Complete Self Test Training Pack for Cisco 640-554: Questions, Answers, StrategiesPreparing for the Cisco 640-554 exam requires more than memorization — it demands practical familiarity with exam-style questions, a clear understanding of concepts, and well-practiced test strategies. This guide is a comprehensive self-test training pack designed to help you assess your readiness, identify weaknesses, and build the confidence needed to pass the Cisco 640-554 certification exam. It includes practice question types, detailed answer explanations, study strategies, a structured study plan, and test-day tips.
What the 640-554 Exam Covers (High-Level)
The Cisco 640-554 exam focuses on technologies and best practices related to Cisco Collaboration and related infrastructure (note: verify current exam objectives with Cisco as they may change). Typical topic areas include:
- Protocols and standards used in Cisco Collaboration solutions
- Voice and video fundamentals, codecs, and QoS
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) architecture and administration
- Endpoint configuration and troubleshooting (IP phones, soft clients)
- Call routing, dial plans, and normalization/patterns
- SIP, H.323, MGCP and gateway interactions
- Security best practices for collaboration systems
- High availability, redundancy, and disaster recovery concepts
- Diagnostic tools and troubleshooting methodologies
Tip: Confirm the latest official exam blueprint before studying; Cisco occasionally updates objectives or retires exams.
Structure of This Self-Test Pack
- Practice question sets (multiple-choice and scenario-based)
- Detailed answer explanations and references to key concepts
- Strategy sections: how to approach different question types, time management, and adaptive study methods
- A suggested 6-week study plan with measurable milestones
- Troubleshooting and lab exercises to build hands-on skills
- Test-day checklist and mental prep tips
Practice Question Sets
Below are sample questions representative of the types you may encounter. Attempt each question first, then read the explanation.
Set 1 — Fundamentals & Protocols
- Which protocol is primarily used for signaling and session establishment in modern Cisco collaboration environments? A) H.323
B) SIP
C) MGCP
D) RTP
Correct answer: B) SIP
Explanation: SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is the predominant signaling protocol used for call setup, modification, and teardown in many Cisco collaboration deployments. RTP is used for media transport, H.323 is an older signaling protocol, and MGCP is used in specific gateway-controller scenarios.
- When configuring QoS for voice traffic, which DiffServ Code Point (DSCP) value is commonly used to mark voice packets for high priority? A) AF11
B) CS0
C) EF
D) AF41
Correct answer: C) EF
Explanation: EF (Expedited Forwarding, DSCP 46) is commonly used for voice traffic to ensure low latency and jitter.
Set 2 — CUCM & Dial Plan
- In CUCM, which component is primarily responsible for translating called numbers into route patterns and trunks? A) Route List
B) Route Group
C) Route Pattern
D) Translation Pattern
Correct answer: C) Route Pattern
Explanation: Route Patterns in CUCM define how dialed numbers map to particular gateways, trunk selections, or partitions. Translation Patterns can manipulate digits before routing; Route Groups and Route Lists provide trunk selection hierarchy.
- A company uses translation patterns in CUCM to force local 7-digit dialing. Which action should be used to prepend digits to the dialed number? A) Insert
B) Remove
C) Replace
D) Block
Correct answer: A) Insert
Explanation: The Insert action adds digits at a specified position in the dialed string, allowing CUCM to prepend area codes or prefixes.
Set 3 — Gateways, Codecs & Media
- Which audio codec provides the best compression efficiency (lowest bandwidth) while maintaining reasonable voice quality? A) G.711
B) G.729
C) G.722
D) OPUS
Correct answer: B) G.729
Explanation: G.729 is a low-bitrate codec (~8 kbps payload) offering good quality for constrained bandwidth. G.711 is uncompressed and uses more bandwidth; G.722 offers wideband audio (better quality, higher bandwidth); Opus is modern and flexible but not always supported in legacy Cisco gear.
- If media bypass is enabled in a Cisco Unified Communications deployment, what is a primary effect? A) All media flows through the Call Manager for inspection
B) Media streams flow directly between endpoints, reducing CMR processing
C) Media is encrypted automatically by CUCM
D) CUCM adds RTP headers to media packets
Correct answer: B) Media streams flow directly between endpoints, reducing CMR processing
Explanation: Media bypass allows RTP media to flow directly between endpoints rather than through the call control nodes, reducing CPU load and latency on the call control infrastructure. It does not cause CUCM to inspect or encrypt media by default.
