Introduction

Congratulations! If you are reading this Introduction, then you have probably decided to obtain a Cisco certification. Obtaining a Cisco certification will ensure that you have a solid understanding of common industry protocols along with Cisco’s device architecture and configuration. Cisco has a high market share of network infrastructure of routers, switches, and firewalls, with a global footprint.

Professional certifications have been an important part of the computing industry for many years and will continue to become more important. Many reasons exist for these certifications, but the most popularly cited reason is credibility. All other factors being equal, a certified employee/consultant/job candidate is considered more valuable than one who is not certified.

Cisco provides three levels of certifications: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), and Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE). Cisco made changes to all three certifications, effective February 2020. The following are the most notable of the many changes:

CCNP Enterprise candidates need to take and pass the Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies ENCOR 350-401 examination. Then they need to take and pass one of the following Concentration exams to obtain their CCNP Enterprise:

This book helps you study for the CCNP ENWLSD 300-425 and ENWLSI 300-430 exams. The time allowed to take each test is 90 minutes to complete about 60 questions. Testing is done at Pearson VUE testing centers.

Be sure to visit www.cisco.com to find the latest information on CCNP Concentration requirements and to keep up to date on any new Concentration exams that are announced.

Goals and Methods

The most important and somewhat obvious goal of this book is to help you pass the Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks ENWLSI 300-430 exams. In fact, if the primary objective of this book was different, then the book’s title would be misleading; however, the methods used in this book to help you pass the ENWLSD 300-425 and ENWLSI 300-430 exams are designed to also make you much more knowledgeable about how to do your job. While this book and the companion website together have more than enough questions to help you prepare for the actual exam, the method in which they are used is not to simply make you memorize as many questions and answers as you possibly can.

One key methodology used in this book is to help you discover the exam topics you need to review in more depth, to help you fully understand and remember those details, and to help you prove to yourself that you have retained your knowledge of those topics. So, this book does not try to help you pass by memorization, but helps you truly learn and understand the topics. Designing and implementing enterprise wireless networks are two of the concentration areas you can focus on to obtain the CCNP certification, and the knowledge contained within is vitally important to consider yourself a truly skilled Enterprise Wireless Networks engineer. This book will help you pass the ENWLSD 300-425 and ENWLSI 300-430 exams by using the following methods:

  • Helping you discover which test topics you have not mastered

  • Providing explanations and information to fill in your knowledge gaps

  • Supplying exercises and scenarios that enhance your ability to recall and deduce the answers to test questions

Who Should Read This Book?

This book is not designed to be a general wireless networking topics book, although it can be used for that purpose. This book is intended to tremendously increase your chances of passing the Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks ENWLSD 300-425 and Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks ENWLSI 300-430 CCNP specialization exams. Although other objectives can be achieved from using this book, the book is written with one goal in mind: to help you pass the exams.

Strategies for Exam Preparation

The strategy you use to study for the ENWLSD or ENWLSI exam might be slightly different than strategies used by other readers, mainly based on the skills, knowledge, and experience you already have obtained. For instance, if you have attended the ENWLSD or ENWLSI course, then you might take a different approach than someone who learned based on job experience alone.

Regardless of the strategy you use or the background you have, the book is designed to help you get to the point where you can pass the exam with the least amount of time required. For instance, there is no need for you to practice or read about IP addressing and subnetting if you fully understand it already. However, many people like to make sure they truly know a topic and thus read over material they already know. Several book features will help you gain the confidence you need to be convinced that you know some material already and to also help you know what topics you need to study more.

The Companion Website for Online Content Review

All the electronic review elements, as well as other electronic components of the book, exist on this book’s companion website.

How to Access the Companion Website

To access the companion website, which gives you access to the electronic content with this book, start by establishing a login at www.ciscopress.com and registering your book. To do so, simply go to www.ciscopress.com/register and enter the ISBN of the print book: 9780136600954. After you have registered your book, go to your account page and click the Registered Products tab. From there, click the Access Bonus Content link to get access to the book’s companion website.

