CCNA

CCNA Syllabus 2013 – 200-120

  • 10. April 2013 11:10
  • Here is an unofficial summary of the CCNA 2013 syllabus for the new 200-120 composite exam that is replacing the 640-802 from 1st October 2013.
  • With this change to the CCNA the barrier to entry into the networking world is becoming higher and more difficult to achieve.
  • >If you want to give your studies a boost and reduce the time it takes you to get to CCNA level, enroll in our online CCNA video bootcamp.


CCNA Topics 2013 - Exam 200-120

  • IP Data Networks


  • Understand the operation of data networks.
  • Know the purpose and functions of network devices such as routers, switches, bridges and hubs.
  • Be able to select components to meet a specific network requirement.
  • Understand how certain applications can impact network performance.
  • Know the protocols, purpose and operation of both the OSI and TCP/IP models.
  • Describe the data flow between two hosts on a network.
  • Be able to choose the most appropriate cables, media, ports and connectors to connect network devices and hosts to a LAN.
  • LAN Switching.


  • Understand the media access control method for Ethernet.
  • Describe the basic switching concepts and the operation of switches.
  • Configure and verify switch configuration including remote access management.
  • Verify a network and switch operation using basic utilities such as ping, telnet and SSH.
  • Describe VLANs and the need for routing between VLANs.
  • Understand network segmentation and traffic management.
  • Be able to configure and verify VLANs.
  • Configure and verify trunking on Cisco switches.
  • Understand advanced switching technologies:
    • RSTP.
    • PVSTP.
    • EtherChannel.
  • Be able to configure and verify PVSTP operation.
  • Describe the process of root bridge election.
  • IP Addressing (IPv4 and IPv6).


  • Describe the need for public and private addresses for IPv4.
  • Understand IPv6 addresses.
  • Describe the appropriate IPv6 addressing scheme for a LAN/WAN environment.
  • Describe the appropriate IPv4 addressing scheme for a LAN/WAN environment, including VLSM and summarization.
  • Describe the technologies required to run IPv6 and IPv4 concurrently such as dual stack.
  • IP Routing.


  • Understand the basic routing concepts.
  • Understand the boot process of a Cisco router.
  • Configure and verify a basic router configuration using the command line interface.
  • Configure and verify both serial and Ethernet interfaces.
  • Be able to verify the network connectivity and configuration of a router.
  • Configure a static or default route given specific requirements, then verify.
  • Manage Cisco IOS files and image(s).
  • Understand Cisco IOS licensing.
  • Understand and distinguish different methods of routing and routing protocols.
  • Configure and verify EIGRP in a single autonomous system.
  • Configure and verify OSPF (v2 and v3) in a single area.
  • Configure and verify interVLAN routing using router-on-a-stick.
  • Be able to configure SVI interfaces.
  • IP Services.


  • Configure and verify DHCP on a Cisco router.
  • Understand the features and applications of each type of ACL.
  • Be able to configure and verify ACLs.
  • Understand the basic operation of NAT.
  • Configure and verify NAT based on a set of network requirements.
  • Be able to configure and verify NTP as a client.
  • Recognize high availability FHRP.
  • Understand, configure and verify Syslog and utilize Syslog output.
  • Understand SNMP v2 and v3.
  • Network Device Security.


  • Be able to configure and verify device security features.
  • Understand, configure and verify switch port security features.
  • Configure and verify ACLs for filtering network traffic.
  • Limit telnet and SSH access to a router by configuring ACLs.
  • Troubleshooting.


  • Troubleshoot and correct common issues concerning IP addressing and host configurations.
  • Be able to utilize netflow and monitor data.
  • Troubleshoot and fix spanning tree operation.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve routing issues, including OSPF, and EIGRP.
  • Troubleshoot and correct VLAN problems.
  • Identify and resolve interVLAN problems.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve switch trunking issues.
  • Troubleshoot and fix ACL problems.
  • Troubleshoot and correct layer 1 problems.
  • Troubleshoot and correct WAN issues.
  • Troubleshoot EtherChannel issues.
  • WAN Technologies.


  • Understand and identify different WAN technologies including:
    • Metro Ethernet.
    • Frame Relay.
    • VSAT.
    • Cellular 3G and 4G.
    • MPLS.
    • T1/E1.
    • ISDN.
    • DSL.
    • Cable.
    • VPN.
  • Configure and verify a serial WAN connection.
  • Configure Frame Relay on Cisco routers including verification.
  • Be able to configure and verify a PPP connection between two Cisco routers.
  • Configure and troubleshoot PPPoE.