Implementing and Operating Cisco Service Provider Network Core Technologies (SPCOR)

In this Implementing and Operating Cisco Service Provider Network Core Technologies course provides an in-depth exploration of modern service provider network design, implementation, and automation using Cisco IOS XR and Cisco IOS XE platforms. It is designed for network engineers and architects responsible for building, operating, and securing large-scale provider networks that require high availability, scalability, and operational efficiency. The curriculum emphasizes both architectural understanding and practical configuration skills across core, edge, and service layers.

Students begin by examining service provider network architectures and Cisco operating system designs, establishing a foundation for understanding how IOS XR and IOS XE support modularity, resiliency, and scale. The course then covers advanced routing technologies including OSPF, IS-IS, and BGP, along with policy control using route maps and Routing Policy Language. Transition strategies for IPv6 are explored alongside high-availability mechanisms and MPLS-based transport, including traffic engineering and segment routing.

The course further expands into service enablement and security, covering Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services, multicast, quality of service architecture, and comprehensive control, management, and data plane security. Automation, assurance, virtualization, and Cisco NSO are introduced to demonstrate modern operational models for service provider environments. Extensive hands-on labs reinforce each concept through real-world scenarios such as MPLS TE, segment routing, VPN deployment, BGP security, and RTBH filtering, preparing learners to design and operate resilient, automated service provider networks.

How You'll Benefit

This course will help you:

• Configure, verify, troubleshoot, and optimize next-generation, service provider internet protocol (IP) network infrastructures
• Deepen your understanding of service provider technologies, including core architecture, services, networking, automation, quality of services, security, and network assurance
• Prepare for the 350-501 SPCOR v1.0 exam
• Earn 64 CE credits towards recertification

Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe the service provider network architectures, concepts, and transport technologies
• Describe the Cisco IOS software architectures, main internetwork operating system (IOS) types, and their differences
• Implement open shortest path first (OSPF) in the service provider network
• Implement integrated intermediate system to intermediate system (IS-IS) in the service provider network
• Implement border gateway protocol (BGP) routing in service provider environments
• Implement route maps and routing policy language
• Describe IPv6 transition mechanisms used in the service provider networks
• Implement high availability mechanisms in Cisco IOS XR software
• Implement traffic engineering in modern service provider networks for optimal resource utilization
• Describe segment routing and segment routing traffic engineering concepts
• Describe the virtual private network (VPN) technologies used in the service provider environment
• Configure and verify multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) L2VPN in service provider environments
• Configure and verify MPLS L3VPN in service provider environments
• Implement IP multicast services
• Describe the QoS architecture and QoS benefits for service provider networks
• Implement QoS in service provider environment
• Implement control plane security in Cisco devices
• Implement management plane security in Cisco devices
• Implement data plane security in Cisco devices
• Describe the YANG data modeling language
• Implement automation and assurance tools and protocols
• Describe the role of Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO) in service provider environments
• Implement virtualization technologies in service provider environment

What to Expect in the Exam

Implementing and Operating Cisco Service Provider Network Core Technologies (350-501 SPCOR) v1.0 is a 120-minute exam associated with the Cisco Certified Specialist – Service Provider Core certification and satisfies the core exam requirement for the CCNP Service Provider and CCIE Service Provider certifications. 

This exam tests your knowledge of core service provider network technologies, including:  

• Core architecture
• Services
• Networking
• Automation
• Quality of services
• Security
• Network assurance

The primary audience for this course is as follows:

• Network Administrators
• Network Engineers
• Network Managers
• System Engineers
• Project Managers
• Network Designers

There are no prerequisites for this training. However, the knowledge and skills you are recommended to have before attending this training are: 

• Intermediate knowledge of Cisco IOS or IOS XE
• Familiarity with Cisco IOS or IOS XE and Cisco IOS XR software configuration
• Knowledge of IPv4 and IPv6 transmission control protocol (TCP)/IP networking
• Intermediate knowledge of IP routing protocols
• Understanding of MPLS technologies
• Familiarity with VPN technologies

These skills can be found in the following Cisco Learning Offerings:   

• Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA®)
• Understanding Cisco Service Provided Network Foundations (SPFNDU)

Course Outline

• Describing Service Provider Network Architectures
• Describing Cisco IOS Software Architectures
• Implementing OSPF for Cisco IOS XR
• Implementing IS-IS for Cisco IOS XR
• Implementing BGP in Service Provider Network
• Implementing Route Maps and RPL
• Transitioning to IPv6 for Cisco IOS XR and IOS XE
• Implementing High Availability in Networking
• Implementing MPLS for Cisco IOS XR
• Implementing Cisco MPLS Traffic Engineering
• Describing Segment Routing
• Describing VPN Services
• Configuring L2VPN Services
• Configuring L3VPN Services
• Implementing Multicast for Cisco IOS XR
• Describing QoS Architecture
• Implementing QoS for Cisco IOS XR
• Implementing Control Plane Security
• Implementing Management Plane Security
• Implementing Data Plane Security
• Introducing Network Programmability
• Implementing Automation and Assurance
• Introducing Cisco NSO
• Implementing Virtualization in Service Provider Environment

 Lab Outline

• Deploy Cisco IOS XR and IOS XE Basic Device Configuration
• Implement OSPF Routing
• Implement Integrated IS-IS Routing
• Implement Basic BGP Routing
• Filter BGP Prefixes Using RPL
• Implement MPLS in the Service Provider Core
• Implement Cisco MPLS TE
• Implement Segment Routing
• Implement EoMPLS
• Implement MPLS L3VPN
• Implement BGP Security
• Implement RTBH Filtering