Note that if you buy the Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test version of this book from Cisco Press, your book will automatically be registered on your account page. Simply go to your account page, click the Registered Products tab, and select Access Bonus Content to access the book’s companion website.

How to Access the Pearson Test Prep (PTP) App

You have two options for installing and using the Pearson Test Prep application: a web app and a desktop app. To use the Pearson Test Prep application, start by finding the registration code that comes with the book. You can find the code in these ways:

  • Print book: Look in the cardboard sleeve in the back of the book for a piece of paper with your book’s unique PTP code.

  • Premium Edition: If you purchase the Premium Edition eBook and Practice Test directly from the Cisco Press website, the code will be populated on your account page after purchase. Just log in at www.ciscopress.com, click Account to see details of your account, and click the digital purchases tab.

  • Amazon Kindle: For those who purchase a Kindle edition from Amazon, the access code will be supplied directly from Amazon.

  • Other Bookseller eBooks: Note that if you purchase an eBook version from any other source, the practice test is not included because other vendors to date have not chosen to vend the required unique access code.

Note

Do not lose the activation code because it is the only means with which you can access the QA content with the book.

Once you have the access code, to find instructions about both the PTP web app and the desktop app, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open this book’s companion website, as shown earlier in this Introduction under the heading “How to Access the Companion Website.”

Step 2. Click the Practice Exams button.

Step 3. Follow the instructions listed there both for installing the desktop app and for using the web app.

Note that if you want to use the web app only at this point, just navigate to www.pearsontestprep.com, establish a free login if you do not already have one, and register this book’s practice tests using the registration code you just found. The process should take only a couple of minutes.

Note

Amazon eBook (Kindle) customers: It is easy to miss Amazon’s email that lists your PTP access code. Soon after you purchase the Kindle eBook, Amazon should send an email. However, the email uses very generic text, and makes no specific mention of PTP or practice exams. To find your code, read every email from Amazon after you purchase the book. Also do the usual checks for ensuring your email arrives, like checking your spam folder.

Note

Other eBook customers: As of the time of publication, only the publisher and Amazon supply PTP access codes when you purchase their eBook editions of this book.

How This Book Is Organized

Although this book could be read cover to cover, it is designed to be flexible and allow you to easily move between chapters and sections of chapters to cover just the material you need more work with. Chapters 1 through 9 cover wireless design topics that are relevant for the ENWLSD 300-425 exam, while Chapters 10 through 17 cover topics related to implementing wireless networks for the ENWLSI 300-430 exam.

The core chapters, Chapters 1 through 17, cover the following topics:

  • Chapter 1, “Wireless Design Requirements” This chapter covers important wireless aspects of customer networks, access points, and client devices that can drive an effective network design.

  • Chapter 2, “Conducting an Offsite Site Survey” This chapter describes how to prepare for an offsite site survey, by looking at common verticals requirements, determining obstacles’ signal absorption, and conducting a predictive site survey.

  • Chapter 3, “Conducting an Onsite Site Survey” This chapter discusses the onsite survey process, including the survey tools and the survey methodology. This chapter also provides recommendations on survey settings for data, voice, and location services.

  • Chapter 4, “Physical and Logical Infrastructure Requirements” This chapter discusses the physical infrastructure, such as power and cabling, mounting, and grounding. The chapter also discusses the logical infrastructure components that support wireless services.

  • Chapter 5, “Applying Wireless Design Requirements” This chapter discusses the behavior of specific applications and traffic types being carried over a wireless network, along with the network design guidelines and best practices for each.

  • Chapter 6, “Designing Radio Management” This chapter explains Radio Resource Management (RRM) and how you can leverage it to automatically manage AP transmit power levels and channel assignments, along with adjustments for changing RF conditions.

  • Chapter 7, “Designing Wireless Mesh Networks” This chapter introduces wireless mesh technology and details how mesh networks are designed. The chapter reviews mesh components and architecture and key design recommendations for outdoor mesh environments.

  • Chapter 8, “Designing for Client Mobility” This chapter covers wireless client mobility, or the roaming process, along with ways to make it more efficient and seamless.

