NKCD-Certified Network Administrator

• Network Topology Architecture

You will understand the characteristics of network topology architectures.

1. 2-tier 
2. 3-tier 
3. Spine-leaf
4. WAN 
5. SOHO 
6. On-premise and cloud

• Compare TCP to UDP 

Learn the difference between these two Internet protocols.

• IPv4 and IPv6 Addressing 

1. Understand the need for IPv4 addressing 
2. Configure and verify IPv4 addressing and subnetting 
3. Configure and verify IPv6 addressing and prefix

• Compare IPv6 Address Types 

1. Global unicast 
2. Unique local 
3. Link-local 
4. Anycast 
5. Multicast 
6. Modified EUI 64

• Switching

Understand switching concepts. 

1. A MAC learning and ageing 
2. Frame switching
3. Frame flooding 
4. MAC address table

Module 2: Network Access

• Multiple switches 

Configure and verify VLANs spanning multiple switches.

1. Access ports 
2. Default VLAN 
3. Connectivity

• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

Understand the need for Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol and identify its basic operations.

1. Root port 
2. Root bridge 
3. Port States 
4. PortFast benefits

• WLAN

Understand physical infrastructure connections of WLAN components.

1. AP/WLC management access connections 
2. SSH, HTTP, HTTPS 
3. LAN access 
4. WLAN connection 
5. WLAN advanced settings

Module 3: IP Connectivity

• Routing Table

Interpret the components of a routing table.

1. Routing protocol code 
2. Prefix 
3. Network Mask 
4. Next hop

• Router

Determine how a router decides by default.

1. Longest match 
2. Administrative distance
3. Routing protocol metric

• Static Routing

Learn to configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing.

1. Default route 
2. Network route 
3. Host route 
4. Floating static

• OSPF (v2)

Configure and verify single area OSPF (v2).

1. Neighbour adjacencies 
2. Point-to-point
3. Broadcast 
4. Router ID

Module 4: IP Services

• Network Address Translation (NAT) 

Learn to configure and verify inside source NAT using static and pools.

• Network Time Protocol (NTP)

Learn to configure and verify NTP operating in client and server mode.

• DHCP and DNS

Learn the difference between the role of (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) DHCP and (Domain Name System) DNS within the network.

• SNMP and Syslog

Explain functions of SNMP in network operations and the use of Syslog features.

1. Facilities 
2. Levels

• Per-Hop Behavior (PHB)

Explain the forwarding PHB for QoS.

• TFTP/ FTP

Explain the functions of TFTP and FTP in a network.

Module 5: Security Fundamentals

• Key Security Concepts

1. Threats 
2. Vulnerabilities
3. Exploits 
4. Mitigation techniques

• Security Program Elements

Describe the Security Program Elements.

1. User awareness 
2. Training 
3. Physical access control

• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

Define remote access and site-to-site VPNs.

• Security Features

Configure Layer 2 security features.

1. DHCP snooping 
2. Dynamic ARP inspection
3. Port security

• Wireless Security Protocols

Describe wireless security protocols.

1. WPA 
2. WPA2 
3. WPA3

• WLAN

Learn configuring WLAN.

1. WPA2 PSK 
2. GUI

Module 6: Automation and Programmability

• Network Management

Explain how automation impacts network management.

• Controller-based and Software-defined architectures

Learn to distinguish between controller-based and software-defined architectures (overlay, underlay & fabric).

1. Control Plane 
2. Data Plane 
3. Northbound APIs 
4. Southbound APIs

• Device Management

Learn to compare traditional campus device management with Cisco DNA Center.

• REST-based APIs

Describe the characteristics of REST-based APIs. 

1. CRUD 
2. HTTP verbs
3. Data encoding 

• Configuration Management

Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms.

1. Puppet 
2. Chef 
3. Ansible

• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)

Interpret JSON encoded data.