Introduction:
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is an entry-level certification that validates the foundational knowledge required to work with network infrastructures. The CCNA course provides participants with the necessary skills to install, configure, and troubleshoot networks and work with Cisco networking devices. It covers networking fundamentals, IP addressing, routing, switching, security, and troubleshooting, with a focus on Cisco technologies. This course is designed for individuals looking to begin a career in networking or for those who want to expand their skills in network administration.

Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of networking and the OSI model.
• Configure and troubleshoot Cisco routers and switches.
• Implement and manage IPv4 and IPv6 addressing.
• Understand and configure routing protocols, including OSPF and EIGRP.
• Implement VLANs, trunking, and inter-VLAN routing.
• Understand network security basics and configure basic security features on Cisco devices.
• Use network management tools and perform network troubleshooting.
• Prepare for the CCNA certification exam.

Who Should Attend?
This course is designed for individuals who are new to networking and those who want to pursue the CCNA certification. It is suitable for:

• Network administrators and engineers.
• IT support professionals and system administrators.
• Students pursuing a career in network engineering or administration.
• Professionals preparing for the CCNA certification exam.

Day 1: Introduction to Networking and Network Fundamentals

Morning Session:

• Introduction to Networking

  • What is networking? The role of networks in business and everyday communication.
  • Basic networking concepts: Devices, protocols, and topologies.
  • Understanding the OSI model and TCP/IP stack.
  • Introduction to the various types of networks: LAN, WAN, MAN, WLAN.
  • IP addressing and subnetting fundamentals.

• Basic Networking Devices and Their Functions

  • Routers, switches, hubs, and bridges: What they are and their roles in a network.
  • Differences between layer 2 (switching) and layer 3 (routing) devices.
  • Introduction to Cisco devices: Cisco routers and switches.

Afternoon Session:

• Hands-On Lab: Configuring Cisco Devices
  • Introduction to Cisco routers and switches.
  • Basic device setup: Connecting and configuring a Cisco router and switch.
  • Assigning IP addresses to routers and configuring basic connectivity.
  • Exploring Cisco IOS commands for device management.

Day 2: IP Addressing, Subnetting, and VLANs

Morning Session:

• IP Addressing and Subnetting

  • IPv4 addressing: Structure of IP addresses, subnet masks, and default gateway.
  • Classful and classless addressing.
  • Subnetting: How to divide a network into smaller subnets.
  • VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Mask) and CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing).
  • IPv6 addressing: Structure and differences from IPv4.

• Hands-On Lab: IP Addressing and Subnetting

  • Participants will practice subnetting exercises.
  • Configuring IP addressing on Cisco routers and devices.
  • Verifying IP configurations using Cisco commands.

Afternoon Session:

• Introduction to VLANs

  • What is a VLAN? The purpose and advantages of VLANs.
  • VLAN tagging and VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP).
  • Configuring VLANs on Cisco switches.
  • VLAN routing: Inter-VLAN routing using routers and Layer 3 switches.

• Hands-On Lab: Configuring VLANs

  • Participants will configure VLANs on a Cisco switch.
  • Setting up inter-VLAN routing using a router or Layer 3 switch.

Day 3: Routing Protocols and Switching Concepts

Morning Session:

• Routing Basics

  • Introduction to routing and how routers work in networks.
  • Routing tables: How routers determine the best path for data.
  • Static vs. dynamic routing.
  • Introduction to routing protocols: RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP.

• Configuring Static Routing

  • How to configure static routes on a Cisco router.
  • Verifying and troubleshooting static routes.

Afternoon Session:

• Dynamic Routing with OSPF

  • OSPF (Open Shortest Path First): A link-state routing protocol.
  • Configuring OSPF on Cisco routers.
  • OSPF network types, areas, and cost metrics.

• Hands-On Lab: Configuring Routing

  • Participants will configure static and dynamic routing on Cisco routers.
  • Configuring OSPF on routers and verifying OSPF routing tables.

Day 4: Switching and Network Security

Morning Session:

• Switching Basics

  • Introduction to Layer 2 switching and its role in network communication.
  • MAC addresses and the process of forwarding frames.
  • The role of ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) in switching.
  • Troubleshooting common Layer 2 issues.

• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

  • The role of STP in preventing network loops.
  • Configuring and troubleshooting STP on Cisco switches.

Afternoon Session:

• Network Security Concepts

  • Basic network security principles: Confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
  • Configuring basic security features: Password protection, SSH, and access control lists (ACLs).
  • Securing Cisco devices: Configuring device hardening, disabling unused ports, and securing management access.

• Hands-On Lab: Switch Configuration and Security

  • Participants will configure switches with VLANs and STP.
  • Implementing basic security measures such as SSH and ACLs on Cisco devices.

Day 5: Network Troubleshooting and Final Exam Preparation

Morning Session:

• Network Troubleshooting Methodology

  • The steps in troubleshooting network issues: Identifying, isolating, and resolving problems.
  • Using Cisco diagnostic tools: ping, traceroute, show commands, and debug commands.
  • Common network issues: IP addressing problems, routing issues, VLAN misconfigurations, and STP problems.

• Troubleshooting Routing and Switching Issues

  • Troubleshooting dynamic routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, and EIGRP).
  • Troubleshooting VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, and Layer 2 switching issues.

Afternoon Session:

• Hands-On Lab: Troubleshooting Network Issues

  • Participants will troubleshoot various network issues related to IP addressing, routing, and VLANs using Cisco diagnostic tools.

• Final Exam Preparation and Review

  • Recap of key concepts and configurations covered during the course.
  • Exam preparation tips and strategies.
  • Practice exam questions to test knowledge and readiness.

• Final Q&A and Certification Exam

  • Open Q&A session to address any last-minute questions.
  • Certification exam to assess participants’ understanding of CCNA concepts.
  • Awarding of certificates to successful participants.