CISCO offers certification in different domains -routing and switching, service provider, security and voice.

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)

The 640-802 CCNA is the composite exam associated with the Cisco Certified Network
Associate certification. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the Interconnecting
Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) v1.0 and the Interconnecting Cisco Networking
Devices Part 2 (ICND2) v1.0 courses. This exam tests a candidate's knowledge and skills required to
install, operate, and troubleshoot a small to medium size enterprise branch network. The topics
include connecting to a WAN; implementing network security; network types; network media; routing and switching fundamentals; the TCP/IP and OSI models; IP addressing; WAN technologies; operating and configuring IOS devices; extending switched networks with VLANs; determining IP routes; managing IP traffic with access lists; establishing point-to-point connections; and establishing Frame Relay connections.

Understanding Networks
• Purpose and functions of various network devices
• Components needed to meet a network specification
• OSI and TCP/IP models and their associated protocols to explain how data flows in a network
• Common networked applications including web applications
• Purpose and basic operation of the protocols in the OSI and TCP models
• Impact of applications such as Voice Over IP on a network
• Understanding network diagrams
• Defining the path between two hosts across a network
• Components required for network and Internet communications
• Identification and correction of common network problems at layers different OSI layers
• Difference between LAN/WAN operation and features

Configuration, verification and troubleshooting switch in VLANs and inter switch environment

• Selection of appropriate media, cables, ports, and connectors to connect switches to other network devices and hosts

• Technology and media access control method for Ethernet networks

• Network segmentation and basic traffic management concepts

• Basic switching concepts and operation of Cisco switches

• Initial switch configuration tasks including remote access management

Verification of network status and switch operation using basic utilities (including: ping, traceroute, telnet, SSH, arp, ipconfig), and SHOW DEBUG commands

• Common switched network media issues, configuration issues, auto negotiation, and switch hardware failures

• Enhanced switching technologies (including: VTP, RSTP, VLAN, PVSTP, 802.1q)

• VLANs creation and their operation

• Configuration, verification and troubleshooting VLANs

• Configuration, verification and troubleshooting Cisco switches

• Configuration, verification and troubleshooting inter VLAN routing

• Configuration, verification and troubleshooting VTP

• Configuration, verification and troubleshooting RSTP operation

• Understanding output of various show and debug commands to verify operational status of a Cisco switched network.

• Basic switch security (including: port security, trunk access, management vlan other than vlan1, etc.)

IP Addressing

• Operation and benefits of using private and public IP addressing

Working and advantage of using DHCP and DNS

Configuration, verification and troubleshooting DHCP and DNS operation on a router

Configuration of static and dynamic addressing services for hosts in a LAN environment

Calculation and application of addressing scheme including VLSM IP addressing to a network

Selection of appropriate classless addressing scheme using VLSM and summarization to satisfy addressing requirements in a LAN/WAN environment

Technological requirements for running IPv6 in conjunction with IPv4 (including: protocols, dual stack, tunnelling etc.)

IPv6 addresses

Common problems associated with IP addressing and host configurations

Configuration, verification and troubleshooting basic router operation

Basic routing concepts (including: packet forwarding, router lookup process)

Operation of Cisco routers (including: router bootup process, POST, router components)

Selection of appropriate media, cables, ports, and connectors to connect routers to other network devices and hosts

Configuration, verification and troubleshooting RIPv2

Accessing and utilizing router to set basic parameters.(including: CLI/SDM), connecting, configuring, and verifying operation status of a device interface

Verification of device configuration and network connectivity using ping, traceroute, telnet, SSH or other utilities

Routing configuration tasks for a static or default route given specific routing requirements

Managing IOS configuration files. (including: save, edit, upgrade, restore)

Managing Cisco IOS

Comparison and contrast of routing and routing protocols

Configuration, verification and troubleshooting OSPF

Configuration, verification and troubleshooting EIGRP

Verifying network connectivity (including: using ping, traceroute, and telnet or SSH)

Troubleshooting routing issues

Verifying router hardware and software operation using SHOW DEBUG commands.

Implementing basic router security

Administrative tasks required for a WLAN

Wireless media standards (including: IEEE, WI-FI Alliance and ITU/FCC)

Understanding components in a small wireless network (Including: SSID, BSS, ESS)

Basic parameters to configure on a wireless network

Comparison and contrast of wireless security features and capabilities (including: open, WEP, WPA-1/2)

Common issues with implementing wireless networks. (Including: Interface, misconfiguration)

Identify security threats to a network and describe general methods to;mitigate those threats
• Increasing network security threats and need to implement comprehensive security policy

• General methods to mitigate common security threats to network devices, hosts, and applications
• Functions of common security appliances and applications

• Security recommended practices including initial steps to secure network devices

Implementation, verification and troubleshooting NAT and ACLs

• Purpose and types of ACLs

• Configuration and application of ACLs based on network filtering requirements

• Configuration and application of ACL to limit telnet and SSH access

• Verification and monitoring ACLs in a network environment

• Troubleshooting ACL issues

• Basic operation of NAT and its configuration

• Troubleshooting NAT issues Implement and verify WAN links

• Different methods for connecting to a WAN

• Configuration and verification of basic WAN serial connection

• Configuration and verification of Frame Relay on Cisco routers

• Troubleshooting WAN implementation issues

• VPN technology (including: importance, benefits, role, impact, components)

• Configuration and verification of PPP connection between Cisco routers