Cisco is a world-wide leader in IT, networking, and security solutions. Achieving the Cisco Certified Network Associate Certification (CCNA) is a valuable first step toward a career in IT. To gain CCNA certification, you must pass one exam that covers a wide range of IT fundamentals and knowledge bases including the latest networking technologies, software development skills, and job roles. CCNA certification gives you the foundation to build the career you want.

The goal of this course is to provide you with all the tools you need to prepare for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (200-301 CCNA) exam — including text explanations, video demos, lab activities, self-assessment questions, and a practice exam — to increase your chances of passing the exam on your first try

Approximately 40 hours. Actual duration will vary by student.

• Full eBook Text Lessons
• Video learning
• Hands-on Labs
• Certification Practice Exams

Aspiring Network Professionals:

• Individuals with little to no prior IT experience who are looking to start a career in networking. The CCNA is an entry-level certification that provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed for a variety of IT and networking roles.
• Existing IT Professionals: This includes help desk technicians, systems administrators, and other IT specialists who want to expand their skillset to include networking. Earning the CCNA can help them advance their careers, increase their earning potential, and transition into more specialized networking roles.
• Network Administrators and Support Technicians: These professionals may already be working with networks but want to formalize their skills with a globally recognized certification. The CCNA validates their expertise and demonstrates their ability to manage and troubleshoot Cisco-based networks.
• Students and Recent Graduates: Those in IT-related programs or who have recently graduated and are looking for a competitive edge in the job market. The CCNA is a highly sought-after credential by employers for entry-level networking positions.

• Recommended 1 year experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions
• Basic knowledge of course objectives

Upon successful completion of a CCNA training course, students should be able to:

• Explain the role and function of various network components like routers, switches, access points, and firewalls:
  • Routers: Interconnect different IP networks, making forwarding decisions based on IP addresses (Layer 3).
  • Switches: Connect devices within a local network (LAN), forwarding data based on MAC addresses (Layer 2).
  • Access Points (APs): Create a Wireless LAN (WLAN), allowing devices to connect using Wi-Fi signals.
  • Firewalls: Monitor and control network traffic, enforcing security policies to protect the network perimeter.
• Describe different network architectures and topologies (e.g., two-tier, three-tier, spine-leaf):
  • Two-tier: Simplified architecture with Access and Core layers.
  • Three-tier: Traditional hierarchical model with Access, Distribution (policy enforcement), and Core layers.
  • Spine-leaf: A flattened, high-speed, non-blocking data center topology, connecting every leaf (access) switch to every spine (backbone) switch.
• Compare physical interfaces and cabling types, and identify common issues like collisions and errors:
  • Interfaces: Ports like RJ-45 (Ethernet) for copper and LC/SC for fiber optics.
  • Cabling: Copper (Cat 6/6A) is cost-effective but limited in distance; Fiber Optic is for high bandwidth and long distances, immune to EMI.
  • Issues: Collisions (simultaneous transmission on shared media) and Errors (e.g., CRC errors indicating data corruption).
• Understand IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, subnetting, and the differences between TCP and UDP:
  • IPv4: Uses 32-bit addresses; supports subnetting to segment networks.
  • IPv6: Uses 128-bit addresses for a massive address space.
  • TCP: Connection-oriented, reliable protocol with error checking and sequencing (e.g., HTTP).
  • UDP: Connectionless, unreliable protocol that prioritizes speed over delivery guarantees (e.g., DNS, VoIP).
• Explain the fundamentals of wireless networking and virtualization:
  • Wireless: Uses radio waves (IEEE 802.11 standards) for connectivity, managed by Access Points and SSIDs.
  • Virtualization: The creation of a logical version of a resource (e.g., server, OS, or network function) on shared physical hardware, enhancing resource utilization.

