CCDA for Dummies

Why Certification?
Why Take the CCDA Examination?
Steps to Certification

Part I: Internetworking Fundamentals
Part II: Identification of Customer Needs
Part III: Designing the Network
Part IV: Network Prototypes
Part V: LAN/WAN Technologies and Protocols
Part VI: Bridging and Switching Details
Part VII: Routed and Routing Protocols
Part VIII: The Part of Tens
Part IX: Appendixes
On the CD

Studying Chapters

First page
Quick Assessment questions
Study subjects
Tables
Prep tests

Icons Used in This Book
Feedback

Chapter 1: The Language of the CCDA

Speaking Network

Clients, servers, and peers
LANs, WANs, and other ANs

Connecting Up the Internetwork

Would you repeat that?
Meet me at the hub
Bridging the gap
Switching bridges
Routing around the internetwork
Internetworking device summary

Important Network Stuff You Should Know

Network interface card
Nodes
Protocols
Network addressing
The Cisco IOS
Open System Interconnect (OSI) model

Communicating on the Network

Physical addressing
Logical addressing
Connectionless and connection-oriented network services
Flow control
Error checking and error correcting
Cyclic redundancy check
Multiplexing

Chapter 2: The OSI Model

Why Layers Are Good
OSI and the Seven Layers

Stacking up the layers
Moving down one side and up the other
The Application layer
The Presentation layer
The Session layer
The Transport layer
The Network layer
The Data Link layer
The Physical layer

Packaging the Data
OSI Layer Information to Review

Chapter 3: TCP/IP Protocols

TCP/IP Protocols You Need to Know

Application layer protocols
Transport layer protocols
Network layer protocols

Working with IP Addresses

Breaking IP addresses into parts

Subnetting and Why You Use It

Subnetting and binary numbers
Borrowing bits
Creating subnets

Calculations You Need to Know

Calculating number of subnets
Calculating the number of node IDs
Calculating the subnet number
Determining the subnet node IDs

Chapter 4: Analyzing an Existing Network

Using the Cisco Business Solutions Framework

Media problems
Protocol problems
Transport problems

Examining the Current Network

Collecting operations data
Collecting technical data
12 steps to information perfection

Chapter 5: Addressing the Business Needs of a Network

The Seven Steps to System Nirvana

Identifying business constraints
Identifying security requirements
Identifying manageability requirements
Determining application requirements
Characterizing network traffic
Identifying performance requirements
Creating a customer needs document

In Summary . . .

Chapter 6: Network Changes and Future Impacts

Understanding Network Foundations

Getting into Ethernet
Running around Token Ring
Moving up to Frame Relay
Flying with FDDI
Switching to ATM

Operating in Client/Server Environments

Networking with Windows NT/2000
Networking in the Apple world
Networking with Novell NetWare

Identifying Required Changes

Case Study — NeedFull, Inc.

Chapter 7: LAN and WAN Topologies

Hierarchical Network Topologies

Designing hierarchical networks

Redundant Network Topologies

Building a redundant TCP/IP network
Designing a secure LAN with AppleTalk
Designing a secure IPX LAN

Applying Secure Network Topologies
Considering LAN Media Constraints

Ethernet design constraints
Token Ring design constraints
FDDI design constraints

WAN Technologies

Chapter 8: Selecting Cisco Hardware

LAN Switching Solutions

Switching to avoid a collision
Special switching features available
Cisco Catalyst switches

LAN/WAN Routing Solutions

Switching modes in routers
Special router features
Cisco routing platforms

Chapter 9: Addressing and Naming Conventions

Designing a Network Addressing Scheme

Going with NAT
Meeting NAT's cousin PAT
The case of the variable length subnet mask

Planning Address Assignments

Routers and switches and servers, oh my! (And printers, too)
Working with workstations

Designing for IPX Addressing
Applying AppleTalk Addressing
Using Names You Can Remember

Naming servers
Identifying routers and switches
Naming other nodes

Chapter 10: Selecting Protocols

What Makes the Router Route?

Routing versus routed protocols
Speaking fluent routing

The Protocols Routers Use to Route

Going the distance
Keeping tabs on the state of the links

Bridging Over Troubled Network Waters

Chapter 11: Managing the Network

Management Strategy: An Ounce of Prevention

Selecting the right standards
ISO network management defined

How Do You Do That Voodoo You Do? (Cisco Tools)

CiscoWorks
CiscoWorks for Switched Internetworks (CWSI)
NetSys

IOS Commands for Managing the Network
A Few Other Management Concepts

Chapter 12: Building Pilots and Prototypes

Deciding on the Appropriate Approach: Pilots or Prototypes?
Building a Prototype That Works
Building a Pilot That Works
Making Sure Your Test Shines
Showing Them What You Can Do

Chapter 13: LAN Protocol Details

Internet Protocol (IP)
Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX)

