A Comprehensive Overview of the Difficulty of the Cisco ENSLD Exam
The Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks (ENSLD) exam, also known as the Cisco CCNP ENSLD 300-420 exam, is a vital component for those pursuing the CCNP Enterprise certification. This exam serves as a concentration exam, primarily targeting network engineers with a deep understanding of advanced network design concepts. For professionals who have acquired three to five years of experience in the field, this exam represents a rigorous yet essential challenge to test and validate the ability to design complex, scalable, and secure enterprise networks.
The Cisco ENSLD exam evaluates your knowledge and practical skills related to enterprise network design. Passing this exam confirms your competence in creating network architectures that not only optimize performance but also ensure security and high availability. Furthermore, it demonstrates your ability to design enterprise-level networks using the right combination of protocols, software, and hardware solutions, customized for diverse business environments.
This certification offers immense value to network engineers who aspire to specialize in network design and architecture. Professionals who pass this exam are equipped with the expertise needed to work on large-scale network infrastructures, ensuring businesses can maintain reliable, secure, and efficient networks across their operations.
The ENSLD exam covers a broad range of topics essential for enterprise network design. It is regarded as one of the more technical exams in Cisco’s certification track, requiring both theoretical knowledge and hands-on expertise. Exam candidates must demonstrate proficiency in designing and managing complex networks that address various challenges such as security, scalability, redundancy, and high availability.
The exam assesses the following primary areas:
Each of these areas is critical for professionals tasked with designing enterprise networks, and understanding them is crucial for success in the ENSLD exam.
One of the most important aspects of the ENSLD exam is the domain of advanced addressing and routing solutions. This section tests your ability to implement and configure IP addressing schemes that support a wide variety of devices, applications, and networks. It also evaluates your understanding of routing protocols like EIGRP, OSPF, and BGP, which are critical for building scalable, dynamic networks.
In addition to IP addressing and routing protocols, candidates must have a deep understanding of multicast routing. Technologies like PIM, SSM, and IGMP will be tested, as well as the integration of VPNs and advanced routing solutions like Route Redistribution and policy-based routing. You’ll also need to be proficient in designing secure networks that provide high availability and efficient routing between different network domains.
The Enterprise Campus Network is the backbone of most enterprise IT infrastructures. For this domain, the ENSLD exam assesses your ability to design resilient and high-performance campus networks. Topics like Layer 2 and Layer 3 segmentation, VLAN configurations, and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) optimizations are fundamental to network design.
Moreover, you will need to demonstrate expertise in technologies such as EtherChannel, Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), and Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF). The ability to design and optimize the access, distribution, and core layers of a network is also tested to ensure you can support the network’s traffic management, security, and throughput needs.
Wide Area Networks (WANs) are crucial for connecting geographically dispersed sites within an enterprise. As businesses grow and expand, WANs enable seamless communication between remote offices, data centers, and branch locations. This section of the exam focuses on designing scalable and secure WAN architectures that leverage technologies like MPLS, DMVPN, and SD-WAN.
You will need to be familiar with Quality of Service (QoS) for WAN traffic and VPN technologies like GRE tunnels. The ability to design reliable WAN connections with the necessary redundancy and fault tolerance is critical. Furthermore, candidates should understand how to design WANs that meet varying bandwidth demands while maintaining optimal performance.
Network services play a vital role in maintaining the functionality and security of an enterprise network. This domain evaluates your ability to integrate and configure essential network services like Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Domain Name System (DNS), and Network Time Protocol (NTP).
Beyond these foundational services, the ENSLD exam also focuses on network security services, including Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA), access control lists (ACLs), and device management protocols. These are crucial for maintaining network security, performance, and overall management at scale.
The automation section reflects the growing importance of programmability and automation in modern network design. As network infrastructures become increasingly complex, automation plays a crucial role in managing configurations, monitoring, and troubleshooting tasks efficiently. This section evaluates your ability to integrate automation tools like Python, Ansible, and various network management platforms for configuration management and error detection.
Understanding how to utilize APIs for network automation, task scheduling, and configuration deployment is key to streamlining network management and reducing human error. The focus on automation emphasizes improving operational efficiency, rapid deployment, and ensuring that the network design is both scalable and manageable over time.
The Cisco ENSLD exam consists of multiple-choice questions, drag-and-drop scenarios, and exhibits that test both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The total duration of the exam is 90 minutes, with an average of 60 questions. The questions are designed to assess not only your ability to recall information but also to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.
The passing score for the exam is generally around 840 out of 1000 points. The difficulty of the exam varies depending on your background and preparation, but it is generally considered to be moderately challenging. Thorough preparation is essential for success in the exam.
Preparation for the Cisco ENSLD exam requires a combination of real-world experience, theoretical knowledge, and hands-on practice. Candidates should focus on understanding the key concepts and being able to apply them to real-world network design scenarios. Having prior experience with advanced networking technologies and solutions is strongly recommended, as this will help you navigate the more complex sections of the exam with confidence.
Using practice tests and lab simulations to reinforce your understanding is essential. These tools will help familiarize you with the exam format and allow you to gauge your readiness. In addition, reviewing Cisco’s official study guides and taking part in training programs can significantly enhance your understanding of the material.
