As mentioned in a previous tip, companies' IP telephony solutions are being implemented more frequently on their data infrastructures. The deployment of IP telephony solutions has created a need for certified IP telephony engineers.
The IP telephony certifications Nortel currently offers are divided into four categories: Support Specialist, Design Specialist, Support Expert, and Design Expert. This tip discusses the Nortel Design track.
Design Specialist
The Design Specialist can plan, design, and program manage the implementation of an IP telephony solution to satisfy a customer's business requirements. The Design Specialist certification reflects a candidate with three to six months of experience that can handle the design of a typical or standard IP telephony product.
NNCDS - VoIP Succession BCM 3.0
This certification tests the ability to plan and design the Business Communications Manager 3.0 based on a typical customer's needs. This certification covers the BCM hardware and software, circuit switched telephony, applications, and management of the BCM. To pass the certification, two exams must be successfully completed: Technology Standards and Protocols for IP Telephony Solutions, and the design version of Succession BCM 3.0. The Technology Standards and Protocols for IP Telephony Solutions Exam is an overview of convergence technologies.
NNCDS - CallPilot Rls. 2.0
This certification tests the ability to plan and design a standard VoIP CallPilot 1.07 or 2.0 solution. This certification covers CallPilot 1.07 and 2.0 hardware and software, features and functionality, commercial offering and engineering tools, interoperability with Meridian 1 switches, security, and management of a single site CallPilot system. To pass the certification, only the design version of the CallPilot 2.0 exam must be completed.
NNCDS - Symposium Contact Center
This certification tests the ability to plan and design a typical Symposium Call Center Solution base on a customer's requirements. This certification tests your knowledge and skills in the following areas: hardware and software, design and engineering, security and management, and software hardening of Symposium Call Center Server 5.0, Symposium Web Client 4.5, Symposium Express 4.2, Symposium Agent 2.3, and Symposium Web Center Portal 4.0. To pass this certification, one exam must be successfully completed, the design version of Symposium Contact Center.
NNCDS - VoIP Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100 2.0
This certification tests the ability to plan and design a standard VoIP Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100 2.0 solution. This certification covers the hardware and software, design and configuration, security, internetworking and management of the Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100 2.0. The certification also covers the server's interoperability with SMDI/SIP Voice Mail and Meridian 1 switches. To pass the certification, two exams must be successfully completed: Technology Standards and Protocols for IP Telephony Solutions, and the design version of Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5100 2.0. The Technology Standards and Protocols for IP Telephony Solutions Exam is an overview of convergence technologies.
NNCDS - VoIP Succession 1000/1000M Rls. 3.0
This certification tests the ability to plan and design the VoIP Succession 1000/1000M Rls. 3.0 DB products. This certification covers the hardware and software, design, capacity and configuration, resiliency and management of the Succession 1000 and 1000M Rls. 3.0 systems. To pass the certification, two exams must be successfully completed: Technology Standards and Protocols for IP Telephony Solutions, and the design version of Succession 1000/1000M Rls. 3.0.
Design Expert
The Design Expert certifications builds on the specialist's capabilities by demonstrating their skill to plan, design, and manage the implementation of more complex IP Telephony Solutions. The Design Expert certification reflects a candidate with six to twelve months of hands-on experience with the ability to lead or assist intermediate-level IP telephony personnel with advanced Nortel designs.
NNCDE - CallPilot 2.x Unified Messaging
This certification tests the ability to plan and design the VoIP CallPilot Unified Messaging Solution 2.0. This certification covers the message networking, migration, security, and applications involved within a multi site CallPilot system composed of CallPilot, Releases 2.02/2.5, Meridian 1 IP Enabled (IE), Release 25.40, Succession 1000/1000M, Release 3.0, and SL-100 and DMS-100 switches. To pass the certification, the candidate must first obtain their NNCDS - CallPilot Rls. 2.0. Subsequently, the design CallPilot 2.0 Unified Messaging Solutions must be successfully completed to obtain this certification.
NNCDE - IP Convergence Succession 1000/1000M Rls. 3.0
This certification tests the ability to plan and design the IP Convergence Succession 1000/1000M Rls. 3.0 solutions. This certification covers the system and network design, configuration, and management of the products of the Succession solutions: Meridian 1 IP Enabled, Succession 1000/1000M Release 3.0, Internet Telephony Gateway (ITG) Trunk, Internet Telephony Gateway (ITG) Line, Optivity Telephony Manager (OTM), Remote Office 9150/9110/9115, Reach Line Card, Internet Telephones (i2004 and i2050), and Digital Telephones (M39xx). To pass the certification, the candidate must first obtain their NNCDS - VoIP Succession CSE 1000 Rls. 2.0 (920-135) OR VoIP Succession 1000/1000M Rls. 3.0 certification. Subsequently, another more difficult version of the design Succession 1000/1000M Rls. 3.0 Exam must be successfully completed to obtain this certification.
In the IT industry, certifications are means to validate an individual's expertise within a specified area. The above Nortel IP telephony certifications are some of the tools that can demonstrate the capabilities of an IP telephony design professional. These certifications could not replace years of industry experience, but they do provide the foundation to design and implement Nortel voice over IP solutions.
Richard Parsons (CCIE#5719) is a Manager of Professional Services for Callisma Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SBC. He has built a solid foundation in networking concepts, advanced troubleshooting, and monitoring in areas such as optical, ATM, VoIP, routed, routing, and storage infrastructures. Rich resides in Atlanta GA, and is a graduate of Clemson University. His background includes senior and principal consulting positions at International Network Services, Lucent, and Callisma.
