Module 1: Networking Today
• Objectives: Understand the impact of networks, network devices, topologies,
LANs/WANs, reliable network requirements, trends (BYOD, cloud computing), security
threats, and networking employment opportunities.
• Network Components: Hosts (servers, clients), intermediary devices (switches, routers),
network media (metal wires, fiber-optic, wireless).
• Network Types: Small home networks, SOHO, medium to large networks, worldwide
networks.
• Internet: Collection of interconnected LANs and WANs.
• Internet Access: Home (cable, DSL, cellular, satellite, dial-up), business (leased lines,
Ethernet WAN, DSL, satellite).
• Reliable Network: Fault tolerance, scalability, QoS, security.
• Trends: BYOD, online collaboration, video communication, cloud computing.
• Security: External (viruses, spyware), internal (lost devices, misuse), multi-layered
security (antivirus, firewalls, VPNs).
Module 2: Basic Switch and End Device Configuration
• Objectives: Access and configure Cisco IOS devices, navigate IOS, configure IP addresses,
verify connectivity.
• Access Methods: Console, SSH, Telnet.
• Command Modes: User EXEC, Privileged EXEC, Global Configuration, Line Configuration,
Interface Configuration.
• Basic Configuration: Device name, passwords, banner messages, save configuration.
• SVI Configuration: IP address and subnet mask for remote access.
• Verify Connectivity: Use ping command.
Module 3: Protocols and Models
• Objectives: Understand communication rules, protocols, protocol suites, standards
organizations, TCP/IP and OSI models, data encapsulation.
• Communication Protocols: Encoding, formatting, timing, delivery options.
• Network Protocols: HTTP, TCP, IP, Ethernet.
• Standards Organizations: IEEE, IETF, ISO.
• Layered Models: OSI (7 layers), TCP/IP (4 layers).
• Data Encapsulation: Process of adding headers to data as it moves down the layers.
Module 4: Physical Layer
• Objectives: Understand physical layer functions, characteristics of copper and fiber-
optic cabling, wireless media.
• Physical Layer: Transports bits, encodes frames, standards (ISO, EIA/TIA, ITU-T, ANSI,
IEEE).
• Copper Cabling: UTP, STP, coaxial.
• Fiber-Optic Cabling: High bandwidth, long distance, immune to EMI/RFI.
• Wireless Media: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WiMAX, Zigbee.
Module 5: Number Systems
• Objectives: Convert between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal.
• Binary System: Used in IPv4 addresses.
• Hexadecimal System: Used in IPv6 addresses and MAC addresses.
Module 6: Data Link Layer
• Objectives: Understand data link layer functions, media access control methods, data
link frame characteristics.
• Data Link Layer: Communication between NICs, encapsulates Layer 3 packets, error
detection.
• Topologies: WAN (point-to-point, hub and spoke, mesh), LAN (star, extended star, bus,
ring).
• Frame Fields: Start/stop, addressing, type, control, data, error detection.
Module 7: Ethernet Switching
• Objectives: Understand Ethernet sublayers, MAC addresses, switch MAC address table,
forwarding methods.
• Ethernet Frames: Encapsulation, addressing, error detection.
• MAC Address: Unique identifier for Ethernet devices.
• Switch Learning: Source MAC address learning, destination MAC address forwarding.
• Forwarding Methods: Store-and-forward, cut-through.
Module 8: Network Layer
• Objectives: Understand IP protocols, IPv4/IPv6 packet headers, routing tables, routing
functions.
• Network Layer: Addressing, encapsulation, routing, de-encapsulation.
• IPv4/IPv6 Packets: Header fields, limitations of IPv4, benefits of IPv6.
• Routing: Host forwarding decisions, default gateway, static and dynamic routing.
Module 9: Address Resolution
• Objectives: Compare MAC and IP addresses, understand ARP, IPv6 neighbor discovery.
• ARP: Resolves IPv4 addresses to MAC addresses.
• IPv6 Neighbor Discovery: Address resolution, router discovery, redirection services.
Module 10: Basic Router Configuration
• Objectives: Configure initial router settings, active interfaces, default gateway.
• Router Configuration: Device name, passwords, remote access, interface configuration.
• Verification Commands: Show ip interface brief, show ip route.
Module 11: IPv4 Addressing
• Objectives: Understand IPv4 address structure, unicast/broadcast/multicast addresses,
public/private addresses, subnetting.
• IPv4 Structure: Network and host portions, subnet mask, prefix length.
• Address Types: Public, private, special use.
• Subnetting: Reduces broadcast domains, improves performance.
Module 12: IPv6 Addressing
• Objectives: Understand IPv6 addressing, address types, static/dynamic configuration,
subnetting.
• IPv6 Addressing: 128-bit length, unicast, multicast, anycast.
• Address Types: Global unicast, link-local, unique local.
• Configuration: Static and dynamic methods, EUI-64, random generation.
Module 13: ICMP
• Objectives: Use ICMP for connectivity testing, ping, and traceroute utilities.
• ICMP Messages: Host reachability, destination unreachable, time exceeded.
• Ping/Traceroute: Test connectivity, path analysis.
Module 14: Transport Layer
• Objectives: Understand transport layer functions, TCP/UDP characteristics, port
numbers, session establishment.
• Transport Layer: Logical communication, segmenting data, reliability.
• TCP: Connection-oriented, reliable delivery, flow control.
• UDP: Connectionless, low overhead.
• Port Numbers: Well-known, registered, dynamic.
Module 15: Application Layer
• Objectives: Understand application, presentation, session layer functions, web/email
protocols, DNS, DHCP, file transfer protocols.
• Application Layer: Interface between applications and network.
• Protocols: HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP, IMAP, DNS, DHCP.
• File Sharing: FTP, SMB.
Module 16: Network Security Fundamentals
• Objectives: Understand security measures, vulnerabilities, mitigation techniques, device
hardening.
• Threats: Information theft, data loss, identity theft, DoS.
• Vulnerabilities: Technological, configuration, security policy.
• Mitigation: Backups, updates, AAA, firewalls, endpoint security.
Module 17: Build a Small Network
• Objectives: Identify devices, protocols, applications, verify
