With the growth of the number of devices, the question arises about the convenience of infrastructure management. If they are not related to each other, then the administrator may need to perform some configuration operations individually on each device, which requires more time and can potentially lead to errors. In addition, the requirements for staff qualifications are also increasing. At the same time, the use of “large” network management systems does not fit into the organization’s budget or limits the choice of equipment.

The company Zyxel, a well-known manufacturer of network equipment, presented the Nebula system (its version of solving the problem of centralized management and control) last year. This product is the Cloud service for working with network equipment of the company, which can be used for networks of different scales from one small office to a company with several branches or offices.

First of all, it is worth saying a few words about security issues. Still, when it comes to Cloud products, many users care about the confidentiality of their data. Of course, if the company’s policy does not allow the transfer of any information to the third parties, the Clouds may not be suitable. However, in the modern world, many services are implemented in this way, including e-mail, instant messengers, data exchange systems, and so on, which can significantly reduce their costs and at the same time provide the necessary reliability and performance. So in this case we can talk about administrative restrictions rather than technical ones. In addition, it is no secret that SMB enterprises are completely in a situation where the system administrator is not a full-time employee of the company or these functions are outsourced to a third-party company. Therefore, Cloud implementation can be considered just one of the characteristics of the solution in question and take into account the pros and cons of this approach. As for the question of the dependence of the system on availability of the Internet access in the office, here it can be argued that modern business without the Internet is practically inoperable and providing reliable access to the network does not depend on the network infrastructure management system.

Equipment

Among the equipment supported by the system today are security gateways, switches, and access points. Herewith, the device is hybrid and can be controlled either through Cloud or locally. We will not consider in detail the products used for publication in this article, but we will briefly describe their technical capabilities.

Zyxel NSG100 Cloud Gateway

In total, the lineup of gateways contains four models, differing mainly in overall performance and a set of ports. Of these, NSG100 is the second one in the line and is capable of providing up to 450 Mbps through a firewall and up to 150 Mbps via VPN. An external power supply unit (12 A 2.5 A), rack mount angles, rubber feet, console cable, brief instructions, warranty card are included in the delivery set of the gateway.

Zyxel GS1920-8HPv2 Hybrid Switch

There are usually rarely any special requirements for switches in the SOHO/SMB segment. But the GS1920v2 series is interesting in that it combines Smart capabilities and PoE/PoE+ support, which simplifies the use of network equipment such as access points and IP video cameras. The delivery package consists of brief instructions, a set of fasteners, rubber feet, and a power cable (the power supply unit is built-in).

Zyxel NAP102 Cloud Access Point

After gateways and switches, local access points are prevalent in local networks, without which it is not easy to imagine a modern office. Zyxel offers several product series to solve this problem. Zyxel NAP102 is the youngest in the line of products managed exclusively through Nebula Cloud. The package includes a power supply unit (12 V 1 A), a set of fasteners (frame, two variants of dowels and screws), instructions, a couple of leaflets.

Zyxel NWA1123-AC Pro Hybrid Access Point

In addition to access points with work only through Cloud, there are hybrid products with the NebulaFlex technology in the company’s catalog, in particular Zyxel NWA1123-AC Pro. The device comes complete with a mount, power injector with cable, network cable, and documentation. The case of matte white plastic has a diameter of 20 cm and a height of 3.5 cm. The model is equipped with a hardware antenna configuration switch, which allows to provide optimal modes in the case of mounting both on the ceiling and on the wall.

We hope that you received all necessary details about Zyxel Nebula and its equipment.

According to Cisco, the new CCNP Routing and Switching targets to provide candidates with more current topics and forward-looking approaches. For example, it pays close attention to how IPv6 addresses workforce mobility and the proliferation of Internet-connected devices. The refreshed exams also include network scale support and accommodating the continued growth of IoT (Internet of Things, see below).

The refreshed CCNP R&S validates that you have the skills to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot complex network solutions The new CCNP Routing and Switching exams are:

• Implementing Cisco IP Routing (300-101)
• Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (300-115)
• Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (300-135)

The current CCNP Routing and Switching exams can be taken until January 29, 2015. So, until that date, to achieve your CCNP R&S certification, you need to take and pass 3 exams:

• 642-902 ROUTE (Last day to test: January 29, 2015) OR 300-101 ROUTE
•  642-813 SWITCH (Last day to test: January 29, 2015) OR 300-115 SWITCH
•  642-832 TSHOOT (Last day to test: January 29, 2015) OR 300-135 TSHOOT

After January 29, only 300-101 ROUTE, 300-115 SWITCH and 300-135 TSHOOT will be available for CCNP Routing and Switching candidates. Before that date, Cisco allows candidates to mix and match old and new exams, so, for example, you can take the old version of the ROUTE, the new version of the SWITCH and any version of the THOOT – or any other combination of the old and new exams.

So What Is the Change About?

Overall, Cisco is stepping up the level of CCNP Routing and Switching credential, bringing it closer to the expert level, as well as other CCNP certifications. CCNP R&S updates have been long overdue, so now CCNP Routing and Switching has been brought up to the same level with other CCNP-level credentials, such as Data Center, Security and Voice.

The new CCNP Routing and Switching 2.0 curriculum emphasizes IPv6, including running dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Cisco believes that since the IPv6 demand will keep growing, needs to be matched accordingly. There is also a strengthening emphasis on the Internet of things (IoT) that exists in the form of manufacturing sensors, household gadgets, and other devices that require network connection.

In the new version of CCNP Routing and Switching, Cisco requires candidates to be proficient in StackWise and Virtual Switching Service (VSS) technologies. Both are used to make multiple physical switches behave like a single switch, but there are a number of design considerations and implementation details that impact their behavior in production networks.

Another thing to keep in mind while looking at the new version of CCNP Routing and Switching certification is DMVPN (Dynamic multipoint virtual private network). This technology creates an overlay of secure tunnels across public or leased networks, and it has also been added to the CCNP Routing & Switching track.

Conclusion

This is a huge update for this challenging certification, but, as usual, Cisco accompanies the changes with comprehensive blueprints that list all topics and the weight they carry on each exam. You may find the blueprints here.

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