CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics List and Domain Weightings
Network Fundamentals (20%) Core Concepts
The Network Fundamentals domain establishes the baseline for all subsequent topics in the CCNA 200-301 syllabus. Candidates are expected to explain the role and function of various network components, including routers, L2 and L3 switches, next-generation firewalls, and access points. A significant portion of this domain focuses on the physical layer and the OSI Model, specifically how data encapsulation occurs as a PDU (Protocol Data Unit) moves from the Application layer down to the Physical layer. You must be prepared to identify the differences between cabling types, such as Single-mode fiber versus Multi-mode fiber, and understand the impact of interface and cable issues like collisions or duplex mismatches.
Subnetting remains the most critical skill within this section. You must be able to perform Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM) calculations rapidly without a calculator. The exam often presents scenarios where you must determine the most efficient subnet mask to accommodate a specific number of hosts while minimizing wasted IP addresses. Furthermore, you must distinguish between IPv4 address types (Unicast, Broadcast, and Multicast) and possess a working knowledge of IPv6 address representation and prefix assignment. Scoring in this domain depends on your ability to interpret a topology and identify misconfigured IP parameters that prevent basic end-to-end connectivity.
Network Access (20%) Switching and Wireless
Network Access shifts the focus toward Layer 2 technologies and the connectivity between end-user devices and the network core. The primary focus here is VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) implementation and trunking using the 802.1Q encapsulation standard. You must understand how the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) prevents loops in a redundant switched topology. The exam specifically targets your ability to identify the Root Bridge based on the Bridge ID (composed of a priority value and the MAC address) and to predict which ports will transition to the Forwarding, Blocking, or Listening states. Familiarity with Rapid PVST+ is essential, as Cisco emphasizes faster convergence times in modern enterprise environments.
This domain also incorporates a significant wireless component, reflecting the shift toward mobile-first corporate networks. You are required to describe Cisco Wireless Architectures, including the difference between autonomous and lightweight access points. Knowledge of the CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) protocol is vital, as is an understanding of how a Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) manages SSIDs, security settings, and RF channels. Expect questions on the various wireless deployment models, such as centralized, converged, and cloud-based, and how they impact traffic flow and management overhead within the Cisco CCNA domains and objectives.
Mastering IP Connectivity and Routing Protocols
IP Connectivity (25%) and Static Routing
As the most heavily weighted section of the CCNA 200-301 study topics, IP Connectivity tests your ability to configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 routing. At its core, this section requires a deep understanding of the Routing Table and the decision-making process the router uses to forward packets. You must master the concept of the Longest Prefix Match; if a router has multiple entries for a destination, it will always prefer the most specific route (the one with the longest subnet mask). If masks are identical, the router then evaluates the Administrative Distance (AD) to determine the trustworthiness of the routing source, such as preferring a Directly Connected route (AD 0) over a Static route (AD 1).
Static routing is not merely about basic reachability; the exam tests your knowledge of specialized types, including Floating Static Routes used for backup links. To implement a floating static route, you must manually increase the AD of the static route to be higher than that of the primary dynamic protocol. You will also be assessed on your ability to configure Default Routes (0.0.0.0/0) to direct traffic toward an ISP. Verification is key here; you must be proficient with the show ip route and show ipv6 route commands to troubleshoot why a specific path was chosen or why a route is missing from the Forwarding Information Base (FIB).
OSPFv2 Configuration and Troubleshooting for CCNA
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is the primary dynamic routing protocol covered in the current CCNA curriculum. Unlike previous versions that included multiple protocols, the 200-301 exam focuses almost exclusively on single-area OSPFv2 for IPv4. You must understand the Link-State logic, where every router maintains a synchronized map of the topology via Link-State Advertisements (LSAs). Key concepts include the formation of neighbor adjacencies, which require matching Area IDs, Subnet Masks, and Hello/Dead timers. If these parameters do not match, the adjacency will fail, and routing information will not be exchanged.
From a configuration perspective, you must know how to enable OSPF using the network command with wildcard masks or directly on the interface. The exam also tests your ability to manipulate the OSPF Cost metric to influence path selection, which is calculated based on the reference bandwidth (default 100 Mbps) divided by the interface bandwidth. You must also be able to identify the Designated Router (DR) and Backup Designated Router (BDR) selection process on multi-access segments like Ethernet, where the router with the highest OSPF Priority (or highest Router ID in the event of a tie) takes the lead to reduce LSA flooding.
EIGRP Fundamentals for CCNA
While OSPF takes center stage, the CCNA still requires a foundational understanding of the Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP). Although it is no longer a primary configuration objective for the 200-301, you must understand its unique characteristics as a "Distance Vector" protocol that uses the Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL). DUAL ensures a loop-free topology by calculating a Successor (the primary path) and a Feasible Successor (the backup path). The criteria for a backup path to become a Feasible Successor is the Feasibility Condition: the Reported Distance (RD) from a neighbor must be less than the current Feasible Distance (FD) of the local router.
