Welcome to the exciting world of Cisco certification! If you’ve picked up this book because you want to improve yourself and your life with a better, more satisfying and secure job, you’ve done the right thing. Whether your plan is to enter the thriving, dynamic IT sector or to enhance your skill set and advance your position within it, being Cisco certified can seriously stack the odds in your favor to help you attain your goals.
Cisco certifications are powerful instruments of success that also just happen to improve your grasp of all things internetworking. As you progress through this book, you’ll gain a complete understanding of networking that reaches far beyond Cisco devices. By the end of this book, you’ll comprehensively know how disparate network topologies and technologies work together to form the fully operational networks that are vital to today’s very way of life in the developed world. The knowledge and expertise you’ll gain here are essential for and relevant to every networking job. It’s why Cisco certifications are in such high demand—even at companies with few Cisco devices!
For up-to-the-minute updates covering additions or modifications to the Cisco certification exams, as well as additional study tools, review questions, videos, and bonus materials, be sure to visit the Todd Lammle websites and forum at www.lammle.com/ccna
Cisco’s Network Certifications
Way back in 1998, obtaining the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification was the first pitch in the Cisco certification climb. It was also the official prerequisite to each of the more advanced levels. But that changed in 2007, when Cisco announced the Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT) certification. Then again, in May 2016, Cisco announced new updates to the CCENT and CCNA Routing and Switching (R/S) tests. Today, things have changed dramatically again.
In July of 2019, Cisco switched up the certification process more than they have in the last 20 years! They announced all new certifications that have started in February 2020, which is probably why you’re reading this book!
So what’s changed? For starters, the CCENT course and exam (ICND1 and ICND2), no longer exist, nor even the terms Routing & Switching (rebranded to Enterprise). On top of that, the CCNA is no longer a prerequisite for any of the higher certifications at all, meaning that you’ll be able to jump straight to CCNP without having to take the new CCNA exam.
The new Cisco certification process will look like Figure I.1.
First, the CCT, entry-level certification just isn’t worth your time. Instead, you’ll want to head directly to CCNA, using this book and the abundant resources on www.lammle.com/ccna of course!
The Todd Lammle CCNA program, starting with this book, is a powerful tool to get you started in your CCNA studies, and it’s vital to understand that material found in this book and at www.lammle.com/ccna before you go on to conquer any other certifications!
What Does This Book Cover?
This book covers everything you need to know to pass the new CCNA exam. But regardless of which path you choose, as I’ve said, taking plenty of time to study and practice with routers or a router simulator is the real key to success.
You will learn the following information in this book:
Chapter 1: Network Fundamentals In Chapter 1, network fundamentals, the Cisco three-layer model, and wide area network are reviewed. Ethernet cabling including fiber optic is discussed. The chapter ends with an overview of PoE. Review questions await you at the end to test your understanding of the material.
Chapter 2: TCP/IP In this chapter, I’ll cover the protocols of TCP/IP. I’ll begin by exploring the DoD’s version of TCP/IP, then compare that version and its protocols with the OSI reference model that we discussed earlier. Lastly, I dive into the world of IP addressing and the different classes of IP addresses used in networks today. Review questions are at the end of the chapter to test your understanding of the material.
Chapter 3: Introduction to TCP/IP This chapter will pick up right where we left off in the last chapter and continue to explore the world of IP addressing. I’ll open this chapter by showing you how to subnet an IP network. Prepare yourself because being able to subnet quickly and accurately is pretty challenging. Use the review questions to test your ability to understand subnetting; also, use the bonus tools found at www.lammle.com/ccna
Chapter 4: Troubleshooting IP Addressing In this chapter, we’ll cover IP address troubleshooting, while focusing on the steps Cisco recommends following when troubleshooting an IP network. Working through this chapter will hone your knowledge of IP addressing and networking, while refining the essential skills you’ve attained so far.
Chapter 5: IP Routing This chapter’s focus is on the core topic of the ubiquitous IP routing process. It’s integral to networking because it pertains to all routers and configurations that use it—easily the lion’s share. IP routing is basically the process of moving packets from one network to another network using routers, and this chapter will cover IP routing in depth.
Chapter 6: Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is by far the most popular and important routing protocol in use today—so important, I’m devoting an entire chapter to it! Sticking with the same approach we’ve taken throughout this book, we’ll begin with the basics by completely familiarizing you with key OSPF terminology.
