Knowing networking technology is not only fun, it can also get you hired. The most popular network certification is Cisco CCENT and CCNA. If you haven't decided what CCNA test to take, read this post first. Also check out the Cisco device based networking Lab for the labs corresponding to this tutorial.
Whenever you need to learn more about a networking key word, use the Site Search at the upper left conner.
Good luck with your study and test!
(part 1)
Lesson 1
Networking Fundamentals and the Networking Models
In this first lesson, we talk about what is network in general. OSI model and TCP/IP model are visited. These models break network communication into smaller, simpler layers, which make learning easier. Within the context of network layers, the data transmission process is discussed, you will get a bird-view of how the internet makes your web surfing works even at the bit (electromagnetic pulse in cable wires) level. Several famous protocols are introduced: TCP, UDP, IP and ICMP. You will understand the concepts of Ports, Sockets and Port numbers, which are important to software engineers as well as network administrators. Finally, a few common TCP/IP network applications -- FTP, telnet, http are examined with wireshark, so that you get an sense of how these everyday magic happens under the hood.
* The Network We Know about
* What is A Network
* The TCP/IP Model
* The OSI Model
* The Data Transmission Process
* Same-Layer and Adjacent-Layer Interactions
* TCP And UDP
* IP and ICMP protocols
* Ports, Sockets and Port Numbers
* TCP/IP Applications
* Network Topology
Lesson 2
Ethernet Standards and Cable Types
In this foot on the ground lesson, we delve into Ethernet standards and cable types. You will know about connectors such as RJ-11, RJ-45, fiber-optic GBIC and cable types such as UTP, STP, Fiber Optic. You will understand the category of UTP cables, so that when your cable guy says "Your home needs at least Cat 5", you can remain cool. You even gain knowledge about the pins on a cable, able to differentiate a straight-through cable from a crossover cable. Once two computers are connected with a cable, they need to communicate via the electromagnetic pulses in the cable wires. Physicists in the last century took a lot of effort to figured it out. This know how is the foundation of internet. We will learn this know how in topics CSMA/CD, Ethernet frame, ethernet addressing and host-to-host communication. This lesson has a lot of nitty-ditty details, but is crucial for setting up and trouble-shooting a real-world network made of metal and plastics.
* What is a LAN
* Ethernet Types And Standards
* The Need For And Operation of CSMA/CD
* Ethernet Frame
* Ethernet Addressing
* Host-to-Host Communication
* Ethernet Connectors and Cable Types
* Pins And Transmissions
* Crosstalk
Lession 3
Fundamentals of WANs
LAN and WAN are build on OSI layer 1 and layer 2, where cable details such as transmission speeds, encoding, frames and physical links etc. are defined. We have learned LAN before, here lets talk about WAN. Compared with LAN, LAN usually covers a small distance, while WAN spans across a large geographic area. Your party owns LAN, but you most likely share WAN with other parties, so you probably don't have rights to modify the WAN infrastructure.
Lession 4
Switching
Now we know how 2 computers talk to each other, this lesson will study how a group of computers talk to each other. In this lesson we will met layer 1 devices repeaters and hubs, layer 2 devices bridges and switches, layer 3 device routers. While hubs and repeaters allow group computers to share links, switches and bridges divide computer groups in LANs. Routers defines the boundary of LANs.
* Ethernet LAN Segments
* Repeaters, Hubs, Bridges, Switches and Routers
* MAC address learning and filter/forward decisions
* Frame Processing Methods
* Virtual LANs
* Cisco Three-Layer Switching Model
* Introduction to STP
* Basic Switch Security
Lesson 5
Common Router and Switch Commands
Typical Switch (And Router) Commands are studied here, these commands are used daily by network administrators.
* Video Lab - Packet Tracer Interface Overview
* Physical Connections and Passwords
* Cisco IOS software overview
* Physical Side of Cisco Switches
* User, Enable and Privilege Modes
* Basic Switch managment commands
* Switch/Router passwords configurations
* Telnet and SSH
* Switch Port Security Defaults, Options and Configurations
* Banners, “logging synch”, and “exec-timeout”
* Keystroke Shortcuts and Manipulating History
Lesson 6
IP Addressing and the Routing Process
This lesson covers the fundamental concepts for IP addressing: binary math, subnetting, and working with network and port address translations.
* IP Addressing and Binary Conversions
* IP Address Classes
* Private IP Address Ranges
* CIDR network address
* Intro to the Routing Process
* Routing Process Continued -- Behind the "PING"
* Routing Protocols
* Basic Router management commands
* Switch/Router Interfaces and Physical Ports
Lesson 7
ARP, DNS and DHCP
* DNS Process
* The ARP RARP and DHCP Process
* Broadcast, Multicast, and Unicast
* Intro to Security Device Manager (SDM)
Lesson 8
Memory Components and Config Files
This lesson covers basic password and security configurations, as well as assigning privilege levels, which is the foundation of router security and the basic password recovery process.
* ROM, RAM, NVRAM, And Flash
* The Boot Process
* Setup Mode
* Configuration Files and IOS Upgrading
* The Configuration Register
Lesson 9
Intro to Wireless Networks (WLANs)
Learn the protocol as well as physics side of wireless.
* Wireless LAN overview
* Wireless Standards
* Spread Spectrum
* Antena Types
* CA vs. CD
* SSID, MAC Address Authentication, WEP, WPA, and WPA2
Lesson 10
Binary Math and Subnetting
The content learned in this lesson is essential for IP addressing and IP address conservation.
* Decimal > Binary, Binary > Decimal
* Subnetting Basics
* Four common subnetting scenarios
Lesson 11
Static Routing and RIP – Part 1
In this lesson, you will see the work done over a Cisco router. You will learn how to manually set up routing.