Understanding EIGRP is essential for candidates because it is frequently encountered in legacy Cisco environments. You should be able to interpret EIGRP-specific output in a routing table, identified by the code 'D'. The protocol uses a composite metric based on Bandwidth and Delay by default (K-values K1 and K3). Even if not asked to configure it from scratch, you may be required to compare EIGRP’s Administrative Distance (90 for internal, 170 for external) against OSPF (110) to determine which route will be installed in the routing table when both protocols are running simultaneously on a router.
Security Fundamentals and Threat Mitigation
Security Concepts and CIA Triad
The Security Fundamentals domain addresses the increasing necessity of protecting network infrastructure from both internal and external threats. Candidates must define the CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Confidentiality ensures that data is only accessible to authorized users (often through encryption), Integrity ensures that data remains unaltered during transit (using hashing algorithms like SHA-256), and Availability ensures that network resources are accessible when needed. You will also be tested on your ability to distinguish between various threats, such as Phishing, Social Engineering, and Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks.
Beyond theoretical concepts, this section requires knowledge of physical security and password policy components. You must understand the importance of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and the role of AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) in an enterprise environment. The exam expects you to know the difference between the RADIUS and TACACS+ protocols, specifically that TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet body and separates authentication and authorization, making it more suitable for device administration. This conceptual framework is the precursor to the practical security configurations required in the subsequent subsections.
Implementing and Verifying Access Control Lists (ACLs)
Access Control Lists are the primary tool for traffic filtering and security enforcement at the network layer. For the CCNA, you must be proficient in creating and applying both Standard and Extended IPv4 ACLs. Standard ACLs (numbered 1–99) only filter based on the source IP address and should be applied as close to the destination as possible. Extended ACLs (numbered 100–199) offer much finer granularity, allowing you to filter based on source and destination IP, protocol type (TCP, UDP, ICMP), and port numbers (such as port 80 for HTTP or port 443 for HTTPS). Extended ACLs should be applied as close to the source of the traffic as possible to conserve network bandwidth.
One of the most common pitfalls on the exam involves the "Implicit Deny" rule. Every ACL ends with an invisible deny any statement; if a packet does not match any of the explicitly defined permit statements, it is dropped. You must also understand the logic of wildcard masks, which are essentially the inverse of a subnet mask. For example, a wildcard mask of 0.0.0.255 tells the router to ignore the last octet when matching an address. Verification using the show access-lists command is crucial to see "matches" or "hit counts," which confirm that the ACL is correctly intercepting the intended traffic.
Layer 2 Security Features: Port Security and DHCP Snooping
Security doesn't stop at the router; the CCNA 200-301 highlights the importance of securing the access layer. Port Security is a vital feature on Cisco switches that limits the number of MAC addresses allowed on a single physical port. You must know how to configure violation modes: Protect, Restrict, and Shutdown. The 'Shutdown' mode is the default, which places the port into an err-disabled state upon a violation, requiring manual intervention or an err-disable recovery timer to re-enable the port. Using "Sticky" MAC addresses allows the switch to learn the MAC address dynamically and save it to the running configuration, providing a balance between security and administrative ease.
Another critical Layer 2 defense is DHCP Snooping. This feature prevents rogue DHCP servers from handing out incorrect IP addresses or gateway information to clients. By defining "trusted" ports (connected to legitimate servers/uplinks) and "untrusted" ports (connected to end-users), the switch can intercept and drop unauthorized DHCP Offer messages. Similarly, you should be familiar with Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), which relies on the DHCP Snooping binding database to prevent ARP spoofing attacks. These features collectively ensure that the foundation of the network remains resilient against common local-area exploits.
Automation, Programmability, and Network Evolution
Understanding Controller-Based and Software-Defined Architectures
The inclusion of Automation and Programmability reflects the industry shift from traditional box-by-box management to centralized, software-defined control. You must understand the difference between the Control Plane (which makes decisions about where traffic should go) and the Data Plane (which actually forwards the packets). In a Software-Defined Network (SDN), the control plane is decoupled from the hardware and moved to a centralized controller, such as Cisco DNA Center. This allows for "Intent-Based Networking," where an administrator defines a high-level policy, and the controller pushes the necessary configurations to all devices in the fabric.
You are expected to describe the Northbound and Southbound APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Northbound APIs allow the controller to communicate with applications and orchestration tools, while Southbound APIs (like OpenFlow or NETCONF) allow the controller to manage the physical network devices. This section also covers the basics of SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network), which optimizes path selection across multiple transport links (MPLS, Internet, LTE) based on real-time application performance. Understanding these architectures is essential for modern network engineers who must manage large-scale deployments with consistency and speed.
