ExtremeCloud IQ Certification study plan
ExtremeCloud IQ Certification · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
ExtremeCloud IQ Fundamentals and Cloud-Based Network Management
Map the ExtremeCloud IQ architecture by listing its core components (cloud instance, connectors, device agents) and explaining how management data flows between them.
Differentiate the available licensing tiers (e.g., Connect, Pilot, CoPilot) and identify which features each tier unlocks.
Navigate the ExtremeCloud IQ dashboard to locate the main functional areas: Manage, Monitor, Configure, and Administration.
Explain the role of the ExtremeCloud IQ Connector and when an on-premises connector is required versus direct cloud management.
Your checkpoint
A one-page architecture diagram with annotations and a license-tier comparison table.
ExtremeCloud IQ Fundamentals and Cloud-Based Network Management & Onboarding, Configuration and Device Management
Compare cloud-based management with traditional on-premises controllers, listing at least three operational advantages and two limitations.
Describe the device onboarding workflow from factory default to managed state, including DHCP option 43 and DNS discovery methods.
Identify the prerequisites for onboarding an access point (network connectivity, NTP, certificate trust) and explain each.
Configure a basic network policy and assign it to a device during onboarding.
Your checkpoint
A step-by-step onboarding checklist for a new access point, validated against a sandbox or lab environment.
Onboarding, Configuration and Device Management
Create and apply device templates to standardize configuration across multiple access points.
Organize devices into sites and device groups, and explain how inheritance and overrides work.
Perform a firmware upgrade on a device and describe the staging and rollback options available.
Use the device-level CLI or quick actions to retrieve diagnostic information.
Your checkpoint
A configured site with at least three devices using a shared template, plus a screenshot or log showing a successful firmware upgrade.
Onboarding, Configuration and Device Management & Network Policies, SSIDs and Wireless Configuration
Explain the relationship between network policies, SSIDs, and device assignments in ExtremeCloud IQ.
Configure a basic SSID with WPA2-PSK and a second SSID with WPA3-SAE or 802.1X, and compare their security settings.
Map VLANs to SSIDs and describe how traffic is tagged or tunneled to the wired network.
Identify the key radio profile settings (channel width, transmit power, band steering) and their impact on performance.
Your checkpoint
A network policy containing two SSIDs with different security modes, exported as a configuration summary.
Network Policies, SSIDs and Wireless Configuration
Configure a guest SSID with a captive portal and explain the authentication flow.
Set up role-based access control (user profiles and VLAN assignment) and test that clients receive the correct network.
Describe how cloud-based radio resource management (RRM) adjusts channels and power, and where to review its decisions.
Compare PSK, 802.1X, and captive portal authentication methods and select the appropriate one for a given scenario.
Your checkpoint
A working guest SSID with captive portal and a documented test showing correct VLAN assignment.
Monitoring, Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
Use the ExtremeCloud IQ monitoring dashboards to interpret client health, AP health, and network usage metrics.
Generate and interpret a client troubleshooting report for a simulated connectivity issue.
Configure an alarm or notification rule for a specific event (e.g., AP offline) and verify it triggers.
Collect and analyze device logs and packet captures to isolate a wireless client problem.
Your checkpoint
A troubleshooting report for a simulated client connectivity issue, including evidence from dashboards and logs.
Monitoring, Troubleshooting and Diagnostics & Administration, Security and Operations
Explain the role of ExtremeCloud IQ Pilot and CoPilot in AI-driven insights and anomaly detection.
Configure role-based user accounts and assign appropriate permissions for administrators and operators.
Describe the backup and restore process for configurations, and the retention policies for historical data.
Identify security best practices for cloud management, including MFA, API tokens, and audit logging.
Your checkpoint
A security and operations checklist covering admin roles, MFA, and backup procedures, with each item verified in the UI.
Administration, Security and Operations & ExtremeCloud IQ Fundamentals and Cloud-Based Network Management & Onboarding, Configuration and Device Management & Network Policies, SSIDs and Wireless Configuration & Monitoring, Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
Review all five domains using practice questions and note any gaps in knowledge.
Recreate a complete small-network deployment from scratch (onboarding, policy, SSID, monitoring) within a timed session.
Explain how to use the ExtremeCloud IQ API for basic automation tasks such as retrieving device inventory.
Summarize key exam objectives and formulate a one-page quick-reference sheet.
Your checkpoint
A timed end-to-end lab deployment completed and documented, plus a scored practice exam with a review of missed topics.
Milestones
Week 2: Can explain the onboarding workflow and license tiers without notes, and has successfully onboarded at least one device in a lab.
Week 4: Has built a network policy with multiple SSIDs, applied it to devices, and verified client connectivity.
Week 6: Can diagnose a client connectivity issue using monitoring tools and produce a structured troubleshooting report.
Week 8: Scores at least 80% on a full-length practice exam and completes a timed end-to-end deployment.