810-01 RCPE : Introduction to Riverbed Certification

 

Introduction to Riverbed Certification

The 810-01 RCPE Certified Professional Network & Infrastructure Visibility Exam is an essential certification for professionals aiming to demonstrate their expertise in managing and optimizing network and infrastructure visibility. This certification, offered by Riverbed, ensures that candidates possess the necessary skills to enhance network performance and troubleshooting capabilities, crucial for maintaining efficient IT operations.

Understanding the Importance of Network Visibility

Why Network Visibility Matters

Network visibility is a critical component of modern IT infrastructure. It allows organizations to monitor, manage, and optimize their network performance, ensuring that all components function correctly and efficiently. With enhanced visibility, network administrators can swiftly identify and resolve issues, minimizing downtime and improving overall productivity.

Key Benefits of Network Visibility

• Improved Performance: By monitoring network traffic and performance, administrators can identify bottlenecks and optimize the flow of data.
• Enhanced Security: Visibility tools help detect and mitigate security threats by providing detailed insights into network activities.
• Efficient Troubleshooting: Quick identification of issues reduces the time required to resolve them, ensuring minimal disruption to operations.
• Informed Decision Making: Comprehensive data allows for better planning and resource allocation, leading to more effective network management.

Exam Overview

Exam Structure and Content

The 810-01 RCPE Certified Professional Network & Infrastructure Visibility Exam covers various topics essential for network visibility. The exam tests the candidate's knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Network Performance Management (NPM)
• Application Performance Management (APM)
• Infrastructure Visibility and Optimization
• Security and Compliance

Preparation Tips

• Study the Official Guide: Riverbed provides a comprehensive exam guide outlining the topics covered and recommended resources.
• Hands-On Practice: Utilize Riverbed tools and solutions in a lab environment to gain practical experience.
• Training Courses: Enroll in Riverbed's official training courses to deepen your understanding of the exam content.
• Practice Exams: Take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the question format and identify areas needing improvement.

In-Depth Look at Key Topics

Network Performance Management (NPM)

Network Performance Management is the cornerstone of network visibility. NPM tools collect and analyze data to ensure the network operates efficiently.

Components of NPM

• Traffic Analysis: Monitoring data packets to understand traffic patterns and detect anomalies.
• Bandwidth Management: Allocating bandwidth resources effectively to ensure critical applications have the necessary resources.
• Latency Monitoring: Tracking delays in data transmission to identify and rectify performance issues.

Application Performance Management (APM)

Application Performance Management focuses on ensuring that software applications perform as expected, providing a seamless user experience.

Components of APM

• End-User Experience Monitoring: Gauging the performance of applications from the user's perspective.
• Transaction Tracing: Following the path of transactions through the network to identify bottlenecks and delays.
• Application Mapping: Visualizing the interactions between applications and the network infrastructure to optimize performance.

Infrastructure Visibility and Optimization

Infrastructure Visibility involves monitoring all components of the IT environment, including servers, storage, and network devices.

Key Aspects

• Server Monitoring: Tracking server performance metrics such as CPU, memory, and disk usage.
• Storage Analysis: Ensuring storage resources are used efficiently and identifying potential issues.
• Network Device Monitoring: Keeping an eye on the health and performance of routers, switches, and other network devices.

Security and Compliance

Security and compliance are vital aspects of network visibility, ensuring that the network is protected from threats and adheres to regulatory requirements.

Security Monitoring

• Intrusion Detection: Identifying and responding to potential security breaches.
• Vulnerability Management: Regularly scanning the network for vulnerabilities and applying patches.

Compliance Reporting

• Audit Trails: Maintaining detailed logs of network activities for auditing purposes.
• Policy Enforcement: Ensuring that network policies are consistently applied and adhered to.

Riverbed Tools and Solutions

Riverbed SteelCentral

Riverbed SteelCentral is a suite of tools designed to provide comprehensive network and application performance management.

Key Features

• Real-Time Monitoring: Provides real-time insights into network and application performance.
• Advanced Analytics: Utilizes advanced analytics to identify trends and predict potential issues.
• Unified Dashboard: Offers a single pane of glass for monitoring and managing network and application performance.

Riverbed NetIM

Riverbed NetIM (Network Infrastructure Management) focuses on infrastructure visibility and optimization.

Key Features

• Topology Mapping: Automatically discovers and maps network topology for better visibility.
• Health Monitoring: Continuously monitors the health of network devices and infrastructure.
• Alerting and Reporting: Provides customizable alerts and reports to keep administrators informed.

Conclusion

The 810-01 RCPE Certified Professional Network & Infrastructure Visibility Exam by Riverbed is a vital certification for IT professionals seeking to enhance their skills in network and infrastructure visibility. By mastering the key topics and utilizing Riverbed's tools and solutions, candidates can significantly improve their organization's network performance and security.