31 Days Before Your CCNA Routing & Switching Exam: A Day-By-Day Review Guide for the ICND1/CCENT (100-105), ICND2 (200-105), and CCNA (200-125) Certification Exams

31 Days Before Your CCNA Routing & Switching Exam: A Day-By-Day Review Guide for the ICND1/CCENT (100-105), ICND2 (200-105), and CCNA (200-125) Certification Exams

by Allan Johnson
Released March 2017
Publisher(s): Cisco Press
ISBN: 9780134466330

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Book description

31 Days Before Your CCNA Routing & Switching Exam offers a friendly, practical way to understand the CCNA Routing & Switching certification process, commit to taking the ICND1 (100-105) and ICND2 (200-105) exams or the CCNA (200-125) exam, and finish your preparation using a variety of Primary and Supplemental study resources.

These fully updated CCNA exams test knowledge and skills needed to successfully deploy LAN switching, IPv4 and IPv6 routing, WANs, and infrastructure services; and to secure and manage modern network infrastructure.

Sign up for your exam(s) and use this book’s day-by-day guide and checklist to organize, prepare, and review. Each day in this guide breaks down an exam topic into a manageable bit of information to review using short summaries. Daily Study Resources sections provide quick references for locating more in-depth treatment within Primary and Supplemental resources.

This book’s features help you fit exam preparation into a busy schedule:

  • Visual tear-card calendar summarizing each day’s study topic

  • Checklist providing advice on preparation activities leading up to the exam

  • Descriptions of ICND1 (100-105), ICND2 (200-105), and CCNA (200-125) exam organization and sign-up processes

