Cisco expert Todd Lammle prepares you for the NEW Cisco CCNA certification exam!
Cisco, the world leader in network technologies, has released the new Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam. This consolidated certification exam tests a candidate's ability to implement and administer a wide range of modern IT networking technologies. The CCNA Certification Study Guide: Volume 2 Exam 200-301 covers every exam objective, including network components, IP connectivity and routing, network security, virtual networking, and much more. Clear and accurate chapters provide you with real-world examples, hands-on activities, in-depth explanations, and numerous review questions to ensure that you're fully prepared on exam day.
Written by the leading expert on Cisco technologies and certifications, this comprehensive exam guide includes access to the acclaimed Sybex online learning systemâan interactive environment featuring practice exams, electronic flashcards, a searchable glossary, a self-assessment test, and video tutorials on critical Cisco networking concepts and technologies.
Covers 100% of all CCNA Exam 200-301 objectives
Provides accurate and up-to-date information on core network fundamentals
Explains a broad range of Cisco networking and IT infrastructure
Features learning objectives, chapter summaries, 'Exam Essentials' and figures, tables, and illustrations
The CCNA Certification Study Guide: Volume 2 Exam 200-301 is the ideal resource for those preparing for the new CCNA certification, as well as IT professionals looking to learn more about Cisco networking concepts and technologies.
Weâll cover the following CCNA exam topics in this chapter:
1.0 Network Fundamentals
1.1 Explain the role and function of network components
1.1.a Routers
1.1.b L2 and L3 switches
1.1.c Next-generation firewalls and IPS
1.2 Describe characteristics of network topology architectures
1.2.a 2 tier
1.2.b 3 tier
1.2.c Spine-leaf
1.2.d WAN
1.2.e Small office/home office (SOHO)
1.3 Compare physical interface and cabling types
1.3.a Single-mode fiber, multimode fiber, copper
1.3.b Connections (Ethernet shared media and point-to-point)
1.3.c Concepts of PoE
This chapter is really an internetworking review, focusing on how to connect networks together using Cisco routers and switches. As a heads up, Iâve written it with the assumption that you have a bit of basic networking knowledge and/or have read the first chapter in the CCNA Part 1: Understanding Cisco Networking Technologies study guide.
That said, there isnât a whole lot of new material here, but even if youâre a seasoned network professional, you should still read through all chapters to make sure you get how the objectives are currently covered.
Letâs start by defining exactly what an internetwork is: You create an internetwork when you connect two or more networks via a router and configure a logical network addressing scheme with protocols like IP or IPv6.
Weâll move on to covering network components like routers and switches and defining what exactly creates a Small Office Home Office Network (SOHO). After that, weâll touch on Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) and network architect models, and then Iâll guide you through an overview of Ethernet and the wiring used in Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs).
To find your included bonus material, as well as Todd Lammle videos, practice questions & hands-on labs, please see www.lammle.com/ccna
Network Components
So why is it so important to learn Cisco internetworking anyway?
Networks and networking have grown exponentially over the past 20 years, and understandably so. Theyâve had to evolve at light speed just to keep up with huge increases in basic, mission-critical user needs from simply sharing data and printers to bigger burdens like multimedia remote presentations, conferencing, and the like. Unless everyone who needs to share network resources is located in the same office space, the challenge is to connect relevant networks so all users can share the wealth of whatever services and resources they need, on site or remotely.
Figure 1.1 shows a basic local area network (LAN) connected via a hub, which is basically an antiquated device, which connects wires together and is typically used in SOHO networks.
Keep in mind that a simple SOHO network like this one would be considered one collision domain and one broadcast domain.
Things really canât get much simpler than this. And yes, though you can still find this configuration in some home networks, even many of those as well as the smallest business networks are more complicated today.
Routers, Switches, and Oh So SOHO!
Figure 1.2 shows a network thatâs been segmented with a switch, making each network segment that connects to the switch its own separate collision domain. Doing this results in a lot less chaos!
So, this is a great start, but I really want you to note that this network is still just one, single broadcast domain. This means weâve really only reduced our PCâs chaosânot eliminated it.
For example, if thereâs some sort of vital announcement that everyone in our network neighborhood needs to hear about, it will definitely still get loud! You can see that the hub used in Figure 1.2 just extended the one collision domain from the switch port. The result is that John received the data from Bob but, happily, Sally did not, which is good because Bob intended to talk with John directly. If he had needed to send a broadcast instead, everyone, including Sally, would have received it, causing unnecessary congestion.
Hereâs a list of some of the things that commonly cause LAN traffic congestion:
Too many hosts in a collision or broadcast domain
Broadcast storms
Too much multicast traffic
Low bandwidth
Adding hubs for connectivity to the network
A bunch of ARP broadcasts
Take another look at Figure 1.2 and make sure you see that I extended the main hub from Figure 1.1 to a switch in Figure 1.2. I did that because hubs donât segment a network; they just connect network segments. Basically, itâs an inexpensive way to connect a couple of PCs, which can work for really simple home use and troubleshooting, but thatâs about it!
As our community grows, weâll need to add more streets along with traffic control and even some basic security. Weâll get this done by adding routers because these convenient devices are used to connect networks and route packets of data from one network...