Cisco Certified Network Associates

The course is designed to help students prepare for entry-level career opportunities, continuing education, and globally recognized certifications. The course is supported by classroom instruction, online assessments, hands-on labs, and interactive learning tools to help students succeed. The following two courses have been introduced.

1. IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software: - IT Essentials provides an overview of computer fundamentals and an introduction to advanced concepts. The student will be awarded with the advance diploma degree on the completion of course.

2. CCNA Exploration:-  CCNA Exploration provides a comprehensive overview of foundation to advanced networking concepts, with an emphasis on theory as well as practical application. The student will be awarded with certification on the completion of course. CCNA Exploration helps prepare students for entry–level career opportunities, continuing education, and globally–recognized Cisco CCNA certification.

Course Description

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software

The IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software curriculum provides an introduction to the computer hardware and software skills needed to help meet the growing demand for entry-level information and communication technology (ICT) professionals. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of PC technology, networking, and security, and also provides an introduction to advanced concepts.

Students who complete this course will be able to describe the internal components of a computer, assemble a computer system, install an operating system, and troubleshoot using system tools and diagnostic software. Hands-on labs and Virtual Laptop and Virtual Desktop learning tools help students develop critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills. Cisco Packet Tracer simulation-based learning activities promote the exploration of network and networking security concepts and allow students to experiment with network behavior.

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software is a hands-on, career-oriented e-learning solution with an emphasis on practical experience to help students develop fundamental computer skills, along with essential career skills. The curriculum helps students prepare for entry-level ICT career opportunities and the CompTIA A+ certification, which helps students differentiate themselves in the marketplace to advance their careers. In addition, the course provides a learning pathway to the CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration curricula.

CCNA Exploration

The Cisco CCNA Exploration curriculum provides an integrated and comprehensive coverage of networking topics, from fundamentals to advanced applications and services, while providing opportunities for hands-on practical experience and soft-skills development. The curriculum teaches networking based on technology, covering networking concepts using a top-down, theoretical, and integrated approach – from network applications to the network protocols and services provided to those applications by the lower layers of the network.

CCNA Exploration is designed for students with advanced problem solving and analytical skills. The curriculum offers a comprehensive and theoretical learning experience for analytical students, and uses language that aligns well with engineering concepts. Interactive activities are embedded in the curriculum, along with detailed, theoretical content. Advanced labs build critical thinking and problem solving skills and encourage exploration and research.

CCNA Exploration can be delivered as an independent curriculum or integrated into a broader course of study, such as degree programs in IT, engineering, math, or science. While primarily designed for postsecondary institutions, CCNA Exploration is appropriate for students at many education levels if they have the required skills, and if the instructional approach complements their learning style and educational goals.

CCNA Exploration helps prepare students for entry-level career opportunities, continuing education, and globally-recognized Cisco CCNA certification.

CCNA Exploration Course Objectives

(A) CCNA Network Fundamentals Course Objectives

• Describe how networks impact our daily lives.
• Describe the role of data networking in the human network.
• Identify the key components of any data network.
• Describe the characteristics of network architectures: fault tolerance, scalability, quality of service and security.
• Devices that make up the network.
• Rules and processes that govern network communications.
• Tools and commands for constructing and maintaining networks.
• Describe how the functions of the three upper OSI model layers provide network services to end user applications.
• Describe how the TCP/IP Application Layer protocols provide the services specified by the upper layers of the OSI model.
• Describe the function of well-known TCP/IP applications.
• Describe file-sharing processes that use peer-to-peer applications and the Gnutella protocol.
• Explain how protocols ensure services running on one kind of device can send to and receive data from many different network devices.
• Use network analysis tools to examine and explain how common user applications work.
• Describe how to Transport Layer enables multiple applications to communicate over the network at the same time on a single device.
• Identify the role of the Network layer as it describes communication from one end device to another end device.
• Examine the most common Network layer protocol, Internet Protocol (IP), and its features for providing connectionless and best-effort service.
• Understand the hierarchical addressing of devices and how this allows communication between networks.
• Explain the structure IP addressing and demonstrate the ability to convert between 8-bit binary and decimal numbers.
• Variable Length Subnetting (VLSM).
• Explain the role of Data Link layer protocols in data transmission and how the Data Link layer prepares data for transmission on network media.
• Explain the role of Physical layer protocols, services in supporting communication across data networks, and the purpose of Physical layer signaling and encoding as they are used in networks.

(B) Routing Protocols and Concepts Course Objectives

• Identify a router as a computer with an operating system (OS) and hardware designed for the routing process.
• Demonstrate the ability to configure devices and apply address.
• Describe the structure and elements of a routing table.
• Describe the various route types found in the routing table structure.
• Describe the route lookup process.
• Describe the routing behavior in routed networks.
• Describe how a router determines a path and switches packets.
• Describe static routes with exit interfaces.
• Describe summary and default route.
• Identify how to manage and troubleshoot static routes.
• Describe the role of dynamic routing protocols and place these protocols in the context of modern network design.
• Identify several ways to classify routing protocols.
• Describe and identify how metric types are used by routing protocols.
• Describe the importance of administrative distance.
• Identify the conditions leading to a routing loop and explain the implications on router performance.
• Identify the characteristics of distance vector routing protocols.
• Identify the various types of distance vector routing protocols used today (RIP, RIPv2, and EIGRP).
• Describe the basic features and concepts of link-state routing protocols.
• List the benefits and requirements of link-state protocols.
• Describe the background and basic features of the link-state routing protocol OSPF.
• Compare and contrast classful and classless IP addressing
• Review VLSM and explain the benefits of classless IP addressing.
• Describe the role of Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) standard in making efficient use of scarce IPv4.

