Finishing Chapter 7 in the Official Cert Guide for CCNA

Working My Way Through the CCNA Official Cert Guide

A couple of weeks ago, I went ahead and began studying for the Cisco Certified Network Administrator certification. This IT certification is better known by its abbreviation: CCNA. As I mentioned in a previous post on here on my blog, when I worked at the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Woodlawn, MD as a Tier 1 help desk agent, I made an attempt to study for the Network+ certification offered by CompTIA. Due to the sheer volume of information required to know for the certification, I gave up on studying for Network+. I then made an attempt at studying for the CCNA certification. I got as far as either Chapter 9: "Spanning Tree Protocol Concepts" or Chapter 10: "RSTP and EtherChannel Configuration" before stopping. I was having trouble understanding some of the topics in either chapter, so I got bogged down studying. In addition, I went through a period where I got REALLY BUSY with work. It's amazing how that works.

Over the past year, I have been taking online courses via Cisco's Networking Academy. Since I recently completed all four online classes for networking, it seemed like the perfect time to make another attempt to study for (and earn) the CCNA certification from Cisco.

A couple of months ago, I discovered on Cisco's own website that an updated and revised version of the Official Cert Guide for CCNA 200-301 would be published and available for sale in July 2024. Well, the first volume would be available. At the time, the second volume of the Official Cert Guide had been scheduled to be published a month or two after. Even though I was busy working on the online courses at the Cisco Networking Academy, I went ahead and bought the first volume of the new certification guide from Amazon as soon as it was available for purchase.

Since I decided to make another attempt to pass the CCNA certification exam, I quickly made it through Part 1: "Introduction to Networking". Part 1 consists of the following chapters:

• Chapter 1: Introduction to TCP/IP Networking
• Chapter 2: Fundamentals of Ethernet LANs
• Chapter 3: Fundamentals of WANs and IP Routing

To be honest, Part 1: "Introduction to Networking" was a good review of the information covered in the four online networking classes that I had completed.

I then began work on Part 2: "Implementing Ethernet LANs", which consists of the following chapters:

• Chapter 4: Using the Command-Line Interface
• Chapter 5: Analyzing Ethernet LAN Switching
• Chapter 6: Configuring Basic Switch Management
• Chapter 7: Configuring and Verifying Switch Interfaces

I then made short work reading chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7. Like the chapters in Part 1: "Introduction to Networking", chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 were another good review. However, using the Cisco IOS to configure different aspects of a network switch is like riding a bike to a certain degree. Part of my plan for studying for the CCNA certification is to use Network Simulator software offered by Pearson Vue. The objective of the Network Simulator tool is to give you experience using Cisco IOS by giving you exercises to work on after reading the corresponding chapter in the Official CCNA Cert Guide. Just know that the Network Simulator tool doesn't have exercises for every chapter in the Official CCNA Cert Guide. It just depends on whether the chapter in the Official CCNA Cert Guide covers new commands for the Cisco IOS.

On the night of December 11, 2024, I completed the exercises in Pearson Vue's Network Simulator tool for Chapter 7: "Configuring and Verifying Interfaces". Surprisingly, there were only three exercises for the chapter.

Before moving on to Part 3: "Implementing VLANs and STP", there are some things that I probably should do first.

In no particular order, here are some things that I should do:

• Go back and complete the "Do I Know This Already?" quizzes for chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7. The questions are probably very similar to the questions on the official CCNA certification exam. As a result, the more practice I can get with these types of questions, the better.
• Go to Wendell Odom's Cert Skills blog and work my way through the exercises for chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7. These exercises are similar to the Cisco IOS exercises found on Pearson Vue's Network Simulator. The difference is that Wendell Odom doesn't prompt you or guide you through the exercise. Instead, he gives you the network setup and tells you the changes that need to be made. It's up to you to try to figure out what commands that you need to enter into the Cisco IOS command prompt to complete the exercise. Wendell Odom does give you the answers. The nice thing about the Cisco IOS exercises available on the Cert Skills blog is that the exercises are free. While the exercises were conceived with using just a pen and a piece of paper, you can complete the exercises using Cisco's Packet Tracer application, which is available for free.

Screenshot of Wendell Odom's Cert Skills blog.

• Create my own User's Guide to the Cisco IOS. That means going through chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 creating my own tables of all of the Cisco IOS commands. There are also step-by-step instructions on how to configure passwords, for example. Once complete, I can then print out all of the tables and step-by-step guides and then put them into a notebook. Then, it's just a matter of adding additional tables and step-by-step guides as I complete subsequent chapters in the Official CCNA Cert Guide.

Cisco IOS User Guide on Google Docs.