  • Strategies to prepare mentally, organizationally, and physically for exam day

  • Conversational tone to make study more enjoyable

Table of contents

  1. About This E-Book
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. About the Authors
  5. About the Technical Reviewers
  6. Dedications
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Contents at a Glance
  9. Contents
  10. Icons Used in This Book
  11. Command Syntax Conventions
  12. Reader Services
  13. Introduction
    1. Study Resources
      1. Safari Books Online
    2. Goals and Methods
      1. What Topics Are Covered on the CCNA Exam
      2. Registering for the CCNA 200-125 Exam
  14. Digital Study Guide
  15. Day 31. Networking Models, Devices, and Components
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Points
    3. The OSI and TCP/IP Models
      1. OSI Layers
      2. TCP/IP Layers and Protocols
      3. Protocol Data Units and Encapsulation
    4. The TCP/IP Application Layer
    5. The TCP/IP Transport Layer
      1. TCP Header
      2. Port Numbers
      3. Error Recovery
      4. Flow Control
      5. Connection Establishment and Termination
      6. UDP
    6. The TCP/IP Internet Layer
    7. The TCP/IP Network Access Layer
    8. Data Encapsulation Summary
    9. Devices
      1. Switches
      2. Routers
      3. Specialty Devices
      4. Access Points and Wireless LAN Controllers
    10. Physical Layer
      1. Network Media Forms and Standards
    11. LAN Device Connection Guidelines
    12. LANs and WANs
    13. Networking Icons
    14. Physical and Logical Topologies
    15. Hierarchical Campus Designs
    16. Study Resources
  16. Day 30. Ethernet Switching
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Evolution to Switching
    4. Switching Logic
    5. Collision and Broadcast Domains
    6. Frame Forwarding
      1. Switch Forwarding Methods
      2. Symmetric and Asymmetric Switching
      3. Memory Buffering
      4. Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switching
    7. Ethernet Overview
    8. Legacy Ethernet Technologies
      1. CSMA/CD
      2. Legacy Ethernet Summary
    9. Current Ethernet Technologies
    10. UTP Cabling
    11. Benefits of Using Switches
    12. Ethernet Addressing
    13. Ethernet Framing
    14. The Role of the Physical Layer
    15. Study Resources
  17. Day 29. Switch Configuration Basics
    1. CCENT 100-125 ICND1 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Accessing and Navigating the Cisco IOS
      1. Connecting to Cisco Devices
      2. CLI EXEC Sessions
      3. Using the Help Facility
      4. CLI Navigation and Editing Shortcuts
      5. Command History
      6. IOS Examination Commands
      7. Subconfiguration Modes
    4. Basic Switch Configuration Commands
    5. Half-Duplex, Full-Duplex, and Port Speed
      1. Automatic Medium-Dependent Interface Crossover (auto-MDIX)
    6. Verifying Network Connectivity
    7. Troubleshoot Interface and Cable Issues
      1. Media Issues
      2. Interface Status and the Switch Configuration
    8. Study Resources
  18. Day 28. VLAN and Trunking Concepts and Configurations
    1. CCENT 100-125 ICND1 Exam Topics
    2. Key Points
    3. VLAN Concepts
      1. Traffic Types
      2. Types of VLANs
      3. Voice VLAN Example
    4. Trunking VLANs
      1. Dynamic Trunking Protocol
    5. VLAN Configuration and Verification
      1. Extended VLANs
    6. Trunking Configuration and Verification
    7. VLAN Troubleshooting
      1. Disabled VLANs
    8. Trunking Troubleshooting
      1. Check Both Ends of a Trunk
      2. Check Trunking Operational States
    9. Study Resources
  19. Day 27. IPv4 Addressing
    1. CCENT 100-125 ICND1 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. IPv4 Addressing
      1. Header Format
      2. Classes of Addresses
      3. Purpose of the Subnet Mask
    4. Private and Public IP Addressing
    5. Subnetting in Four Steps
      1. Determine How Many Bits to Borrow
      2. Determine the New Subnet Mask
      3. Determine the Subnet Multiplier
      4. List the Subnets, Host Ranges, and Broadcast Addresses
      5. Subnetting Example 1
      6. Subnetting Example 2
      7. Subnetting Example 3
    6. VLSM
    7. Study Resources
  20. Day 26. IPv6 Addressing
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Overview and Benefits of IPv6
    4. The IPv6 Protocol
    5. IPv6 Address Types
      1. Unicast
      2. Multicast
      3. Anycast
    6. Representing the IPv6 Address
      1. Conventions for Writing IPv6 Addresses
      2. Conventions for Writing IPv6 Prefixes
    7. IPv6 Subnetting
      1. Subnetting the Subnet ID
      2. Subnetting into the Interface ID
    8. EUI-64 Concept
    9. Stateless Address Autoconfiguration
    10. Migration to IPv6
    11. Study Resources
