CCNA COURSE DETAILS :

I presume to know you have spent years studying IT, learning all sorts of weird and wonderful things you will never use , but you will still be starting at the beginning when you get a job.

I'm not saying what you learn in your degree isn't relevant to the real world. Paying attention and maintaining interest in those long boring networking lectures , will put your theoretical knowledge far ahead of a lot of support managers, I have come across in my 10 years in the field.

The real power of the degree comes later on when you have learned the actual skill set ... you or the one without the degree.

The MCP & CCNA will help a lot in pulling ahead of the rest of the field in getting a job as well but you are not unique, and a lot of universities are pushing their students through MCSE and CCNA alongside their degree, these days to help them afterward.

I don't think you understand how much this sort of input will help you later on in your career. There are so many people flooding into IT these days, you'll need every edge you can get.
Experience is the one real differentiator between candidates.

What is Cisco Certified Network Associate, ( CCNA ) Certification ?
CCNA certification is a high demand network certification in IT industrial area. It becomes the basic certificate requirement for many successful IT companies.
This is the most popular and entry level certification offered by Cisco.
Getting CCNA certified ensures that the candidate has enough knowledge to plan, configure, and operate simple routed WAN and switched LAN networks using Cisco products. CCNP - Cisco Certified Networking Professional is the next level of certification offered in the Cisco product implementation track. No pre-qualification is necessary to take CCNA exam. 640-802 is the only exam necessary to pass for obtaining CCNA certification. The exam covers topics on Extending Switched Networks with VLANS, Determining IP Routes, Managing IP traffic with Access Lists and extended Access Lists, Establishing Point-to-Point connections, OSPF, and Establishing Frame Relay Connections. You can also obtain CCNA certification by passing two exam track consisting of CCNA ICND1 (640-822), and CCNA ICND2 (640-816).

It is also an ideal way to start Cisco career path. Though Cisco lays no basic requirements to take this exam, a good understanding of OSI model is required. If you have no networking background, self preparation for CCNA takes about 4-6 months. A good place to begin your pursuit for CCNA is to get a copy of Cisco CCNA preparation library. It contains 3 books including ICND Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, which is a primary course recommended by Cisco. Another book, which is also part of preparation library, Cisco CCNA Exam #640-607 Certification Guide, enables you to prepare for actual CCNA certification. In addition to Cisco press books, I recommend CCNA by Todd Lammle from Sybex.
CCNA curriculum has not changed much over the years (except for inclusion of VLANs). At final stages of CCNA preparation, you can take some practice tests to gauge your preparedness to take the actual exams, and review any weak areas. I strongly recommend at least 10 -12 hours of lab experience. It also helps you in identifying different parts of routers such as ports, interfaces cables etc. As far as router simulations are concerned ,you could use for your convenience simulators from different vendors .It may help you in a way towards the exam preparations.
Exam Objectives :
1. Describe how a network works
2. Configure, verify and troubleshoot a switch with VLANs and interswitch communications
3. Implement an IP addressing scheme and IP Services to meet network requirements in a medium-size Enterprise branch office network.
4. Configure, verify, and troubleshoot basic router operation and routing on Cisco devices
5. Explain and select the appropriate administrative tasks required for a WLAN
6. Identify security threats to a network and describe general methods to mitigate those threats
7. Implement, verify, and troubleshoot NAT and ACLs in a medium-size Enterprise branch office network.
Implement and verify WAN links.
• 640-721:Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Networking Essentials (IUWNE)
• 640-553:IINS Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security
• 640-816:Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2
• 640-822:Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1
• 640-802:Cisco Certified Network Associate(CCNA)
• 640-821:Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies
• 640-811:Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices
• 640-801:Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• There are 2 paths for CCNA exam. either you give 1 composite exam 640-802 or give 2 exam 640-822(ICDN1) and 640-822(ICDN2) together.
• 640-802 = Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) v1.0
Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2) v1.0

Questions types:
• The exams are computer based, and include the following question types:
• Cisco Career Certification exams include the following test formats:
•
• Multiple-choice single answer
• Multiple-choice multiple answer
• Drag-and-drop
• Fill-in-the-blank
• Testlet
• Simlet
• Simulations
• Exhibit based questions

