Speaker 1: Welcome to the deep dive, where we take a stack
Speaker 1: of your sources and well extract the most important nuggets
Speaker 1: of knowledge. Yeah, get right to the good stuff exactly.
Speaker 1: Today we're plunging into the core of what makes our
Speaker 1: digital world tick. Networking. Specifically, we're focusing on the Cisco
Speaker 1: Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching, you know, the CCNA RNs.
Speaker 2: We've got some really solid grounding material for this one today,
Speaker 2: excerpts from CCNA three and one Beginner's Guide plus simple
Speaker 2: and Effective Strategies, plus Advance dot KDF okay, and this
Speaker 2: deep dive it's really designed to be your shortcut not
Speaker 2: just to understand the basic requirements for a CCNA trained associate,
Speaker 2: but also to really appreciate the world of Cisco itself,
Speaker 2: learn about their products, their services, and really unpack why
Speaker 2: this certification is such a critical foundation for a career
Speaker 2: in IT networking.
Speaker 1: So what's our mission today? Then we're going to unpack
Speaker 1: the history, right, the influence of Cisco.
Speaker 2: Yeah, the fascinating history or.
Speaker 1: Wide this specific certification is still so valuable in the industry,
Speaker 1: super valuable, and then break down some of the fundamental
Speaker 1: networking concepts and strategies you'd really need to know.
Speaker 2: Get you ready for those aha moments.
Speaker 1: Hopeful, let's hope, so, get ready for some insights that
Speaker 1: might just make those complex diagrams click. The world of
Speaker 1: Cisco from love story to global leader. Okay, let's unpack this.
Speaker 1: Did you know Cisco started basically because of a love story?
Speaker 1: Is that right?
Speaker 2: It's true? Yeah. Back in nineteen eighty four, you had
Speaker 2: Leonard Bosak and Sandra Lerner. They were computer department heads
Speaker 2: at Stamfood Okay, and they just wanted to stay in
Speaker 2: touch via email, simple as that.
Speaker 1: But different networks, right, that was the problem.
Speaker 2: Exactly connect different networks, and that need led them to
Speaker 2: invent the first multi protocol router.
Speaker 1: Wow. Talk about necessity being the mother of invention.
Speaker 2: Absolutely.
Speaker 1: Yeah.
Speaker 2: And what's truly fascinating here is how that initial personal
Speaker 2: drive just blossomed into this global tech giant so fast too. Yeah.
Speaker 2: Cisco's first major product, the Interface Card, shipped just a
Speaker 2: year later, eighty five. But that rapid expansion meant Venture
Speaker 2: Capital stepped in, Sequoia Capital and John Mortgage eventually took
Speaker 2: over as CEO. The founders, well, they eventually moved on,
Speaker 2: but Cisco kept up this really aggressive growth strategy, like
Speaker 2: acquiring Crescendo Communications in ninety three that brought them crucial
Speaker 2: switching tech switching, and then Celsia Systems in ninety eight,
Speaker 2: which really pushed them into a dominant spot in VoIP
Speaker 2: voiceover IP.
Speaker 1: That was huge back then, definitely, And what's truly striking
Speaker 1: about their journey is well, they didn't stop there, did they.
Speaker 2: Well.
Speaker 1: Way in two thousand and six they introduced telepresence, that
Speaker 1: video conferencing thing, trying to make you feel like you
Speaker 1: were in the same room.
Speaker 2: Yeah, pretty ambitious for the time, and.
Speaker 1: They've become a leading force in IoT, the Internet of Things,
Speaker 1: shifting focus cleverly from just hardware to software.
Speaker 2: Too, which is critical now.
Speaker 1: Absolutely Today Cisco's footprint is just enormous, influencing networks everywhere,
Speaker 1: tens of thousands of employees, operations in over one hundred
Speaker 1: and sixty countries.
Speaker 2: Huge partner network too.
Speaker 1: Yeah, massive channel partners. And just for fun, the name
Speaker 1: and logo inspired by San Francisco, the Golden gate Bridge.
