Exam: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) 200-301 Duration: 120 minutes | Questions: 100–120 | Passing Score: ~825/1000 Domains: 6 | Total Weight: 100%
This curriculum maps all study content to the official Cisco exam blueprint. Work through each chapter in order — IP Connectivity (Ch3) and Network Access (Ch2) carry the most exam weight and contain the most simulation questions.
---
| Topic | File | |-------|------| | About the CCNA — exam format, question types, career path | introduction/about-the-ccna | | Exam Domains and Weights — all six domains with topic breakdowns | introduction/exam-domains-and-weights | | Study Strategies — four-phase study plan, lab tools, exam day tips | introduction/study-strategies |
---
The conceptual foundation of all networking. Master subnetting before moving forward — it appears in every domain.
| Topic | File | |-------|------| | OSI and TCP/IP Models — layers, PDUs, protocols, encapsulation | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/osi-and-tcp-ip-models | | IPv4 Addressing and Subnetting — block-size method, VLSM, CIDR | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/ipv4-addressing-and-subnetting | | Switching Concepts — CAM table, forwarding behaviors, duplex, MAC flooding | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/switching-concepts | | TCP and UDP — three-way handshake, windowing, port numbers, use cases | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/tcp-and-udp | | Wireless Principles — 802.11 standards, CSMA/CA, non-overlapping channels | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/wireless-principles | | Virtualization Fundamentals — Type 1/2 hypervisors, VRF, cloud models | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/virtualization-fundamentals | | Network Components — routers, switches, firewalls, APs, endpoints | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/network-components | | Network Topologies — star, mesh, hybrid, spine-leaf | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/network-topologies | | Physical Interfaces and Cabling — copper, fiber, SFP, PoE | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/physical-interfaces-and-cabling | | IPv6 Addressing — global unicast, link-local, EUI-64, multicast | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/ipv6-addressing | | IP Parameters for Client OS — Windows/Mac/Linux IP config verification | chapter-1---network-fundamentals/ip-parameters-client-os |
Priority: OSI model, subnetting, and switching concepts are tested most heavily.
---
Switch configuration domain. Simulation-heavy — know the full CLI sequences cold.
| Topic | File | |-------|------| | VLANs and Configuration — access/trunk ports, 802.1Q, DTP, vlan.dat | chapter-2---network-access/vlans-configuration | | Spanning Tree Protocol — BID election, port states/roles, PortFast, BPDU Guard | chapter-2---network-access/spanning-tree-protocol | | Trunking and 802.1Q — tag structure, native VLAN, DTP negotiation outcomes | chapter-2---network-access/trunking-802-1q | | EtherChannel — LACP vs. PAgP, bundling requirements, load balancing | chapter-2---network-access/etherchannel | | Inter-VLAN Routing Deep Dive — router-on-a-stick vs. Layer 3 SVI | chapter-2---network-access/inter-vlan-routing-deep-dive | | Layer 2 Discovery Protocols — CDP vs. LLDP, security implications | chapter-2---network-access/layer-2-discovery-protocols | | Wireless Architectures — autonomous vs. controller-based, CAPWAP, FlexConnect | chapter-2---network-access/wireless-architectures | | Network Access Troubleshooting — VLAN mismatch, err-disable, STP root | chapter-2---network-access/network-access-troubleshooting |
Priority: VLANs + STP + inter-VLAN routing are the core simulation trio.
---
The largest domain. OSPF is the primary simulation topic — master it completely.
| Topic | File | |-------|------| | Routing Table Components — codes (C/L/S/O), longest prefix match, AD | chapter-3---ip-connectivity/routing-table-components | | Router Forwarding Decisions — CEF, TTL, Layer 2 rewrite per hop | chapter-3---ip-connectivity/router-forwarding-decisions | | Static Routing — network/default/host/floating static, IPv6 static | chapter-3---ip-connectivity/static-routing | | OSPFv2 Fundamentals — neighbor requirements, DR/BDR, cost, states | chapter-3---ip-connectivity/ospfv2-fundamentals | | OSPFv2 Configuration — network statement, passive interface, reference bandwidth | chapter-3---ip-connectivity/ospfv2-configuration | | OSPF Troubleshooting — adjacency states, MTU mismatch, area mismatch | chapter-3---ip-connectivity/ospf-troubleshooting | | First-Hop Redundancy — HSRP, VRRP, GLBP, preemption, virtual MAC | chapter-3---ip-connectivity/first-hop-redundancy | | IPv4 Troubleshooting — ping codes, one-way reachability, missing routes | chapter-3---ip-connectivity/ipv4-troubleshooting |
Priority: OSPF configuration + troubleshooting = the exam. Know all neighbor states and their causes.
---
Protocol reference domain. Mostly multiple-choice — focus on key distinctions and terminology.
| Topic | File | |-------|------| | DHCP and DNS — DORA process, ip helper-address, DNS record types | chapter-4---ip-services/dhcp-and-dns | | NAT and PAT — address terminology, static/dynamic/overload config | chapter-4---ip-services/nat-and-pat | | NTP, SNMP, and Syslog — stratum levels, Get/Trap/Inform, severity 0-7 | chapter-4---ip-services/ntp-snmp-syslog | | QoS Fundamentals — DSCP/CoS, EF=46, LLQ, policing vs. shaping | chapter-4---ip-services/qos-fundamentals | | TFTP, FTP, and Remote Access — UDP vs. TCP, auth, SCP for encryption | chapter-4---ip-services/tftp-ftp-remote-access | | IP Services Comprehensive Review — all domain topics consolidated | chapter-4---ip-services/ip-services-comprehensive-review |
Priority: NAT terminology (4 address types) and syslog severity levels appear on virtually every exam.
---