* Static Routing Theory
* Floating Static Routing
* RIP Routing Theory
* Video Lab -Static Routing and RIP Routing
Lesson 12
Wide Area Networks (WANs)
At the end of this course, let's revisit some WAN concepts and get some hands on exercise with cisco equipment
* WAN interface of Cisco Router and WAN Cabling
* Layer 2 WAN encapsulations
* HDLC and PPP
* NAT and PAT
* NAT overloading Example
* Video Lab - Internet Connections with NAT and PAT
* Video Lab - Router as DHCP Server
* WAN Trouble-shooting
Lesson 13
Introduction to Network Security
Network security has become more and more important in today's internet. In this lesson, you will learn about network attackers and intruders, how they get in, and how to keep your network save by keeping them out.
* The need for network security
* Classes of Hacker Attacks
* Firewalls and Proxy Servers
* The Attacker’s Arsenal
* Intro to PIX, ASA, IDS, and IPS
* Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses
* Preventing Virus Attacks
Lesson 14
Troubleshooting
95% of work in the real world is troubleshooting, so it’s necessary for real world success.
* Cisco Discovery protocol (CDP)
* L1 and L2 Troubleshooting
* Telnet and SSH Maintenance Commands
* Administrative Distance
* Extended Ping and Traceroute
(part 2)
Lesson 1
Switching II
This lesson revisits the basic concepts of switch and VLAN learned in CCENT, adds more cisco labs about how to configure the switch and router for VLAN.
* Switch Basic Concept Review
* STP
* Root Bridges, Root Ports, and Designated Ports
* STP Timers and Port States
* Portfast
* VLANs and Trunking
* Access and Trunk Port Comparison
* VTP
* “Router on a Stick”
* RSTP and PVST
* Etherchannels
* Switch Basic Concept Review
* STP
* Root Bridges, Root Ports, and Designated Ports
* STP Timers and Port States
* Portfast
* VLANs and Trunking
* Access and Trunk Port Comparison
* VTP
* “Router on a Stick”
* RSTP and PVST
* Etherchannels
Lesson 2
PTP WAN Links, HDLC, PPP, and Frame Relay
This lesson is about Frame Relay.
* WAN Trouble-shooting
* HDLC vs. PPP
* WAN Topology
* PPP Features
* PAP and CHAP
* Frame Relay Introduction
* Frame Relay LMI Theory
* Frame Relay Configs, DLCIs, Frame Maps, and Inverse ARP
* Frame Sub-Interfaces3
* Split Horizon
* Frame Relay LMI Show, Debug, and Lab
* FECN, BECN, DE bits
* PVC Status Meanings
* HDLC vs. PPP
* WAN Topology
* PPP Features
* PAP and CHAP
* Frame Relay Introduction
* Frame Relay LMI Theory
* Frame Relay Configs, DLCIs, Frame Maps, and Inverse ARP
* Frame Sub-Interfaces3
* Split Horizon
* Frame Relay LMI Show, Debug, and Lab
* FECN, BECN, DE bits
* PVC Status Meanings
Lesson 3
Static Routing and RIP
covering advanced topics about RIP.
* Static Routing Theory and Configuration
* Distance Vector Protocol Behavior – Split Horizon and Route Poisoning
* RIP Theory and Version Differences
* The Joy of “show ip protocols”
* RIP Limitations
* RIP Timers
* Floating Static Routes
Lesson 4
OSPF
OSPF is an Internet protocol we need to know how to configure.
* Link State Routing Protocol Concepts and Basics
* The DR and BDR
* Hello Packets
* Troubleshooting Adjacency Issues
* Hub-and-Spoke NBMA OSPF Networks
* Broadcast Networks
* The OSPF RID
* OSPF Router Types
* Advantages of OSPF
* Point-to-Point OSPF Networks
* Default-Information Originate (always?)
* OSPF Authentication
Lesson 5
EIGRP
this hybrid routing protocol has increased operational efficiency from it predecessor.
* Introduction to EIGRP
* Successors and Feasible Successors
* EIGRP vs. RIPv2
* Basic Configuration
* Wildcard Masks
* Load Sharing (Equal and Unequal-cost)
* EIGRP, RIPv2, and Autosummarization
* Passive vs. Active Routes
Lesson 6
IP Version 6 and NAT
Learn the basic theory and routing protocol of IP version 6.
* IPv6 Theory and Introduction
* Zero Compression and Leading Zero Compression
* IPv6 Reserved Addresses
* The Autoconfiguration Process
* OSPF v3 Basics
* Transition Strategies
* NAT Theory and Introduction
* Static NAT Configuration
* Dynamic NAT Configuration
* PAT Configuration
Lesson 7
VPNs and IPSec
This lesson is about how to setup and run a VPN network.
* Definitions and Tunneling Protocols
* Data Encryption Technologies
* Key Encryption Schemes
* IPSec, AH and ESP
* A VPN in Your Web Browser
Lesson 8
ACLs and Route Summarization
Learn to configure and control ACLs. Learn the basic breakdown and how to summarize routes. Learn common commands for working with RIP & EIGRP.
* ACL Login and the Implicit Deny
* Standard ACLs and Remarks
* “Host” and “Any”
* The Order of the Lines
* Extended ACLs
* Named ACLs
* Telnet Access, Placing ACLs, and Blocking Pings
* Dynamic and Time-Based ACLs
* Port Number Review
* Route Summarization with RIP and EIGRP
See also 640-822 ICND1 Exam Topics (Blueprint)
CCNA Test Voucher is also referred to as CCNA Voucher, CCNA Exam Voucher, CCNA Discount Voucher, or CCNA Certification Voucher.
38 Free practice exams for Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco and CIW certifications.
Tech Library is free but you have to register to see the study guides. The good news is that the registration is easy; just your basic name and email information.