  21. Day 25. Basic Routing Concepts
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Packet Forwarding
      1. Path Determination and Switching Function Example
    4. Routing Methods
    5. Classifying Dynamic Routing Protocols
      1. IGP and EGP
      2. Distance Vector Routing Protocols
      3. Link-State Routing Protocols
      4. Classful Routing Protocols
      5. Classless Routing Protocols
    6. Dynamic Routing Metrics
    7. Administrative Distance
    8. IGP Comparison Summary
    9. Routing Loop Prevention
    10. Link-State Routing Protocol Features
      1. Building the LSDB
      2. Calculating the Dijkstra Algorithm
      3. Convergence with Link-State Protocols
    11. Study Resources
  22. Day 24. Basic Router Configuration
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topic
    3. Basic Router Configuration with IPv4
      1. Command Syntax
      2. Configuration Example
      3. Verification Example
    4. Basic Router Configuration with IPv6
      1. Command Syntax
      2. Configuration Example
    5. Verifying IPv4 and IPv6 Network Connectivity
    6. Basic IP Addressing Troubleshooting
      1. Default Gateway
      2. Duplicate IP Addresses
    7. Study Resources
  23. Day 23. Static and Default Route Configuration
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Static and Default Routing Overview
    4. IPv4 Static Route Configuration
      1. IPv4 Static Routes Using the Next-Hop Parameter
      2. IPv4 Static Routes Using the Exit Interface Parameter
      3. IPv4 Default Route Configuration
      4. IPv4 Summary Static Route Configuration
      5. IPv6 Static Routing
      6. IPv6 Static Route Configuration
      7. IPv6 Default Route Configuration
      8. IPv6 Summary Static Route Configuration
    5. Study Resources
  24. Day 22. RIPv2 Implementation
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topic
    3. RIP Concepts
      1. RIPv1 Message Format
      2. RIPv1 Operation
    4. RIPv1 Configuration
      1. RIPv1 Verification and Troubleshooting
      2. Passive Interfaces
      3. Automatic Summarization
      4. Default Routing and RIPv1
    5. RIPv2 Configuration
      1. Disabling Autosummarization
      2. RIPv2 Verification and Troubleshooting
    6. Study Resources
  25. Day 21. VTP and Inter-VLAN Routing Configuration
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. VTP Concepts
    4. VTP Configuration and Verification
    5. Inter-VLAN Routing Concepts
      1. Legacy Inter-VLAN Routing
      2. Router on a Stick
      3. Multilayer Switch
    6. Router on a Stick Configuration and Verification
    7. Multilayer Switch Inter-VLAN Routing Configuration and Verification
      1. Creating Additional SVIs
      2. Configuring a Layer 3 Routed Port
    8. Study Resources
  26. Day 20. OSPF Operation
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Single-Area OSPF Operation
      1. OSPF Message Format
      2. OSPF Packet Types
      3. Neighbor Establishment
      4. Link-State Advertisements
      5. OSPF DR and BDR
      6. OSPF Algorithm
      7. Link-State Routing Process
    4. OSPFv2 Versus OSPFv3
      1. Similarities Between OSPFv2 and OSPFv3
      2. Differences Between OSPFv2 and OSPFv3
    5. Multiarea OSPF Operation
      1. Multiarea OSPF Design
      2. Multiarea OSPF Improves Performance
    6. Study Resources
  27. Day 19. Single-Area OSPF Implementation
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Single-Area OSPFv2 Configuration
      1. The router ospf Command
      2. Router ID
      3. The network Command
      4. Passive Interfaces
      5. Modifying the OSPF Metric
    4. Verifying OSPFv2
    5. Single-Area OSPFv3 Configuration
      1. The Router ID in OSPFv3
    6. Verifying OSPFv3
    7. Study Resources
  28. Day 18. Multiarea OSPF Implementation
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Multiarea OSPFv2 Implementation
    4. Multiarea OSPFv3 Implementation
    5. Study Resources
  29. Day 17. Fine-Tuning and Troubleshooting OSPF
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. OSPFv2 Configuration Example
    4. Modifying OSPFv2
      1. Redistributing a Default Route
      2. Modifying Hello and Dead Intervals
      3. OSPF Network Types
      4. DR/BDR Election
      5. Controlling the DR/BDR Election
    5. OSPFv3 Configuration Example
    6. Modifying OSPFv3
      1. Propagating a Default Route
      2. Modifying the Timers
    7. Troubleshooting OSPF
      1. OSPF States
      2. OSPF Adjacency
      3. OSPF Troubleshooting Commands
    8. Study Resources
  30. Day 16. EIGRP Operation
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. EIGRP Overview
    4. EIGRP Characteristics
      1. PDMs
      2. RTP
      3. EIGRP Packet Types
      4. EIGRP Message Format
    5. EIGRP Processes
      1. EIGRP Convergence
