François talks about this experience in studying for the CCNP Wireless certification and how you can get started.

This episode is sponsored by Metageek

CCNP Wireless

In order to get the CCNP Wireless certification, you need to pass the following 4 exams:

300-360 WIDESIGN – Designing Cisco Wireless Enterprises Networks

300-365 WIDEPLOY – Deploying Cisco Wireless Enterprises Networks

300-375 WISECURE – Securing Cisco Wireless Enterprises Networks 

* 300-370 WITSHOOT – Troubleshoot Cisco Wireless Enterprises Networks

François recommends studying them in the order above.

They are ranging between 55 and 60 questions each and you have 110 mins to complete them and each exam is $300 USD each.

How to study

Self study

Read the exam objectives

WIDESIGN Exam Topics – The Cisco Learning Network

WIDEPLOY Exam Topics – The Cisco Learning Network

WITSHOOT Exam Topics – The Cisco Learning Network

WISECURE Exam Topics – The Cisco Learning Network

Create a study book of all of the subjects you want to study

Research Cisco documentations to find more information about these specific subjects

Look at the Study Materials Tab on the exam page

Cisco Design Documents

Cisco Support Articles

Cisco Admin Guide documents

If you have equipment, you can setup a lab and practise the configurations

Setup your own labs you will need at least 1 AP and 1 WLC

Configure dynamic interfaces

Configure Interfaces groups

Configure AP Groups and RF Profiles

Configure different SSID configurations

Troubleshoot an AP no joining

Ask a friend to break your config and try to troubleshoot it

Setup a freeradius server so you can test 802.1X even if you don’t have ISE

If you don’t have access to a WLC, you can download a virtual WLC with a 60 days eval license at Wireless – Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller – Cisco

It will be a .ova file ready to be used as a virtual machine

If you don’t have a Cisco AP, you can purchase an older one on eBay for cheap (ex: 3502)

Other ways to study

E-Learning proposed by Cisco for $750 a course can be purchased with Cisco Learning Credits

Designing Cisco Wireless Enterprise Networks (WIDESIGN) – The Cisco Learning Network Store