Cisco CCNA v2.0 (200-301)

1. Domain 1

   Network Infrastructure and Connectivity

   25%

   How end-to-end connectivity is built and verified: diagnosing copper and fibre faults, virtualisation with hypervisors, virtual machines and containers, IPv4/IPv6 addressing and prefix design, wireless RF and client connectivity, and DHCPv4 client, server and relay behaviour.

2. Domain 2

   Switching and Network Access

   25%

   How switches connect to other switches, routers and edge devices. Typical work includes VLANs, Layer 2 and Layer 3 interfaces, 802.1Q trunks, LACP/EtherChannel, SVIs, PoE, access points, VoIP phones and virtualised hosts, plus CDP/LLDP discovery and Rapid PVST+ loop prevention with PortFast, root guard, loop guard and BPDU guard.

3. Domain 3

   IP Routing

   20%

   How routers choose a path: reading routing tables, selecting a next hop, and configuring IPv4 and IPv6 static routes including default, network, host and floating routes. Dynamic routing focuses on single-area OSPFv2 and OSPFv3, neighbour adjacencies, DR/BDR selection and router IDs, with first-hop redundancy through HSRP and VRRP.

4. Domain 4

   Network Services and Security

   20%

   Services that keep a network usable and protected: local users, AAA with TACACS+ and RADIUS, SFTP/SCP, NAT/PAT, DNS records and troubleshooting, IPsec VPN concepts, IPv4 ACLs, and Layer-2 protections such as DHCP snooping, Dynamic ARP Inspection, storm control, RA guard and port security.

5. Domain 5

   AI, and Network Operations and Management

   10%

   How operators run networks with both traditional tools and AI assistance. Candidates should understand agentic AI in network operations, judge whether AI or digital-network-assistant output is usable, and write effective generative-AI prompts using persona, instructions, data classification and output format. The same domain covers device-based, cloud-based and controller-based management, automation, infrastructure as code, SNMP, Ansible, and syslog severity levels and facilities.

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1. Step 1

   Understand the networking, not just the commands

   Study how packets move, how addresses and prefixes are designed, and how switches and routers cooperate. Memorising a CLI list without that picture is a weak CCNA v2.0 strategy.

2. Step 2

   Practise IPv4, IPv6 and subnetting until it is fluent

   Be able to configure and size IPv4 subnets and IPv6 prefixes, then explain why a host, gateway or mask is wrong. Addressing mistakes show up across several domains.

3. Step 3

   Practise switching, routing and reading device output

   Work through VLANs, trunks, EtherChannel, Rapid PVST+, static routes, OSPF and first-hop redundancy. Get used to interpreting CLI and show-command output when connectivity fails.

4. Step 4

   Cover services, security, automation and the AI objectives

   Learn NAT, DNS, AAA, ACLs, DHCP snooping and related protections, then the newer operations topics: agentic AI, prompt design, evaluating assistant output, and management or infrastructure-as-code concepts.

5. Step 5

   Use SkillsNest practice and mocks when they are published

   This page stays on the same URL. Independent practice questions and timed mock exams will appear here from live catalogue data. Completing later SkillsNest material will not guarantee that you pass.