Set 4 — Security & High Availability
- Which feature protects signaling and media in SIP sessions by encrypting SIP messages and RTP streams? A) SRTP and TLS
B) MD5
C) SSH
D) IPsec
Correct answer: A) SRTP and TLS
Explanation: TLS secures SIP signaling, while SRTP secures media (RTP). MD5 is a hash, SSH is for secure shell, and IPsec secures IP traffic more generally but is not the typical method for SIP/RTP in collaboration systems.
- In a high-availability CUCM cluster, what is the purpose of the Publisher server? A) To act as a backup dial-peer for all calls
B) To host the read-write copy of the configuration database and administer user changes
C) To provide media services like transcoding exclusively
D) To act as an edge device for remote workers
Correct answer: B) To host the read-write copy of the configuration database and administer user changes
Explanation: The Publisher holds the master read-write database. Subscribers hold read-only copies for call processing. Media services can be hosted on specific nodes but are not the primary function of the Publisher.
Detailed Answer Explanations & Concept References
(Use this section to deep-dive on topics you answered incorrectly.)
- SIP vs H.323 vs MGCP: SIP is text-based and extensible, widely used for VoIP and unified communications. H.323 is binary and older; MGCP is a master/slave protocol where Call Agents control media gateways.
- CUCM dial plan constructs: Partitions and calling search spaces control call routing and reachability; route patterns and translation patterns manipulate dialed digits.
- QoS basics: Prioritize voice with EF, video commonly uses AF41/AF42 depending on policy; set policing/shaping on WAN egress points.
- Security: Use TLS for SIP signaling, SRTP for media encryption, enforce strong authentication, and segment voice networks.
Strategies for Different Question Types
- Multiple-choice: Eliminate obviously wrong choices first, then weigh remaining options against fundamental principles (for example, which protocol is primarily for signaling vs media).
- Scenario-based: Break the problem into smaller pieces — identify symptoms, which component manages that function, and standard troubleshooting steps.
- Configuration-related: Visualize the control and media planes separately. Ask: “Is this a signaling issue, a media path issue, or a dial-plan/digit manipulation issue?”
- Time management: Aim for ~1–1.5 minutes per question; mark and move on if stuck, then return to flagged items.
6-Week Structured Study Plan
Week 1 — Foundations
- Read protocol basics: SIP, RTP, SRTP, H.323, MGCP
- Hands-on: Capture and inspect SIP/RTP with Wireshark
Week 2 — CUCM Core Concepts
- CUCM architecture, partitions, CSS, route patterns
- Lab: Configure translation patterns and test call routing
Week 3 — Gateways & Codecs
- Study codec behavior, transcoding, region settings
- Lab: Configure gateway dial-peers and codec preferences
Week 4 — Security & Edge Services
- TLS/SRTP, SRST, Expressway architecture (if applicable)
- Lab: Enable TLS/SRTP on endpoints and verify call flows
Week 5 — High Availability & Troubleshooting
- Clustering, database replication, backup/restore procedures
- Lab: Simulate failover scenarios and examine logs
Week 6 — Practice Exams & Review
- Take timed practice tests, review incorrect answers, revisit weak areas
- Light hands-on labs for the top 3 weak topics
Hands-On Lab Exercises (Short Examples)
- Capture a SIP call with Wireshark; identify INVITE, 200 OK, ACK, and RTP streams.
- Configure a translation pattern in CUCM to prepend “9” to an internal number and verify calls route to a PSTN gateway.
- Enable SRTP between two endpoints and confirm media is encrypted (RTP vs SRTP marking in captures).
Test-Day Checklist & Mental Prep
- Bring required identification and confirmation details.
- Sleep well the night before; avoid last-minute cramming.
- Arrive early to the test center or verify your remote-proctoring environment works.
- Read each question fully; watch for qualifiers like “always,” “never,” “most appropriate.”
- If unsure, eliminate unlikely answers, flag, and return if time permits.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- Relying only on memorization — practice applying concepts to scenarios.
- Overlooking dial-plan digit manipulation — many questions hinge on understanding translation and manipulation.
- Ignoring the difference between signaling and media — separate these planes when troubleshooting.
Final Notes
This self-test pack gives a balanced mix of conceptual review, practice questions, lab exercises, and exam strategies. Adjust the plan to your experience level and focus more time on weak areas revealed by practice tests. Confirm current Cisco exam objectives before final preparation and use hands-on labs to cement theory into practical skills.
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