Speaker 2: That's the story. Yeah, gives you a sense of their roots,
Speaker 2: it does. And if we connect this back to the
Speaker 2: bigger picture, this rich history this vast reach. It really
Speaker 2: explains why Cisco's certifications, especially the CCNA, are so highly valued.
Speaker 1: Makes sense.
Speaker 2: Our sources are clear, this certification is a fundamental building block.
Speaker 2: Studies show networking companies actively look for Cisco skills more
Speaker 2: than others, more than almost any other skill when hiring
Speaker 2: for network roles. And it's not just about memorizing facts right, No,
Speaker 2: it's about gaining that practical understanding protocols, infrastructure, and crucially
Speaker 2: troubleshooting how to fix things when they break. Why CCNA
Speaker 2: routing and switching for your career?
Speaker 1: So what does all this mean for you, the listener,
Speaker 1: the aspiring network pro. What's the real impact on your
Speaker 1: career if you go for this CCNA RNs exam?
Speaker 2: Well, okay, beyond being foundational, it directly impacts your earning potential,
Speaker 2: like really directly money talks. It does. A twenty eighteen
Speaker 2: Robert Half Technology report highlighted CCNA RNs as one of
Speaker 2: the most sought after SERTs. Employers willing to bump salaries
Speaker 2: five even ten percent for a certified.
Speaker 1: Candidate just for having the SERT.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and many organizations even offer like financial incentives bonuses
Speaker 2: holding this genuinely gives you a clear advantage career opportunities,
Speaker 2: salary hikes, climbing that corporate ladder faster.
Speaker 1: And it's not just about today's job market, right, it's
Speaker 1: also about future proofing your career in this well constantly
Speaker 1: changing digital landscape.
Speaker 2: Absolutely, think about it, digital transformation, IoT mobility, big data, cloud.
Speaker 2: It's always evolved relentlessly, and businesses desperately need IT pros
Speaker 2: who aren't just up to date, but who also have
Speaker 2: that solid experience in core routing and switching the fundamentals exactly.
Speaker 2: Our sources point to a persistent shortage of employees with
Speaker 2: these critical IT skills. Managers are often willing to hire
Speaker 2: or promote based on certifications, so.
Speaker 1: Getting your CCNA significantly improves your standing.
Speaker 2: It really does. And what's particularly impactful here is how
Speaker 2: Cisco keeps updating its certifications. They actively incorporate these new
Speaker 2: tech developments.
Speaker 1: So you're not learning yesterday's tech.
Speaker 2: Precisely, you're aware of the latest industry solutions IPv six,
Speaker 2: SDN concepts, newer VPNs. It's baked in.
Speaker 1: Plus, the way you actually learn with Cisco seems different.
Speaker 2: It truly is. The Cisco Learning Network it's basically a
Speaker 2: social network just for learning.
Speaker 1: Like an Internet two point zero for studying.
Speaker 2: Yeah, kind of. Because it's so collaborative. You get access
Speaker 2: to social sharing, structured training simulation labs for that hands
Speaker 2: on practice, which is key, totally key, Plus internships, job listings,
Speaker 2: even mentorship programs. A very holistic approach goes way beyond
Speaker 2: just reading a book. And just to clarify for listeners,
Speaker 2: CCNA is associate level, right, yes, but there's a clear
Speaker 2: path forward this CCMP Cisco Certified Networking Professor that's for
Speaker 2: the more experienced folks. It shows how these searts build
Speaker 2: on each.
Speaker 1: Other, a real career ladder within the certifications themselves.
Speaker 2: Exactly navigating the CCNA Routing and Switching Exam and core concepts.
Speaker 1: Okay, moving into the exam itself. The CCNA Routing and
Speaker 1: Switching Test probably Cisco's most popular associate level program.
Speaker 2: When you see, oh, definitely, it's huge and it's.
Speaker 1: Designed to make sure you understand how to design, create,
Speaker 1: and troubleshoot network issues as systems evolve. So what kind
Speaker 1: of material does it really focus on.
