31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam: A Day-By-Day Review Guide for the CCNA 200-301 Certification Exam Second Edition is the friendliest, most practical way to understand the CCNA Routing and Switching certification process; to commit to taking your CCNA 200-301 exam; and to finish your preparation using a variety of primary and supplemental study resources.
Thoroughly updated for the current exam, this portable guide offers a complete day-by-day plan for what and how to study. From the basics of switch configuration and IP addressing through modern cloud, virtualization, SDN, SDA, and network automation concepts, you’ll find it here. Each day breaks down an exam topic into a short, easy-to-review summary, with
Daily Study Resource quick-references pointing to deeper treatments elsewhere. Sign up for your exam now, and use this
day-by-day guide and checklist to organize, prepare, review, and succeed!
How this book helps you fit exam prep into your busy schedule:
■ Visual downloadable calendar summarizes each day’s study topic to help you get through everything
■ Checklist offers expert advice on preparation activities leading up to your exam
■ Descriptions of exam organization and sign-up processes help make sure nothing falls between the cracks
■ Proven strategies help you prepare mentally, organizationally, and physically
■ Conversational tone makes studying more enjoyable
Primary Resources:
CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Library Second Edition
ISBN: 978-0-13-822139-3
Introduction to Networks v7 Companion Guide
ISBN: 978-0-13-663366-2
Introduction to Networks v7 Labs and Study Guide
ISBN: 978-0-13-663445-4
Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials v7 Companion Guide
ISBN: 978-0-13-672935-8
Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials v7 Labs and Study Guide
ISBN: 978-0-13-663438-6
Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation v7 Companion Guide
ISBN: 978-0-13-663432-4
Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation v7 Labs and Study Guide
ISBN: 978-0-13-663469-0
Supplemental Resources:
CCNA 200-301 Portable Command Guide, Fifth Edition
ISBN: 978-0-13-593782-2
CCNA 200-301 Version 1.1 Video Course, Second Edition
ISBN: 978-0-13-821361-9
Table of Contents:
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 11
Data Encapsulation Summary 12
Networking Icons 13
Devices 14
Physical Layer 20
LAN Device Connection Guidelines 22
LANs and WANs 23
Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) 23
Physical and Logical Topologies 25
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 46
Half Duplex, Full Duplex, and Port Speed 48
Verifying Network Connectivity 49
Troubleshoot Interface and Cable Issues 52
Study Resources 55
Day 28: IPv4 Addressing 57
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 57
Key Topics 57
IPv4 Addressing 57
Private and Public IP Addressing 60
Subnetting in Four Steps 60
VLSM 64
Study Resources 66
Day 27: IPv6 Addressing 67
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 67
Key Topics 67
Overview and Benefits of IPv6 67
The IPv6 Protocol 68
IPv6 Address Types 69
Representing the IPv6 Address 78
IPv6 Subnetting 79
EUI-64 Concept 80
Stateless Address Autoconfiguration 81
Migration to IPv6 82
Study Resources 83
Day 26: VLAN and Trunking Concepts and Configurations 85
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 85
Key Points 85
VLAN Concepts 85
Trunking VLANs 88
VLAN Configuration and Verification 90
Trunking Configuration and Verification 94
VLAN Troubleshooting 97
Trunking Troubleshooting 99
Study Resources 101
Day 25: STP 103
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topic 103
Key Topics 103
STP Concepts and Operation 103
STP Algorithm 104
STP Convergence 105
STP Varieties 106
PVST Operation 107
Rapid PVST+ Operation 109
RSTP Interface Behavior 110
RSTP Port Roles 110
Edge Ports 111
Configuring and Verifying Varieties of STP 112
Study Resources 119
Day 24: EtherChannel and HSRP 121
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 121
Key Topics 121
EtherChannel Operation 121
EtherChannel Protocols 123
Configuring EtherChannel 124
Verifying EtherChannel 125
Troubleshooting EtherChannel 127
First-Hop Redundancy Concepts 128
FHRPs 129
HSRP Operation 130
HSRP Configuration and Verification 131
HSRP Load Balancing 132
Troubleshooting HSRP 135
VRRP and GLBP 135
Study Resources 136
Day 23: DHCP and DNS 137
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 137
Key Topics 137
DHCPv4 137
DHCPv4 Configuration Options 138
DHCPv6 144
DHCPv6 Configuration Options 147
DHCP Troubleshooting 149
DNS Operation 150
Troubleshooting DNS 152
Verifying Host IP Configuration 153
Study Resources 158
Day 22: Wireless Concepts 159
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 159
Key Topics 159
Wireless Standards 159
Wireless Topologies 163
AP Architectures 165
Wireless Security Protocols 168
Study Resources 172
Day 21: WLAN Configuration 173
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 173
Key Topics 173
Logging Into a Cisco WLC 173
Configuring a WLC with a WLAN 175
Study Resources 181
Day 20: LAN Security and Device Hardening 183
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 183
Key Topics 183
Access Control 183
Port Security 189
LAN Threat Mitigation 193
