Exam objectives
200-301Cisco CCNA exam objectives
The published blueprint is the contract: the exam can only test what is on this list. Domains carry their official weightings, and objectives with a practice page link straight to questions written for that objective.
Titles and weightings from the official objectives. Cisco exam page ↗
Network Fundamentals
20%of exam- 1.1 Explain the role and function of network components.Practice
- 1.2 Describe characteristics of network topology architectures.Practice
- 1.3 Compare physical interface and cabling types.Practice
- 1.4 Identify interface and cable issues (collisions, errors, mismatch duplex, and/or speed).Practice
- 1.5 Compare TCP to UDP.Practice
- 1.6 Configure and verify IPv4 addressing and subnetting.Practice
- 1.7 Describe private IPv4 addressing.Practice
- 1.8 Configure and verify IPv6 addressing and prefix.Practice
- 1.9 Describe IPv6 address types.Practice
- 1.10 Verify IP parameters for Client OS (Windows, Mac OS, Linux).Practice
- 1.11 Describe wireless principles.Practice
1.12 Explain virtualization fundamentals (server virtualization, containers, and VRFs).In the bank
- 1.13 Describe switching concepts.Practice
Network Access
20%of exam- 2.1 Configure and verify VLANs (normal range) spanning multiple switches.Practice
- 2.2 Configure and verify interswitch connectivity.Practice
- 2.3 Configure and verify Layer 2 discovery protocols (Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP).Practice
- 2.4 Configure and verify (Layer 2/Layer 3) EtherChannel (LACP).Practice
- 2.5 Interpret basic operations of Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol.Practice
- 2.6 Describe Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes.Practice
2.7 Describe physical infrastructure connections of WLAN components (AP, WLC, access/trunk ports, and LAG).In the bank
- 2.8 Describe network device management access (Telnet, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, console, TACACS+/RADIUS, and cloud managed).Practice
- 2.9 Interpret the wireless LAN GUI configuration for client connectivity, such as WLAN creation, security settings, QoS profiles, and advanced settings.Practice
IP Connectivity
25%of exam- 3.1 Interpret the components of routing table.Practice
- 3.2 Determine how a router makes a forwarding decision by default.Practice
- 3.3 Configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing.Practice
- 3.4 Configure and verify single area OSPFv2.Practice
- 3.5 Describe the purpose, functions, and concepts of first hop redundancy protocols.Practice
IP Services
10%of exam- 4.1 Configure and verify inside source NAT using static and pools.Practice
- 4.2 Configure and verify NTP operating in a client and server mode.Practice
- 4.3 Explain the role of DHCP and DNS within the network.Practice
- 4.4 Explain the function of SNMP in network operations.Practice
- 4.5 Describe the use of syslog features, including facilities and severity levels.Practice
- 4.6 Configure and verify DHCP client and relay.Practice
- 4.7 Explain the forwarding per-hop behavior (PHB) for QoS such as classification, marking, queuing, congestion, policing, and shaping.Practice
4.8 Configure network devices for remote access using SSH.In the bank
- 4.9 Describe the capabilities and functions of TFTP/FTP in the network.Practice
Security Fundamentals
15%of exam- 5.1 Define key security concepts (threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation techniques).Practice
- 5.2 Describe security program elements (user awareness, training, and physical access control).Practice
5.3 Configure and verify device access control using local passwords.In the bank
- 5.4 Describe security password policy elements, such as management, complexity, and password alternatives (multifactor authentication, certificates, and biometrics).Practice
- 5.5 Describe IPsec remote access and site-to-site VPNs.Practice
- 5.6 Configure and verify access control lists.Practice
- 5.7 Configure and verify Layer 2 security features (DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and port security).Practice
- 5.8 Compare authentication, authorization, and accounting concepts.Practice
- 5.9 Describe wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3).Practice
- 5.10 Configure and verify WLAN within the GUI using WPA2 PSK.Practice
Automation and Programmability
10%of exam- 6.1 Explain how automation impacts network management.Practice
- 6.2 Compare traditional networks with controller-based networking.Practice
- 6.3 Describe controller-based, software defined architecture (overlay, underlay, and fabric).Practice
- 6.4 Explain AI (generative and predictive) and machine learning in network operations.Practice
- 6.5 Describe characteristics of REST-based APIs (authentication types, CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding).Practice
- 6.6 Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms such as Ansible and Terraform.Practice
- 6.7 Recognize components of JSON-encoded data.Practice
Objectives marked Practice open a page of original questions written for that objective, each with a full explanation cited to Cisco documentation.
Keep reading
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