IT Certification and Career Paths

The 640-878 Building Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Networks, Part 2 exam is associated with the Cisco CCNA Service Provider certification. This exam tests the knowledge and skills that are necessary to implement and support a service provider network. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the Building Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Networks, Part 2 (SPNGN2) course.

Exam Topics

The following topics are general guidelines for the content that is likely to be included on the Building Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Networks, Part 2 exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam. To better reflect the contents of the exam and for clarity purposes, the guidelines that follow may change at any time without notice.

IP NGN Architecture

• Identify the functional components that are required to meet a given network specification
• Troubleshoot common network problems at Layers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 using a layered-model approach
• Describe the different types of service providers
• Describe service provider principal and reference next-generation network (NGN) architecture
• Describe the IP address and autonomous system (AS) number allocation process via the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and Regional Internet Registries (RIRs)

Switched Network Technologies II

• Configure enhanced switching technologies (including Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol [RSTP], Multiple Spanning Tree [MST], and Per VLAN Spanning Tree [PVST]) on Cisco IOS Software switches
• Describe how VLANs create logically separate networks and the need for routing between them
• Configure VLANs on Cisco IOS Software switches
• Configure trunking on Cisco IOS Software switches
• Configure inter-VLAN routing
• Configure Resilient Ethernet Protocol (REP) on Cisco IOS Software switches
• Configure queue-in-queue (QinQ) on Cisco IOS Software switches

Routed Network Technologies II

• Configure basic single-area Open Shortest Path First version 2 (OSPFv2) and OSPF version 3 (OSPFv3) routing on Cisco routers
• Configure basic single-area Intermediate System-to-Intermediate System (IS-IS) routing on Cisco routers
• Describe the differences between static versus dynamic routing as well as distance vector versus link-state routing protocol operations
• Configure basic Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing on Cisco routers
• Describe the address family concept on Cisco routers
• Describe IPv6 transitioning technologies
• Configure First Hop Redundancy Protocol (FHRP) (including Hot Standby Router Protocol [HSRP], Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol [VRRP], and Gateway Load Balancing Protocol [GLBP]) on Cisco routers
• Implement access control list (ACL) on Cisco routers
• Describe carrier-grade NAT (CGN) and Network Address Translation 64 (NAT64)
• Describe Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) functions in the service provider IP NGN
• Configure Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) on Cisco routers

Cisco Operating Systems and Platforms II

• Manage the Cisco IOS XR configurations and software packages
• Describe Cisco IOS XE software packages
• Describe Cisco service provider router platforms, their operating system, and their placement in the service provider IP NGN

The following course is the recommended training for this exam.

• Building Cisco Service Provider Next-Generation Networks, Part 2 (SPNGN2)

Courses listed are offered by Cisco Learning Partners-the only authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. Check the List of Learning Partners for a Cisco Learning Partner nearest you