Exam Profile: Cisco 100-105 ICND1 v3.0
Date: May 27, 2016
The ICND1 v3.0 is the latest iteration (at the time of this writing) for one of the most famous professional certification exams on the planet. The Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 exam is your first step into the exciting and rewarding world of Cisco Networking Certifications. This exam is your only requirement for what is many people’s first Cisco Certification – the Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT) certification. ICND1 also serves as a first of two steps in the follow up certification, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) cert.
NOTE: A composite exam may be substituted for the ICND1 and ICND2 exams in order to achieve CCNA in one step. This path is considered very difficult, but students that are interested should check out the Exam Profile for 200-125 CCNA v3.0.
The Exam Details
Here are the raw details you want to know about this exam:
Number of Questions: 45-55
Types of Questions: Multiple Choice (single and multiple answer), Drag-and-Drop, Simulations, Simlets, and Testlets
NOTE: For a tutorial in this types of questions, be sure to visit the Cisco site—be patient, as the content does take some time to load in your browser initially
Passing score: Cisco may change this at any time, but currently it is around 800-850 out of 1000 possible points
Time Limit: 90 minutes
How to Register: Visit pearsonvue.com/cisco in order to register at a testing center near you
The Exam Topics
While Cisco can refresh their question bank for the exam at any time without warning, they will try and stick closely to the following topics that makeup what we refer to as the exam "blueprint":
1.0 Network Fundamentals (20% of your exam questions will come from this area)
1.1 Compare and contrast OSI and TCP/IP models
1.2 Compare and contrast TCP and UDP protocols
1.3 Describe the impact of infrastructure components in an enterprise network
1.3.a Firewalls
1.3.b Access points
1.3.c Wireless controllers
1.4 Compare and contrast collapsed core and three-tier architectures
1.5 Compare and contrast network topologies
1.5.a Star
1.5.b Mesh
1.5.c Hybrid
1.6 Select the appropriate cabling type based on implementation requirements
1.7 Apply troubleshooting methodologies to resolve problems
1.7.a Perform fault isolation and document
1.7.b Resolve or escalate
1.7.c Verify and monitor resolution
1.8 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot IPv4 addressing and subnetting
1.9 Compare and contrast IPv4 address types
1.9.a Unicast
1.9.b Broadcast
1.9.c Multicast
1.10 Describe the need for private IPv4 addressing
1.11 Identify the appropriate IPv6 addressing scheme to satisfy addressing requirements in a LAN/WAN environment
1.12 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot IPv6 addressing
1.13 Configure and verify IPv6 Stateless Address Auto Configuration
1.14 Compare and contrast IPv6 address types
1.14.a Global unicast
1.14.b Unique local
1.14.c Link local
1.14.d Multicast
1.14.e Modified EUI 64
1.14.f Autoconfiguration
1.14.g Anycast
2.0 LAN Switching Fundamentals (26% of your exam questions will come from this area)
2.1 Describe and verify switching concepts
2.1.a MAC learning and aging
2.1.b Frame switching
2.1.c Frame flooding
2.1.d MAC address table
2.2 Interpret Ethernet frame format
2.3 Troubleshoot interface and cable issues (collisions, errors, duplex, speed)
2.4 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot VLANs (normal range) spanning multiple switches
2.4.a Access ports (data and voice)
2.4.b Default VLAN
2.5 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot interswitch connectivity
2.5.a Trunk ports
2.5.b 802.1Q
2.5.c Native VLAN
2.6 Configure and verify Layer 2 protocols
2.6.a Cisco Discovery Protocol
2.6.b LLDP
2.7 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot port security
2.7.a Static
2.7.b Dynamic
2.7.c Sticky
2.7.d Max MAC addresses
2.7.e Violation actions
2.7.f Err-disable recovery
3.0 Routing Fundamentals (24% of your exam questions will come from this area)
3.1 Describe the routing concepts
3.1.a Packet handling along the path through a network
3.1.b Forwarding decision based on route lookup
3.1.c Frame rewrite
3.2 Interpret the components of routing table
3.2.a Prefix
3.2.b Network mask
3.2.c Next hop
3.2.d Routing protocol code
3.2.e Administrative distance
3.2.f Metric
3.2.g Gateway of last resort
3.3 Describe how a routing table is populated by different routing information sources
3.3.a Admin distance
3.4 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot inter-VLAN routing
3.4.a Router on a stick
3.5 Compare and contrast static routing and dynamic routing
3.6 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot IPv4 and IPv6 static routing
3.6.a Default route
3.6.b Network route
3.6.c Host route
3.6.d Floating static
3.7 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot RIPv2 for IPv4 (excluding authentication, filtering, manual summarization, redistribution)
