Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Explore Network Fundamentals

Explain the Role and Function of Network Components

• Routers and L2/L3 Switches
• Access Points and Unified Communications Endpoints
• Security and WAN Edge Platforms

Describe Characteristics of Network Topology Architectures

• Two-Tier and Three-Tier
• Spine-Leaf
• WAN and Remote-Access Topologies

Compare Physical Interface and Cabling Types

• Copper and Fiber Cabling Media
• Optical Modules, Power Delivery, and Testing

Identify Interface and Cable Issues

• Collisions and Errors
• Duplex and Speed

Compare TCP to UDP

• TCP Handshake and UDP Best-Effort Delivery
• Port Numbers
• TCP Windowing and Flow Control Mechanisms
• Application Interaction and Performance Effects

Configure and Verify IPv4 Addressing and Subnetting

• Subnetting and VLSM

Describe Private IPv4 Addressing

• Private IPv4 Addressing

Configure and Verify IPv6 Addressing and Prefix

• IPv6 Address Configuration

Describe IPv6 Address Types

• IPv6 Addressing Basics

Verify IP Parameters for Client OS

• Client OS IP Parameters

Describe Wireless Principles

• Wireless Fundamentals and Identification
• Encryption and WPA2/WPA3
• Wireless Planning, Surveys, and Interference

Explain Virtualization Fundamentals

• Virtualized and Cloud-Managed Networking

Describe Switching Concepts

• Ethernet Switching Concepts

Explore Network Access

Configure and Verify VLANs Spanning Multiple Switches

• VLANs and Access Ports
• Voice VLAN Configuration

Configure and Verify Interswitch Connectivity

• IEEE 802.1Q and Native VLAN
• Inter-VLAN Connectivity

Configure and Verify Layer 2 Discovery Protocols

• CDP and LLDP

Configure and Verify Layer 2 and Layer 3 EtherChannel

• Advanced LACP Features
• LACP and PAgP
• Static and Active/Passive LACP Modes
• Layer 3 EtherChannels
• EtherChannel Troubleshooting

Interpret Basic Operations of Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol

• Fundamentals of Spanning Tree Behavior
• Rapid Spanning Tree Convergence
• Edge and Protection Features
• Operational Troubleshooting
• Loop Protection and Traffic Limiting

Describe Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP Modes

• AP Modes and FlexConnect
• Centralized Vs. Distributed Forwarding

Describe Physical Infrastructure Connections of WLAN Components

• WLAN Physical Infrastructure

Describe Network Device Management Access

• Network Device Management Access

Interpret Wireless LAN GUI Configuration for Client Connectivity

• Cisco WLCs and SSID Configuration

Explore IP Connectivity

Interpret the Components of a Routing Table

• Route Identification and Source Codes
• Next Hop and Prefix

Determine How a Router Makes a Forwarding Decision by Default

• Administrative Distance and Metric
• Path Selection and Forwarding Behavior

Configure and Verify IPv4 and IPv6 Static Routing

• IPv4 and IPv6 Static Routes
• Next-Hop Options: IP Address, Exit Interface
• Default Route and Floating Static Route
• Equal-Cost Static Route Load Balancing
• Static Route Control and Resiliency

Configure and Verify Single-Area OSPFv2

• OSPF Neighbor Formation and Router Identification
• Point-to-Point and Broadcast
• OSPF Network Types and DR/BDR Behavior
• OSPF LSAs and Cost Tuning

Describe First Hop Redundancy Protocols

• First Hop Redundancy Protocols

Explore IP Services

Configure and Verify Inside Source NAT

• Static NAT
• Dynamic NAT and Port Address Translation
• Advanced NAT Configurations
• NAT Troubleshooting and Protocol Extensions

Configure and Verify NTP Client and Server Mode

• NTP Client/Server Mode and NTP Stratum
• NTP Master
• Time Synchronization Use Cases and Comparisons

Explain the Role of DHCP and DNS

• DHCP Client and DHCP Server
• DNS Forwarding and DNS Record Types

Explain the Function of SNMP in Network Operations

• SNMP Access and Notifications

Describe the Use of Syslog Features

• Syslog Levels and Facilities
• Remote Syslog Configuration and Verification

Configure and Verify DHCP Client and Relay

• DHCP Relay and DHCP Options

Explain Forwarding Per-Hop Behavior for QoS

• QoS Concepts
• Traffic Shaping Vs. Traffic Policing

Configure Network Devices for Remote Access Using SSH

• SSH Remote Access

Describe the Capabilities and Functions of TFTP and FTP

• TFTP and FTP Capabilities

Explore Security Fundamentals

Define Key Security Concepts

• Threats and Vulnerabilities
• Exploits and Mitigation Techniques
• Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability
• Common Attack Types and Defensive Models

Describe Security Program Elements

• Monitoring, Policy, and Governance Basics
• Security Program Elements

Configure and Verify Device Access Control Using Local Passwords

• Local Device Access Control

Describe Security Password Policy Elements

• Password Policies and Multifactor Authentication

Describe IPsec Remote Access and Site-to-Site VPNs

• IPsec VPN Fundamentals

Configure and Verify Access Control Lists

• Standard ACLs and Extended ACLs
• Numbered/Named ACLs
• ACL Placement Best Practices and IPv6 ACLs
• Troubleshooting ACL Hit Counters and Logic

Configure and Verify Layer 2 Security Features

• Access Port Hardening and MAC Restrictions
• DHCP Snooping and Dynamic ARP Inspection

Compare Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Concepts

• AAA Concepts

Describe Wireless Security Protocols

• Wireless Encryption Standards
• PSK and Enterprise
• EAP Types and RADIUS

Configure and Verify WLAN Within the GUI Using WPA2 PSK

• WPA2 PSK WLAN GUI Configuration

Explore Automation and Programmability

Explain How Automation Impacts Network Management

• Automation Design Principles

Compare Traditional Networks with Controller-Based Networking

• Traditional and Controller-Based Networks

Describe Controller-Based and Software-Defined Architecture

• Modern Segmentation and Fabric Architectures
• Cisco DNA Center
• Intent-Based Networking Principles
• SDN Architecture and Control Plane
• Data Plane
• Controller-Based Network APIs

Explain AI and Machine Learning in Network Operations

• AI and Machine Learning in Network Operations

Describe Characteristics of REST-Based APIs

• REST and CRUD
• HTTP Verbs
• API Protocols and Security

Recognize the Capabilities of Ansible and Terraform

• Configuration Management with Ansible and Terraform
• Ansible and Terraform Configuration Management

Recognize Components of JSON-Encoded Data

• Data Formats and Modeling

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