The Cisco CCNA® Exploration curriculum provides a compre¬hensive overview of networking; from fundamentals to advanced applications and services. It is based on a top-down approach to networking that is popular in advanced technical colleges and universities. This course emphasizes theoretical concepts and practical application, while providing opportunities for participants to gain the skills and hands-on experience needed to design, install, operate, and maintain networks.
CCNA Exploration offers in-depth theory, challenging labs, and a detailed overview of protocol opera¬tions. It is designed for students with advanced problem-solving and analytical skills, such as degree candidates in engineering, math, or science, or for working profession¬als who would like to advance their careers or gain certification. CCNA Exploration helps participants prepare for successful IT careers in small-to-medium businesses, as well as enterprise and service provider environments.
All CCNA Exploration courses include complex and challenging hands-on labs to help participants develop critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration skills, as well as practical knowledge.
The CCNA Exploration curriculum pre¬pares students for the Cisco CCNA® network associate certification exam (640-802). CCNA is the industry standard, foundational certification for networking careers. Participants need to complete all four courses of CCNA Exploration to fully prepare for the CCNA exam.
The CCNA Exploration curriculum is composed of four modules:
Network Fundamentals
Routing Protocols and Concepts
LAN Switching and Wireless
Accessing the WAN
CCNA 1 – 4 Modules
CCNA 1: Network Fundamentals
This course introduces the architecture, structure, functions, components, and models of the Internet and other computer networks. It uses the OSI and TCP layered models to examine the nature and roles of protocols and services at the application, network, data link, and physical layers. The principles and structure of IP addressing and the fundamentals of Ethernet concepts, media, and operations are introduced to provide a foundation for the curriculum.
As the first CCNA module, a mixture of equipment-based labs and simulations are used to allow participants to analyse real data without affecting production networks. Particpants analyse protocol and network operation and build small networks in a simulated environment. At the end of the course, participants build simple LAN topologies by applying basic principles of cabling; performing basic configurations of network devices, including routers and switches; and implementing IP addressing schemes.
Skills
Upon completion of the Network Fundamentals course, particpants will be able to perform the following tasks:
Describe the importance and operation of data networks and the Internet in supporting communications
Recognise the devices and services that are used to support communications across an Internetwork
Use layered network protocol models to explain communication in data networks
Describe the importance of addressing and naming schemes at various layers of data networks
Describe the protocols and services provided by the Application layer in the OSI and TCP/IP models
Analyse the operations and features of the protocols and services at the Transport, Network and Data Link layers
Describe the fundamental concepts of routing
Design, calculate, and apply subnet masks and addresses to fulfill given requirements
Explain the role of Physical layer protocols and services in supporting communications across data networks
Explain fundamental Ethernet concepts such as media, services, and operation
Employ basic cabling and network designs to connect devices in accordance with stated objectives
Build a simple Ethernet network using routers and switches
Use Cisco Command Line Interface commands to perform basic router and switch configuration and verification
Analyse the operations and features of common Application layer protocols such as HTTP, DNS, DHCP, SMTP, Telnet, and FTP.
Utilise common network utilities to verify small network operations and analyse data traffic.
Prerequisites
Skills which may be helpful for this course are: A+ Certification, Introductory electronics
CCNA 2: Routing Protocols and Concepts
This course describes the architecture, components, and operation of routers, and explains the principles of routing and routing protocols. Participants analyse, configure, verify, and troubleshoot the primary routing protocols RIPv1, RIPv2, EIGRP, and OSPF. By the end of this course, delegates will be able to recognise and correct common routing issues and problems. Each chapter walks the student through a basic procedural lab, and then presents basic configuration, implementation, and troubleshooting labs.
Skills
Upon completion of the Routing Protocols and Concepts course, the particpants will be able to perform the following tasks:
Describe the purpose, nature, and operations of a router
Explain the critical role routers play in enabling communications across multiple networks
Describe the purpose and nature of routing tables
Describe how a router determines a path and switches packets and explain the route lookup process
Configure and verify basic router operation for a newly installed router
Configure and verify static and default routing.
