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31 Days Before your CCNA Exam: A Day-By-Day Review Guide for the CCNA 200-301 Certification Exam, 1st edition

Published by Cisco Press (April 3, 2020) © 2020

  • Allan Johnson

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31 Days Before Your CCNA 200-301 Exam offers a friendly, practical way to understand the CCNA Routing & Switching certification process, commit to taking the CCNA 200-301 exam, and fully prepare using a variety of Foundational and Supplemental study resources.
Use this book’s day-by-day guide and checklist to organize, prepare, and review all the exam objectives. The book breaks down key exam topics into 31 daily review sessions using short summaries, lists, tables, examples, and graphics. A Study Resources section provides students with a quick reference for locating more in-depth treatment of a day’s topics within Foundational and Supplemental resources.

This book’s features help students prepare for the exam:
  • Tear out visual calendar summarizes each day’s study topics
  • Checklist highlights important tasks and deadlines leading up to the exam
  • Description of the CCNA 200-301 exam organization and sign up process
  • Strategies from the author help students be mentally, organizationally, and physically prepared for exam day
  • Conversational tone, making study time more enjoyable
  • A practical way to commit to taking the CCNA exam in one month after Networking Academy study
  • Review key points from Networking Academy information with a specific focus on CCNA exam objectives
  • The only CCNA exam preparation resource to address a student CCNA exam readiness gap

