style="font-size:15px;"> Cisco, like Microsoft and other vendors that provide certification, has created the certification process to give administrators a set of skills and to equip prospective employers with a way to measure those skills or match certain criteria. And as you probably know, becoming a CCNA R/S is certainly the initial, key step on a successful journey toward a new, highly rewarding, and sustainable networking career.
The CCNA program was created to provide a solid introduction not only to the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) and Cisco hardware but also to internetworking in general, making it helpful to you in areas that are not exclusively Cisco’s. And regarding today’s certification process, it’s not unrealistic that network managers – even those without Cisco equipment – require Cisco certifications for their job applicants.
Rest assured that if you make it through the CCNA and are still interested in Cisco and internetworking, you’re headed down a path to certain success!
What Skills Do You Need to Become a CCNA R/S?
This ICND1 exam (100-105) tests a candidate for the knowledge and skills required to successfully install, operate, and troubleshoot a small branch office network. The exam includes questions on the operation of IP data networks, LAN switching technologies, IPv6, IP routing technologies, IP services, network device security, and basic troubleshooting. The ICND2 exam (exam 200-105) tests a candidate for the knowledge and skills required to successfully install, operate, and troubleshoot a small- to medium-size enterprise branch network. The exam includes questions on LAN switching technologies, IP routing technologies, IP services (FHRP, SNMP v2 and v3), Cloud, ACI as well as troubleshooting, and WAN technologies.
How Do You Become a CCNA R/S
If you want to go straight for our CCNA R/S and take only one exam, all you have to do is pass the CCNA Composite exam (200-125). Oh, but don’t you wish it were that easy? True, it’s just one test, but it’s a whopper, and to pass it you must possess enough knowledge to understand what the test writers are saying, and you need to know everything I mentioned previously, in the sections on the ICND1 and ICND2 exams! Hey, it’s hard, but it can be done!
What does the CCNA Composite exam (200-125) cover? Pretty much the same topics covered in the ICND1 and ICND2 exams. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the Todd Lammle authorized Cisco boot camps. 200-125 tests a candidate’s knowledge and skills required to install, operate, and troubleshoot a small- to medium-size enterprise branch network.
While you can take the Composite exam to get your CCNA, it’s good to know that Cisco offers the two-step process I discussed earlier in this introduction. And this book covers both those exams too! It may be easier than taking that one ginormous exam for you, but don’t think the two-test method is easy. It takes work! However, it can be done; you just need to stick with your studies.
The two-test method involves passing the following:
■ Exam 100-105: Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1)
■ Exam 200-105: Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2)
I can’t stress this point enough: It’s critical that you have some hands-on experience with Cisco routers. If you can get a hold of some basic routers and switches, you’re set, but if you can’t, I’ve worked hard to provide hundreds of configuration examples throughout this book to help network administrators, or people who want to become network administrators, learn the skills they need to pass the CCENT and CCNA R/S exams. In addition, a simulator called LammleSim IOS version is available for free with the purchase of this book. This small simulator will run through all the hands-on labs found in this book – Nice, huh?
What Does This Book Cover?
This book covers everything you need to know to pass the ICND1 (100-105). The INCD2 book and composite CCNA book are both available on Amazon as well. But regardless of which path you choose, as I’ve said, taking plenty of time to study and practice with routers or a router simulator is the real key to success.
You will learn the following information in this book:
Chapter 1: Internetworking In Chapter 1, you will learn the basics of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model the way Cisco wants you to learn it. There are written labs and plenty of review questions to help you. Do not even think of skipping the fundamental written labs in this chapter!
Chapter 2: Ethernet Networking and Data Encapsulation This chapter will provide you with the Ethernet foundation you need in order to pass both the CCENT and CCNA exams. Data encapsulation is discussed in detail in this chapter as well. And as with the other chapters, this chapter includes written labs and review questions to help you.
Chapter 3: Introduction to TCP/IP This chapter provides you with the background necessary for success on the exam as well as in the real world with a thorough presentation of TCP/IP. This in-depth chapter covers the very beginnings of the Internet Protocol stack and goes all the way to IP addressing and understanding the difference between a network address and a broadcast address before finally ending with network troubleshooting. Don’t skip the two written labs and 20 review questions.
Chapter 4: Easy Subnetting You’ll actually be able to subnet a network in your head after reading this chapter if you really want to! And you’ll find plenty of help in this chapter as long as you don’t skip the written labs and review questions at the end.
Chapter 5: VLSMs, Summarization, and Troubleshooting TCP/IP Here, you’ll find out all about variable length subnet masks (VLSMs) and how to design a network using VLSMs. This chapter will finish with summarization techniques and configurations. As with Chapter 4, plenty of help is there for you if you don’t skip the written lab and review questions.
Chapter 6: Cisco’s Internetworking Operating System (IOS) This chapter introduces you to the Cisco Internetworking Operating System (IOS) and command-line interface (CLI). In this chapter you’ll learn how to turn on a router and configure the basics of the IOS, including setting passwords, banners, and more. Hands-on labs will help you gain a firm grasp of the concepts taught in the chapter. Before you go through the hands-on labs, be sure to complete the written lab and review questions.
Chapter 7: Managing a Cisco Internetwork This chapter provides you with the management skills needed to run a Cisco IOS network. Backing up and restoring the IOS, as well as router configuration, are covered, as are the troubleshooting tools necessary to keep a network up and running. As always, before tackling the hands-on labs in this chapter, complete the written labs and review questions.
Chapter 8: Managing Cisco Devices This chapter describes the boot process of Cisco routers, the configuration register, and how to manage Cisco IOS files. The chapter finishes with a section on Cisco’s new licensing strategy for IOS. Hands-on and written labs, along with review questions, will help you build a strong foundation for the objectives covered in this chapter.
Chapter 9: IP Routing This is a fun chapter because we will begin to build our network, add IP addresses, and route data between routers. You will also learn about static, default, and dynamic routing using RIP and RIPv2. Hands-on labs, a written lab, and the review questions will help you fully nail down IP routing.
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