Speaker 2: Well, it's pretty comprehensive, but the sources really highlight the
Speaker 2: focus on practical application. You've got network fundamentals, operation of
Speaker 2: IP data networks, not basics, right, then land switching technologies,
Speaker 2: IP addressing, and this is important. Both IPv four and
Speaker 2: the increasingly cre IPv.
Speaker 1: Six can't ignore IPv six anymore.
Speaker 2: Absolutely not than IP routing technologies, essential IP services, network,
Speaker 2: device security, one technologies, infrastructure management.
Speaker 1: It's a lot and more focused now on specific areas.
Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely increase focus on IPv six because well the
Speaker 2: industry is moving fast away from IPv four. Expanded VPN
Speaker 2: topics too, like.
Speaker 1: DMVPAN multipoint VPN.
Speaker 2: More scalable, right, exactly, better for connecting lots of remote
Speaker 2: sites securely. Plus an awareness of SDNs software defined networking.
Speaker 1: Which is changing everything.
Speaker 2: It is. For CC and A, it's more about understanding
Speaker 2: the concepts of SDN, its significance, maybe less deep configuration
Speaker 2: at this stage. And QoS concepts two, quality of service marking, shaping, policing,
Speaker 2: how to prioritize traffic.
Speaker 1: Got it? And you have options for taking the exam, right,
Speaker 1: it's not just one single test exactly right.
Speaker 2: You can go for the single composite exam, the two
Speaker 2: hundred and twenty five that basically combines the two main
Speaker 2: courses ICND one and ICNA or or if you prefer,
Speaker 2: you can take them separately, the one hundred and one
Speaker 2: oh five ICND one first, then the two hundred one
Speaker 2: oh five ICND two.
Speaker 1: It gives you more time, Maybe break it up.
Speaker 2: Yeah, could be easier for some people. The two hundred
Speaker 2: and twenty five composite, for example, it's usually around seventy
Speaker 2: questions in ninety minutes, and the question types you'll see simulations,
Speaker 2: multiple choice, drag and drop a mix. It's really designed
Speaker 2: to validate your knowledge as an entry level network admin, engineer, specialist,
Speaker 2: analyst focuses on those practical skills.
Speaker 1: Okay, so with such a broad range of topics, what
Speaker 1: are some of the absolute critical concepts you really need
Speaker 1: to nail for this exam? The game changers.
Speaker 2: From our sources, three concepts really stand out. Mastering these
Speaker 2: is key not just for passing, but for actually doing
Speaker 2: the job right. Number one subnetting. This isn't just you know,
Speaker 2: making smaller networks. It's fundamental for managing IP addresses efficiently
Speaker 2: for network security.
Speaker 1: How so security, we'll think about it.
Speaker 2: Proper subnetting can isolate a security breach or performance issue
Speaker 2: to just one small segment. It stops it spreading across
Speaker 2: the whole network, like building internal firewalls with addresses.
Speaker 1: Oh okay, I see.
Speaker 2: You absolutely need to know this inside and out and
Speaker 2: be able to do the calculations quickly. Number two IPv
Speaker 2: six the latest Internet protocol version. It gives unique IDs
Speaker 2: and locations to every device, crucial for traffic management, global connectivity, and.
Speaker 1: Because we're running out of IPv four exactly.
Speaker 2: It's more complex than IPv four, no doubt, but it's
Speaker 2: essential understanding It means understanding the future of the Internet basically.
Speaker 1: And the third critical concept.
Speaker 2: Wireless access given out pervasive wireless is now Wi Fi everywhere,
Speaker 2: can't live without it, right, So understanding wireless access, Cisco's
Speaker 2: wireless products, the security concepts involved that's critical for the
Speaker 2: exam and for real world work makes sense.
Speaker 1: So speaking of prep what are some of the best
Speaker 1: strategies to actually ace this thing? It sounds challenging. Beyond
Speaker 1: just hitting the books.
Speaker 2: Preparation is absolutely key. Yeah, and your horses offer some fantastic,
Speaker 2: really practical advice, like what first organize your study space?
