture Virtualisation Automation Network Assurance Security	This specialisation focuses on wireless networks, automation, and network design.
CCNP Data Centre	Core Data Centre Technologies Storage Network Troubleshooting CISCO hardware and infrastructure	It concentrates on configuring, implementing, designing, and finding issues in hardware and infrastructure.
CCNP Security	Advanced Routing Automation VPN Services	The security products and networks implemented via CISCO infrastructure are discussed in detail in this specialisation.
CCNP Service Provider	Advanced Routing Automation VPN Services	It concentrates on the information required about service provider structure.
CCNP Collaboration	Implementing CISCO Collaboration applications Deployment of these applications	This specialisation talks about CISCO collaboration solutions in detail.
CISCO Certified DevNet Professional	CISCO Platforms APIs Data Centre Automation DevOps Automation IoT Cloud Computing	The advanced networking concepts that a certified DevNEt profession must learn are included in this specialisation.

Books and Authors Related to CCNP

Some of the best books that the candidates who want to take up the CCNP certification need to study are given below:

Subject	Book Title	Author	Book Description
Routing and Switching	CCNP Routing and Switching Route 300 – 101 Official Cert Guide	Kevin Wallace	It gives a complete understanding of the concepts that one needs to go through to clear the CCNP exam.
Routing and Switching	CCNP Routing and Switching Switch 300 – 115 Official Cert Guide	David Hucaby	This book covers all the essential topics on which questions are asked in the exam.
Routing and Switching	CCNP Routing and Switching TSHOOT 300-135 Official Cert Guide	Raymond Lacoste	It includes all the study material required to clear the TSHOOT exam.
Routing and Switching	CCNP Routing and Switching v2.0 Official Cert Guide Library	Kevin Wallace, David Hucaby, Cristian Matei, and Wendell Odom	This book is a comprehensive library that contains all the terms and concepts related to the CCNP certification course.
Routing and Switching	CCNP Routing and Switching Portable Command Guide	Scott Empson, Patrick Gargano, and Hans Roth	This book helps the students to remember the commands and associated concepts.
Routing and Switching	CCNP Certification Library (Cisco Systems CCNP Self-Study)	Amir Ranjbar	It is a self-study book that enables the students to grasp all the important concepts and terms.
Routing and Switching	CCNP ROUTE 642-902 Official Certification Guide	Wendell Odom	It is an informative book that comes with detailed diagrams and configurations.
Internetworking	Cisco Network Professional’s Advanced Internetworking Guide	Patrick J. Conlan	The advanced concepts in CCNP are covered in this book.
Networking	CCNP Official Exam Certification Library (5th Edition)	Brent Stewart, David Hucaby, Brian Morgan and Neil Lovering	It contains information on essential networking topics.
Switching	CCNP Switching Study Guide (2nd Edition)	Todd Lammle and Eric Quinn	It contains information on all the technical aspects of switching.

Syllabus for Distance Programme in CCNP

The syllabus for distance programmes in CCNP is the same as the syllabus for the regular programme. The duration for a distance learning course can be longer as compared to the regular course. It is because the candidates who opt for the distance programmes usually work part-time or full-time. The candidates generally have to complete a certain number of training hours before they can take up the certification exam. It is recommended that the candidates apply for the certification exam only when they have covered the entire syllabus and are confident enough to take the exam. Some of the best institutes in India that offer CCNP distance programme are listed below:

• NetworkBulls, Delhi

• Octa Networks, Delhi

• Besant Technologies, Pune

• Seven Mentor, Pune

• NW Kings

Top Colleges for CCNP Courses

Some of the best colleges/institutes for CCNP courses according to the syllabus structure, reputation, and placement opportunities are given in the below table:

Sr. No.	College/University/Institute	Syllabus Links
1	CISCO CCNP	To be uploaded soon
2	LinuxWorld India, Jaipur	To be uploaded soon
3	Koenig Solutions	To be uploaded soon
4	Netmax Technologies	To be uploaded soon
5	Institute of Advance Network Technology (IANT)	To be uploaded soon
6	Networkers Home	To be uploaded soon
7	Jetking	To be uploaded soon
8	Seven Mentor Pvt. Ltd.	To be uploaded soon
9	I-Medita	To be uploaded soon
10	Indian Institute of Hardware and Technology	To be uploaded soon

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the course objectives of CCNP?

The course objective of CCNP is to introduce the advanced networking concepts related to routers and switches. At the end of the syllabus, the candidates should be able to configure, manage, troubleshoot, and scale/descale network systems. Also, the candidates must be able to set up a WAN or LAN on their own.

2. Which course is better: CCNA or CCNP?

Both the courses are important in the field of networking. While CCNA introduces the basic concepts of networking, CCNP sheds light on the advanced networking concepts and technologies. It helps the candidates to acquire an in-depth knowledge about CISCO hardware and infrastructure.

3. How much time is required to grasp all the concepts included in the CCNP course?

It depends on the level of preparation and how exposed the candidate is to the networking concepts and basics. A beginner might need 3 to 6 months to grasp all the concepts in theory and practise. However, an experienced networking professional might grasp all the syllabus content in a couple of weeks.

4. Is it difficult to complete the CCNP course?

The comprehensive syllabus of CCNP might be hard for some candidates. Also, the core and concentration exams are quite difficult as well. Therefore, it is recommended that only the candidates who have proper knowledge of networking and configuration should apply for this course. The beginners can apply for a more simple networking course like CCNA.

5. Which important skills do the candidates grasp during the CCNP course?

During the CCNP course, the candidates get exposure to the data centre, routing and switching, security, design, and various other networking technologies. Also, apart from their technological skills, their communication, collaboration, analytical, and troubleshooting skills are improved. They also learn how to use tools for configuring and implementing network settings.

6. Which are the professional certifications offered by CISCO under CCNP?

Under the CCNP programme, CISCO offers these professional certifications to the interested candidates:

1. CCNP Cloud

2. CCNP Wireless

3. CCNP Service Provider

4. CCNP Routing and Switching

5. CCNP Data Centre

6. CCNP Collaboration

7. CCNP Wireless

8. CCNP Security

7. Where can the candidates give the CCNP exam?

The candidates can give the CCNP exam by visiting the test centre or use the online proctored mode facilitated by CISCO. The candidates need to follow the same registration steps for applying for both these forms of the exam. The online proctored mode allows the candidates to give the exam through a remote location like their home or office.

8. Which host addresses are reserved in each IP network?

In each IP network, one host address is reserved for the network or subnet address and the other host address is reserved for the broadcast address. These addresses cannot be allocated to the actual host. The subnet address helps the candidates to identify the network. Each IP network can be detected from its subnet address.

9. How to study the CCNP syllabus?

It is essential that the candidates have enough practical experience of working as a network professional before applying for the CCNP course. Once the candidates have enough experience, they can go through the concepts and definitions and memorise them with ease. The candidates should also use additional resources available on the internet like mock tests to test their hold over the concepts and types of questions that are asked in the exam.

10. Is CCNA required to acquire the CCNP certification?

No, CCNA is not mandatory to apply for the CCNP certification. However, completing the CCNA certification gives an additional advantage to the candidates as it allows them to go through the basic concepts in detail. The candidates who have not completed the CCNA course but have the necessary knowledge of networking concepts will also find it easy to understand the concepts.

Following are the most popular CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) Colleges in India. Learn more about these CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.

Following are the most popular CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.