Do you want to learn how to install, configure and maintain computer networks? Are you looking to develop your professional skills in networking and to demonstrate your expertise or enhance your credibility?
Then a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is an excellent choice for you as an entry level professional. The knowledge that you will acquire during preparation for CCNA will be your solid base to build a promising and successful career in the field of networks.
NOTE:
Here are 42 Downloadable Packet Tracer Labs and Guide book to help you learn the practical topics of the new CCNA 200-301 exam.
Training and Certification
Candidates who pass the exam will receive a CCNA certificate from Cisco. This quality qualification will put a weight on your resume which will certainly be noticed by prospective employers.
Preparing for the CCNA certification requires candidates to study about the following topics:
- Describe how a network works
- Configure, verify and troubleshoot a switch with VLANs and interswitch communications
- Implement an IP addressing scheme and IP Services to meet network requirements in a medium-size Enterprise branch office network
- Configure, verify, and troubleshoot basic router operation and routing on Cisco devices
- Explain and select the appropriate administrative tasks required for a WLAN
- Identify security threats to a network and describe general methods to mitigate those threats
- Implement, verify, and troubleshoot NAT and ACLs in a medium-size Enterprise branch office network
- Implement and verify WAN links
I suggest the following CCNA Training which covers the full range of topics that you will be tested. The above training claims that you will pass CCNA Guaranteed.
EDIT
The newest CCNA certification as of 2020 requires you to pass the CCNA 200-301 exam. Below you will find the official Cisco topics that are likely to be included in the exam (additional related topics may be included as well:
New CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics Blueprint
20% 1.0 Network Fundamentals
1.1 Explain the role and function of network components 1.1.a Routers
1.1.b L2 and L3 switches
1.1.c Next-generation firewalls and IPS
1.1.d Access points
1.1.e Controllers (Cisco DNA Center and WLC)
1.1.f Endpoints
1.1.g Servers
1.2 Describe characteristics of network topology architectures 1.2.a 2 tier
1.2.b 3 tier
1.2.c Spine-leaf
1.2.d WAN
1.2.e Small office/home office (SOHO)
1.2.f On-premises and cloud
1.3 Compare physical interface and cabling types 1.3.a Single-mode fiber, multimode fiber, copper
1.3.b Connections (Ethernet shared media and point-to-point)
1.3.c Concepts of PoE
1.4 Identify interface and cable issues (collisions, errors, mismatch duplex, and/or speed)
1.5 Compare TCP to UDP
1.6 Configure and verify IPv4 addressing and subnetting
1.7 Describe the need for private IPv4 addressing
1.8 Configure and verify IPv6 addressing and prefix
1.9 Compare IPv6 address types 1.9.a Global unicast
1.9.b Unique local
1.9.c Link local
1.9.d Anycast
1.9.e Multicast
1.9.f Modified EUI 64
1.10 Verify IP parameters for Client OS (Windows, Mac OS, Linux)
1.11 Describe wireless principles 1.11.a Nonoverlapping Wi-Fi channels 1.11.b SSID 1.11.c RF 1.11.d Encryption
1.12 Explain virtualization fundamentals (virtual machines)
1.13 Describe switching concepts 1.13.a MAC learning and aging
1.13.b Frame switching
1.13.c Frame flooding
1.13.d MAC address table
20% 2.0 Network Access
2.1 Configure and verify VLANs (normal range) spanning multiple switches
2.1.a Access ports (data and voice)
2.1.b Default VLAN
2.1.c Connectivity
2.2 Configure and verify interswitch connectivity
2.2.a Trunk ports
2.2.b 802.1Q
2.2.c Native VLAN
2.3 Configure and verify Layer 2 discovery protocols (Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP)
2.4 Configure and verify (Layer 2/Layer 3) EtherChannel (LACP)
2.5 Describe the need for and basic operations of Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol and identify basic operations
2.5.a Root port, root bridge (primary/secondary), and other port names
2.5.b Port states (forwarding/blocking)
2.5.c PortFast benefits
2.6 Compare Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes
2.7 Describe physical infrastructure connections of WLAN components (AP, WLC, access/trunk ports, and LAG)
2.8 Describe AP and WLC management access connections (Telnet, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, console, and TACACS+/RADIUS)
2.9 Configure the components of a wireless LAN access for client connectivity using GUI only such as WLAN creation, security settings, QoS profiles, and advanced WLAN settings
25% 3.0 IP Connectivity
3.1 Interpret the components of routing table 3.1.a Routing protocol code
3.1.b Prefix
3.1.c Network mask
3.1.d Next hop
3.1.e Administrative distance
3.1.f Metric
3.1.g Gateway of last resort
3.2 Determine how a router makes a forwarding decision by default 3.2.a Longest match
3.2.b Administrative distance
3.2.c Routing protocol metric
3.3 Configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing
3.3.a Default route
3.3.b Network route
3.3.c Host route
3.3.d Floating static
3.4 Configure and verify single area OSPFv2 3.4.a Neighbor adjacencies
3.4.b Point-to-point
3.4.c Broadcast (DR/BDR selection)
3.4.d Router ID
3.5 Describe the purpose of first hop redundancy protocol
10% 4.0 IP Services
4.1 Configure and verify inside source NAT using static and pools
4.2 Configure and verify NTP operating in a client and server mode
4.3 Explain the role of DHCP and DNS within the network
4.4 Explain the function of SNMP in network operations
4.5 Describe the use of syslog features including facilities and levels
4.6 Configure and verify DHCP client and relay
4.7 Explain the forwarding per-hop behavior (PHB) for QoS such as classification, marking, queuing, congestion, policing, shaping
4.8 Configure network devices for remote access using SSH
4.9 Describe the capabilities and function of TFTP/FTP in the network
15% 5.0 Security Fundamentals
5.1 Define key security concepts (threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation techniques)
5.2 Describe security program elements (user awareness, training, and physical access control)
5.3 Configure device access control using local passwords
5.4 Describe security password policies elements, such as management, complexity, and password alternatives (multifactor authentication, certificates, and biometrics)
5.5 Describe remote access and site-to-site VPNs
5.6 Configure and verify access control lists
5.7 Configure Layer 2 security features (DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and port security)
5.8 Differentiate authentication, authorization, and accounting concepts
5.9 Describe wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3)
5.10 Configure WLAN using WPA2 PSK using the GUI
10% 6.0 Automation and Programmability
6.1 Explain how automation impacts network management
6.2 Compare traditional networks with controller-based networking
6.3 Describe controller-based and software defined architectures (overlay, underlay, and fabric)
6.3.a Separation of control plane and data plane
6.3.b North-bound and south-bound APIs
6.4 Compare traditional campus device management with Cisco DNA Center enabled device management
6.5 Describe characteristics of REST-based APIs (CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding)
6.6 Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms Puppet, Chef, and Ansible
6.7 Interpret JSON encoded data
Benefits of CCNA
Cisco certification rewards the efforts of candidates: A validation of your technical expertise increases your professional credibility. In particular, the CCNA skills acquired for SOHO or medium networks reveal an extremely valuable qualification for companies whose networks have fewer than 100 nodes.
The holder of a CCNA is able to do the following:
• Installation and configuration of Cisco switches and routers in multiprotocol environments, using LAN and WAN interfaces.
• Troubleshooting Operations at Level 1
• Improve security and network performance.
The holder of a CCNA can occupy the following positions:
• Engineer at Hotline
• Onsite Technician
• System Engineer Level 1
• System Integrator Level 1