     Introduction xxviii
Day 31: Networking Models, Devices, and Components 1
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 1
    Key Points 1
    The OSI and TCP/IP Models 1
    The TCP/IP Application Layer 5
    The TCP/IP Transport Layer 5
    The TCP/IP Internet Layer 10
    The TCP/IP Network Access Layer 10
    Data Encapsulation Summary 12
    Networking Icons 13
    Devices 13
    Physical Layer 20
    LAN Device Connection Guidelines 22
    LANs and WANs 23
    Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) 23
    Physical and Logical Topologies 24
    Hierarchical Campus Designs 25
    Study Resources 27
Day 30: Ethernet Switching 29
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 29
    Key Topics 29
    Evolution to Switching 29
    Switching Logic 30
    Collision and Broadcast Domains 31
    Frame Forwarding 31
    Ethernet Overview 32
    Legacy Ethernet Technologies 33
    Current Ethernet Technologies 35
    UTP Cabling 36
    Benefits of Using Switches 37
    Ethernet Addressing 37
    Ethernet Framing 38
    The Role of the Physical Layer 39
    Study Resources 40
Day 29: Switch Configuration Basics 41
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 41
    Key Topics 41
    Accessing and Navigating the Cisco IOS 41
    Basic Switch Configuration Commands 45
    Half Duplex, Full Duplex, and Port Speed 47
    Verifying Network Connectivity 48
    Troubleshoot Interface and Cable Issues 50
    Study Resources 54
Day 28: IPv4 Addressing 55
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 55
    Key Topics 55
    IPv4 Addressing 55
    Private and Public IP Addressing 58
    Subnetting in Four Steps 58
    VLSM 62
    Study Resources 64
Day 27: IPv6 Addressing 65
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 65
    Key Topics 65
    Overview and Benefits of IPv6 65
    The IPv6 Protocol 66
    IPv6 Address Types 67
    Representing the IPv6 Address 76
    IPv6 Subnetting 77
    EUI-64 Concept 78
    Stateless Address Autoconfiguration 79
    Migration to IPv6 80
    Study Resources 81
Day 26: VLAN and Trunking Concepts and Configurations 83
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 83
    Key Points 83
    VLAN Concepts 83
    Trunking VLANs 86
    VLAN Configuration and Verification 88
    Trunking Configuration and Verification 92
    VLAN Troubleshooting 94
    Trunking Troubleshooting 96
    Study Resources 98
Day 25: STP 99
    CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics 99
    Key Topics 99
    STP Concepts and Operation 99
    STP Algorithm 100
    STP Convergence 101
    STP Varieties 102
    PVST Operation 103
    Rapid PVST+ Operation 105
    Configuring and Verifying Varieties of STP 108
    Study Resources 112
Day 24: EtherChannel and HSRP 113
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 113
    Key Topics 113
    EtherChannel Operation 113
    Benefits of EtherChannel 114
    Implementation Restrictions 114
    EtherChannel Protocols 115
    Configuring EtherChannel 116
    Verifying EtherChannel 117
    Troubleshooting EtherChannel 119
    First-Hop Redundancy Concepts 119
    FHRPs 120
    HSRP Operation 121
    HSRP Configuration and Verification 122
    HSRP Load Balancing 123
    Troubleshooting HSRP 126
    Study Resources 126
Day 23: DHCP and DNS 127
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 127
    Key Topics 127
    DHCPv4 127
    DHCPv4 Configuration Options 128
    DHCPv6 134
    DHCPv6 Configuration Options 137
    DHCP Troubleshooting 140
    DNS Operation 140
    Troubleshooting DNS 142
    Verifying Host IP Configuration 143
    Study Resources 148
Day 22: Wireless Concepts 149
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 149
    Key Topics 149
    Wireless Standards 149
    Wireless Topologies 152
    AP Architectures 155
    Wireless Security Protocols 158
    Study Resources 162
Day 21: WLAN Configuration 163
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 163
    Key Topics 163
    Logging Into a Cisco WLC 163
    Configuring a WLC with a WLAN 165
    Study Resources 171
Day 20: LAN Security and Device Hardening 173
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 173
    Key Topics 173
    Endpoint Security 173
    Access Control 175
    Port Security 181
    LAN Threat Mitigation 185
    Study Resources 193
Day 19: Basic Routing Concepts 195
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 195
    Key Topics 195
    Packet Forwarding 195
    Routing Methods 197
    Classifying Dynamic Routing Protocols 198
    Dynamic Routing Metrics 200
    Administrative Distance 201
    IGP Comparison Summary 203
    Routing Loop Prevention 203
    Link-State Routing Protocol Features 204
    Study Resources 207
Day 18: Basic Router Configuration 209
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 209
    Key Topics 209
    Basic Router Configuration with IPv4 209
    Basic Router Configuration with IPv6 217
    Verifying IPv4 and IPv6 Network Connectivity 220
    Small Office or Home Office Routers 223
    Basic IP Addressing Troubleshooting 224
    Study Resources 225
Day 17: The Routing Table 227
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 227
    Key Topics 227
    Two Router Functions 227
    Components of the Routing Table 228
    Study Resources 232
Day 16: Inter-VLAN Routing 233
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 233
    Key Points 233
    Inter-VLAN Routing Concepts 233
    Router on a Stick Configuration and Verification 235
    Multilayer Switching Inter-VLAN Routing Configuration and Verification 238
    Study Resources 240
Day 15: Static and Default Route Configuration 241
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 241
    Key Topics 241
    Static and Default Routing Overview 241
    IPv4 Static Route Configuration 242
    Study Resources 254
Day 14: OSPF Operation 255
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 255
    Key Topics 255
    Single-Area OSPF Operation 255
    OSPFv2 Versus OSPFv3 261
    Multiarea OSPF Operation 262
    Study Resources 264
Day 13: Single-Area OSPF Implementation 265
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 265
    Key Topics 265
    Single-Area OSPFv2 Configuration 265
    Verifying OSPFv2 270
    Study Resources 274
Day 12: Fine-Tuning and Troubleshooting OSPF 275
    CCNA 200-125 Exam Topics 275
    Key Topics 275
    OSPFv2 Configuration Example 275
    Modifying OSPFv2 277
    Troubleshooting OSPF 281
    Study Resources 283
Day 11: Network Security Concepts 285
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 285
    Key Topics 285
    Security Fundamentals 285
    Network Attacks 289
    Security Program 293
    Study Resources 293
Day 10: ACL Concepts 295
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 295
    Key Topics 295
    ACL Operation 295
    Planning to Use ACLs 297
    Study Resources 300
Day 9: ACL Implementation 301
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 301
    Key Topics 301
    Configuring Standard Numbered IPv4 ACLs 301
    Configuring Extended Numbered IPv4 ACLs 303
    Configuring Named IPv4 ACLs 305
    Verifying IPv4 ACLs 307
    Comparing IPv4 and IPv6 ACLs 308
    Configuring IPv6 ACLs 309
    Verifying IPv6 ACLs 311
    Troubleshooting ACLs 313
    Study Resources 314
Day 8: NAT 315
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 315
    Key Topics 315
    NAT Concepts 315
    Configuring Static NAT 319
    Verifying NAT 322
    Troubleshooting NAT 323
    Study Resources 324
Day 7: WAN, VPN, and IPsec 325
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 325
    Key Topics 325
    WAN Topologies 325
    WAN Connection Options 326
    VPN Technology 333
    Study Resources 342
Day 6: QoS 343
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 343
    Key Topics 343
    QoS 343
    Study Resources 350
Day 5: CDP and LLDP 351
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 351
    Key Topics 351
    CDP Overview 351
    LLDP Overview 357
    Study Resources 360
Day 4: Device Monitoring, Management, and Maintenance 361
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 361
    Key Topics 361
    SNMP Operation 361
    Configuring SNMP 364
    Verifying SNMP 364
    Syslog 365
    Network Time Protocol 370
    Cisco IOS File System and Devices 371
    Managing Cisco IOS Images 375
    Password Recovery 377
    Study Resources 378
Day 3: Cloud, Virtualization, and SDN 379
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 379
    Key Topics 379
    Cloud Computing 379
    Software-Defined Networking 383
    Study Resources 388
Day 2: SDA and Cisco DNA Center 389
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 389
    Key Topics 389
    SDA Architecture 389
    Cisco DNA Center 391
    Study Resources 395
    Day 1: Network Automation 397
    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 397
    Key Topics 397
    Data Formats 397
    RESTful APIs 400
    Configuration Management Tools 402
    Study Resources 405
Exam Day 407
    What You Need for the Exam 407
    What You Should Receive After Completion 407
    Summary 407
Post-Exam Information 409
    Receiving Your Certificate 409
    Determining Career Options 409
    Examining Certification Options 410
    If You Did Not Pass the Exam 410
    Summary 410
9780135964088, TOC, 1/29/2020

Allan Johnson entered the academic world in 1999, after 10 years as a business owner/operator to dedicate his efforts to his passion for teaching. He holds both an MBA and an MEd in occupational training and development. He taught a variety of technology courses to high school students and is an adjunct instructor at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. Since 2006, Allan has worked full time for Cisco Networking Academy in several roles. He is currently engaged as curriculum lead.    

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