      2. EIGRP Composite Metric
      3. Administrative Distance
      4. DUAL
      5. DUAL Concepts
      6. DUAL FSM
    6. Study Resources
  31. Day 15. EIGRP Implementation
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. EIGRP for IPv4 Configuration
      1. EIGRP Topology and Addressing Scheme
      2. The network Command
      3. The Router ID
    4. EIGRP for IPv4 Verification
      1. Examining the Protocol Details
      2. Examining Neighbor Tables
      3. Examining the Topology Tables
      4. Examining the Routing Table
    5. EIGRP for IPv6 Concepts
    6. EIGRP for IPv6 Configuration
    7. EIGRP for IPv6 Verification
      1. Examining the Protocol Details
      2. Examining the Neighbor Table
      3. Examining the Routing Table
    8. Study Resources
  32. Day 14. Fine-Tuning and Troubleshooting EIGRP
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Modifying the EIGRP for IPv4 Configuration
      1. Automatic Summarization
      2. EIGRP for IPv4 Topology
      3. Propagating an IPv4 Default Route
      4. Modifying the EIGRP Metric
      5. Modifying Hello Intervals and Hold Times
    4. Modifying EIGRP for IPv6
      1. EIGRP for IPv6 Topology
      2. Propagating an IPv6 Default Route
      3. Modifying Bandwidth Utilization
      4. Modifying Hello Intervals and Hold Times
    5. EIGRP Troubleshooting Commands
    6. Discontiguous Networks
    7. Study Resources
  33. Day 13. CDP and LLDP
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. CDP Overview
    4. CDP Configuration
    5. CDP Verification
    6. LLDP Overview
    7. LLDP Configuration
    8. LLDP Verification
    9. Study Resources
  34. Day 12. LAN Security and Device Hardening
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Port Security Configuration
    4. Port Restoration After a Violation
    5. LAN Threat Mitigation
      1. DHCP Snooping
      2. Native and Management VLAN Modification
      3. Switch Port Hardening
      4. AAA
      5. 802.1X
    6. SSH Configuration
    7. Study Resources
  35. Day 11. STP
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. STP Concepts and Operation
    4. STP Algorithm
    5. STP Convergence
    6. STP Varieties
    7. PVST Operation
      1. Port States
      2. Extended System ID
    8. Rapid PVST+ Operation
      1. RSTP Interface Behavior
      2. RSTP Port Roles
      3. Edge Ports
    9. Configuring and Verifying Varieties of STP
      1. STP Configuration Overview
      2. Configuring and Verifying the BID
      3. Configuring PortFast and BPDU Guard
      4. Configuring Rapid PVST+
      5. Verifying STP
    10. Switch Stacking
    11. Study Resources
  36. Day 10. EtherChannel and HSRP
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. EtherChannel Operation
      1. Benefits of EtherChannel
      2. Implementation Restrictions
    4. EtherChannel Protocols
      1. Port Aggregation Protocol
      2. Link Aggregation Control Protocol
    5. Configuring EtherChannel
    6. Verifying EtherChannel
    7. Troubleshooting EtherChannel
    8. First-Hop Redundancy Concepts
    9. FHRPs
    10. HSRP Operation
      1. HSRP Versions
      2. HSRP Priority and Preemption
    11. HSRP Configuration and Verification
    12. HSRP Load Balancing
    13. Troubleshooting HSRP
    14. Study Resources
  37. Day 9. ACL Concepts
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. ACL Operation
      1. Defining an ACL
      2. Processing Interface ACLs
      3. List Logic with IP ACLs
    4. Planning to Use ACLs
      1. Types of ACLs
      2. ACL Identification
      3. ACL Design Guidelines
    5. Study Resources
  38. Day 8. ACL Implementation
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Configuring Standard Numbered IPv4 ACLs
      1. Standard Numbered IPv4 ACL: Permit Specific Network
      2. Standard Numbered IPv4 ACL: Deny a Specific Host
      3. Standard Numbered IPv4 ACL: Deny a Specific Subnet
      4. Standard Numbered IPv4 ACL: Deny Telnet or SSH Access to the Router
    4. Configuring Extended Numbered IPv4 ACLs
      1. Extended Numbered IPv4 ACL: Deny FTP from Subnets
      2. Extended Numbered IPv4 ACL: Deny Only Telnet from Subnet
    5. Configuring Named IPv4 ACLs
      1. Standard Named IPv4 ACL Steps and Syntax
      2. Standard Named IPv4 ACL: Deny a Single Host from a Given Subnet
      3. Extended Named IPv4 ACL Steps and Syntax
      4. Adding Comments to Named or Numbered IPv4 ACLs
    6. Verifying IPv4 ACLs
    7. Comparing IPv4 and IPv6 ACLs
    8. Configuring IPv6 ACLs
      1. Step 1: Name the IPv4 ACL
      2. Step 2: Create the IPv4 ACL
      3. Step 3: Apply the IPv6 ACL
      4. Standard IPv6 ACL: Allow SSH Remote Access
      5. Extended IPv6 ACL: Allow Only Web Traffic
    9. Verifying IPv6 ACLs
    10. Troubleshooting ACLs
    11. Study Resources