Chapter 7: Managing a Cisco Internetwork In this chapter, I’m going to cover the finer points of layer 2 switching to make sure you know exactly how it works. You should already know that we rely on switching to break up large collision domains into smaller ones and that a collision domain is a network segment with two or more devices sharing the same bandwidth. Switches have changed the way networks are designed and implemented. If a pure switched design is implemented well, the result will be a clean, cost- effective, and resilient internetwork.
Chapter 8: Virtual LANs and Inter-VLAN Routing (IVR) This chapter discussed how we break up broadcast domains in a pure switched internetwork. We do this by creating virtual local area networks (VLANs). A VLAN is a logical grouping of network users and resources connected to administratively defined ports on a switch, and I’ll show you how to really understand the foundation and the configuration of VLANs and IVR.
Chapter 9: Enhanced Switched Technologies This chapter will start off with STP protocols and dive into the fundamentals, covering the modes, as well as the various flavors of STP. VLANs, trunks, and troubleshooting. Lastly, PortFast will also be discussed.
Chapter 10: Access List This chapter covers security and access lists, which are created on routers to filter the network. IP standard, extended, and named access lists are covered in detail. Written and hands-on labs, along with review questions, will help you study for the security and access-list portion of the Cisco exams.
Chapter 11: Network Address Translation (NAT) In this chapter, we’re going to dig into Network Address Translation (NAT), Dynamic NAT, and Port Address Translation (PAT), also known as NAT Overload. Of course, I’ll demonstrate all the NAT commands.
Chapter 12: IP Services This chapter covers how to find neighbor device information using the proprietary Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) and the industry-standard Link Layer Discovery protocol (LLDP). I’ll also discuss how to make sure our times are synchronized with our devices using Network Time Protocol (NTP). After that, I’ll show you the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and the type of alerts sent to the network management station (NMS). You’ll learn about the all-so-important Syslog logging and configuration, and then finally, I’ll cover how to configure Secure Shell (SSH).
Chapter 13: Security New information, commands, troubleshooting, and detailed hands-on labs will help you nail the NAT CCENT objectives.
Chapter 14: First Hop Redundancy Protocol (HSRP) This chapter will start off by telling you the reasons why we need a layer 3 redundancy protocol, and then move into how to build redundancy and load-balancing features into your network elegantly with routers that you might even have already. You really don’t need to buy some overpriced load-balancing device when you know how to configure and use Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP).
Chapter 15: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) We’re going to cover VPNs in depth in this chapter. You’ll learn some smart solutions that will help you meet your company’s off-site network access needs, and dive deep into how these networks utilize IP security to provide secure communications over a public network via the Internet using VPNs with IPSec. This chapter wraps up by demonstrating how to create a tunnel using GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation).
Chapter 16: Quality of Service (QoS) Quality of service (QoS) refers to the way resources are controlled so that the quality of services is maintained. In this chapter I’m going to cover how QoS solves problems by using classification and marking tools, policing, shaping and re-marking, providing congestion management and scheduling tools, and finally, link-specific tools.
Chapter 17: Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) This is a fun chapter chock-full of some great information. IPv6 is not the big, bad scary creature that most people think it is, and it’s a really important objective on the latest exam, so study this chapter carefully—don’t just skim it.
Chapter 18: Troubleshooting IP, IPv6, and VLANs This chapter will covered detailed troubleshooting, and since this is such a major focus of the Cisco CCNA objectives, I’d be letting you down if I didn’t make sure you’ve got this important topic down. So to ensure your skills are solid, we’re going to begin by diving deep into troubleshooting with IP, IPv6, and virtual LANs (VLANs) now. You absolutely must also have the fundamentals of IP and IPv6 routing and knowledge of VLANs and trunking nailed down tight if you’re going to win at this.
Chapter 19: Wireless Technologies Since I know you’ve crushed all of the previous chapters, you’re ready to dive into this one! If that’s not exactly you, just know that the two chapters on switching provide a really nice review on switching and VLANs. So, let’s start this chapter by defining a basic wireless network as well as basic wireless principles. We’ll talk about different types of wireless networks, discuss the minimum devices required to create a simple wireless network, and look at some basic wireless topologies as well. After that, I’ll get into basic security by covering WPA, WPA2, and WPA3.
Chapter 20: Configuring Wireless Technologies After Chapter 21 you now know how wireless works, so now we’re going to guide through configuring a wireless network from beginning to end. We’ll start by telling you all about how to get a Cisco Wireless LAN controller up and running before showing you how to join access-points to our new WLC. We’ll aslo dig deep into how to configure the WLC to support wireless networks. By the end of this chapter, you’ll triumph by having an actual endpoint join your wireless LAN!