Study Resources 201
Day 19: Basic Routing Concepts 203
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 203
Key Topics 203
Packet Forwarding 203
Routing Methods 205
Classifying Dynamic Routing Protocols 206
Dynamic Routing Metrics 208
Administrative Distance 209
IGP Comparison Summary 211
Routing Loop Prevention 211
Link-State Routing Protocol Features 212
Study Resources 215
Day 18: Basic Router Configuration 217
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 217
Key Topics 217
Basic Router Configuration with IPv4 217
Basic Router Configuration with IPv6 225
Verifying IPv4 and IPv6 Network Connectivity 229
Small Office or Home Office Routers 231
Basic IP Addressing Troubleshooting 233
Study Resources 234
Day 17: The Routing Table 235
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 235
Key Topics 235
Two Router Functions 235
Components of the Routing Table 236
Routing Table Principles 239
Route Entry Structure 240
Study Resources 241
Day 16: Inter-VLAN Routing 243
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 243
Key Points 243
Inter-VLAN Routing Concepts 243
Router on a Stick Configuration and Verification 245
Multilayer Switching Inter-VLAN Routing Configuration and Verification 248
Study Resources 250
Day 15: Static and Default Route Configuration 251
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 251
Key Topics 251
Static and Default Routing Overview 251
IPv4 Static Route Configuration 252
Study Resources 264
Day 14: OSPF Operation 265
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 265
Key Topics 265
Single-Area OSPF Operation 265
OSPF DR and BDR 269
OSPF Algorithm 269
Link-State Routing Process 270
OSPFv2 Versus OSPFv3 271
Multiarea OSPF Operation 272
Study Resources 274
Day 13: Single-Area OSPF Implementation 275
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 275
Key Topics 275
Single-Area OSPFv2 Configuration 275
Verifying OSPFv2 280
Study Resources 284
Day 12: Fine-Tuning and Troubleshooting OSPF 285
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 285
Key Topics 285
OSPFv2 Configuration Example 285
Modifying OSPFv2 287
Troubleshooting OSPF 291
Study Resources 293
Day 11: Network Security Concepts 295
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 295
Key Topics 295
Security Fundamentals 295
Network Attacks 299
Security Program 302
Password Vulnerabilities 303
Password Alternatives 304
Study Resources 306
Day 10: ACL Concepts 307
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 307
Key Topics 307
ACL Operation 307
Planning to Use ACLs 309
Study Resources 312
Day 9: ACL Implementation 313
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 313
Key Topics 313
Configuring Standard Numbered IPv4 ACLs 313
Configuring Extended Numbered IPv4 ACLs 315
Configuring Named IPv4 ACLs 317
Verifying IPv4 ACLs 319
Comparing IPv4 and IPv6 ACLs 320
Configuring IPv6 ACLs 321
Verifying IPv6 ACLs 323
Troubleshooting ACLs 326
Study Resources 326
Day 8: NAT 329
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 329
Key Topics 329
NAT Concepts 329
Configuring Static NAT 334
Verifying NAT 336
Troubleshooting NAT 337
Study Resources 338
Day 7: WAN, VPN, and IPsec 339
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 339
Key Topics 339
WAN Topologies 339
WAN Connection Options 340
VPN Technology 346
Study Resources 355
Day 6: QoS 357
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topic 357
Key Topics 357
QoS 357
Study Resources 364
Day 5: CDP and LLDP 365
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topic 365
Key Topics 365
CDP Overview 365
LLDP Overview 371
Study Resources 374
Day 4: Device Monitoring, Management, and Maintenance 375
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 375
Key Topics 375
SNMP Operation 375
Configuring SNMP 378
Verifying SNMP 378
Syslog 380
Network Time Protocol 384
Cisco IOS File System and Devices 385
Managing Cisco IOS Images 390
Password Recovery 392
Study Resources 393
Day 3: Cloud, Virtualization, and SDN 395
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 395
Key Topics 395
Cloud Computing 395
Software-Defined Networking 399
Study Resources 405
Day 2: Cisco SD-Access, Ansible, and Terraform 407
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 407
Key Topics 407
Cisco SD-Access 407
Configuration Management Tools: Ansible and Terraform 418
Study Resources 427
Day 1: Data Formats, REST, and AI 429
CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 429
Key Topics 429
Data Formats 429
RESTful APIs 432
AI and ML in IT Operations 435
Study Resources 442
Exam Day 443
Post-Exam Information 445
CCNA Countdown Calendar 447
Exam Checklist 449
9780138214258, TOC, 10/11/2024
About the Author :
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 training and development. He taught CCNA courses at the high school level for 7 years and has taught both CCNA and CCNP courses at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 2003, Allan began to commit much of his time and energy to the CCNA Instructional Support Team, providing services to Networking Academy instructors worldwide and creating training materials. He now splits his time between working as a Curriculum Lead for Cisco Networking Academy and as Account Lead for Unicon (unicon.net), supporting Cisco’s educational efforts.