Interpreting JSON-Encoded Data
As networks become more programmable, the ability to read and interpret data formats used by APIs is a required skill. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is the primary data-interchange format covered in the CCNA. You must be able to identify valid JSON structures, which use key-value pairs, arrays (ordered lists enclosed in square brackets []), and objects (unordered collections enclosed in curly braces {}). For the exam, you won't need to write complex code, but you must be able to look at a JSON snippet and identify specific data points, such as an interface status or an IP address.
This objective tests your attention to detail regarding syntax. For instance, in JSON, strings must be enclosed in double quotes, and key-value pairs must be separated by colons. Understanding JSON is the first step in interacting with RESTful APIs, which use standard HTTP methods like GET (to retrieve data), POST (to create data), PUT (to update data), and DELETE (to remove data). Being able to parse a JSON response from a controller like Cisco DNA Center is a practical skill that allows for the automated monitoring and reporting of network health across hundreds of devices simultaneously.
Python Scripting Fundamentals for Network Tasks
While the CCNA is not a programming certification, it introduces Python as the preferred language for network automation. Candidates should understand basic Python concepts such as variables, data types (strings, integers, lists, and dictionaries), and basic loops. The exam focuses on how Python scripts can be used to automate repetitive tasks, such as backing up configurations or checking the status of multiple interfaces across a fleet of switches. You should be familiar with the idea of libraries—specifically those designed for networking, such as Netmiko or requests—which simplify the process of connecting to devices over SSH or interacting with REST APIs.
In an exam scenario, you might be presented with a short Python script and asked to predict its output or identify a missing line of code. The goal is to demonstrate that you understand the logic of automation: instead of manually typing show version on fifty routers, a script can iterate through a list of IP addresses, execute the command, and save the results to a file. This shift toward "Network Infrastructure as Code" is a core theme of the CCNA 200-301, signaling that the network engineer of the future must be as comfortable with a script editor as they are with the CLI.
Mapping Study Resources to Official Exam Objectives
Using the Cisco Exam Blueprint as Your Study Map
The official CCNA exam blueprint is the most valuable tool in a candidate's arsenal. Because Cisco provides the percentage weighting for each domain, you should allocate your study time accordingly. For example, since IP Connectivity and Network Access together account for 45% of the total score, these areas require the deepest level of hands-on practice. A common strategy is to print the CCNA 200-301 exam topics list and use it as a checklist. If you cannot explain a bullet point to a peer or configure the related feature without referring to documentation, you have not yet mastered that objective.
Cisco uses specific verbs in the blueprint that indicate the required depth of knowledge. "Describe" or "Explain" suggests a conceptual understanding is sufficient, whereas "Configure and Verify" or "Troubleshoot" indicates that you must be able to perform the task in a live CLI environment. Paying attention to these keywords prevents "over-studying" minor concepts and "under-studying" critical configuration tasks. The blueprint also evolves; Cisco occasionally makes minor revisions to the topics, so ensuring you are using the latest version from the Cisco Learning Network is a prerequisite for any study plan.
Recommended Labs for Each Technical Objective
Hands-on experience is non-negotiable for passing the CCNA. You must move beyond reading and start "doing" by using network simulators or emulators. Key labs should include building a multi-VLAN environment with Inter-VLAN routing (Router-on-a-Stick), configuring OSPF across multiple routers with varying link speeds to observe path selection, and implementing ACLs to permit web traffic while blocking ping (ICMP). For the Network Access domain, labbing STP by manually changing the Root Bridge using the spanning-tree vlan [id] priority command is essential to seeing the protocol in action.
For the newer domains, such as Automation, you can use online sandboxes provided by Cisco DevNet. These environments allow you to practice making API calls to a real DNA Center controller or running Python scripts against virtual devices. The goal of labbing is to develop "muscle memory" for the Cisco IOS. During the exam, you will face time pressure, and the ability to quickly type show ip interface brief or copy running-config startup-config without hesitation can save precious minutes that are better spent on complex troubleshooting or simulation questions.
Practice Exams Aligned with Domain Weightings
Final preparation should involve practice exams that mimic the actual testing environment. A high-quality practice test does more than just provide questions; it provides detailed explanations for why an answer is correct and why the distractors are wrong. This reinforces the "why" behind the technology. You should look for exams that include a mix of multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions (labs). Performance-based questions are particularly important, as they require you to configure or troubleshoot a small topology within the exam interface to meet specific requirements.
When taking practice exams, pay close attention to the scoring breakdown. If you consistently score 90% in Network Fundamentals but only 60% in IP Services (which covers NAT, NTP, and DHCP), you know exactly where to focus your final review. Remember that the CCNA 200-301 does not allow you to go back to a previous question once you have submitted it. Therefore, practicing your pacing is vital. You typically have 120 minutes to answer approximately 100–120 questions, meaning you have roughly one minute per question. Mastering the CCNA 200-301 exam topics list through rigorous testing ensures that on exam day, you are not just knowledgeable, but also efficient and confident.