(C) LAN Switching and Wireless Course Objectives

• Describe the functions of each of the three levels of the hierarchical network design model, the principles of hierarchical network design (aggregate connectivity, network diameter, and redundancy), and the concept of a converged network.
• Provide examples of how voice and video over IP affect network design.
• Select appropriate devices to operate at each level of the hierarchy, including voice and video components.
• Summarize the operation of Ethernet as defined for 100/1000 Mbps LANs in the IEEE 802.3 standard.
• Explain the functions that enable a switch to forward Ethernet frames in a LAN.
• Configure a switch for operation in a network designed to support voice, video, and data transmissions.
• Configure basic security on a switch that will operate in a network designed to support voice, video, and data transmissions.
• Explain the role of VLANs in a network.
• Explain the role of trunking VLANs in a network.
• Configure VLANs on the switches in a network topology.
• Troubleshoot the common software or hardware configuration problems associated with VLANs on switches in a network topology.
• Explain the role of VTP in a converged switched network.
• Describe the operation of VTP including domains, modes, advertisements, and pruning.
• Configure VTP on the switches in a converged network.
• Explain the role of redundancy in a converged network.
• Summarize how STP works to eliminate Layer 2 loops in a converged network.
• Explain how the STP algorithm uses three steps to converge on a loop-free topology.
• Implement rapid PVST+ in a LAN to prevent loops between redundant switches.
• Explain how network traffic is routed between VLANs in a converged network.
• Configure inter-VLAN routing on a router to enable communication between end-user devices on separate VLANs.
• Troubleshoot common inter-VLAN connectivity issues.
• Describe the components and basic operation of wireless LANs.
• Describe the components and operations of basic WLAN security.
• Configure and verify basic wireless LAN access.
• Troubleshoot wireless client access.

(D) Accessing the WAN Course Objectives

• Describe how the Cisco enterprise architecture provides integrated services over an enterprise network.
• Describe key WAN technology concepts.
• Select the appropriate WAN technology to meet different enterprise business requirements.
• Describe the fundamental concepts of point-to-point serial communication.
• Describe key PPP concepts.
• Configure PPP encapsulation.
• Explain and configure PAP and CHAP authentication.
• Describe the fundamental concepts of Frame Relay technology in terms of enterprise WAN services, including operation, implementation requirements, maps, and Local Management Interface (LMI) operation.
• Configure a basic Frame Relay permanent virtual circuit (PVC), including configuring and troubleshooting Frame Relay on a router serial interface and configuring a static Frame Relay map.
• Describe advanced concepts of Frame Relay technology in terms of enterprise WAN services, including sub-interfaces, bandwidth, and flow control.
• Configure an advanced Frame Relay PVC, including solving reachability issues, configuring sub-interfaces, and verifying and troubleshooting a Frame Relay configuration.
• Identify security threats to enterprise networks
• Describe methods to mitigate security threats to enterprise networks
• Configure basic router security
• Disable unused router services and interfaces
• Use the Cisco SDM one-step lockdown feature
• Manage files and software images with the Cisco IOS Integrated File System (IFS)
• Explain how ACLs are used to secure a medium-size enterprise branch office network, including the concept of packet filtering, the purpose of ACLs, how ACLs are used to control access, and the types of Cisco ACLs.
• Configure standard ACLs in a medium-size enterprise branch office network, including defining filtering criteria, configuring standard ACLs to filter traffic, and applying standard ACLs to router interfaces.
• Configure extended ACLs in a medium-size enterprise branch office network, including configuring extended ACLs and named ACLs, configuring filters, verifying and monitoring ACLs, and troubleshooting extended ACL issues.
• Describe complex ACLs in a medium-size enterprise branch office network, including configuring dynamic, reflexive, and timed ACLs, verifying and troubleshooting complex ACLs, and explaining relevant caveats.
• Describe the enterprise requirements for providing teleworker services, including the differences between private and public network infrastructures.
• Describe the teleworker requirements and recommended architecture for providing teleworking services.
• Explain how broadband services extend enterprise networks using DSL, cable, and wireless technology.
• Describe the importance of VPN technology, including its role and benefits for enterprises and teleworkers.
• Describe how VPN technology can be used to provide secure teleworker services to an enterprise network.
• Configure DHCP in an Enterprise branch network. This includes being able to explain DHCP features and benefits, the differences between BOOTP and DHCP, DHCP operation: and configuring, verifying, and troubleshooting DHCP.
• Configure NAT on a Cisco router. This includes explaining key features and operation of NAT and NAT Overload, explaining advantages and disadvantages of NAT, configuring NAT and NAT Overload to conserve IP address space in a network, configuring port forwarding, and verifying and troubleshooting NAT configurations.
• Configure new generation RIP (RIPng) to use IPv6. This includes explaining how IPv6 solves any problem of IP address deletion, explaining how to assign IPv6 addresses, describing transition strategies for implementing IPv6 and configuring, verifying and troubleshooting RIPng for IPv6.
• Describe the various troubleshooting methodologies and troubleshooting tools.