Speaker 2: Sounds basic, but it's crucial.
Speaker 1: Get rid of distractions.
Speaker 2: Exactly, no sofa and no bed, use a proper chair table,
Speaker 2: keep your phone away, other electronics off. Treat it like
Speaker 2: your job.
Speaker 1: Okay, good, havebit what else?
Speaker 2: Take practice exams seriously. This is incredibly effective. Why is
Speaker 2: that It helps you find your knowledge gaps obviously, but
Speaker 2: also gets you familiar with the question structure, the format,
Speaker 2: and critically managing your time under pressure.
Speaker 1: Time management is huge on these tests.
Speaker 2: Huge. Use official question databases if you can, and don't
Speaker 2: get discouraged if you score low at first, use those
Speaker 2: results to target your study.
Speaker 1: Good point. Don't just read right right, mix.
Speaker 2: It up, Engage different senses, combine audio, video, text, graphics,
Speaker 2: Real lab practice hands on is best. Always look for
Speaker 2: free study materials online first too. There's a ton out
Speaker 2: there before you spend money.
Speaker 1: Smart what about other people?
Speaker 2: Utilize your peers and study groups. Nothing compares to getting
Speaker 2: insights from someone who's already certified.
Speaker 1: Or just passed and a mentor maybe yeah, or borrow notes.
Speaker 2: Join a study group. Explaining concepts to others is one
Speaker 2: of the best ways to solidify your own understanding. Plus
Speaker 2: you built your network true Any final prep tips, practice
Speaker 2: drills and flash cards especially for things you struggle with.
Speaker 2: Write down tough questions.
Speaker 1: Or concepts like subnetting steps exactly.
Speaker 2: Review those flash cards twice a day until the answers
Speaker 2: are second nature. It really helps for process based questions
Speaker 2: and bonus, it helps with job interviews too.
Speaker 1: Double duty. Okay, what about those rumors, the myths you
Speaker 1: always hear floating around online about the exam.
Speaker 2: Ah, yes, the internet gossip. It's important not to let
Speaker 2: that distract you.
Speaker 1: So what has Cisco actually debunked?
Speaker 2: Okay, a few key things that cause unnecessary stress. First,
Speaker 2: those survey questions at the start where you rate how
Speaker 2: comfortable you are with topics. Yeah, your answers do not
Speaker 2: impact the difficulty of the questions. You get rate yourself honestly,
Speaker 2: don't worry about gaming it good to know.
Speaker 1: What else?
Speaker 2: Adaptive testing, Yeah, Cisco does not use adaptive testing like
Speaker 2: some other exams do, meaning meaning answering a question wrong
Speaker 2: doesn't mean the test will keep hammering you on that
Speaker 2: topic until you get one right. Questions come from a
Speaker 2: large pool. It's not adapting difficulty based on your answers
Speaker 2: in that way.
Speaker 1: Okay, less pressure there. And simulators, people worry about those labs.
Speaker 2: Right, This is a big one in the simulator questions.
Speaker 2: Adding extra commands beyond what's strictly needed won't mark your
Speaker 2: answer wrong. Yeah, because the simulation engine acts like a
Speaker 2: real router or switch. Just configure the necessary parts correctly
Speaker 2: like you would in a real lab. Don't stress about
Speaker 2: extra show commands for example.
Speaker 1: Okay, that's a relief for many. I bet so. While
Speaker 1: busting myths and acing the exam is important, the real
Speaker 1: foundation what the CCNA builds is that solid grasp of
Speaker 1: networking concepts. Absolutely, and maybe nothing is more foundational than
Speaker 1: the oas sign model. Right, the universal language.
Speaker 2: The OSI model is indeed the origin, you could say,
Speaker 2: of standardized communication between hardware and software. Back in eighty four,
Speaker 2: the ISO published this open system's interconnect model. Why what
Speaker 2: problem did it solve the huge problem of getting computers
Speaker 2: from different manufacturers to actually talk to each other? Sounds
Speaker 2: simple now, but it was incredibly complex then.
Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 2: It's a seven layer conceptual model. Data slows down from
Speaker 2: the top application to the bottom physical.
Speaker 1: And it seems academic, but you're saying it's practical.
Speaker 2: Oh, incredibly practical, especially for troubleshooting. Our sources really emphasize
Speaker 2: this if your email isn't sending, is it a Layer
Speaker 2: one cable issue or a Layer seven protocol problem. Knowing
Speaker 2: the layers helps you narrow it down fast.
Speaker 1: Okay, let's quickly run through them.
Speaker 2: Layer seven application layer closest to you the user. Web browsers,
Speaker 2: email clients, that kind of thing operate here. Layer six
Speaker 2: Presentation handles data formatting, encryption, translation think JPEG images, ensuring
Speaker 2: data is readable by the application. Layer five Session layer
Speaker 2: manages the dialogue, controls the connections between computers, starting ending,
Speaker 2: maintaining the conversation.
Speaker 1: Layer four this one's important.
Speaker 2: Very Transport layer ensures messages get there reliably without errors
Speaker 2: in the right order. This is where TCP and UDP live.
Speaker 2: Connection oriented versus connectionless, reliable delivery or fast delivery. It's
Speaker 2: the bridge between the application and the network stuff. Okay.
Speaker 2: Layer three network layer. This is where the routing happens.
Speaker 2: IP addresses live here, transferring data across different networks, finding
Speaker 2: the best path, maintaining quality of service. Routers work primarily here.
Speaker 2: Layer two data link layer insures reliable data transit across
Speaker 2: a physical link. Deals with physical addressing, MS addresses, and
Speaker 2: error detection within a local network segment switches operate mostly here.
Speaker 2: It is sublayers too, LOC and MC.
Speaker 1: And finally layer one.
Speaker 2: Physical layer the actual hardware, cables, connectors, voltage levels, radio
Speaker 2: waves for wireless defines how the bits physically get transmitted.
Speaker 1: And what's fascinating is how these layers directly map to
Speaker 1: the devices that build our networks. What are those key
Speaker 1: devices again?
Speaker 2: Indeed, it's you got the workhorses rotors.
Speaker 1: First, we know they connect networks, but for CCNA, it's.
Speaker 2: About understanding how they use routing tables at layer three
Speaker 2: to make intelligent decisions, finding the best path, not just
Speaker 2: forwarding blindly. OKA often called multiport bridges, they work at
Speaker 2: layer two using MTI addresses to filter packets within a
Speaker 2: land segment. They create many small collision domains, which is
Speaker 2: a massive performance boost over older tech. Rightlike, unlike hubs,
Speaker 2: you still need to know about them. They're basically multiport
Speaker 2: repeaters layer one devices and their limitation they send everything
Speaker 2: they receive out to every other one big collision domain.
Speaker 2: That's why switches replace them for efficiency.
Speaker 1: Okay, so beyond the devices, the sources also cover crucial
Speaker 1: protocols and technologies.
Speaker 2: Right, Oh yeah, absolutely, the CCNA really tests your understanding
Speaker 2: of these working parts.
Speaker 1: Like what give us some highlights?
Speaker 2: Okay, MPL less Multi protocol label switching uses labels instead
Speaker 2: of long addresses to route traffic faster across provider networks.
Speaker 2: The advantages for quality of service QoS, traffic engineering VPNs
Speaker 2: it makes forwarding faster. Lets you prioritize traffic, got it?
Speaker 1: What else?
Speaker 2: V lands virtual lands so important? Lets you chop up
Speaker 2: a single physical network into multiple logical networks.
Speaker 1: Why do that?
Speaker 2: Huge for security? Keep guest wi Fi separate from your
Speaker 2: internal network, for example, also improves performance by limiting broadcast traffic.
Speaker 2: You'll hear about port based static and sit MAC based dynamic,
Speaker 2: v lands and the A to two point one Q
Speaker 2: tagging standard.
Speaker 1: Okay, what about loops? Redundancy can cause problems?