  • Chapter 9, “Designing High Availability” This chapter introduces the features and strategies you can leverage to improve wireless LAN controller availability in case of equipment or link failure.

  • Chapter 10, “Implementing FlexConnect” This chapter looks at branch office wireless deployments with a focus on FlexConnect. The chapter discusses how FlexConnect groups can be implemented as well as key features of FlexConnect. This chapter also discusses Office Extend APs (OEAP).

  • Chapter 11, “Implementing Quality of Service on a Wireless Network” This chapter begins with a review of wireless QoS standards and how these are implemented in Cisco wireless controllers. The chapter also looks at key QoS capabilities such as Application Visibility and Control (AVC).

  • Chapter 12, “Implementing Multicast” This chapter explains multicast traffic delivery in a wireless network, along with the features that can make it more efficient. Also covered are methods to handle multicast DNS as well as video stream delivery.

  • Chapter 13, “Location Services Deployment” This chapter discusses how location is achieved using Wi-Fi technologies. This chapter also explains how to deploy location engines, such as CMX/MSE and DNA Spaces, and how to use them to track clients, interferers, and rogues.

  • Chapter 14, “Advanced Location Services Implementation” This chapter explains how to make the most of your location engine, by implementing advanced features such as location-aware guest services and wireless intrusion protection systems (WIPSs). This chapter also discusses the implementation of Analytics and Presence services.

  • Chapter 15, “Security for Wireless Client Connectivity” This chapter discusses wireless client authentication methods, such as Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The chapter also discusses guest wireless access and how bring your own devices (BYODs) can be securely onboarded to a network.

  • Chapter 16, “Monitoring and Troubleshooting WLAN Components” This chapter covers report and alarm management on Cisco Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center (DNAC). This chapter also discusses how to troubleshoot client connectivity and performance on the wireless LAN controller (WLC), Prime Infrastructure, and DNAC.

  • Chapter 17, “Device Hardening” This chapter looks at how the security of wireless devices can be improved by controlling access to the wireless infrastructure and how APs can authenticate to a network.

Certification Exam Topics and This Book

The questions for each certification exam are a closely guarded secret. However, Cisco has published exam blueprints that list which topics you must know to successfully complete the exam. Table I-1 lists each exam topic listed in the blueprint along with a reference to the book chapter that covers the topic. These are the same topics you should be proficient in when designing and implementing Cisco Enterprise wireless networks in the real world.

Table I-1 ENWLSD 300-425 and ENWLSI 300-430 Exam Topics and Chapter References

Exam

Exam Topic

Chapter(s) in Which Topic Is Covered

ENWLSD 300-425

1.1 Collect design requirements and evaluate constraints

1

ENWLSD 300-425

1.2 Describe material attenuation and its effect on wireless design

2

ENWLSD 300-425

1.3 Perform and analyze a Layer 1 site survey

3

ENWLSD 300-425

1.4 Perform a pre-deployment site survey

3

ENWLSD 300-425

1.5 Perform a post-deployment site survey

3

ENWLSD 300-425

1.6 Perform a predictive site survey

2

ENWLSD 300-425

1.7 Utilize planning tools and evaluate key network metrics (Ekahau, AirMagnet, PI, Chanalyzer, Spectrum Analyzer)

2

ENWLSD 300-425

2.1 Determine physical infrastructure requirements such as AP power, cabling, switch port capacity, mounting, and grounding

4

ENWLSD 300-425

2.2 Determine logical infrastructure requirements such as WLC/AP licensing requirements based on the type of wireless architecture

