• Identify and describe the components of a computer network and their characteristics
• Understand host-to-host communication model and Explain it across switches and routers
• Describe the features and functions of the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS®)
• Describe LANs and the role & operation of switches in LAN, install and configure switch
• Describe Ethernet as the network access layer of TCP/IP
• Describe the TCP/IP Internet layer, IPv4, its addressing scheme, and subnetting
• Describe the TCP/IP Transport layer and Application layer
• Explore functions of routing, Implement basic configuration on a Cisco router
• Identify and resolve common switched network issues and common problems associated with IPv4 addressing
• Describe IPv6 features and addresses, and configure and verify basic IPv6 connectivity
• Describe the operation, benefits, and limitations of static routing
• Describe, implement and verify VLAN
• Describe, implement and verify trunk • Describe the application and configuration of inter-VLAN routing
• Explain the basics of dynamic routing protocols and describe components of OSPF
• Explain how STP and RSTP work
• Configure EtherChannel for link aggregation
• Describe Layer 3 redundancy protocols
• Describe basic WAN and VPN concepts
• Describe the ACL and their applications.
• Describe and Configure DHCP and NAT
• Describe basic QoS concepts
• Describe the concepts of wireless networks, and use of Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs)
• Describe network and device architectures and introduce virtualization
• Introduce the concept of network programmability and SDN and describe Cisco DNA Center™, SD-Access, SD-WAN
• Configure basic IOS system monitoring tools
• Describe the management of Cisco devices
• Describe the current security threat horizon
• Describe threat defense technologies
• Implement a basic security configuration of the device management plane
• Implement basic steps to harden network devices

This course is created to impart knowledge and skills related to network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability. This course will help candidates prepare for the CCNA exam. The following topics are general guidelines to better reflect the contents of the course and for clarity purposes, the guidelines below may change at any time without notice.

Network Access

• Configure and verify VLANs (normal range) spanning multiple switches
  • Access ports (data and voice)
  • Default VLAN
  • Connectivity
• Configure and verify interswitch connectivity
  • Trunk ports
  • 1Q
  • Native VLAN
• Configure and verify Layer 2 discovery protocols (Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP)
• Configure and verify (Layer 2/Layer 3) EtherChannel (LACP)
• Describe the need for and basic operations of Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol and identify basic operations
  • Root port, root bridge (primary/secondary), and other port names
  • Port states (forwarding/blocking)
  • PortFast benefits
• Compare Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes
• Describe physical infrastructure connections of WLAN components (AP, WLC, access/trunk ports, and LAG)
• Describe AP and WLC management access connections (Telnet, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, console, and TACACS+/RADIUS)
• Configure the components of a wireless LAN access for client connectivity using GUI only such as WLAN creation, security settings, QoS profiles, and advanced WLAN settings

IP Connectivity

• Interpret the components of routing table
  • Routing protocol code
  • Prefix
  • Network mask
  • Next hop
  • Administrative distance
  • Metric
  • Gateway of last resort
• Determine how a router makes a forwarding decision by default
  • Longest match
  • Administrative distance
  • Routing protocol metric
• Configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing
  • Default route
  • Network route
  • Host route
  • Floating static
• Configure and verify single area OSPFv2
  • Neighbor adjacencies
  • Point-to-point
  • Broadcast (DR/BDR selection)
  • Router ID
• Describe the purpose of first hop redundancy protocol

IP Services

• Configure and verify inside source NAT using static and pools
• Configure and verify NTP operating in a client and server mode
• Explain the role of DHCP and DNS within the network
• Explain the function of SNMP in network operations
• Describe the use of syslog features including facilities and levels
• Configure and verify DHCP client and relay
• Explain the forwarding per-hop behavior (PHB) for QoS such as classification, marking, queuing, congestion, policing, shaping
• Configure network devices for remote access using SSH
• Describe the capabilities and function of TFTP/FTP in the network

Security Fundamentals:

• Define key security concepts (threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation techniques)
• Describe security program elements (user awareness, training, and physical access control)
• Configure device access control using local passwords
• Describe security password policies elements, such as management, complexity, and password alternatives (multifactor authentication, certificates, and biometrics)
• Describe remote access and site-to-site VPNs
• Configure and verify access control lists
• Configure Layer 2 security features (DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and port security)
• Differentiate authentication, authorization, and accounting concepts
• Describe wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3)
• Configure WLAN using WPA2 PSK using the GUI

Automation and Programmability:

• Explain how automation impacts network management
• Compare traditional networks with controller-based networking
• Describe controller-based and software defined architectures (overlay, underlay, and fabric)
• Separation of control plane and data plane
• North-bound and south-bound APIs
• Compare traditional campus device management with Cisco DNA Center enabled device management
• Describe characteristics of REST-based APIs (CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding)
• Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms Puppet, Chef, and Ansible
• Interpret JSON encoded data