4.0 Infrastructure Services (15% of your exam questions will come from this area)
4.1 Describe DNS lookup operation
4.2 Troubleshoot client connectivity issues involving DNS
4.3 Configure and verify DHCP on a router (excluding static reservations)
4.3.a Server
4.3.b Relay
4.3.c Client
4.3.d TFTP, DNS, and gateway options
4.4 Troubleshoot client- and router-based DHCP connectivity issues
4.5 Configure and verify NTP operating in client/server mode
4.6 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot IPv4 standard numbered and named access list for routed interfaces
4.7 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot inside source NAT
4.7.a Static
4.7.b Pool
4.7.c PAT
5.0 Infrastructure Maintenance (14% of your exam questions will come from this area)
5.1 Configure and verify device-monitoring using syslog
5.2 Configure and verify device management
5.2.a Backup and restore device configuration
5.2.b Using Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP for device discovery
5.2.c Licensing
5.2.d Logging
5.2.e Timezone
5.2.f Loopback
5.3 Configure and verify initial device configuration
5.4 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot basic device hardening
5.4.a Local authentication
5.4.b Secure password
5.4.c Access to device
5.4.c.i Source address
5.4.c.ii Telnet/SSH
5.4.d Login banner
5.5 Perform device maintenance
5.5.a Cisco IOS upgrades and recovery (SCP, FTP, TFTP, and MD5 verify)
5.5.b Password recovery and configuration register
5.5.c File system management
5.6 Use Cisco IOS tools to troubleshoot and resolve problems
5.6.a Ping and traceroute with extended option
5.6.b Terminal monitor
5.6.c Log events
Trouble Spots
As you examine the blueprint of exam topics in this Exam Profile, something becomes very clear right away – the list of topics you must know, and know well, is extremely extensive. From IPv4 subnetting, to IPv6, and routing and switching, there is a wealth of information you must demonstrate mastery with.
The exam certainly reflects this. In fact, one of the most frequent comments from students taking the exam is that they could have passed on their first try if they only had more time. You must not only know this material, but be able to recall it very quickly. In exam simulations and simlets, you must be very fast in order to pass the exam.
In order to properly prepare for exams with simulations and simlets like this, students must log plenty of hours on rental equipment, simulations, or their own lab equipment. The amount of time students must spend with this is certainly dependent on how much real world experience they already possess with the technologies listed in the blueprint.
Preparation Hints
The following list should prove very valuable in your success with this intense exam:
- Become expert at the simulations and simlets and testlets that you encounter in this exam using the link provided in the Exam Details section. When I recommend you become an expert at them, I am of course referring to how they operate and how you navigate inside of them. You cannot afford to waste valuable time in the actual exam trying to determine how to work with the simulation exercises themselves. You want the full compliment of your time dedicated to the technological problem solving that you must carry out.
- Enter the blueprint above into a spreadsheet or similar software in order to make a study checklist. Consider rating yourself on each item. I like to use a 1 to 5 scale. For example, 1 means I have never heard of that technology. 2 indicates I have heard of it before. 3 means that I could describe it. 4 indicates that I could configure it if necessary, while 5 means I could also troubleshoot. Note that in this exam, not all areas will be requiring you to both configure and troubleshoot, so many topics can be taken to a level 3 only for adequate preparedness.
- Read the examine blueprint topics vey carefully, notice that topics where you must "configure" or "verify" or "troubleshoot" are spelled out very clearly. Topics that are listed with verbs like "describe" are very often theory-only type questions, or at the very least, will not be featured in simulation style questions.
- Acquire physical gear, or rent gear, or use well-rated simulators in order to practice with Cisco routing and switching technologies.
- Study using well-rated, trusted practice exams whenever possible in order to assess your readiness.
Recommended Study Resources
The following highly-rated study resources should be of tremendous benefit for your success. Notice that Pearson IT Certification provides excellent materials for your initial study, your hands-on lab practice, and your practice testing. Some products are available now, and more are coming in late 2016 and early 2017.
- CCENT/CCNA ICND1 100-105 Official Cert Guide, ISBN: 9781587205804
- CCNA Routing and Switching 200-125 Portable Command Guide, ISBN: 9781587205880