4

ENWLSD 300-425

2.3 Design radio management

6

ENWLSD 300-425

2.4 Apply design requirements for these types of wireless networks

5

ENWLSD 300-425

2.5 Design high-density wireless networks and their associated components (campus, lecture halls, conference rooms)

5

ENWLSD 300-425

2.6 Design wireless bridging (mesh)

7

ENWLSD 300-425

3.1 Design mobility groups based on mobility roles

8

ENWLSD 300-425

3.2 Optimize client roaming

8

ENWLSD 300-425

3.3 Validate mobility tunneling for data and control path

8

ENWLSD 300-425

4.1 Design high availability for controllers

9

ENWLSD 300-425

4.2 Design high availability for APs

9

ENWLSI 300-430

1.1 Deploy FlexConnect components such as switching and operating modes

10

ENWLSI 300-430

1.2 Deploy FlexConnect capabilities

10

ENWLSI 300-430

1.3 Implement Office Extend

10

ENWLSI 300-430

2.1 Implement QoS schemes based on requirements including wired-to-wireless mapping

11

ENWLSI 300-430

2.2 Implement QoS for wireless clients

11

ENWLSI 300-430

2.3 Implement AVC including Fastlane (only on WLC)

11

ENWLSI 300-430

3.1 Implement multicast components

12

ENWLSI 300-430

3.2 Describe how multicast can affect wireless networks

12

ENWLSI 300-430

3.3 Implement multicast on a WLAN

12

ENWLSI 300-430

3.4 Implement mDNS

12

ENWLSI 300-430

3.5 Implement Multicast Direct

12

ENWLSI 300-430

4.1 Deploy MSE and CMX on a wireless network

13

ENWLSI 300-430

4.2 Implement location services

13

ENWLSI 300-430

5.1 Implement CMX components

14

ENWLSI 300-430

5.2 Implement location-aware guest services using custom portal and Facebook Wi-Fi

14

ENWLSI 300-430

5.3 Troubleshoot location accuracy using Cisco Hyperlocation

14

ENWLSI 300-430

5.4 Troubleshoot CMX high availability

14

ENWLSI 300-430

5.5 Implement WIPS using MSE

14

ENWLSI 300-430

6.1 Configure client profiling on WLC and ISE

15

ENWLSI 300-430

6.2 Implement BYOD and guest

15

ENWLSI 300-430

6.3 Implement 802.1X and AAA on different wireless architectures and ISE

15

ENWLSI 300-430

6.4 Implement Identity-Based Networking on different wireless architectures (VLANs, QoS, ACLs)

15

ENWLSI 300-430

7.1 Utilize reports on PI and Cisco DNA-C

16

ENWLSI 300-430

7.2 Manage alarms and rogues (APs and clients)

16

ENWLSI 300-430

7.3 Manage RF Interferers

16

ENWLSI 300-430

7.4 Troubleshoot client connectivity

16

ENWLSI 300-430

8.1 Implement device access controls (including RADIUS and TACACS+)

17

ENWLSI 300-430

8.2 Implement access point authentication (including 802.1X)

17

ENWLSI 300-430

8.3 Implement CPU ACLs on the controller

17

Each version of the exam can have topics that emphasize different functions or features, and some topics can be rather broad and generalized. The goal of this book is to provide the most comprehensive coverage to ensure that you are well prepared for the exam. Although some chapters might not address specific exam topics, they provide a foundation that is necessary for a clear understanding of important topics. Your short-term goal might be to pass this exam, but your long-term goal should be to become a qualified CCNP Enterprise wireless engineer.

It is also important to understand that this book is a “static” reference, whereas the exam topics are dynamic. Cisco can and does change the topics covered on certification exams often.

This exam guide should not be your only reference when preparing for the certification exam. You can find a wealth of information available at Cisco.com that covers each topic in great detail. If you think you need more detailed information on a specific topic, read the Cisco documentation that focuses on that topic.

Note that as CCNP Enterprise wireless network technologies continue to evolve, Cisco reserves the right to change the exam topics without notice. Although you can refer to the list of exam topics in Table I-1, always check Cisco.com to verify the actual list of topics to ensure you are prepared before taking the exam. You can view the current exam topics on any current Cisco certification exam by visiting the Cisco.com website, choosing Menu, clicking Training & Events, and then selecting from the Certifications list. Note also that, if needed, Cisco Press might post additional preparatory content on the web page associated with this book at www.ciscopress.com/title/9780136600954. It’s a good idea to check the website a couple of weeks before taking your exam to be sure that you have up-to-date content.