HPE Networking expert level certifications
A couple of days ago, I took the HP0-Y47 exam “Deploying HP FlexNetwork Core Technologies”. It was one of two required exams to achive the HPE ASE - Data Center Network Integrator V1, and the HP ASE - FlexNetwork Integrator V1 certification. It was a long planned upgrade to my HP ATP certification, and it is a necessary certification for the HPE partner status of my employer.
You might find it confusing that I’m talking about an HP ASE and a HPE ASE. That is not a typo. The HP ASE was released prior the HP/ HPE split. The HPE ASE was released after the split in HP and HPE.
The HP/ HPE ATP is a professional level certification, comparable to the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). The HP/ HPE ASE is an expert level certification, so the typical candidate for a HP/ HPE ASE certification is a professional with three to five years experience in designing and architecting complex enterprise-level networks.
Requirements
There are different ways to achieve this certification. Regardless of the way you chose, you need a certification from which you can upgrade. This does not have to be a HP/ HPE certification! If you hold a valid CCNA/ CCNP or JNCIP-ENT, you can upgrade from this certification without the need of a valid HP/ HPE ATP Networking certification.
If you want to earn the HPE ASE - Data Center Network Integrator V1, and the HP ASE - FlexNetwork Integrator V1 certification in a single step, you need at least one of these certifications:
- HP ATP - FlexNetwork Solutions V3
- HPE ATP - Data Center Solutions V1
Or if you want to upgrade from a non-HP/ HPE certification:
- Cisco - CCNP (any CCNP regardless of technology)
- Cisco - Certified Design Professional (CCDP)
- Juniper - JNCIP-ENT
Now you need to pass two exams:
HP2-Z34 (Building HP FlexFabric Data Centers)
The HP2-Z34 exam focuses on deployment and implementation of HPE FlexFabric Data Center solutions. Therefore, the exams covers topics like
- Multitenant Device Context (MDC)
- Datacenter Bridging (DCB)
- Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
- Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
- Ethernet Virtual Interconnect (EVI),
- Multi-Customer Edge (MCE),
- Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL), and
- Shortest Path Bridging Mac-in-Mac mode (SPBM).
HPE offers a study guide to prepare for this exam: Building HP FlexFabric Data Centers (HP2-Z34 and HP0-Y51). I used this guide to prepare for the exam (eBook). The guide was of an average quality. Its sufficient to prepare for the exam, but I used other materials to get a better understanding of some topics.
HP2 exams are web-based exams. To pass the HP2-Z34 exam, I had to answer 60 questions in 105 minutes, with a passing score of 70%. The exam was quite demanding, especially if you don’t have much real-world experience with some of the covered topics.
HP0-Y47 (Deploying HP FlexNetwork Core Technologies)
The HP0-Y47 exam covers the configuration, implementation, and the troubleshoot enterprise level HPE FlexNetwork solutions. The exam covers different topics, e.g.
- Quality of Service (QoS)
- redundancy (VRRP, Stacking)
- multicast routing (IGMP, PIM)
- dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP)
- ACLs, and
- port authentication/ port security (Mac-auth, Web-auth, 802.1x)
I used the HP ASE FlexNetwork Solutions Integrator (HP0-Y47) study guide to prepre myself for the exam. Unfortunately, it had the same average quality as the HP2 Z34 guide: Good enough to pass the exam, but don’t expect to much.
HP0-Y47 is a proctored exam. I had to answer 55 questions in 150 minutes, with a passing score of 65%. The exam is not very hard, if you were familiar with the covered topics. Experience with ProVision and Comware is absolutely necessary, because both platforms have their peculiarities, e.g. processing of ACLs, differences in Stacking technologies, commands, STP support etc.
It took me some time to prepare for both exams, despite the fact that I work with ProVision and Comware Switches every day. So I’m pretty happy that I passed both exams on the first try.