The Core Components of the CCNA Exam
The CCNA, or Cisco Certified Network Associate, exam is an exam that tests the basics of networking, especially routing and switching. The test falls under the second or "associate" level of certifications that Cisco offers and is a good stepping stone to a rewarding networking career.
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How a Network Works
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There are eight core objectives for the CCNA exam, the first of which is to describe how a network works. This encompasses the ability to describe the purpose and function of network devices and to know which of these devices satisfies a network's specifications. To do so, a user must be able to read network diagrams as well as use and know the OSI and TCP/IP models, including the different layers of each model. It is also important to know how to determine a path between two hosts in a network and how to tell the difference between LAN's and WAN's.
How to Configure, Verify, and Troubleshoot VLAN's on a switch
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In order to configure VLAN's, a user must know what types of cables arre used in and the different methods for Ethernet networks (technology and MAC). Also, this CCNA exam objective covers a basic understanding how a switch segments a network, as well as how to configure and verify remote access, VLAN's, VTP, RSTP, and basic switch security. A knowledge of what VLAN's are and how they virtually segment a network is key.
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IP Addressing Schemes and Services for a mid-sized Enterprise Branch Office Network
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Internet Protocol is a big part of the understanding a CCNA should have including private and public IP addressing, static and dynamic addressing, and IPv6 addressing. In addition, it is important to know how to configure, verify, and troubleshoot DHCP and DNS on a router. A large part of understanding IP is how to apply an addressing scheme using classful and classless addressing and subnetting, especially with Variable Length Subnet Masks.
Configure, Verify, Troubleshoot Basic Router Operations
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This objective covers how routing works including basic routing concepts. It is important to know all of the basic knowledge of a Cisco router including what happens when it boots up and how to configure the router to route using static and dynamic routing protocols (RIP, RIPv2, EIGRP, OSPF). Configuring involves working with the Cisco IOS, so it is important to have a good understanding how to manage the Cisco IOS. Basic troubleshooting methods are necessary information including ping, traceroute, and debug).
Appropriate Admint Tasks for WLAN
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WLAN's are wireless networks. Cisco exam objectives cover WLAN's in that a user should know basic wireless concepts including different components of a small wireless network and how these components work to connect devices to a wireless access point. It is also important to know and identify different wireless security capabilities including WEP and WPA.
Security - Threats and Mitigation
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This exam objective covers basic network security understanding including the different threats that a network can be vulnerable to and some common ways to prevent or detect these threats. In addition, a user should know some of the common security appliances and applications used in network security.
NAT and ACL's
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A CCNA should be able to identify, configure, veryify, and troubleshoot Access Control Lists on routers and switches. In addition, a CCNA should have a basic understanding of Network Address Translation, as well as knowledge on how to configure and troubleshoot NAT.
WAN
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WAN is wide area network. A CCNA should be able to configure basic WAN features such as WAN serial, frame-relay, and PPP (point-to-point) connections. A basic understanding of VPN (virtual private network) is necessary.
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References
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