The Cisco ENSLD exam covers an extensive array of topics, each requiring a deep understanding of network design principles, technologies, and protocols. The exam is structured to assess both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in real-world network design scenarios. The following is a detailed breakdown of the key domains that will be tested in the Cisco ENSLD exam.
The first domain, which accounts for a significant portion of the exam, focuses on advanced addressing and routing solutions. This section tests your ability to implement and configure advanced IP addressing schemes, as well as select the appropriate routing protocols and techniques for diverse network environments.
Overall, this domain assesses your ability to design, configure, and troubleshoot complex network architectures that can scale efficiently while maintaining performance and security.
The Enterprise Campus Network is often the central part of an organization’s internal infrastructure. This domain focuses on the design and implementation of highly resilient and efficient campus network architectures. This section of the exam requires a comprehensive understanding of both Layer 2 and Layer 3 technologies, as well as the ability to optimize the network’s performance and security.
This domain emphasizes designing campus networks that are efficient, scalable, and resilient, ensuring that enterprise-wide communication can flow seamlessly and securely.
Wide Area Networks (WANs) provide connectivity between different geographic locations. As enterprises expand, having a reliable and efficient WAN design is essential for seamless communication across dispersed locations. This section of the exam assesses your ability to design WAN solutions that can scale, provide high availability, and meet the bandwidth requirements of an enterprise.
This domain assesses your ability to design and implement scalable, reliable, and secure WAN solutions that connect multiple enterprise locations while ensuring high availability and performance.
Network services are essential to the core operation of an enterprise network. This domain tests your ability to design, implement, and manage essential network services that support day-to-day operations.
This section focuses on designing network services that ensure reliable operation, security, and scalability while minimizing downtime and optimizing performance.
The Cisco ENSLD exam is an essential part of the CCNP Enterprise certification track, and its format and structure are designed to assess a candidate’s ability to apply advanced network design principles in real-world scenarios. In this section, we will explore the exam format, the difficulty level, and the most effective preparation strategies to help you succeed.
The Cisco ENSLD (300-420) exam consists of a combination of multiple-choice questions, drag-and-drop tasks, and exhibit-based scenarios. The exam aims to assess both theoretical knowledge and the ability to practically apply networking concepts to design and troubleshoot enterprise network infrastructures. Below is a more detailed look at the exam’s format:
The exam structure is designed to assess your ability to think critically and apply your knowledge to real-world network design problems. Therefore, a deep understanding of networking concepts and hands-on experience with Cisco technologies are critical to your success.
The difficulty of the Cisco ENSLD exam varies depending on your background, experience, and level of preparation. For candidates who have substantial experience in network design (around 3 to 5 years) and have worked with the technologies and protocols tested in the exam, the exam may feel more manageable. However, for candidates with limited exposure to enterprise network design or those who are less familiar with advanced topics such as SD-WAN, MPLS, and VPN design, the exam can be quite challenging.
While the exam may be difficult for some, with consistent preparation, real-world experience, and effective study strategies, passing the ENSLD exam is entirely achievable.
Preparation for the ENSLD exam is vital to ensure that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed. Here are several strategies that can help you effectively prepare:
Cisco recommends that candidates have 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience in network design before attempting the ENSLD exam. If you have practical experience working with the technologies and concepts tested in the exam, use that experience to your advantage. Real-world knowledge allows you to understand abstract concepts more deeply and apply them to specific scenarios that you may encounter in the exam.
Additionally, think about the real-world problems you’ve solved in your career and how they relate to the topics covered in the ENSLD exam. This can give you a deeper context for understanding the questions during the exam.
Before diving into the ENSLD-specific materials, it’s advisable to first complete the core exam, known as the ENCOR (350-401). This exam covers foundational networking concepts and technologies, many of which are relevant to the ENSLD exam. By passing the ENCOR exam, you’ll have a strong foundation that will make studying for the ENSLD more manageable.
The ENCOR exam covers topics such as:
Completing this core exam will provide the foundational knowledge needed for more advanced network design topics, making the ENSLD exam easier to approach.
To succeed in the ENSLD exam, you should start with trusted study materials. Cisco Press offers an official study guide for the ENSLD exam, which provides comprehensive coverage of all exam objectives. The guide includes detailed explanations, practice questions, and case studies that simulate the types of scenarios you will encounter in the exam.
In addition to the official study guide, you can use other Cisco resources such as:
Since the ENSLD exam tests practical network design skills, hands-on experience is crucial. Set up a lab environment using Cisco devices or virtual simulations to practice configurations and designs. By using a lab, you can reinforce the concepts you’ve studied and apply them to practical scenarios. This will help you become more comfortable with designing networks, troubleshooting issues, and configuring Cisco devices.
You can set up labs for:
You can also use online labs and simulators if physical devices are unavailable. These labs provide a virtual environment for testing out network configurations and design ideas.
For those who prefer structured learning or need additional support, enrolling in professional training courses can be beneficial. Cisco offers instructor-led courses that provide comprehensive coverage of the exam material. These courses typically include:
Instructor-led training can help reinforce complex concepts and provide additional insights into the exam topics. Many candidates find that professional training programs improve their understanding of the material and give them the confidence they need to pass the exam on their first attempt.