UPDATE: Over the past week or so, I have been steadily creating my own Cisco IOS user guide over on Google Docs. I created my versions of the tables found in the first seven chapters of the <b>Official CCNA Cert Guide</b>. I am planning on adding to this document as I progress through the book.  

• Go back through chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 and write down notes for all of the key topics that MIGHT be on the certification exam. So far, I have written down notes for chapter 4. Since I have completed those four online networking classes from the Cisco Networking Academy, this is largely just another review.
• Create my own simple networks using Cisco Packet Tracer and then configure all of the devices. The nice thing about this option is that Cisco Packet Tracer is F-R-E-E to download and use. Here on my blog, I wrote a post about other options available, such as Cisco Modeling Labs or GNS3, if you don't want to use Cisco Packet Tracer.

Cisco Packet Tracer exercise. 

Lastly, is it really necessary to buy your own hardware to study for CCNA? That is, do you need to buy a router, a couple of switches, some Ethernet cable, and a networking cabinet? Not really. If you have the money and space, you most certainly can. Based on my own research, a hardware kit for CCNA study can easily cost several hundreds of dollars, depending on the options you choose. However, it's not necessary to buy all of that equipment. I have a friend and former co-worker at SocialSecurity who earned the CCNA certification by just using Packet Tracer. The main advantage of buying your own CCNA hardware kit is that you gain tactile experience using and configuring hardware. Cisco Packet Tracer was designed for study when hardware is not available or affordable. Besides, the Cisco IOS used on Packet Tracer is largely the same (for the most part) as the Cisco IOS used by actual switches and routers.

Restarting the Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator...

Restarting the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

Last night, I re-acquainted myself with the Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator.

Pearson CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

When I started studying for the CCNA certification a couple of years ago, I went ahead and bought a copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator. The CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide from Cisco Press came with a demonstration copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator on an included DVD. The author of the Official Cert Guide, Wendell Odom, recommended trying out the Network Simulator.

After trying out the sample exercises on my Dell laptop, I was impressed enough with the product to download my own copy from Pearson's website.

Creating Your Own Computer Networks

As you study for the CCNA certification, you will eventually want to try to make your own computer network diagram, also called a logical topology diagram, consisting of switches, routers, desktop computers, laptop computers, cell phones, printers, and so on. In addition, you will also want to try using Cisco's command line interface (CLI) program, known as the Cisco IOS, to configure all of those switches, routers, desktop and laptop computers, cell phones, and printers for your computer network. The Cisco IOS looks and feels quite similar to the Command Prompt for Windows. Creating your own logical topology diagram and then properly configuring every device on the diagram are both very important skills to know how to do.

Fortunately, there are several computer programs available that will assist you with both tasks. Just know that there are things to know about each program.

CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

The CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator from Pearson Vue, the program that I recently re-started using, is probably the program to get if you want experience with using the Cisco IOS. Beginning with Chapter 4 of the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, you get several exercises per chapter that focus on using the Cisco IOS to accomplish various tasks. For the most part, the exercises guide you step-by-step until completion. The idea is to get the user comfortable using the Cisco IOS. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of commands for the Cisco IOS, so you might as well just jump in headfirst. With each succeeding chapter from the CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, the exercises get a little longer and a little more complex. One thing that the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator does not do is let you create your own logical topology diagrams. The program does have logical topology diagrams; however, the diagrams are to illustrate what the network looks like. You cannot make any changes to the diagram. The main focus of the Network Simulator, based on my experience, is getting comfortable using the Cisco IOS. I highly recommend buying a copy of the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator, which will cost you approximately $100 to download from Pearson Vue.

Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator

Cisco Packet Tracer

You can also use Cisco's Packet Tracer program. Cisco Packet Tracer will let you create your own logical topology diagrams with Cisco-approved icons. With Cisco Packet Tracer, you don't have to use the Cisco IOS to configure devices. Cisco Packet Tracer will let you click on radio buttons and/or manually enter items like IPv4 or IPv6 addresses or default gateways without entering into the Cisco IOS. You can pick and choose what icons you want to have on your diagram and then choose how to connect the devices with the click of a mouse. However, if you want to manually configure a device in the Cisco IOS, you can do that to. In fact, if you configure a device without using the Cisco IOS, Cisco Packet Tracer will automatically generate the appropriate commands in the Cisco IOS. I kid you not. The idea of Cisco Packet Tracer is to replicate the experience of having phyiscal networking equipment on a computer without having to buy networking equipment. Cisco Packet Tracer was designed for users with ZERO netowrking experience. In case you didn't know, many of those home networking kits that you can buy on the internet from vendors can be quite expensive depending on the equipment and the options you want. Best of all, Cisco Packet Tracer is F-R-E-E from Cisco. Yes, Cisco doesn't charge a penny for Cisco Packet Tracer. However, you do have to register with Cisco Networking Academy to download the program. With all of the great things that Cisco Packet Tracer does, do you need to buy your own home networking equipment to experiment with? No, you don't. I have a friend who passed the CCNA certification exam by only using Cisco Packet Tracer. On the other hand, if you can afford to buy a home networking kit, then more power to you. Buying a home networking kit consisting of a router, a couple of switches, and so on is an interesting idea. Perhaps I will write about this topic in another post. Another possible downside to Cisco Packet Tracer could be that if you already have networking experience, you might find Cisco Packet Tracer to be on the simple side of things.