IPX addressing
IPX encapsulation types
IPX routing

AppleTalk

AppleTalk addressing
Other Apple LAN protocols
AppleTalk routing

Ethernet (IEEE 802.3)

802.3 frames
Fast Ethernet (IEEE 802.3u)
Gigabit Ethernet (IEEE 802.3ab/z)

Token Ring (IEEE 802.5)

Token Ring frames
Token Ring bridging

Fiber Distributed Digital Interface (FDDI)

Chapter 14: LAN Hardware Configurations

Building a Hierarchical Network Configuration
Secure Network Configurations
Redundant Network Configurations

Chapter 15: WAN Services and Media

Switching Packets and Circuits

Joining the band
Switching the signal
Getting from point A to point B

Understanding the T's, E's, and O's

Analog and digital carrier services
Analog carrier services
Digital carrier services
Communications to a T
Getting down with DS ratings
Carrying data at the speed of light

Identifying WAN Services

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL)
Frame Relay
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS)
X.25

WAN Media Types

Twisted pair copper wire
Fiber optic cabling

Chapter 16: WAN Hardware Configurations

Networking on a Star
Building a Full Mesh Configuration
Designing a Partial Mesh WAN

Chapter 17: Multilayer LAN Switching

Speaking the Language of Switching
What's Up, MAC? — Layer 2 Switching
What's Your Address? — Layer 3 Switching
So Many Ports, So Little Time — Layer 4 Switching
Applying the Old and New Design Rules

Chapter 18: Cisco IOS Software

Staying Where You Belong: Access Lists

Making a list (and checking it twice)
Naming names

No Peeking: Encryption
Making the Network Work: Traffic Shaping
Let Me Get That for You: Proxy Services
Squeezing the Most Out of the Network: Compression
Waiting Your Turn: Queuing
Please Be Sure to RSVP

Chapter 19: Switching Applications

Single Serving: Workgroup-Sized LAN Switching
Always Room for More: Small-Sized LAN Switching
Make Room for More: Medium-Sized LAN Switching
Switching in Summary

Chapter 20: Routed Protocols

Routing the Internet Protocol

IP addressing — A review

Routing IPX

IPX addressing
IPX encapsulation

Thinking Differently — AppleTalk
Systems Network Architecture (SNA)
Xerox Network Services (XNS)
Digital Equipment Corporation Network (DecNet)

Chapter 21: Routing Protocols

Routing with RIP

RIP V1.0
RIP V2.0
IPX RIP

Getting a Grip (IGRP)
Getting a Tighter Grip (EIGRP)
Looking for Shortcuts (OSPF)
Polishing the Apple: AppleTalk Routing

AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol (AARP)
AppleTalk Update-Based Routing Protocol (AURP)
AURP Tunnel

Routing on the Border (BGP)

Chapter 22: Routing Protocol Applications

Routing Odds and Ends and Review
The Little Guys: Workgroup LANs
I've Been Eating My Wheaties: The Small LAN
Growing Pains: The Medium-Sized LAN

Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Prepare for Your Test Day

Physical Preparation
Arrive at the Test Center Early
Review Design Process/Case Study
Review the OSI Model
Review the IOS Commands
Know the Cisco Hardware Features
Review Routing/Routed Protocols
Bone Up on IP Addressing
Make a Note Sheet
Don't Rush

Chapter 24: Ten Great Web Sites for Study and Test Materials

Cisco.com — Internetwork Design Guide
BrainBuzz.com (Cramsession.com)
TechWeb.com — Online Encyclopedia
Cisco.com — Internetworking Technology review
Cisco.com — Technical Assistance Center (TAC)
Cisco.com — Internetworking Case Studies
Cisco.com — IP Reference
Cisco.com — CCDA Information and Current Objectives
Prometrics.com
Vue.com

Appendix A: Sample Network Diagrams

Hierarchical Topology
Redundant Topology
Secure Topology
Mixed Topology Example

Appendix B: Cisco Hardware Features

Routing Equipment

Cisco 1600R series routers
Cisco 2600 series routers
Cisco 3600 series routers

Switching Equipment

Catalyst x900 series switches
Catalyst 3000 Stackable series
Catalyst 3500 series switches
Catalyst 4000 series switches
Catalyst 5000 series switches

Appendix C: Case Studies

Appendix D: Sample CCDA Examination

Appendix E: About the CD

System Requirements
Using the CD with Microsoft Windows
What You'll Find on the CD

Dummies test prep tools
Commercial demos

Commercial Software Tools

iNetTools, from WildPackets, Inc., Demo
EtherPeek, from WildPackets, Inc., Demo
IP Subnet Calculator, from WildPackets, Inc., Freeware
TokenPeek, from WildPackets, Inc., Demo
WhatsUp Gold, from Ipswitch, Inc., Evaluation

If You've Got Problems (Of the CD Kind)