FAQ(s) :
What are the test requirements?
As mentioned previously, to attain CCNA certification, you must pass only one exam, i.e CCNA, exam code: 640-802. Broadly, the exam objectives are given below:
CCNA exam objectives:
• Bridging/Switching
• OSI Reference Model and Layered Communication
• Routed Protocols
• Routing Protocols
• WAN Protocols
• Wireless LAN
• Network Management
• LAN Technologies
• Cisco Basics, IOS, and Network Basics
How long will it take to prepare for CCNA certification exam?
If you are preparing for CCNA exams yourself (self learning), it is likely to take about 4-6 months of preparation (Assuming 3-4 hours of study per day). However, please note that the preparation time greatly depends on your background. If you are already involved in the networking technologies such as LANs, WANs, you may find it easy, and may require only a few weeks of preparation. On the other hand, if you are new to networking technologies, it may take about 6 months (assuming you don't take any formal classroom coaching).
What is the exam fee and who conduct the exams?
The exam fee for CCNA exam is about US$125. The exams are computer based, and Sylvan Prommetric (and VUE) conduct these exams.
This exam will cost you USD $250
OR
640-822 = Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) v1.0 USD $125
640-822 = Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2) v1.0 USD $125
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Ccna_exam_fees
Cisco all exams are conducted by Pearson Vue. You can checkout , Vue and CISCO website for more information regarding exam and payment details.
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/cc…
http://ciscoindia.net/index.html
https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/in…

CCNA

The following topics are general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the CCNA exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam.

Bridging/Switching




Name and describe two switching methods.

Distinguish between cut-through and store-and-forward LAN switching.

Describe the operation of the Spanning Tree Protocol and its benefits.

Describe the benefits of virtual LANs.


OSI Reference Model & Layered Communications


~
~
~
~
~

~
~

~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~ Describe data link and network addresses and identify key differences between them.
Define and describe the function of the MAC address.
List the key internetworking functions for the OSI Network layer.
Identify at least three reasons why the industry uses a layered model.
Describe the two parts of network addressing; then identify the parts in specific protocol address examples.
Define and explain the five conversion steps of data encapsulation.
Describe connection-oriented network service and connectionless network service, and identify their key differences.
Identify the parts in specific protocol address examples.
Describe the advantages of LAN segmentation.
Describe LAN segmentation using bridges.
Describe LAN segmentation using routers.
Describe LAN segmentation using switches.
Describe the benefits of network segmentation with bridges.
Describe the benefits of network segmentation with routers.
Describe the benefits of network segmentation with switches.

Network Protocols


~
~
~
~
~
~ Describe the different classes of IP addresses (and subnetting).
Identify the functions of the TCP/IP network-layer protocol.
Identify the functions performed by ICMP.
Configure IP addresses.
Verify IP addresses.
VLSM & CIDR

Routing

~
~
~
~
~ Define flow control and describe the three basic methods used in networking.
Add the RIP routing protocol to your configuration.
Add OSPF routing protocol to your configuration.
Add EIGRP routing protocol to your configuration.
Add the IGRP routing protocol to your configuration.

WAN Protocols

~
~
~
~
~
~ Recognize key Frame Relay terms and features.
List commands to configure Frame Relay LMIs, maps, and subinterfaces.
List commands to monitor Frame Relay operation in the router.
State a relevant use and context for ISDN networking.
Identify ISDN protocols, function groups, reference points, and channels.
Identify PPP operations to encapsulate WAN data on CISCO routers

Network Management


~
~
~ Configure standard access lists to figure IP traffic.
Configure extended access lists to filter IP traffic
Monitor and verify selected access list operations on the router.

LAN Design

~
~
~
~ Describe full- and half-duplex Ethernet operation.
Describe network congestion problem in Ethernet networks.
Describe the features and benefits of Fast Ethernet.
Describe the guidelines and distance limitations of Fast Ethernet.

Cisco Basics, IOS & Network Basics

~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~

~
~

~ Examine router elements.
Manage configuration files from the privilege EXEC mode.
Control router passwords, identification, and banner.
Identify the main CISCO IOS software commands for router startup.
Log in to a router in both user and privilege modes.
Check an initial configuration using the setup command.
Use the context-sensitive help facility.
Use the command history and editing features.
List the commands to load CISCO IOS software from: Flash memory, a TFTP server, or ROM.
Prepare to backup, upgrade, and load a backup CISCO IOS software image.
List problems that each routing type encounters when dealing with topology changes, and describe techniques to reduce the number of these problems.
Prepare the initial configuration of your router and enable IP.


Is it available in other languages?
Yes, please check with official website.
How long the certification is valid?
The certifications offered by Cisco Systems have limited validity (unlike Comptia exams, which have lifetime validity). The validity of Cisco certifications is usually of 3 years. You need to re-certify or achieve next level of certification to retain validity after 3 years.
What other certifications are available from Cisco Systems?
The other certification available are CCDA, CCNP, CCDP, CCIE, and others.

Keep focused! Wish you good luck in your pursuit of Cisco certifications.
With our completed CCNA resources , you will minimize your CCNA cost and be ready to pass your CCNA tests in Your First Try, WE BELIEVE SO !
I would be glad to receive any feedback/comments/questions from anyone intending to pursue Cisco certification track. Please email me at techinfiniteonline@gmail.com .
Kindly allow 24-48 hours for a reply. Thank you for reading, and good luck!

The views expressed here are the guide's views and do not represent that of Cisco® or any other Company. He can be reached at techinfiniteonline@gmail.com
Note: It is recommended to check with the official website for accurate and up-to-date information.