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Introduction

VLAN use and propagation

Performance considerations: required hardware and software; switch-
ing engines; memory, cost, and minimization

What Does This Book Cover?

This book covers everything you need to know in order to become CCNA
certified. However, taking the time to study and practice with routers or a
router simulator is the real key to success.

The information you will learn in this book, and need to know for the

CCNA exam, is listed in the following bullet points:

Chapter 1 introduces you to internetworking. You will learn the
basics of the Open Systems Interconnection model the way Cisco
wants you to learn it. Ethernet networking and standards are dis-
cussed in detail in this chapter as well. There are written labs and
plenty of review questions to help you. Do not skip the labs in this
chapter!

Chapter 2 gives you a background on layer-2 switching and how
switches perform address learning and make forwarding and filtering
decisions. Network loops and how to avoid them with the Spanning
Tree Protocol (STP) will be discussed, as well as the different LAN
switch types used by Cisco switches. Go through the written lab and
review questions.

Chapter 3 provides you with the background necessary for success on
the exam as well as in the real world by discussing TCP/IP. This in-depth
chapter covers the very beginnings of the Internet Protocol stack and
then goes all the way to IP addressing and subnetting. If you read this
chapter carefully, you will be able to subnet a network in your head!
Plenty of help is found in this chapter if you do not skip the written lab
and review questions.

Chapter 4 introduces you to the Cisco Internetwork Operating System
(IOS) and command-line interface (CLI). In this chapter you will learn
how to turn on a router and configure the basics of the IOS, including
setting passwords, banners, and more. IP configuration will be discussed
and a hands-on lab will help you gain a firm grasp of the concepts

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