While it may be tempting to rely on exam dumps or shortcuts, these resources often focus on memorizing answers without providing a true understanding of the underlying concepts. Instead, focus on fully understanding the material and concepts being tested. This will not only help you pass the exam but also enable you to apply your knowledge effectively in real-world network design situations.
As you prepare for the exam, continuously assess your knowledge by taking practice exams and reviewing areas where you struggle. This will allow you to focus your efforts on topics that need more attention. Regular review and consistent practice will ensure that you are fully prepared when it’s time to sit for the exam.
Successfully passing the Cisco ENSLD exam requires more than just studying—it requires a solid strategy for both preparation and exam day execution. In this final part, we will provide tips for ensuring you are as prepared as possible, an exam day strategy to help you perform at your best, and a look at what you can expect after you have taken the exam.
While a thorough understanding of the material and consistent study are key to success, some additional strategies and techniques can further enhance your preparation and boost your performance on the exam day.
One of the most important steps in your preparation is to create a structured study plan. A study plan will help you break down the exam material into manageable sections, making it easier to focus on one domain at a time. Given the breadth of topics covered in the ENSLD exam, having a clear roadmap of what to study each week will help ensure that you don’t miss any crucial areas.
Consider these tips for creating your study plan:
Before you dive into your studies, take the time to review the exam objectives outlined by Cisco. The ENSLD exam will test your knowledge in specific areas, and understanding what is expected in each domain is essential. By knowing the objectives in advance, you can direct your efforts toward the most important areas and ensure you are well-prepared for every section.
Given the technical nature of the ENSLD exam, hands-on experience is invaluable. While theoretical knowledge is important, being able to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios is what sets you apart. Practice designing networks, troubleshooting, and configuring devices in lab environments. Use simulators or even physical devices, if available, to work through common network design tasks and troubleshooting scenarios.
When exam day arrives, it’s important to approach the test with confidence and clarity. Proper exam day preparation can significantly affect your performance. Here are some tips to ensure you remain calm and focused during the exam.
The night before the exam, make sure you get a good night’s rest. A well-rested mind is sharper and more focused, which is essential for navigating complex exam questions. Avoid cramming the night before, as this can increase stress and fatigue. Instead, use the last evening to lightly review key concepts or practice a few questions, but focus on relaxing and getting enough sleep.
On exam day, plan to arrive early at the testing center or log in to the exam platform if it’s an online test. Arriving early ensures that you can settle in, get comfortable, and address any potential technical issues. Bring all the required identification, and ensure that you have everything you need to start the exam smoothly.
If you are taking the exam online, double-check your computer and internet connection to ensure they meet the requirements for the exam. Be aware of the time zone for the exam if you’re taking it remotely.
The ENSLD exam has a set time limit of 90 minutes, which means you’ll need to manage your time carefully to ensure you complete all the questions. Here are some tips to stay on track:
It’s easy to get anxious during an exam, especially one as challenging as the ENSLD. However, staying calm is essential. Take deep breaths if you start to feel overwhelmed and focus on tackling each question one by one. Trust in your preparation and the work you’ve put into your studies.
After completing the Cisco ENSLD exam, you’ll receive your exam results immediately in most cases. Here’s what to expect after submitting your exam:
Once you submit the exam, you will be provided with a score report. This report will include your overall score and a breakdown of your performance across the various exam domains. The score report will give you insight into how well you performed in each specific area of the exam. While you won’t get feedback on individual questions, the report can highlight areas that you may need to focus on in the future.
If you pass the exam, you will receive your Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise certification, which will be a valuable addition to your credentials. This certification demonstrates your expertise in network design and your ability to manage and optimize enterprise-level networks.
If you don’t pass the ENSLD exam, don’t be discouraged. Many candidates need multiple attempts to achieve certification, and it is perfectly normal to need extra time to fully grasp the material. Cisco provides a retake policy that allows you to schedule another attempt after a 5-day waiting period.
To improve your chances for success in the second attempt:
Once you’ve passed the ENSLD exam, you’ll have earned a part of your CCNP Enterprise certification. At this stage, you may decide to pursue additional concentration exams based on your area of expertise or interest, such as routing, wireless design, or SD-WAN. The knowledge and skills you gain from the ENSLD exam will serve as a foundation for these other certifications.
Moreover, after earning the CCNP certification, you may wish to continue learning and grow your skill set by obtaining the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification or exploring Cisco’s DevNet certifications, which focus on automation and software development.
The Cisco ENSLD exam is a challenging yet rewarding step toward becoming a certified expert in enterprise network design. With thorough preparation, hands-on experience, and a well-planned approach, you can succeed in this exam and gain a valuable certification that will boost your career.
Remember that preparation is key—take the time to study, practice, and understand the concepts. Utilize the resources available to you, manage your time effectively during the exam, and stay calm throughout the process. With the right strategy, you can achieve success on the ENSLD exam and take the next step in your networking career.
Popular posts
Recent Posts