CCNA resources_
study guides, lab tools, videos, cheat sheets, and assorted networking knowledge.
a quick note: i passed the CCNA in 2019, back when it consisted of ICND1 and ICND2. some of these resources are older, so check that anything exam-specific still matches the current exam topics.
get the exam outline first_
before buying books or signing up for classes, download Cisco's official CCNA exam topics. use them to guide your studying so you know what you're actually expected to learn.
Cisco CCNA exam topics ↗books & courses_
Cisco Networking Academy
i took an in-person Cisco NetAcad course through my community college.
explore ↗ booksCisco Press certification guides
i used the old 100-105 and 200-105 guides. here's the 200-301 guide i originally linked for newer students; check the edition against the current exam before purchasing.
view books ↗labs & practice_
Cisco Packet Tracer
build virtual networks and practice configurations. i used it with labs from Cisco NetAcad.
get Packet Tracer ↗ personally usedWireshark
look at pcaps and learn what network data actually looks like. you can practice with packet captures in Packet Tracer, too.
explore Wireshark ↗ personally usedBoson ExSim-Max
difficult but fair practice exams, with really helpful explanations. expensive, but i found them worth it.
view practice exams ↗ personally used101 Labs for the Cisco CCNA Exam
extra hands-on practice. i worked through these labs using Packet Tracer. check compatibility with the current exam.
view book ↗subnetting & cheat sheets_
Subnetting Tutorial & Problem Generator
AN ACT OF SAINTHOOD. invaluable. practice until the math starts making sense.
practice subnetting ↗ personally usedPacketLife
SO MANY GOOD CHEAT SHEETS. great reference material to keep nearby.
browse cheat sheets ↗ videoNetworkingPlus subnetting lesson
one of the subnetting videos from my original study-resource collection.
watch ↗ videoJeremy's IT Lab — subnetting
subnetting explained as part of Jeremy's CCNA video course.
watch ↗ videoNetworking Doctors — IP addressing
another subnetting and IP addressing explanation from my old study list.
watch ↗video lessons_
CBT Nuggets — Intro to Networking
an introduction to networking video playlist.
watch playlist ↗ video lessonsKeith Barker — 802.1Q Ethernet trunking
an explanation of VLAN tagging and Ethernet trunking.
watch video ↗ video lessonsDavid Bombal — CCNA study playlist
a collection of CCNA lessons and networking demonstrations.
watch playlist ↗ additional recommendationNetworking Fundamentals
additional video lessons for building your networking knowledge.
watch playlist ↗blogs & references_
Practical Networking
Ed writes SO well and goes into topics that don't always get covered in enough depth elsewhere. highly recommend!!!!
read ↗ technical referenceDaniel Dib - Blog - CCNA
a technical blog by Daniel Dib, Network Architect, covering various CCNA topics.
read article ↗ blog & labsWendell Odom's CCNA Skills
CCNA labs, skills practice, and discussions from a very well-known certification author.
read ↗ archived referenceNick Russo's job/study aids
cheat sheets, technical references, and packet captures to peruse. linked to an archived version.
open archive ↗communities & podcasts_
r/ccna
CCNA study discussions, exam preparation, and questions.
visit subreddit ↗ communityr/networking
broader professional networking discussions and technical topics.
visit subreddit ↗ communityCisco Study Group — Discord
connect with other networking students, ask questions, and study together.
join Discord ↗ communityIt's All About The Journey
the #IAATJ Discord community.
join community ↗ podcastThe Art of Network Engineering
technical topics, networking careers, day-to-day engineering life, and a whole lot more. also, i'm a cohost. whaddup!
listen ↗ podcastPacket Pushers
in-depth discussions of advanced networking and IT topics.
listen ↗