Chapter 21: Virtualization, Automation, and Programmability In this chapter we’ll begin to address modern challenges by introducing you to virtualization basics. We’ll then walk you through its common components and features to closing the topic by comparing some of the virtualization products on the market as of this writing. After that, we’ll explore important automation concepts and components to provide you with sure footing to jump into the SDN and configuration management chapters following this one.
Chapter 22: Software Defined Networks (SDN) Controllers Automation has gotten popular enough to be included on the CCNA exam—it even has its own Devnet certification track! Even so, most companies still aren’t keen on fully managing their network with a bunch of Python scripts on a shared drive. So a better solution is to go with something called a Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller to centrally manage and monitor the network instead of doing everything manually, and that is what this chapter is all about!
Chapter 23: DNA Center Configuration Management In this chapter we’re going to take things to a whole new DNA Center level now, diving deeper into Configuration Management tools like Ansible, Puppet, and Chef. These great features that make it possible to automate almost everything in your infrastructure! We’ll explore Ansible, Puppet, and Chef.
Appendix: Answers to Review Questions This appendix provides the answers to the end-of-chapter review questions.
Interactive Online Learning Environment and Test Bank
The interactive online learning environment that accompanies the CCNA Certification Study Guide provides a test bank with study tools to help you prepare for the certification exams and increase your chances of passing them the first time! The test bank includes the following elements:
Sample Tests All of the questions in this book are provided, including the assessment test, which you’ll find at the end of this introduction, and the chapter tests that include the review questions at the end of each chapter. In addition, there are two practice exams. Use these questions to test your knowledge of the study guide material. The online test bank runs on multiple devices.
Electronic Flashcards The flashcards are included for quick reference and are great tools for learning quick facts. You can even consider these as additional simple practice questions, which is essentially what they are.
Glossary There is a PDF of a glossary included, which covers the terms used in this book.
In addition to the materials we provide online as part of the test bank, you can also visit Todd Lammle’s website to access other valuable resources.
Todd Lammle Bonus Material and Labs Be sure to check www.lammle.com/ccna for directions on how to download all the latest bonus material created specifically to help you study for your CCNA exam.
Todd Lammle Videos I have created a full CCNA series of videos that can be purchased at www.lammle.com/ccna
CCNA Exam Overview
Cisco has designed the new CCNA program to prepare you for today’s associate-level job roles in IT technologies. The CCNA now includes security and automation and programmability, and there is even a new CCNA DevNet certification. The new CCNA program has one certification that covers a broad range of fundamentals for IT careers.
The new CCNA certification covers a huge amount of topics, including:
Network fundamentals
Network access
IP connectivity
IP services
Security fundamentals
Wireless
Automation and programmability
Are there any prerequisites to take before the CCNA exam can be taken?
Not really, but having experience is really helpful. Cisco has no formal prerequisites for CCNA certification, but you should have an understanding of the exam topics before taking the exam.
CCNA candidates often also have:
One or more years of experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions
Knowledge of basic IP addressing
A good understanding of network fundamentals
How to Use This Book
If you want a solid foundation for the serious effort of preparing for the new CCNA exam, then look no further. I’ve spent hundreds of hours putting together this book with the sole intention of helping you to pass the Cisco exams, as well as really learn how to correctly configure Cisco routers and switches!
This book is loaded with valuable information, and you will get the most out of your study time if you understand why the book is organized the way it is.
So to maximize your benefit from this book, I recommend the following study method:
Take the assessment test that’s provided at the end of this introduction. (The answers are at the end of the test.) It’s okay if you don’t know any of the answers; that’s why you bought this book! Carefully read over the explanations for any questions you get wrong and note the chapters in which the material relevant to them is covered. This information should help you plan your study strategy.
Study each chapter carefully, making sure you fully understand the information and the test objectives listed at the beginning of each one. Pay extra-close attention to any chapter that includes material covered in questions you missed.
Answer all of the review questions related to each chapter. (The answers appear in Appendix A.) Note the questions that confuse you and study the topics they cover again until the concepts are crystal clear. And again—do not just skim these questions! Make sure you fully comprehend the reason for each correct answer. Remember that these will not be the exact questions you will find on the exam, but they’re written to help you understand the chapter material and ultimately pass the exam!
Try your hand at the practice questions that are exclusive to this book. The questions can be found only at http://www.wiley.com/go/sybextestprep. Don’t forget to check out www.lammle.com/ccna for the most up-to-date Cisco exam prep questions, videos, hands-on labs, and Todd Lammle boot camps.