• Configure and verify VLANs and trunking to segment a network and allow inter-VLAN communication:
  • VLANs: Logically segment a physical switch into multiple broadcast domains for improved security and performance.
  • Trunking: Carries traffic for multiple VLANs over a single link between switches or a switch and a router (using 802.1Q tagging).
• Implement Layer 2 discovery protocols like CDP and LLDP:
  • CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol): Proprietary protocol to discover directly connected Cisco devices.
  • LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol): Industry-standard protocol for discovering neighboring devices from any vendor.
• Configure and troubleshoot EtherChannel and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) to ensure network redundancy and prevent loops:
  • EtherChannel (LAG): Bundles multiple physical links into one logical link for increased bandwidth and link redundancy.
  • STP: Logically blocks redundant paths on switches to prevent Layer 2 loops (broadcast storms) while maintaining fault tolerance.
• Describe the components and connections of a wireless LAN (WLAN):
  • Components: Access Points (APs), Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) (optional), and client devices.
  • Connections: Client devices connect wirelessly to the AP via an SSID, and the AP is wired to the network infrastructure.

• Interpret the components of a routing table and understand how a router makes forwarding decisions:
  • Routing Table: Includes Destination Network, Next Hop, Outgoing Interface, and Administrative Distance.
  • Forwarding: Router uses the longest prefix match rule and the best route (lowest Administrative Distance) to determine the path for a packet.
• Configure and verify both IPv4 and IPv6 static routing:
  • Static Routing: Manually configured, fixed routes, suitable for small or stub networks, requiring no overhead.
• Implement and troubleshoot single-area OSPFv2:
  • OSPFv2 (Open Shortest Path First): A link-state dynamic routing protocol for IPv4. Single-area simplifies the design by placing all routers in Area 0.
• Explain the purpose of First Hop Redundancy Protocols (FHRPs):
  • FHRPs (e.g., HSRP, VRRP): Provide an active/standby mechanism to ensure the default gateway remains available even if the primary router fails, offering gateway redundancy.

• Configure and verify Network Address Translation (NAT) and Network Time Protocol (NTP):
  • NAT: Translates private internal IP addresses to a public external IP address, conserving public IP space.
  • NTP: Synchronizes the clocks of network devices, which is critical for accurate log analysis and security.
• Explain the role of services like DHCP, DNS, SNMP, and syslog:
  • DHCP: Automatically assigns IP configurations (address, subnet mask, gateway) to network clients.
  • DNS: Translates domain names (e.g., https://www.google.com/search?q=google.com) into IP addresses.
  • SNMP: Enables centralized monitoring and management of network devices by an NMS.
  • Syslog: Standardized protocol for collecting system and event messages from network devices to a central server.
• Configure devices for secure remote access using SSH:
  • SSH (Secure Shell): Provides an encrypted, secure command-line interface for remotely managing network devices, replacing the insecure Telnet protocol.

• Define key security concepts, threats, and vulnerabilities:
  • Concepts: CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability).
  • Threats: Potential dangers that could exploit a vulnerability (e.g., malware, hacker).
  • Vulnerabilities: Weaknesses in a system that can be exploited (e.g., unpatched software, weak passwords).
• Configure and verify access control lists (ACLs) to filter network traffic:
  • ACLs: Ordered lists of permit/deny rules applied to router/switch interfaces to filter packets based on criteria like source/destination IP and port.
• Implement Layer 2 security features like port security and DHCP snooping:
  • Port Security: Restricts the number or specific MAC addresses allowed on a switch port to prevent unauthorized devices.
  • DHCP Snooping: Filters untrusted DHCP messages to prevent rogue DHCP servers and protect the DHCP process.
• Describe wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, WPA3):
  • WPA2: Uses AES encryption and is the current industry standard.
  • WPA3: The latest standard, offering stronger encryption and enhanced protection against password guessing and security for open networks.

• Explain how network automation impacts network management:
  • Impact: Reduces manual configuration and human error, speeds up provisioning and deployment, and allows engineers to focus on strategic tasks.
• Compare traditional networks with controller-based and software-defined architectures:
  • Traditional: Decoupled management, configuration done individually on each device.
  • Controller-based/SDN: Centralized management with a controller separating the control plane from the data plane, allowing for network-wide policy changes.
• Describe the characteristics of REST-based APIs and interpret JSON-encoded data:
  • REST APIs: Use standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to manage network resources; they are stateless and simple.
  • JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A lightweight, human-readable data format used by REST APIs to structure and transmit data as key-value pairs and arrays.