  39. Day 7. DHCP and DNS
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. DHCPv4
    4. DHCPv4 Configuration Options
      1. Configuring a Router as a DHCPv4 Server
      2. Configuring a Router to Relay DHCPv4 Requests
      3. Configuring a Router as a DHCPv4 Client
    5. DHCPv6
      1. SLAAC
      2. Stateless DHCPv6
      3. Stateful DHCPv6
      4. Stateless and Stateful DHCPv6 Operation
    6. DHCPv6 Configuration Options
      1. Configuring a Router as a Stateless DHCPv6 Server
      2. Configuring a Router as a Stateful DHCPv6 Server
    7. DHCP Troubleshooting
      1. Resolve IPv4 Address Conflicts
      2. Test Connectivity Using a Static IP Address
      3. Verify Switch Port Configuration
      4. Test DHCPv4 Operation on the Same Subnet or VLAN
    8. DNS Operation
    9. Troubleshooting DNS
    10. Study Resources
  40. Day 6. NAT
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. NAT Concepts
      1. A NAT Example
      2. Dynamic and Static NAT
      3. NAT Overload
      4. NAT Benefits
      5. NAT Limitations
    4. Configuring Static NAT
      1. Configuring Dynamic NAT
      2. Configuring NAT Overload
    5. Verifying NAT
    6. Troubleshooting NAT
    7. NAT for IPv6
      1. IPv6 Private Address Space
      2. Purpose of NAT for IPv6
    8. Study Resources
  41. Day 5. WAN Overview
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. WAN Topologies
    4. WAN Connection Options
      1. Dedicated Connection Options
      2. Circuit-Switched Connection Options
      3. Packet-Switched Connection Options
      4. Internet Connection Options
      5. Choosing a WAN Link Option
    5. VPN Technology
      1. VPN Benefits
      2. Types of VPN Access
    6. Study Resources
  42. Day 4. WAN Implementation
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. PPP Concepts
      1. The PPP Frame Format
      2. PPP Link Control Protocol (LCP)
    4. PPP Configuration and Verification
      1. Basic PPP
      2. CHAP
      3. PAP
    5. PPP Troubleshooting
    6. PPPoE Concepts
    7. PPPoE Configuration
      1. PPPoE Configuration Example
      2. PPPoE Troubleshooting
    8. GRE Tunneling
      1. GRE Characteristics
      2. GRE Configuration and Verification
      3. GRE Troubleshooting
    9. BGP Concepts
    10. eBGP Configuration and Verification
    11. Study Resources
  43. Day 3. QoS, Cloud, and SDN
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. QoS
      1. Classification and Marking
      2. Congestion Management
      3. Policing, Shaping, and TCP Discards
      4. QoS and TCP
    4. Cloud Computing
      1. Server Virtualization
      2. Cloud Computing Services
      3. Virtual Network Infrastructure
    5. Software-Defined Networking
      1. Data, Control, and Management Planes
      2. Controllers
      3. SDN Examples
      4. APIC-EM and ACLs
    6. Study Resources
  44. Day 2. Device Monitoring, Management, and Maintenance
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. SNMP Operation
      1. SNMP Components
      2. SNMP Messages
      3. SNMP Versions
      4. The Management Information Base
    4. Configuring SNMP
    5. Verifying SNMP
    6. Syslog
      1. Syslog Operation
      2. Syslog Configuration and Verification
    7. Network Time Protocol
    8. Cisco IOS File System and Devices
      1. IFS Commands
      2. URL Prefixes for Specifying File Locations
      3. Commands for Managing Configuration Files
    9. Manage Cisco IOS Images
      1. Backing Up a Cisco IOS Image
      2. Restoring a Cisco IOS Image
    10. Managing Cisco IOS Licenses
    11. Password Recovery
    12. Study Resources
  45. Day 1. Troubleshooting Methodologies and Tools
    1. CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics
    2. Key Topics
    3. Troubleshooting Documentation
      1. Configuration Files
      2. Topology Diagrams
      3. Baseline Date
    4. Troubleshooting Methods
    5. Troubleshooting at Each Layer
      1. Physical Layer
      2. Data Link Layer
      3. Network Layer
      4. Transport Layer
      5. Application Layer
      6. Bottom-Up Method and the Layers
    6. Troubleshooting with IP Service Level Agreement
    7. Study Resources
  46. Exam Day
    1. What You Need for the Exam
    2. What You Should Receive After Completion
    3. Summary
  47. Post-Exam Information
    1. Receiving Your Certificate
    2. Determining Career Options
    3. Examining Certification Options
    4. If You Failed the Exam
    5. Summary
  48. Index
  49. Code Snippets

Product information

  • Title: 31 Days Before Your CCNA Routing & Switching Exam: A Day-By-Day Review Guide for the ICND1/CCENT (100-105), ICND2 (200-105), and CCNA (200-125) Certification Exams
  • Author(s): Allan Johnson
  • Release date: March 2017
  • Publisher(s): Cisco Press
  • ISBN: 9780134466330