CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate

Objective: Understand basic networking concepts and components.

Topics Covered:

• OSI and TCP-IP models (layers and their functions)
• Network components: Hosts, switches, routers, firewalls
• Network topologies (star, mesh, bus, ring)
• Network types: LAN, WAN, MAN, WLAN, SAN
• Bandwidth, throughput, latency, and jitter
• Network cabling: Copper (UTP, STP) and Fiber optics
• Ethernet standards and frame structure

Tools: Cisco Packet Tracer, Wireshark

Objective: Master IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, subnetting, and VLSM.

Topics Covered:

• IPv4 address structure (network, host, broadcast)
• Classes of IP addresses (A, B, C, D, E)
• Public vs. private IP addresses
• Subnet mask and CIDR notation
• Subnetting and VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking)
• IPv6 addressing formats and types (unicast, multicast, anycast)
• IPv6 autoconfiguration (SLAAC, DHCPv6)
• IPv4 to IPv6 transition mechanisms

Tools: Subnet calculators, Packet Tracer

Objective: Configure and troubleshoot Layer 2 switching.

Topics Covered:

• MAC addressing and MAC address tables
• Switch operation: Learning, flooding, forwarding, filtering
• VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) configuration
• Trunking with 802.1Q and ISL
• DTP (Dynamic Trunking Protocol)
• VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol) concepts
• EtherChannel (LACP, PAgP) configuration
• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP, RSTP, MSTP) and PortFast, BPDUGuard

Tools: Cisco IOS, Packet Tracer, real switches

Objective: Configure routing between VLANs using routers and Layer 3 switches.

Topics Covered:

• Traditional inter-VLAN routing (router-on-a-stick)
• Inter-VLAN routing using Layer 3 switches (SVI)
• Configuring subinterfaces
• DHCP configuration for multiple VLANs
• Routing table concepts for inter-VLAN communication
• Troubleshooting inter-VLAN routing

Tools: Cisco routers, Layer 3 switches, Packet Tracer

Objective: Configure and verify static routing and default routes.

Topics Covered:

• Routing table structure and components
• Static route configuration (ip route)
• Default route configuration
• Floating static routes (backup routes)
• Route selection and longest prefix match
• IPv6 static and default routes
• Troubleshooting static routing

Tools: Cisco routers, Packet Tracer, ping, traceroute

Objective: Configure and troubleshoot OSPFv2 and OSPFv3.

Topics Covered:

• Dynamic routing protocols overview (distance vector vs. link state)
• OSPF concepts: Areas, neighbors, LSAs, LSUs
• OSPF router ID and DR/BDR election
• OSPFv2 configuration for IPv4
• OSPFv3 configuration for IPv6
• OSPF network types (broadcast, point-to-point, etc.)
• OSPF authentication (plain text, MD5)
• OSPF troubleshooting commands (show ip ospf neighbor, show ip route ospf)

Tools: Cisco routers, OSPF configuration, Packet Tracer

Objective: Configure and verify essential IP services.

Topics Covered:

• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server and relay
• DHCPv6 configuration
• DNS (Domain Name System) configuration
• NAT (Network Address Translation): Static NAT, Dynamic NAT, PAT
• NTP (Network Time Protocol) configuration
• SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) basics
• Syslog configuration and logging levels
• FTP, TFTP for file transfers

Tools: Cisco routers, DHCP server, NAT configuration, NTP

Objective: Implement basic network security and access control.

Topics Covered:

• Access Control Lists (ACLs): Standard, Extended, Named
• ACL placement and troubleshooting
• Port security on switches (sticky MAC, violation modes)
• DHCP snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
• Device hardening: SSH vs. Telnet, disable unused ports
• AAA (Authentication, Authorization, Accounting) concepts
• VPN concepts (IPsec, site-to-site, remote access)
• Security best practices for routers and switches

Tools: ACL configuration, SSH, port security, Wireshark

Objective: Manage and maintain Cisco network devices.

Topics Covered:

• Device configuration files (running-config, startup-config)
• Backup and restore configurations (TFTP, USB)
• Cisco IOS image management and upgrade
• Password recovery procedures
• CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) and LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol)
• Device monitoring with SNMP and NetFlow
• Software-defined networking (SDN) concepts
• Cisco DNA Center and controller-based networking

Tools: TFTP server, CDP, LLDP, Cisco DNA Center

Objective: Understand network automation and programmability concepts.

Topics Covered:

• Traditional vs. controller-based networking
• REST APIs and their role in network automation
• JSON, XML, and YAML data formats
• Configuration management tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef basics)
• Python for network automation (requests, netmiko)
• RESTCONF, NETCONF, and gRPC protocols
• Automation scripts for network configuration

Tools: Python, Postman, Ansible, REST APIs

Objective: Understand and configure WAN technologies.

Topics Covered:

• WAN connection types: Leased lines, MPLS, Broadband, MetroEthernet
• PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) and HDLC
• PPPoE (PPP over Ethernet)
• GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) tunnels
• VPN technologies: IPsec, DMVPN, FlexVPN basics
• QoS (Quality of Service) concepts: Classification, marking, queuing
• SD-WAN (Software-Defined WAN) concepts

Tools: PPP configuration, VPN configuration, QoS policies

Objective: Master troubleshooting methodologies and prepare for CCNA exam.

Topics Covered:

• Systematic troubleshooting methodology
• Troubleshooting tools: ping, traceroute, telnet, SSH, Wireshark
• Common network issues and resolution
• CCNA 200-301 exam blueprint review
• Practice exams and hands-on lab simulations
• Exam strategies and time management
• Real-world scenario-based troubleshooting
• Next steps: CCNP and career pathways

Tools: Practice exams, Packet Tracer labs, Wireshark