Followings labs will be performed by candidates during lab practice sessions:

ROUTER & SWITCH BASICS:

Lab 1. Connecting Devices and Understanding Boot Process

• Task 1:  Understand various access ports: Console, AUX and USB ports
• Task 2:  Connecting Roll-over (console) Cable to access Devices
• Task 3:  Performing Router and Switch Startup Process
• Task 4:  Understanding System RAM, ROM, and NVRAM
• Task 5:  Monitoring POST, understanding Bootstrap Program
• Task 6:  Setting up of Configure-register Values

Lab 2. Performing initial setup and configuration

• Task 1:  Using System Configuration Dialog to configure a router
• Task 2:  Understanding various methods to configure a router CLI, Menu, TFTP, SDM and NMS
• Task 3:  Understanding Port Types: Physical and Virtual ports
• Task 4:  Managing Console port and Virtual Ports
• Task 5:  Gathering basic Router / Switch information
• Task 6:  Exploring various modes of Cisco Devices

Lab 3. Performing Basic Configuration

• Task 1:  Performing Initial Configuration CLI Mode
• Task 2:  Using Help and Editing Features
• Task 3:  Performing Router Basic Security: Setting passwords, encrypting password and password breaking procedure
• Task 4:  Performing Router and Switch basic configuration
• Task 5:  Setting Hostname, Banner, Interface Description, Password, IP address, Clock Rate, IP Host, DNS, Domain-Lookup, Date
• Task 6:  Using management tools like Telnet, SSH, CDP, Ping etc.

Lab 4. Managing and monitoring Cisco IOS

• Task 1: Understanding and checking Cisco IOS and Versions
• Task 2: Managing Cisco IOS and Licensing
• Task 3: Backup and Restore of IOS and configurations.

ROUTING:

Lab 5. Static Route Lab

• Task 1: Configuring network using IPv4 and IPv6 Static Routes
• Task 2: Creating Permanent Static Route Entries.
• Task 3: Creating Floating Static Route Entries.
• Task 4: Understanding Load Balancing using Static Routes
• Task 5: Monitoring and Verification of Routing Table
• Task 6: Troubleshooting Static Routing issues.

Lab 6. OSPF Routing Protocol Lab

• Task 1: Configure network using OSPF
• Task 2: Configuring OSPF Neighbors and areas
• Task 3: Verification of OSPF Interfaces, Neighbor, LSDB.
• Task 4: Verification of Protocol and its details.
• Task 5: Troubleshoot OSPF Neighbor-ship Issues
• Task 6: Verifying OSPF Operation
• Task 7: Verify OSPF DR and BDR Elections

Lab 7. Filtering Features

• Task 1: Configure IPv4 ACL
• Task 2: Configuring Numbered and Named IPv4 ACL

SWITCHING:

Lab 8. Configuring Switch Services

• Task 1: Configure Catalyst Switches
• Task 2: Verify Cisco Catalyst Switches
• Task 3: Static VLAN Configuration.
• Task 4: VLAN Basic Configuration (VLAN Database / Config Mode)
• Task 5: Assigning VLAN Membership.
• Task 6: Verification and troubleshooting of VLANs
• Task 7: Configuring Static Trunk
• Task 8: Managing trunk, Native VLAN, Controlling allowed VLANs
• Task 9: Troubleshooting Trunks.
• Task 10: Inter-VLAN routing
• Task 11: Router on Stick configuration.
• Task 12: Configuring verifying and optimizing Trunk.
• Task 13: Configuring verifying and optimizing STP

Lab 9. Advance Switch Services

• Task 1: Configure EtherChannel
• Task 2: Configure a DHCP Scope
• Task 3: Configure and Verify Port Security
• Task 4: Configure and Verify NTP
• Task 5: Configure System Message Logging

Network Address Translation Features:

Lab 10. Configuring Address Translation Services

• Task 1: Configure Static NAT
• Task 2: Configure Dynamic NAT and Port Address Translation (PAT)
• Additional Features:

Lab 11. Explore Wireless Services

• Task 1: Configure WLAN
• Task 2: log in to WLC
• Task 3: Manage WLC

Lab 12. Explore Management Services

• Task 1: Explore Cisco DNA Center
• Task 2: Explore Management Option

• Minimum batch size required for batch is 10 participants in the this course.
• The RST Forum reserves the right to cancel/postpone the class.
• Course schedule will be provided before commencement of the course.
• Certificate of participation will be awarded to participants with a minimum 90% attendance.
• All attendees are to observe the Copyright Law on intellectual properties such as software and courseware from respective vendors.
• The RST Forum reserves the right to include external participants in the program either for the entire course or individual courses.
• The RST Forum reserves the right to change/alter the sequence of courses. RST FORUM published Book would be given at 50% discounted rate to the forum students.