CCNA Wireless - 200-355 WIFUND

wintermute000 · September 24, 2015, 01:05:47 AM

Anyone have any XP with the new CCNA Wireless - 200-355 WIFUND?

No study guide or official materials aside from exam blueprint so a bit wary, esp given the reputation of the old CCNx wireless exams (i.e. official study guides do not line up with exams).

Not my idea (or my idea of a good time frankly....), but I've been allocated a wireless cert for one of my annual KPIs, so this is pretty logical, also getting sick of having to call in my peeps when I'm faced with wireless questions or issues out in the field. I do have a little bit of operations XP on Cisco WLCs but I've never done any installs or config short of flashing APs and a few 'dump the precanned config in' scenarios.

SimonV · September 24, 2015, 02:12:49 AM

Not sure how much has changed but when I took CCNA Wireless it was pretty simple, probably 2 iterations ago. I used the Sybex book from Todd Lammle and the CWNA book for most part of the theory. It is pretty dry stuff though

Buy yourself a couple of APs that still support the latest software, and run a vWLC at home

wintermute000 · September 24, 2015, 05:41:01 AM

Cool so you mean this yeah?
woohoo that ancient 1131 gathering dust is allegedly supported!

7.6 release notes

Supported Access Point Platforms

The following access point platforms are supported in this release:
Cisco Aironet 2700 and 700W Series Access Points.
Cisco Aironet 3500p Access Point.
Cisco 1040, 1130, 1140, 1240, 1250, 1260, 1600, 2600, 3500, 3600, 3700, Cisco 600 Series OfficeExtend Access Points, 700 Series, AP801, and AP802
Cisco Aironet 1530 Series outdoor 802.11n mesh access points, Cisco Aironet 1550 (1552) Series outdoor 802.11n mesh access points, Cisco Aironet 1520 (1522, 1524) Series outdoor mesh access points
AP801 and AP802 are integrated access points on the Cisco 800 Series Integrated Services Routers (ISRs). For more information about the stock-keeping units (SKUs) for the access points and the ISRs, see the following data sheets:

SimonV · September 24, 2015, 05:53:41 AM

Yep, it's fully functional for 60 days

QuoteQ. How is the Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller deployed?
A. The virtual controller software will be posted as .ovf package in the Cisco software center. Customers can download the .ovf package and install similar to any other virtual application. Software comes with a free-60 day evaluation license. After the VM is started, the evaluation license can be activated and later a purchased license can be automatically installed and activated.

One of the things on my to test list

wintermute000 · September 24, 2015, 06:21:02 AM

I still can't believe that 1130 series is supported. I inherited that WAP literally 5 years ago when my customer were chucking it out because it was deemed too old and useless.

SimonV · September 24, 2015, 06:36:56 AM

I guess the newer APs are just fitted with radios that support newer features and standards. The old ones just keep doing their 802.11a/g so the code train probably doesn't change much?

deanwebb · September 24, 2015, 08:29:38 AM

Quote from: SimonV on September 24, 2015, 06:36:56 AM
I guess the newer APs are just fitted with radios that support newer features and standards. The old ones just keep doing their 802.11a/g so the code train probably doesn't change much?

... until you get to fancy features, like roaming support. Our rule now is if it's not a 2700, JUNK IT.

SimonV · September 24, 2015, 08:34:37 AM

How do you mean? Roaming has been around for ages

deanwebb · September 24, 2015, 09:15:06 AM

Quote from: SimonV on September 24, 2015, 08:34:37 AM
How do you mean? Roaming has been around for ages

Not between our old APs and the new ones. We do things that lead to... issues...

wintermute000 · September 29, 2015, 04:40:31 AM

The OCG comes out in December so I guess I'll read it and have a bash in Jan/Feb. I have until next June to hit this KPI lol. I have read the converged access stuff but my main issue is lack of exposure to Meraki and Prime Infrastructure (which I'm guessing the latter is replacing all the hated WCS material that was apparently super heavy in ye olde exam).

On better news, I am building up the converged access lab for work so I have a 3850+IP Services, a 5508, an ISE license and a WAP to play with. Should be good training. No I didn't order the BoM, yeah I would have ordered more than 1 WAP and/or 3850 converged access point LOL (let alone a 5760 instead of a heading-for-the-same-farm-as-catOS 5508)

DanC · September 29, 2015, 07:09:33 AM

I did the old exam, loads and loads of theory on RF and very little on the controller / practical side of things. Not an easy exam by all accounts!

SimonV · September 29, 2015, 08:36:13 AM

Quote from: wintermute000 on September 29, 2015, 04:40:31 AMOn better news, I am building up the converged access lab for work so I have a 3850+IP Services, a 5508, an ISE license and a WAP to play with. Should be good training.

Nice, partner privilege?

Reggle · September 30, 2015, 03:17:01 PM

Quote from: deanwebb on September 24, 2015, 09:15:06 AM
Quote from: SimonV on September 24, 2015, 08:34:37 AM
How do you mean? Roaming has been around for ages
Not between our old APs and the new ones. We do things that lead to... issues...

Incompatible really, or just new standards like 802.11r?

Quote from: wintermute000 on September 29, 2015, 04:40:31 AM
... my main issue is lack of exposure to Meraki and Prime Infrastructure (which I'm guessing the latter is replacing all the hated WCS material that was apparently super heavy in ye olde exam).

Meraki: get the free AP when you watch an online demo.
Prime Infrastructure: it copies most of the web GUI of a WLC in it's own web GUI. Plus it adds more 'functionality': checking IOS versions, static coverage maps (not live, precalculated stuff). Honestly not impressed by the tool so far.

wintermute000 · October 01, 2015, 03:47:10 AM

Meraki isn't a big deal.... One per organization though

DanC · October 01, 2015, 02:58:42 PM

Quote from: Reggle on September 30, 2015, 03:17:01 PM
Quote from: deanwebb on September 24, 2015, 09:15:06 AM
Quote from: SimonV on September 24, 2015, 08:34:37 AM
How do you mean? Roaming has been around for ages
Not between our old APs and the new ones. We do things that lead to... issues...
Incompatible really, or just new standards like 802.11r?
Quote from: wintermute000 on September 29, 2015, 04:40:31 AM
... my main issue is lack of exposure to Meraki and Prime Infrastructure (which I'm guessing the latter is replacing all the hated WCS material that was apparently super heavy in ye olde exam).
Meraki: get the free AP when you watch an online demo.
Prime Infrastructure: it copies most of the web GUI of a WLC in it's own web GUI. Plus it adds more 'functionality': checking IOS versions, static coverage maps (not live, precalculated stuff). Honestly not impressed by the tool so far.

Coverage maps are live in PI. Also brings everything into a single pane of glass, RX neighbours etc which makes it great to troubleshoot with. It really comes into it's own when you have a large multi-site / multi-controller deployment where without it, you would have a nightmare doing everything manually from the controllers.