2.1 Configure and verify VLANs (normal range) spanning multiple switches

2.1.a Access ports (data and voice)

2.1.b Default VLAN

2.1.c InterVLAN connectivity

2.2 Configure and verify interswitch connectivity

2.2.a Trunk ports

2.2.b 802.1Q

2.2.c Native VLAN

2.3 Configure and verify Layer 2 discovery protocols (Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP)

2.4 Configure and verify (Layer 2/Layer 3) EtherChannel (LACP)

2.5 Interpret basic operations of Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol

2.5.a Root port, root bridge (primary/secondary), and other port names

2.5.b Port states (forwarding/blocking)

2.5.c PortFast

2.5.d Root guard, loop guard, BPDU filter, and BPDU guard

2.6 Describe Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes

2.7 Describe physical infrastructure connections of WLAN components (AP, WLC, access/trunk ports, and LAG)

2.8 Describe network device management access (Telnet, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, console, TACACS+/RADIUS, and cloud managed)

2.9 Interpret the wireless LAN GUI configuration for client connectivity, such as WLAN creation, security settings, QoS profiles, and advanced settings

3.1 Interpret the components of routing table

3.1.a Routing protocol code

3.1.b Prefix

3.1.c Network mask

3.1.d Next hop

3.1.e Administrative distance

3.1.f Metric

3.1.g Gateway of last resort

3.2 Determine how a router makes a forwarding decision by default

3.2.a Longest prefix match

3.2.b Administrative distance

3.2.c Routing protocol metric

3.3 Configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing

3.3.a Default route

3.3.b Network route

3.3.c Host route

3.3.d Floating static

3.4 Configure and verify single area OSPFv2

3.4.a Neighbor adjacencies

3.4.b Point-to-point

3.4.c Broadcast (DR/BDR selection)

3.4.d Router ID

3.5 Describe the purpose, functions, and concepts of first hop redundancy protocols

4.1 Configure and verify inside source NAT using static and pools

4.2 Configure and verify NTP operating in a client and server mode

4.3 Explain the role of DHCP and DNS within the network

4.4 Explain the function of SNMP in network operations

4.5 Describe the use of syslog features including facilities and levels

4.6 Configure and verify DHCP client and relay

4.7 Explain the forwarding per-hop behavior (PHB) for QoS, such as classification, marking, queuing, congestion, policing, and shaping

4.8 Configure network devices for remote access using SSH

4.9 Describe the capabilities and functions of TFTP/FTP in the network

5.1 Define key security concepts (threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation techniques)

5.2 Describe security program elements (user awareness, training, and physical access control)

5.3 Configure and verify device access control using local passwords

5.4 Describe security password policies elements, such as management, complexity, and password alternatives (multifactor authentication, certificates, and biometrics)

5.5 Describe IPsec remote access and site-to-site VPNs

5.6 Configure and verify access control lists

5.7 Configure and verify Layer 2 security features (DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and port security)

5.8 Compare authentication, authorization, and accounting concepts

5.9 Describe wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3)

5.10 Configure and verify WLAN within the GUI using WPA2 PSK

6.1 Explain how automation impacts network management

6.2 Compare traditional networks with controller-based networking

6.3 Describe controller-based, software defined architecture (overlay, underlay, and fabric)

6.3.a Separation of control plane and data plane

6.3.b Northbound and Southbound APIs

6.4 Explain AI (generative and predictive) and machine learning in network operations

6.5 Describe characteristics of REST-based APIs (authentication types, CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding)

6.6 Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms, such as Ansible and Terraform

6.7 Recognize components of JSON-encoded data