Cisco Packet Tracer Screenshot

Cisco Modeling Labs

In addition to Cisco Packet Tracer, Cisco also offers Cisco Modeling Labs. From what I can tell, Cisco Modeling Labs is a more advanced version of Cisco Packet Tracer. Cisco Modeling Labs apparently gives the user more options and greater flexibility in creating networks than what is offered by Cisco Packet Tracer. I have got to admit, the user interface for Cisco Modeling Labs looks pretty slick. There is a downside to Cisco Modeling Labs, however. The downside is that Cisco Modeling Labs is not free. A one-year license for personal use will cost you around $199. Still, that's cheaper than buying your own networking equipment. I have never met anyone who has used Cisco Modeling Labs, so I don't know if the application is worth the money. When the time comes to kick Cisco Packet Tracer to the curb, I might give Cisco Modeling Labs a try.

Cisco Modeling Labs Screenshot

The GNS3 Option

Don't want to use the CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator, Cisco Packet Tracer, or Cisco Modeling Labs? Well, GNS3 just might be the networking application you have been looking for. From what I can tell, GNS3 will let you create complex networking topologies with the best of them. It also helps that the graphics definitely catch the eye in a way that Cisco Packet Tracer doesn't. According to the documentation, GNS3 is free and open source. Not only that, GNS3 will provide you with all kinds of options that are not provided by Cisco Packet Tracer. There is an important caveat to mention about GNS3 before you might consider using it. GNS3 does not use the Cisco IOS. If you want to use the Cisco IOS, or any other vendor's CLI, with GNS3, you will have to install Cisco IOS into GNS3. That means either getting a license to use Cisco IOS or copying it from another device. On their website, there is a proclamation that GNS3 is "by network pros for network pros". That statement is a good indicator that GNS3 might not be the best program to use if you are brand new to networking. I see that GNS3 is used by at least 20 high profile organizations for network planning and testing. As a result, you might want to wait until you get some networking experience under your belt before downloading GNS3 onto your laptop. Did I write that GNS3 looks really cool?

GNS3 Networking Diagram

In Conclusion

For now, I will be using both Cisco Packet Tracer and Pearson Vue's CCNA 200-301 Network Simulator for studying for CCNA. At some point, I would like to try out Cisco Modeling Labs.

A Quick Update for My Blog...

Boy, it has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote a post for my blog.

I've been rather busy with work and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Hiking Updates

Back on Saturday, November 5, 2022, I went on an impromptu hike along the Waterfront Promenade at the Inner Harbor here in Baltimore, MD. As a result of that hike, there is a small list of items that I need to accomplish:

• I NEED to upload the photos from hikes from my cell phone onto my computer.
• I NEED to write a trail review over at the Alltrails.com website for the recent hikes I went on at Leakin Park-Gywnns Falls and the second hike I undertook at the Waterfront Promenade.
• I NEED to either re-write and/or expand my trail reviews for the recent hikes at Leakin Park-Gwynns Falls and at the Waterfront Promenade hikes to my blog here at Blogger.
• I NEED to add some additional photos from all of my completed hikes to my blog.
• Another idea that occurred to me was to look for a way display all of my photos either on my blog here at Blogger or use a website such as Flickr.
• I just accomplished making screenshots of the trail routes for my second and third hikes at Leakin Park-Gwynns Falls as well as my second hike at the Waterfront Promenade, so I need to add those to their respective pages.

Other Posts for My Blog

I also need to get cracking on all of the additonal subjects that I would like to publish to my blog.

• For example, I need to work on my post about the movies that I saw at the Cine Core Theater in Seoul, South Korea.
• That post will require A LOT more planning and work to get the post just how I want it.
• Rewrite the post using the mind map that I created as a guide.
• Get any additional photos for the movies that I saw at the Cine Core Movie Theater.
• Get the URLs from You Tube for the videos that I want to include in the post, such trailers and music videos.
• Another topic for my blog will be about Wendell Odom's series of blogposts about career planning for CCNA.
• I have watched several other South Korean movies since returning to watching them after an absence of several years. I've seen some really good South Korean films as well as a couple of duds. I have quite a few ideas on how to approach the subject of movie reviews. Simply, I want to write more than just movie reviews.
• I'm still playing Go. Using a 13x13 grid board and a two stone handicap, I managed to get as high as a 21kyu rank on The Many Faces of Go computer game on my computer.

