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31 Days Before your CCNA Exam: A Day-By-Day Review Guide for the CCNA 200-301 Certification Exam, 2nd Edition

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  • Description
  • Sample Content
  • Updates
  • Copyright 2025
  • Dimensions: 6" x 9"
  • Pages: 512
  • Edition: 2nd
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-13-821425-5
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-821425-8
  • eBook
  • ISBN-10: 0-13-821410-7
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-821410-4

31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam: A Day-By-Day Review Guide for the CCNA 200-301 Certification Exam Second Edition is the friendliest, most practical way to understand the CCNA Routing and Switching certification process; to commit to taking your CCNA 200-301 exam; and to finish your preparation using a variety of primary and supplemental study resources.

Thoroughly updated for the current exam, this portable guide offers a complete day-by-day plan for what and how to study. From the basics of switch configuration and IP addressing through modern cloud, virtualization, SDN, SDA, and network automation concepts, youll find it here. Each day breaks down an exam topic into a short, easy-to-review summary, with

Daily Study Resource quick-references pointing to deeper treatments elsewhere. Sign up for your exam now, and use this

day-by-day guide and checklist to organize, prepare, review, and succeed!

How this book helps you fit exam prep into your busy schedule:

Visual downloadable calendar summarizes each days study topic to help you get through everything

Checklist offers expert advice on preparation activities leading up to your exam

Descriptions of exam organization and sign-up processes help make sure nothing falls between the cracks

Proven strategies help you prepare mentally, organizationally, and physically

Conversational tone makes studying more enjoyable

Primary Resources:

CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Library Second Edition

ISBN: 978-0-13-822139-3

Introduction to Networks v7 Companion Guide

ISBN: 978-0-13-663366-2

Introduction to Networks v7 Labs and Study Guide

ISBN: 978-0-13-663445-4

Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials v7 Companion Guide

ISBN: 978-0-13-672935-8

Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials v7 Labs and Study Guide

ISBN: 978-0-13-663438-6

Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation v7 Companion Guide

ISBN: 978-0-13-663432-4

Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation v7 Labs and Study Guide

ISBN: 978-0-13-663469-0

Supplemental Resources:

CCNA 200-301 Portable Command Guide, Fifth Edition

ISBN: 978-0-13-593782-2

CCNA 200-301 Version 1.1 Video Course, Second Edition

ISBN: 978-0-13-821361-9

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages (includes Day 22)