Test yourself using all the flashcards, which are also found on the download link listed in #4. These are brand-new and updated flashcards to help you prepare for the CCNA exam and a wonderful study tool!
To learn every bit of the material covered in this book, you’ll have to apply yourself regularly, and with discipline. Try to set aside the same time period every day to study, and select a comfortable and quiet place to do so. I’m confident that if you work hard, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you learn this material!
If you follow these steps and really study—doing hands-on labs every single day in addition to using the review questions, the practice exams, the Todd Lammle video sections, and the electronic flashcards, as well as all the written labs—it would actually be hard to fail the Cisco exams. But understand that studying for the Cisco exams is a lot like getting in shape—if you do not go to the gym every day, it’s not going to happen!
Where Do You Take the Exam?
You may take the CCNA Composite or any Cisco exam at any of the Pearson VUE authorized testing centers. For information, check www.vue.com or call 877-404-EXAM (3926).
To register for a Cisco exam, follow these steps:
Determine the number of the exam you want to take. (The CCNA exam number is 200-301.)
Register with the nearest Pearson VUE testing center. At this point, you will be asked to pay in advance for the exam. You can schedule exams up to six weeks in advance or as late as the day you want to take it—but if you fail a Cisco exam, you must wait five days before you will be allowed to retake it. If something comes up and you need to cancel or reschedule your exam appointment, contact Pearson VUE at least 24 hours in advance.
When you schedule the exam, you’ll get instructions regarding all appointment and cancellation procedures, the ID requirements, and information about the testing-center location.
Tips for Taking Your Cisco Exams
The Cisco exams contain about 50 or more questions and must be completed in about 90 minutes or so. It’s hard to write this information down today because it changes so often. You must get a score of about 85 percent to pass this exam, but again, each exam can be different.
Many questions on the exam have answer choices that at first glance look identical—especially the syntax questions! So remember to read through the choices carefully because close just doesn’t cut it. If you get commands in the wrong order or forget one measly character, you’ll get the question wrong. So, to practice, do the hands-on exercises at the end of this book’s chapters over and over again until they feel natural to you.
Also, never forget that the right answer is the Cisco answer. In many cases, more than one appropriate answer is presented, but the correct answer is the one that Cisco recommends. On the exam, you will always be told to pick one, two, or three options, never “choose all that apply.” The Cisco exam may include the following test formats:
Multiple-choice single answer
Multiple-choice multiple answer
Drag-and-drop
Router simulations
Cisco proctored exams will not show the steps to follow in completing a router interface configuration, but they do allow partial command responses. For example, show run, sho running, or sh running-config would be acceptable.
Here are some general tips for exam success:
Arrive early at the exam center so you can relax and review your study materials.
Read the questions carefully. Don’t jump to conclusions. Make sure you’re clear about exactly what each question asks. “Read twice, answer once,” is what I always tell my students.
When answering multiple-choice questions that you’re not sure about, use the process of elimination to get rid of the obviously incorrect answers first. Doing this greatly improves your odds if you need to make an educated guess.
You can no longer move forward and backward through the Cisco exams, so double-check your answer before clicking Next since you can’t change your mind.
After you complete an exam, you’ll get immediate, online notification of your pass or fail status, a printed examination score report that indicates your pass or fail status, and your exam results by section. (The test administrator will give you the printed score report.)
Test scores are automatically forwarded to Cisco within five working days after you take the test, so you don’t need to send your score to them. If you pass the exam, you’ll receive confirmation from Cisco, typically within two to four weeks, sometimes a bit longer.
CCNA Certification Exam 200-301 Objectives
1.0 Network Fundamentals
1, 2, 3, 4, 17, 18
1.1 Explain the role and function of network components
1
1.1.a Routers
1
1.1.b L2 and L3 switches
1
1.1.c Next-generation firewalls and IPS
1
1.1.d Access points
1.1.e Controllers (Cisco DNA Center and WLC)
20, 22
1.1.f Endpoints
1.1.g Servers
1.2 Describe characteristics of network topology architectures
1
1.2.a 2 tier
1
1.2.b 3 tier
1
1.2.c Spine-leaf
1
1.2.d WAN
1.2.e Small office/home office (SOHO)
1
1.2.f On-premises and cloud
1.3 Compare physical interface and cabling types
1
1.3.a Single-mode fiber, multimode fiber, copper
1
1.3.b Connections (Ethernet shared media and point-to-point)
For up-to-the-minute updates covering additions or modifications to the Cisco certification exams, as well as additional study tools, review questions, videos, and bonus materials, be sure to visit the Todd Lammle websites and forum at www.lammle.com/ccna