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BSCI
Exam 642-901: Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks

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Cisco exam 642-901, Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI), is a core requirement for the four-exam path to the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification, a core requirement for the three-exam path to the Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) certification, and a core requirement for the Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP) certification.

BSCI is a mid level exam for IT professionals who have the knowledge and skills necessary to use advanced IP addressing and routing in implementing scalability for Cisco routers connected to LANs and WANs. The candidate must hold a valid CCNA certification as a prerequisite to this exam. Individuals who possess either the CCIP, CCDP, or CCNP certification normally carry the titles Senior Network Engineer or Senior Architect.

The Official Domains of the exam published by Cisco are:

Implement EIGRP operations
Implement multiarea OSPF operations
Describe Integrated IS-IS
Implement Cisco IOS routing features
Implement BGP for enterprise ISP connectivity
Implement multicast forwarding
Implement IPv4

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 55 and 65 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.

BSCI (642-901) Lecture Series This title is available to you as a digital download or 3-CD set. This Lecture Series Product features topical information in instructor-based lecture format. Topics covered include: Router...	$57.00	CD

BSCI (642-901) Mega Guide This Mega Guide covers the key points you need to know to pass the BSCI. Topics covered include: Implement EIGRP Operations, Implement Multi-area OSPF Operations, Describe Integrated IS-IS, Implement...	$34.00	PDF Download

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User Reviews

10 Total Comments: 10 | 25 | 50

642-901 BSCI challenging	jarrettjackson on Thursday, September 27, 2007

I thought is was a pretty challenging test 60 questions in 90 minutes the thing about the test is you only have to score a 790 to pass a little bit lower than 640-801. You need to know Multicasting and how to configure and also BGP,ISIS,OSPF,EIGRP and IPV6. Need to know how to configure and be able to troubleshoot problems and understand the concepts of each. I would recommend Cisco Press and practice with labs or simulators and put some study time in for this test. Passed with 819.Next test 642-812 BCMSN.

important	firasissa on Wednesday, May 23, 2007

I hope if more details in bgp, isis, and more examples in a route map, route policy. pls in a next version of BSCI that you put this. thanks.

Detail oriented	dmjohnson on Monday, October 09, 2006

I passed it this on my first try yesterday. This test was very detail oriented, but not impossible by any means. There were many questions over specifics of the routing protocol and command output. I had maybe 1 or 2 show questions, and I felt the sims were straightforward. Make sure you understand redistribution well, the show commands outputs and focus on the ISIS, EIGRP, and BGP detailed operations. I was surprised at how little OSPF was represented on the exam, and there were maybe 6 IPv6 questions. I studied with TK and found it to be very helpful with already introducing me to many of the questions I saw on the test. Good luck!

Toughest I've ever taken	jeheyer on Monday, September 11, 2006

Much, much harder than the corresponding exam 3 years ago. I have plenty of hands-on routing experience, and it still took me two attempts before I passed this one. You'll need to setup a home lab, and try lots of route redistribution scenarios. Know the BGP attributes and default values for OSPF and EIGRP timers. Plenty of IS-IS and IPv6 questions too. Also don't forget RIP, and remember than RIPv2 needs the "no auto-summary" command in order to do VLSM and classless routing.

not enuf time,v. difficult	flygirl0420 on Thursday, August 31, 2006

i am recertifying my CCNP, so i need to pass the BSCI and the switching exam. i just failed this exam yesterday for the first time, i passed first try last time - but i was in a bootcamp situation, and there was an additional type of question i was not aware would be on there. I also felt the level of difficulty of each question in addition to the time required to analyze each before answering was way to difficult for the time provided. i ran out of time, and was unable to answer the last 15 or so with the attention i would liked to have given them. i got the 'sho ip eigrp topology all-links' readout question for this new type of testlet as they call it. they include 3 questions with it and ask you to answer questions on the output. it takes a lot of time though to analyze. Whats the deal with the testlet?? is that type of question new, does anyone know if its scored? It basically hasI had 2 simulations, and 2 drag n drops, and at least 75% of the questions had exhibits

Passed on July 5th	matthewpascucci on Wednesday, July 05, 2006

I just passed the exam with a 1000/1000, I was very surprised to see my score. I used the Cisco Press self study v2. I also bought some routers off e-bay so that I could simulate the enviroments. Know BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and ISIS. Also make sure you know route maps and policy based routing. Good Luck

Much harder than when I first	sloann on Saturday, March 25, 2006

ISIS & IPV6 Are new and I didn't cover these as part of my job. Also watch out RIP may not feature in the Study material but it is not gone away

Time is just enough	ntcyu on Tuesday, November 15, 2005

I take this exam. to renew my CCNP/CCDP certification. It is much harder than 3 years before as 90mins time is just enough for 63 questions. You don't have much time to think. The 4 simulations about BGP, OSPF, ISIS and route redistribution are straight forward. There are about 6 on IPv6, those are factual questions but easily be overlooked. Questions are not tricky overall but you should be aware of time.

Answer quickly & move on!	ICowan on Thursday, October 06, 2005

I've written over 30 IT exams & this is the toughest one I've done yet. Only surprises though were wierd questions on IPv6 that were not in any of the 4 books I read to prepare for this exam & a fair # of questions asking what show command would display certain info. Nevertheless I passed & will move onto BCRAN now. Oh yeah ... one last think. 90 minutes is barely enough time!!!

Not as easy as expected	antoniehenning on Monday, September 19, 2005

Passed this one today. I used the Cisco Press BSCI and Sybex CCNP complete study guides, but there were still questions in the exam that are not covered in these study guides. Read up on ipv6, much more detail is asked in the exam than what is revealed in the guides. All I can say is know more than what those two guides provide.