Table of Contents

Introduction xxviii

Day 31: Networking Models, Devices, and Components 1

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 1

    Key Points 1

    The OSI and TCP/IP Models 1

    The TCP/IP Application Layer 5

    The TCP/IP Transport Layer 5

    The TCP/IP Internet Layer 10

    The TCP/IP Network Access Layer 11

    Data Encapsulation Summary 12

    Networking Icons 13

    Devices 14

    Physical Layer 20

    LAN Device Connection Guidelines 22

    LANs and WANs 23

    Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) 23

    Physical and Logical Topologies 25

    Hierarchical Campus Designs 25

    Study Resources 27

Day 30: Ethernet Switching 29

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 29

    Key Topics 29

    Evolution to Switching 29

    Switching Logic 30

    Collision and Broadcast Domains 31

    Frame Forwarding 31

    Ethernet Overview 32

    Legacy Ethernet Technologies 33

    Current Ethernet Technologies 35

    UTP Cabling 36

    Benefits of Using Switches 37

    Ethernet Addressing 37

    Ethernet Framing 38

    The Role of the Physical Layer 39

    Study Resources 40

Day 29: Switch Configuration Basics 41

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 41

    Key Topics 41

    Accessing and Navigating the Cisco IOS 41

    Basic Switch Configuration Commands 46

    Half Duplex, Full Duplex, and Port Speed 48

    Verifying Network Connectivity 49

    Troubleshoot Interface and Cable Issues 52

    Study Resources 55

Day 28: IPv4 Addressing 57

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 57

    Key Topics 57

    IPv4 Addressing 57

    Private and Public IP Addressing 60

    Subnetting in Four Steps 60

    VLSM 64

    Study Resources 66

Day 27: IPv6 Addressing 67

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 67

    Key Topics 67

    Overview and Benefits of IPv6 67

    The IPv6 Protocol 68

    IPv6 Address Types 69

    Representing the IPv6 Address 78

    IPv6 Subnetting 79

    EUI-64 Concept 80

    Stateless Address Autoconfiguration 81

    Migration to IPv6 82

    Study Resources 83

Day 26: VLAN and Trunking Concepts and Configurations 85

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 85

    Key Points 85

    VLAN Concepts 85

    Trunking VLANs 88

    VLAN Configuration and Verification 90

    Trunking Configuration and Verification 94

    VLAN Troubleshooting 97

    Trunking Troubleshooting 99

    Study Resources 101

Day 25: STP 103

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topic 103

    Key Topics 103

    STP Concepts and Operation 103

    STP Algorithm 104

    STP Convergence 105

    STP Varieties 106

    PVST Operation 107

    Rapid PVST+ Operation 109

    RSTP Interface Behavior 110

    RSTP Port Roles 110

    Edge Ports 111

    Configuring and Verifying Varieties of STP 112

    Study Resources 119

Day 24: EtherChannel and HSRP 121

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 121

    Key Topics 121

    EtherChannel Operation 121

    EtherChannel Protocols 123

    Configuring EtherChannel 124

    Verifying EtherChannel 125

    Troubleshooting EtherChannel 127

    First-Hop Redundancy Concepts 128

    FHRPs 129

    HSRP Operation 130

    HSRP Configuration and Verification 131

    HSRP Load Balancing 132

    Troubleshooting HSRP 135

    VRRP and GLBP 135

    Study Resources 136

Day 23: DHCP and DNS 137

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 137

    Key Topics 137

    DHCPv4 137

    DHCPv4 Configuration Options 138

    DHCPv6 144

    DHCPv6 Configuration Options 147

    DHCP Troubleshooting 149

    DNS Operation 150

    Troubleshooting DNS 152

    Verifying Host IP Configuration 153

    Study Resources 158

Day 22: Wireless Concepts 159

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 159

    Key Topics 159

    Wireless Standards 159

    Wireless Topologies 163

    AP Architectures 165

    Wireless Security Protocols 168

    Study Resources 172

Day 21: WLAN Configuration 173

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 173

    Key Topics 173

    Logging Into a Cisco WLC 173

    Configuring a WLC with a WLAN 175

    Study Resources 181

Day 20: LAN Security and Device Hardening 183

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 183

    Key Topics 183

    Access Control 183

    Port Security 189

    LAN Threat Mitigation 193

    Study Resources 201

Day 19: Basic Routing Concepts 203

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 203

    Key Topics 203

    Packet Forwarding 203

    Routing Methods 205

    Classifying Dynamic Routing Protocols 206

    Dynamic Routing Metrics 208

    Administrative Distance 209

    IGP Comparison Summary 211

    Routing Loop Prevention 211

    Link-State Routing Protocol Features 212

    Study Resources 215

Day 18: Basic Router Configuration 217

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 217

    Key Topics 217

    Basic Router Configuration with IPv4 217

    Basic Router Configuration with IPv6 225

    Verifying IPv4 and IPv6 Network Connectivity 229

    Small Office or Home Office Routers 231

    Basic IP Addressing Troubleshooting 233

    Study Resources 234

Day 17: The Routing Table 235

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 235

    Key Topics 235

    Two Router Functions 235

    Components of the Routing Table 236

    Routing Table Principles 239

    Route Entry Structure 240

    Study Resources 241

Day 16: Inter-VLAN Routing 243

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 243

    Key Points 243

    Inter-VLAN Routing Concepts 243

    Router on a Stick Configuration and Verification 245

    Multilayer Switching Inter-VLAN Routing Configuration and Verification 248

    Study Resources 250

Day 15: Static and Default Route Configuration 251

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 251

    Key Topics 251

    Static and Default Routing Overview 251

    IPv4 Static Route Configuration 252

    Study Resources 264

Day 14: OSPF Operation 265

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 265

    Key Topics 265

    Single-Area OSPF Operation 265

    OSPF DR and BDR 269

    OSPF Algorithm 269

    Link-State Routing Process 270

    OSPFv2 Versus OSPFv3 271

    Multiarea OSPF Operation 272

    Study Resources 274

Day 13: Single-Area OSPF Implementation 275

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 275

    Key Topics 275

    Single-Area OSPFv2 Configuration 275

    Verifying OSPFv2 280

    Study Resources 284

Day 12: Fine-Tuning and Troubleshooting OSPF 285

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 285

    Key Topics 285

    OSPFv2 Configuration Example 285

    Modifying OSPFv2 287

    Troubleshooting OSPF 291

    Study Resources 293

Day 11: Network Security Concepts 295

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 295

    Key Topics 295

    Security Fundamentals 295

    Network Attacks 299

    Security Program 302

    Password Vulnerabilities 303

    Password Alternatives 304

    Study Resources 306

Day 10: ACL Concepts 307

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 307

    Key Topics 307

    ACL Operation 307

    Planning to Use ACLs 309

    Study Resources 312

Day 9: ACL Implementation 313

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 313

    Key Topics 313

    Configuring Standard Numbered IPv4 ACLs 313

    Configuring Extended Numbered IPv4 ACLs 315

    Configuring Named IPv4 ACLs 317

    Verifying IPv4 ACLs 319

    Comparing IPv4 and IPv6 ACLs 320

    Configuring IPv6 ACLs 321

    Verifying IPv6 ACLs 323

    Troubleshooting ACLs 326

    Study Resources 326

Day 8: NAT 329

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 329

    Key Topics 329

    NAT Concepts 329

    Configuring Static NAT 334

    Verifying NAT 336

    Troubleshooting NAT 337

    Study Resources 338

Day 7: WAN, VPN, and IPsec 339

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 339

    Key Topics 339

    WAN Topologies 339

    WAN Connection Options 340

    VPN Technology 346

    Study Resources 355

Day 6: QoS 357

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topic 357

    Key Topics 357

    QoS 357

    Study Resources 364

Day 5: CDP and LLDP 365

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topic 365

    Key Topics 365

    CDP Overview 365

    LLDP Overview 371

    Study Resources 374

Day 4: Device Monitoring, Management, and Maintenance 375

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 375

    Key Topics 375

    SNMP Operation 375

    Configuring SNMP 378

    Verifying SNMP 378

    Syslog 380

    Network Time Protocol 384

    Cisco IOS File System and Devices 385

    Managing Cisco IOS Images 390

    Password Recovery 392

    Study Resources 393

Day 3: Cloud, Virtualization, and SDN 395

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 395

    Key Topics 395

    Cloud Computing 395

    Software-Defined Networking 399

    Study Resources 405

Day 2: Cisco SD-Access, Ansible, and Terraform 407

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 407

    Key Topics 407

    Cisco SD-Access 407

    Configuration Management Tools: Ansible and Terraform 418

    Study Resources 427

Day 1: Data Formats, REST, and AI 429

    CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics 429

    Key Topics 429

    Data Formats 429

    RESTful APIs 432

    AI and ML in IT Operations 435

    Study Resources 442

Exam Day 443

Post-Exam Information 445

CCNA Countdown Calendar 447

Exam Checklist 449

9780138214258, TOC, 10/11/2024

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