Speaker 2: Right exactly. That's where STP comes in standing tree Protocol
Speaker 2: essential redundant ethernet networks. It prevents those dangerous logical loops
Speaker 2: and broadcast storms by making sure there's only one active
Speaker 2: path between any two points at a time. It blocks
Speaker 2: redundant paths until needed. You'll also learn about faster versions
Speaker 2: like RSTT and MSTP.
Speaker 1: Okay, Secure again.
Speaker 2: ACLS Access ConTroll lists, Yeah, critical security tool. Configure it
Speaker 2: on routers or firewalls to filter packets, control what traffic.
Speaker 1: Is allowed in or out standard versus extended.
Speaker 2: Standard ACLS just check the source IP simple. Extended ACLS
Speaker 2: are much more powerful. They check source and destination IPS
Speaker 2: ports protocols much finer control. Understanding wildcard masks is key
Speaker 2: to writing them correctly.
Speaker 1: Makes sense. Automating IP addresses.
Speaker 2: That's DHCP Dynamic host Configuration.
Speaker 1: Protocol better than BOTP.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's an extension of the older POTP. THEHCP dynamically
Speaker 2: assigns IP addresses and other network settings like DNS servers
Speaker 2: gateway to devices. Automates a huge administrative task. You need
Speaker 2: to know the door process, discover, offer, request acknowledge dore
Speaker 2: got it.
Speaker 1: And finally, dealing with IPv four address scarcity.
Speaker 2: Network address translation absolutely crucial protocol. Why crucial because we
Speaker 2: ran out of public IPVP four addresses net lits. Devices
Speaker 2: with private, non routable internal life IP addresses communicate with
Speaker 2: the public Internet. It translates those private addresses to one
Speaker 2: or more public ratable addresses.
Speaker 1: And there are different tubs.
Speaker 2: Three main types. Static neat A fixed one to one mapping.
Speaker 2: Dynamic net uses a pool of public EPs assigned on
Speaker 2: demand and pat port address translation.
Speaker 1: Also called net overload.
Speaker 2: Exactly, that's the most common type. It's an end to
Speaker 2: one conversion maps many internal private EPs to a single
Speaker 2: public IP address by using different port numbers to keep
Speaker 2: track of the connections, saves the most public eyeps doubtro Wow.
Speaker 1: Okay, this deep dive has really taken us on quite
Speaker 1: a journey from the surprising origins of Cisco Yeah, the
Speaker 1: love start, through the really significant career advantages of getting
Speaker 1: that CCNA routing and switching SIRT, and finally a pretty
Speaker 1: thorough breakdown of the core networking concepts and practical strategies
Speaker 1: you need to succeed.
Speaker 2: We've covered a lot from those beginnings to the nitty
Speaker 2: gritty of protocols like MPLS and the absolutely crucial role
Speaker 2: of things like ACLS in that in today's networks. Yeah,
Speaker 2: this really is a shortcut, hopefully to being well informed
Speaker 2: about this complex but honestly fascinating field that just underpins
Speaker 2: everything we do online.
Speaker 1: So what does this all mean for you listening? Well,
Speaker 1: you should now have a much more solid foundation for
Speaker 1: understanding the backbone of the digital world and this knowledge
Speaker 1: it's not just about passing an exam, right, It's about
Speaker 1: understanding that unseen infrastructure that powers our daily lives connects
Speaker 1: everyone globally exactly.
Speaker 2: And this brings up an important question for you, our listener,
Speaker 2: to think about. Given this constant evolution of technology we
Speaker 2: talked about cloud, networking, AI driven automation is coming fast.
Speaker 2: How do you think this foundational understanding of routing and
Speaker 2: switching the stuff we talked about today will most impact
Speaker 2: your ability to adapt to whatever comes next in networking?
Speaker 2: And what specific new challenges do you anticipate network engineers
Speaker 2: will face. How might these core skills actually prepare them.
Speaker 1: That's a great question to ponder, Keep excploring, keep questioning.
Speaker 1: Curious in ten US next time for another deep dive