Introduction

Note: I have discontinued this blog. Instead I have started a FREE video series on CCNA in YouTube. You can find it here. 

What is CCNA?

CCNA is the acronym for Cisco Certified Network Associate, which I am sure you already know. But what makes CCNA the most sought after certification for people getting into the networking field? Well because it covers all the basics of networking and also gets you up to speed to start working and troubleshooting CISCO devices.

And why is that a big deal....?

Because CISCO is the largest networking device maker in the world and if you want to work in the networking field, you better be ready to deal with CISCO devices!

Ah... I see... then I need to know more about CCNA!

Well you have come to the right place for that! Let me take you through CISCO certifications process:

Cisco certification basically consists of 3 levels:

1. Associate
2. Professional
3. Expert

CCNA falls into the Associate level. You could become a CCNA in any of the domains offered like: Router & Switching, Security, Voice, Wireless, Service Provider, Service Provider Operations.

What skills do I need to become a CCNA?

To become a CCNA, you would need to aleast know the following:

1. Basics of OSI Model and TCP-IP Model
2. Binary and Decimal Maths
3. Basics of installing and configuring LAN, WAN and Wireless access services
4. Troubleshooting the above mentioned installations
5. Use protocols IP, IPv6, EIGRP, RIP, RIPv2 and OSPF
6. Understand Serial Connections, Frame Relay, VPN, cable, DSL, PPPoE, LAN Switching, VLANs, VTP, STP, Ethernet, Security and Access List

How do I become a CCNA?

To become a CCNA, you have multiple paths:

• Pass the CCNA composite exam with exam code: 640-802

OR

• Pass Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices 1 (ICND1) and ICND2 with exam codes: 640-822 and 640-816

For exam cost and application procedures, go to this link.

Do not worry, if any of the above list makes you think it is hard! With CME®, we will make your journey to certification an easy one!

What is CME®?

CME® is an acronym for Certifications Made Easy. In today's world, a degree is not good enough if you aspire to climb the career ladder in the Information Technology world. Certifications keeps you up to date with latest technology and buys you that ladder to climb up in your careers.

CME® was founded to bridge the gap that existed in a reasonably priced quality training for the IT Industry. And you know what? We decided it should be FREE! Our aim is to make learning easy, fun and FREE, so that every body can benefit.

What is CME's differentiator from all available training materials online?

There are not too many quality training materials available online. Of the ones that are available, they are either not FREE or they are not very professional or BOTH.

CME®, like mentioned earlier, came into existence to bridge this gap. Training with CME® is like training with a friend. Our 'No Stupid Question' section in every chapter tries to ask all possible questions and gets them answered. Our training material language will be as a first person conversation, inspired from the HEAD FIRST series from O'Reilly Media. At the end of each chapter we will have a 'Fastest Finger First', multiple choice questions test relating to the chapter.

Who is the trainer for this series?

Glad you asked that, I thought you would forget! Well, my name is Imran Ahmed Rafai. I am an Electronics and Commucations Engineer from India. I also have a Masters in Business Administration specializing in Information Technology from Coventry University, United Kingdom. I am currently pursuing my CCIE (Voice), which I should be completing in another 3 months.

I think we have had enough of introduction. Let us get straight to our training!

What will be covered in this training and when?

Chapter 1: Network Foundations

Chapter 2: Inter-networking Basics

Chapter 3: Models 
Ethernet Network and Data Encapsulations

Binary Maths

Introduction to TCP/IP

Subnetting and VLSM

Cisco's IOS and SDM

Managing and Cisco Inter-network

IP Routing

EIGRP and OSPF

Layer 2 Switching

Virtual LAN

Security

NAT and PAT

IP v6

Wide Area Networking

Note: As I complete the entries, I will keep updating this list with the Day Number. Also I may tweak the list to cover every topic required for your CCNA! So keep checking back here!

How to use this training?

This training is like a classroom conversation between students and the trainer. I have marked conversations and sections as follows:

• A black text is a trainer conversation
• A green text is a student conversation
• A black background is a definition or something important to mark

All the very best and have a wonderful time going through this training!