What is included in CCNA Routing and Switching Curriculum?

Certification: Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching - Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching

CCNA Routing and Switching certifications tests your routing and switching skills related to ICND1 and ICND2 Cisco products. There are two exam paths for in this certification. No matter which exam path you choose, the curriculum for the certification will be the same in both cases. There are no signification differences between these two exam paths. The only difference is that in one path candidates can get the certification by giving only one exam whereas in the other path candidates can get this certification by giving two exams. Cisco has always been trying to match the CCNA Routing and Switching and its curriculum according to the current networking techniques, methods and equipments available in the market. After all, the certifications have to be in par with the changing technologies in the networking field. Let’s have a look at the things that are included in the CCNA Routing and Switching curriculum.

Introduction to networks

The CCNA Routing and Switching curriculum starts with the introduction to networks because without understanding the basic terms and principles related to networking, no one will be able to get into the advanced section. In this part, the curriculum must include structure, architecture, models, components and functions of computer networks and the internet as well. The main foundation of the CCNA Routing and Switching curriculum must be built with the introduction to Ethernet concepts, operations and Medias, and IP addressing. The main aim of including all these in the curriculum is to make sure that the candidates know how to build at least a very simple LAN, implement IP addressing in real life and configure switches and routers. This portion of curriculum must include following things:

Information about various devices that are used during the networking process.
Importance of IP addressing in the IPv4 and IPv6 environment.
Information about various protocols used in networking and their importance.
Concepts and information about how to perform basic configuration on routers and switches.
Concepts and information about how to design and apply subnet masks.
Concepts and information about how to build a very simple Ethernet by performing routing and switching tasks.

Routing and Switching essentials

The CCNA Routing and Switching curriculum must also include the parts about routing and switching in detail, after all the certification is about routing and switching. This curriculum must include architecture, operations and components of routers and switches in detail. The main aim of this portion in the curriculum is to make the candidates able to at least perform basic configuration in routers and switches. Besides it must also include topics like troubleshooting of routers and switches so that the candidates will be able to resolve any kind of issues that might arise in routing and switching in IPv4 as well as IPv6 networks. This portion of curriculum must include following things:

Information about the basic concepts of routing and switching as well as using Cisco routers and switches.
Concepts and information about how VLANs can be used to create separate networks in logical manner.
Information about route lookup process and routing table.
Concepts about how to configure and troubleshoot the ACLs (Access Control List).
Concepts about distance vector routing protocols, dynamic routing protocols and link state routing protocols.
Concepts about how to configure and troubleshoot the OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) network.
Concepts about how to configure and troubleshoot the NAT (Network Address Translation) operations.
Concepts about how to configure and troubleshoot the DHCL (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

Scaling networks

The CCNA Routing and Switching Curriculum must contain topics related to architecture, operation and components of routers as well as switches. The previous portion of the curriculum included basic configuration of routers and switches. However, this portion of curriculum will contain advanced configuration of routers and switches. Besides that it must also include topics related to EIGRP, OSPF and STP in IPv4 as well as IPv6 networks. It must also contain information and concepts related to the implementation of WAN technologies in the network. This portion of the curriculum must contain following things:

Concept about configuration and troubleshooting routers in the IPv4 as well as IPv6 networks using EIGRP, OSPF and STP.
Concepts and information about configuration and troubleshooting of some of the enhanced switching technologies like RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol), VLANs and so on.
Concepts and information about working, configuration and troubleshooting of wireless routers and clients.
Concepts about Cisco IOS.

Connecting networks

The CCNA Routing and Switching Curriculum must also include topics about WAN technologies as well as other network services that can be used in applications. These topics will help the candidates to understand what kind of WAN technologies and network devices must be used for what kind of network requirements. Topics related to the selection of correct network devices, resolving of issues related to those devices as well as network protocols must also be included in the curriculum. VPN (Virtual Private Network) must be included in the curriculum so that the candidates can have a better understanding about it. This portion of the curriculum must contain following things:

Information about various WAN technologies and their uses.
Concepts and information about configuration and troubleshooting of tunneling operations, serial connections, NAT (Network Address Translation) operations and broadband connections.
Description about VPN (Virtual Private Network) operations and their importance.
Description about various network architectures like collaboration strategy and technology; virtualization, data centers and borderless networks.

All these portions have to be included in the CCNA Routing and Switching Curriculum so that the candidates can prepare well for these topics. All these topics are very important in terms of the CCNA Routing and Switching Certification. So, the candidates should not even miss one of these topics.

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