Describe the role of dynamic routing protocols and place these protocols in the context of modern network design
Describe how metrics are used by routing protocols and identify the metric types used by dynamic routing protocols
Identify the characteristics of distance vector routing protocols using RIP
Compare and contrast classful and classless IP addressing
Design and implement a classless IP addressing scheme for a given network
Describe the main features and operations of the Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP)
Use advanced configuration commands with routers implementing EIGRP and OSPF
Describe the basic features and concepts of link-state routing protocols
Describe the purpose, nature, and operations of the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) Protocol
Configure and verify basic RIPv1, RIPv2, single area OSPF, and EIGRP operations in a small routed network.
Use router show and debug commands to troubleshoot common errors that occur in small routed networks.
Prerequisites
Successful completion of the CCNA Exploration Network Fundamentals module is required before emabrking on this module.
CCNA 3: LAN Switching and Wireless
This module helps participants develop an in-depth understanding of how switches operate and are implemented in the LAN environment for small and large networks.
Beginning with a foundational overview of Ethernet, this course provides detailed explanations of LAN switch operation, VLAN implementation, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP), Inter-VLAN routing, and wireless network operations. Delegates analyse, configure, verify, and troubleshoot VLANs, RSTP, VTP, and wireless networks. Campus network design and Layer 3 switching concepts are introduced.
Skills
Upon completion of the LAN Switching and Wireless course, you will be able to perform the following tasks:
Identify and correct common network problems at layers 1,2,3 and 7 using a layered model approach
Interpret network diagrams
Select the appropriate media, cables, ports, and connectors to connect switches to other network devices and hosts.
Explain basic switching concepts and the operation of Cisco switches.
Perform and verify initial switch configuration tasks including remote access management.
Describe, configure, verify, and troubleshoot VLANs, trunking and Inter-VLAN Routing
Configure, verify, and troubleshoot RSTP operation
Verify network status and switch operation using basic utilities (ping, traceroute, telnet, SSH, arp, ipconfig), SHOW & DEBUG commands.
Identify, prescribe, and resolve common switched network media issues, configuration issues, autonegotiation, and switch hardware failures
Manage Cisco IOS
Describe standards associated with wireless media (IEEE Wi-Fi Alliance, ITU/FCC)
Identify and describe the purpose of the components in a small wireless network. (SSID, BSS, ESS)
Identify the basic parameters to configure on a wireless network to ensure that devices connect to the correct access point.
Compare and contrast wireless security features and capabilities of WPA security(open, WEP, WPA-1/2)
Identify common issues with implementing wireless networks. (interference, misconfiguration )
Prerequisites
Successful completion of the CCNA Exploration Network Fundamentals module is required before registering on this module.
CCNA 4: Accessing the WAN
This module explains the principles of traffic control and access control lists (ACLs) and provides an overview of the services and protocols at the data link layer for wide-area access.
Delegates learn about user access technologies and devices and discover how to implement and configure Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), DSL, and Frame Relay. WAN security concepts, tunnelling, and VPN basics are introduced. The course concludes with a discussion of the special network services required by converged applications and an introduction to quality of service (QoS).
Skills
Upon completion of the Accessing the WAN course, delegates will be able to perform the following tasks:
Describe the impact of applications (Voice Over IP and Video Over IP) on a network
Describe the components required for network and Internet communications.
Prerequisites
Successful completion of the CCNA Exploration Routing Protocols and Concepts module is required before registering on this module.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This CCNA course targets staff in telecom operators (fixed and mobile), service providers, and regulatory authorities, and any other organizations that have implemented, or are intending to implement enterprise level IP networking solutions.
In particular, it targets:
Switching Technicians/ Engineers
Transmission Technicians/Engineers
Data communications Technicians / Engineers
Systems and Network Administrators
Telecommunications management personnel seeking basic IP knowledge
Laboratory Exercises
The course will be a mixture of lectures and numerous practical exercises based on the latest Cisco routers and switches.
