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BCMSN
Exam 642-812: Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks v2.0

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Cisco’s exam 642-812, Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks (BCMSN), is a core requirement for the four-exam path to the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification, and a core requirement for the three-exam path to the Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) certification. It is a mid level exam for IT professionals who have the a significant amount of network experience. In order to take the exam, a candidate must hold a valid CCNA certification as a prerequisite. Individuals who possess either the CCIP, CCDP, or CCNP certification normally carry the titles "Senior Network Engineer" or "Senior Architect."

The Official Domains of this exam are:

Implementing VLANs
Conduct the operation of Spanning Tree protocols in a hierarchical network
Implement Inter-VLAN routing
Implement gateway redundancy technologies
Describe and configure wireless client access
Describe and configure security features in a switched network
Configure support for voice

Within these domains, Cisco will ask advanced questions on packet switching, trunking, and other complex switching technologies. As with most Cisco exams, the BCMSN is considered to be very challenging. Students should expect to spend many hours studying for this exam both in lab and in text.

Cisco does not publish the pass score for this exam, however rumors say that the normal passing score is 849 out of 1000. The exam contains somewhere between 60 and 70 questions that include multiple choice, drag and drop, and simulation style questions in varying numbers. The exam normally lasts 75 minutes.
Helpful: Compare this exam with others.

	BCMSN (642-812) Mega Guide This Mega Guide covers the key points you need to know to pass the BSCI. Topics covered include: Implementing VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Inter-VLAN Routing, Gateway Redundancy Technologies,...		$34.00		PDF Download

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User Reviews

10 Total Comments: 10 | 25 | 50

Difficult exam	damianpj on Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I passed this exam on my second try. Just barely missed it on my first attempt. Know HSRP, GLBP, STP and VTP inside and out. Had two simulation questions: one VTP and one VTP/SVI. I had a total of 25 questions on VOIP, QoS, and Wireless, don't neglect these areas. I breezed over wireless prior to taking the test the first time, big mistake. Know the what every line means in the show standby command for HSRP.

Study points important	dmjohnson on Monday, December 11, 2006

This exam isnt the most difficult exam by any means, but definitely worth studying for. I passed on my first time, but had some difficulties along the way. When studying, do not waste your time on learning Cisco devices or set commands, not covered at all. I had perhaps 15 output questions which were time consuming and threw me off guard. Make sure you have a strong command of the show outputs as well as RSTP, MST, STP and VLANs. The sims were both on VLANs configuration. Not too difficult, but had several steps and took time. I had also had some enterprise model questions, suprisingly. This was the first test I had with time issues. I would use Test King and Cisco, both cover the tested material well.

Easier than routing	jeheyer on Monday, September 11, 2006

Passed first time around, and was not expecting to. Overall, it's a fair test. Focus on STP, HSRP, VTP, Multicast, and Port security.

not bad at all...	legacylutz on Friday, June 30, 2006

All I can suggest is to read the CiscoPress books from stem to stern. I got burnt on InterVLAN routing but I made up for it on security. Another thing to do is look at the output from each command....you have no idea how much that would have helped me. Study hard, know your stuff and you'll do fine.

STP,VTP,HSRP,GLBP <- Indepth	antoniehenning on Monday, June 05, 2006

No questions regarding ethernet types, standards or max workable distances etc. No metro ethernet, No tunneling questions e.g. Q in Q. No CEF related questions. No ip telephony. No QOS questions e.g Ip precendece, queuing or thresholds etc. 2 Sims, both VTP related, assigning vlans and putting them in the portfast mode, one sim requires intervlan routing when distribution switch is added to network <- Easier than the STP questions. 50% of the questions are based on STP/RSTP/PVSTP/PVSTP+/PVRST/MST/CST where the majority of that is on STP in general. A couple of show spanning-tree output and questions based on that. HSRP and GLBP outputs and questions. More ICPM, PIM, CGMP than expected. Multicast IP - Mac mapping. A Few PagP, not many LACP. Maybe I was just lucky :)

Know the default values	ntcyu on Monday, November 28, 2005

Most case study questions are on STP/VTP/HSRP. Most of them assume you know the default priority/cost, etc. The simulations are easy, one is about InterVlan routing, and one is about configure portfast and assign ports to vlan. Not too much on MST/QoS/IP Telephone in my case.

Forget Metro Ethernet...	maimboy on Thursday, November 03, 2005

Concentrate on spanning tree, VLAN and VTPs, HSRP/VRRP/GLBP, and multicast - know these back to front. Had no hardware specific or Metro ethernet questions, just a little VOIP. 2 sims, both VTP and VLAN based. Cramsession of little value for this exam, Transcender and the Cisco self study guide are a better choice.

Passed 642-811 BCMSN	jizzard on Sunday, October 02, 2005

Passed this first time with a mark of 804. Pass mark required was 755.

Passed on 24th of June	vlandi on Wednesday, June 29, 2005

You have to be aware about acronyms. Also most of questions are about (in order) STP !! in deep, HSRP, dot1q. Only two simulations - quite easy - creating VTP domain and allowing routing between 2 VLANs on distribution swith, the other one about attaching new switch and assigning two vlans. Easy Peasy :)

Passed April 25,2005	matthew_crabbe on Monday, April 25, 2005

This was a fair exam. I found it quite a lot easier then the BSCI exam. There were a lot of fine details that you had to know for this exam but they were all based around the same principles. BCRAN is next.