CCNA Top
Each section is one domain of the CCNA v1.1 (200-301) exam topics, with its share of the exam. The numbers are Cisco's topic numbers.
The labs run in Cisco Packet Tracer: the Packet Tracer Guide installs it and builds a first network, step by step. The lab files are in the ccna repository.
1.0 Network Fundamentals (20%)
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Exam topics | Network components, topologies, cabling, TCP and UDP, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, wireless principles, virtualization, switching |
| Interactive views | 1.5
TCP Simulator 1.12 Linux Containers: the Runtime Stack 1.13 IP Packet Flow |
| Practice tools | 1.6 Subnet Trainer |
| Labs: topics to configure | 1.6 IPv4 addressing and subnetting 1.8 IPv6 addressing and prefix |
2.0 Network Access (20%)
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Exam topics | VLANs, trunks, CDP and LLDP, EtherChannel, Rapid PVST+, wireless architectures, device management access |
| Labs: topics to configure | 2.1 VLANs across multiple switches 2.2 Trunks, 802.1Q and the native VLAN 2.3 CDP and LLDP 2.4 EtherChannel with LACP |
3.0 IP Connectivity (25%)
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Exam topics | The routing table, forwarding decisions, static routes, single-area OSPFv2, first hop redundancy |
| Interactive views | 3.4
OSPF Hello Protocol 3.4 OSPF Database Exchange 3.4 OSPF Shortest Path First |
| Labs: topics to configure | 3.3 IPv4 and IPv6 static routes 3.4 Single-area OSPFv2 |
4.0 IP Services (10%)
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Exam topics | NAT, NTP, DHCP, DNS, SNMP, syslog, QoS, SSH, TFTP and FTP |
| Interactive views | 4.1 NAT Overload Simulator: overload, the form beside the exam's static and pool NAT |
| Articles | 4.3 Domain Name System: Concepts |
| Labs: topics to configure | 4.1 Inside source NAT, static and pools 4.2 NTP client and server 4.6 DHCP client and relay 4.8 Remote access using SSH |
5.0 Security Fundamentals (15%)
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Exam topics | Security concepts, device passwords, IPsec VPNs, access control lists, Layer 2 security, AAA, wireless security |
| Labs: topics to configure | 5.3 Local passwords 5.6 Access control lists 5.7 DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection and port security 5.10 WLAN with WPA2 PSK, in the GUI |
6.0 Automation and Programmability (10%)
| Part | Material |
|---|---|
| Exam topics | Controller-based networking, AI in network operations, REST APIs, Ansible and Terraform, JSON |
| Interactive views | 6.5
Basic HTTP Authentication 6.5 Bearer Tokens 6.6 Terraform: Code, Cloud and State |
The CCNA exam and Cisco's material
Exam format
- The CCNA certification takes this one exam.
- It lasts 120 minutes.
- Pearson VUE runs it, proctored.
- Some of its items are performance-based, like a lab, so the number of questions varies.
- A topic's verb sets its depth: Describe asks for less than Configure.
Programs for running the labs
- Cisco Packet Tracer:
A network simulator from Cisco's Networking Academy. - Cisco Modeling Labs:
A network emulator that runs images of Cisco's device software.
Cisco's study material
- CCNA Exam Topics Review:
A video series going over the exam topics. - Cisco Networking Academy:
Cisco's no-cost online training, with three courses leading to the CCNA. - Certification exam tutorials:
Videos showing each type of exam question.