I have high expectations for my blog. Given my knowledge about HTML, my expectations for my blog might be too high.

However, I am going to keep trying.

Eventually, I will get my blog to where I want it to be.

Career Planning and CCNA...

As I have mentioned in other posts, I am studying for the Cisco CCNA certification.

After getting nowhere studying for CompTIA's Network+ exam, I gave that up and switched over to studying for Cisco CCNA instead.

Right now, I just completed reading Chapter 5: Analyzing Ethernet LAN Switching in Volume 1 of the CCNA 200-301 cert guide book.

The author of the book is Wendell Odom.

Wendell Odom has a website that can be used in conjunction with both volumes of the CCNA 200-301 cert guide book. The website, Wendell Odom's CCNA Skills Blog, has a lot of really good information about studying for CCNA and networking. I should geat around to reading the supplemental material on his website for each chapter of the book.

Now that I am at Chapter 5, I will DEFINITELY take a look at what he refers to as Config Labs, which are meant to be short exercises about using the command line interface for Cisco networking equipment.

Speaking of the command line interface for Cisco networking equipment, I really should try using the exercises on Pearson Vue's network simulation tool that came with both volumes of the CCNA 200-301 cert guide book.

The Pearson Vue network simulation tool that is included with the CCNA 200-301 textbooks is meant to be an abridged version. If you want all of the exercises, you have to buy the complete version of the network simulation tool from Pearson Vue. That said, Cisco has a rather interesting program called Packet Tracer. Packet Tracer is Cisco's version of a network simulation tool. Unlike Pearson Vue's product, Packet Tracer is free from Cisco. A couple of years ago, you could freely download Packet Tracer from Cisco's website. Now, you have to create an account with Cisco IOT download Packet Tracer. Can you study for CCNA using Packet Tracer? It certainly looks like you could. I have a former co-worker at SSA's Tier 1 IT help desk who told me that he only used Packet Tracer when he studied for CCNA. Over on Amazon, I did find a book that contains 101 labs for Packet Tracer for those studying for CCNA. However, the authors assume that you already know how to use Packet Tracer.

Another interesting feature on Wendell Odom's blog is the section about career planning for networking. Thus far, I have completed the first step of six in constructing my own career plan. Like many people, I just assumed that earning the A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications was the way to go. Since I ran into a roadblock with Network+, I have had to make some adjustments. I can see earning the CCNA certification. I can also see earning Cisco's CyberOps Associate, which is Cisco's version of CompTIA's Security+ certification. Speaking of Security+, I see that ISC2 now offers their own cyber security foundations certification, which looks pretty interesting. Speaking of ISC2, the CISSP certification is rather interesting. A few years back, I had a roommate that was trying to study for the CISSP. He didn't get very far as he gave me his copy of ISC2's CISSP Study Guide. A couple of years ago at my company's Christmas party, I met a GS-12 who works in SSA's Security Operations Center. He told me that the only IT certification that he has is the CISSP. All he did, he said, was to study, study, and study for the CISSP until he could pass the exam. However, from what I can tell, the CISSP certification is meant to be an advanced level IT certification for an individual that has been working in IT for several years. Lastly, I can also see earning the certification for Microsoft's Azure, Google's Google Cloud, or Amazon's Amazon Web Services.

Career planning is a sensitive subject for me. When I graduated from New Mexico State University back in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences, I didn't know what I wanted to do. No one asked. I found myself in Liberal Arts Purgatory. I was one of those people that graduated from college with no idea on what I wanted to do. If I could go back and redo college, I should have been a computer science major. When I was in the Army, I had ZERO career planning. Someone should have councelled me about giving up the dream of attending Officer Candidate School and give serious thought about what I needed to do about becoming a Warrant Officer instead. Now that I am working in Information Technology, it is very easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated with all of the various things that one can do with the various certifications that are out there. Plus, there are those IT certifications that have a high demand (CCNA, Azure, AWS, CISSP, Security+) and those that do not (A+, Server+).

For now, my main focus is to earn the CCNA certification.

My other goal is to get a new IT job. Given all of the competition here in Maryland for IT jobs, I might have to go back to Arizona and look for a new IT job out there. There are all kinds of IT jobs both in Phoenix and in the Maricopa County area. Many of those jobs do not require a security clearance. For someone that no longer has a Top Secret clearance, that is definitely music to my ears.