CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) Routing and Switching is a certification program offered by Cisco Systems, one of the leading providers of networking equipment and solutions globally. This certification is designed to validate the knowledge and skills required for entry-level network professionals to install, operate, and troubleshoot small to medium-sized enterprise branch networks.
Key Components of CCNA Routing and Switching:
Routing Concepts:
- Understanding how routers operate.
- Configuring and troubleshooting routing protocols like OSPF, EIGRP, and RIP.
- Implementing static routing and default routing.
Switching Concepts:
- Understanding how switches operate.
- Configuring and troubleshooting VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks).
- Implementing and troubleshooting inter-VLAN routing.
Network Basics:
- Understanding the basics of IP addressing, subnetting, and variable-length subnet masking (VLSM).
- Configuring and troubleshooting IPv4 and IPv6 addressing.
WAN (Wide Area Network) Technologies:
- Configuring and troubleshooting point-to-point and frame relay WAN connections.
- Understanding broadband technologies like DSL and cable.
Infrastructure Security:
- Implementing basic security measures for network devices.
- Configuring and troubleshooting network security protocols.
Infrastructure Services:
- Understanding and configuring DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) and DNS (Domain Name System).
- Configuring and troubleshooting NAT (Network Address Translation).
Network Device Management:
- Configuring and troubleshooting device management protocols like SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).
- Managing device configurations using TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol).
Certification Exam: To earn the CCNA Routing and Switching certification, candidates typically need to pass a comprehensive exam that covers the topics mentioned above. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions, simulations, and practical scenarios designed to assess practical knowledge and skills.
Career Benefits: Achieving CCNA Routing and Switching certification provides individuals with a solid foundation for various roles in networking, including network administrator, network technician, and support engineer. It is a stepping stone for more advanced certifications and helps professionals demonstrate their competence in managing Cisco-based networks.
Updates and Evolutions:
It’s important to note that certification programs, including CCNA, undergo updates to align with industry advancements. As of my knowledge cutoff in January 2022, Cisco has introduced a new certification framework called the Cisco Certification and Training Program, which may have modified the CCNA Routing and Switching certification. Always check Cisco’s official website for the latest information and exam details.
Get CCNA Routing & Switching Certificate from The Digital Adda which you can share in the Certifications section of your LinkedIn profile, on printed resumes, CVs, or other documents.
Exam Details:
- Format: Multiple Choice Question
- Questions: 15
- Passing Score: 80%
- Language: English
Here are the Questions and Answers:
Question 1: Which layer of the OSI model is responsible for determining the best path for data to travel between devices in different networks?
- Physical
- Network
- Data Link
- Transport
Question 2: What is the purpose of a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) in a network?
- Physical segmentation of the network
- Logical segmentation of the network
- Increasing the speed of the network
- Connecting different physical locations
Question 3: Which routing protocol uses the DUAL (Diffusing Update Algorithm) to determine the best path to a destination network?
- OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)
- RIP (Routing Information Protocol)
- EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol)
- BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
Question 4: What is the purpose of the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) in a TCP/IP network?
- Resolving a MAC address to an IP address
- Resolving an IP address to a MAC address
- Resolving a domain name to an IP address
- Establishing a secure communication channel
Question 5: In the context of subnetting, what is the purpose of a subnet mask?
- Identifying the network portion of an IP address
- Identifying the host portion of an IP address
- Identifying the default gateway
- Identifying the broadcast address
Question 6: Which device operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model and is used to forward frames based on MAC addresses?
- Router
- Hub
- Switch
- Repeater
Question 7: What is the purpose of the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) in a network?
- Assigning static IP addresses
- Resolving domain names to IP addresses
- Dynamically assigning IP addresses to devices
- Establishing secure connections
Question 8: Which protocol is commonly used for secure remote access to a network over the Internet?
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
- SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
- SSH (Secure Shell)
- SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
Question 9: What is the primary function of a router in a network?
- Forwarding data frames based on MAC addresses
- Forwarding data packets between different IP networks
- Switching data at Layer 2 of the OSI model
- Providing physical connectivity to devices
Question 10: Which command is used to display the routing table on a Cisco router?
- Show ip interface brief
- Show running-config
- Show ip route
- Show mac address-table
Question 11: What is the default administrative distance for a static route in a Cisco router?
- 90
- 100
- 110
- 120
Question 12: Which switching method uses the entire frame to make a forwarding decision?
- Cut-through
- Fragment-free
- Store-and-forward
- Fast-forward
Question 13: Which subnet is reserved for loopback addresses in IPv4?
- 127.0.0.0/8
- 192.168.0.0/24
- 10.0.0.0/8
- 172.16.0.0/12
Question 14: What is the purpose of the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) in a network with redundant links?
- Load balancing
- Reducing broadcast domain
- Preventing broadcast storms
- Eliminating network loops
Question 15: In the context of IPv6, what is the purpose of the Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP)?
- Resolving MAC addresses to IPv6 addresses
- Dynamically assigning IPv6 addresses
- Discovering neighboring devices on the same link
- Routing IPv6 packets between networks