CCNA 3: Managing WANs

Description

This comprehensive course provides an in-depth exploration of Wide Area Networks (WAN) and routing protocols essential for modern networking. Participants will begin by understanding WAN concepts, including types of connections, key terminology, and equipment used in WAN setups. The course will cover configuring and troubleshooting HDLC and PPP connections, along with an introduction to routing principles, including static and dynamic routing protocols like RIP and OSPF.

Students will learn how routers discover and manage routes, delve into the intricacies of routing tables, and explore the interaction between Layer 2 forwarding and Layer 3 routing. Practical exercises will include configuring static routes, including default, host, and floating routes, as well as implementing dynamic routing protocols such as RIP and OSPF.

The course will also cover advanced OSPF concepts, including multi-access network configurations, DR/BDR roles, and OSPF election processes. Additionally, participants will gain hands-on experience with NAT, PAT, and ACLs. We’ll also cover tunneling technologies like GRE, MPLS, and IPsec, with a focus on applying these configurations in real-world network environments.

By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to design, configure, and manage complex WAN environments and routing protocols, ensuring robust and secure network operations.

Key components of the course include:

• Define Wide Area Network (WAN) and explain WAN concepts

• Explain types of WAN connections and technologies

• Explain terminology of WAN equipment and connections

• Explain and configure HDLC and PPP WAN connections

• Explain a route and how a router learns of routes

• Identify components of a routing table and the routes in a routing table

• Explain layer 2 forwarding, layer 3 routing, and how the two interact to deliver packets to a destination

• Configure static routes on a router to include default routes, host routes, and floating routes

• Explain types of dynamic routing protocols, what they do, and the pros and cons of each

• Configure RIP on a network

• Explain how OSPF works

• Configure OSPF on a network

• Explain OSPF hello timers, costs, and load balancing

• Configure OSPF settings on a network

• Explain issues with OSPF on multi-access networks

• Explain DR, BDR, and DROTHER roles and the OSPF election process

• Configure OSPF multi-access network settings

• Apply OSPF concepts and configuration to a network

• Troubleshoot WAN and OSPF issues

• Explain the purpose of NAT and PAT and how it operates

• Configure static NAT/PAT, dynamic NAT/PAT, and dynamic PAT using an interface’s IP address

• Apply PAT concepts and configurations to a network

• Troubleshoot NAT and PAT issues

• Explain a firewalls purpose and functions

• Explain how ACLs protect a network

• Configure standard and extended ACLs

• Apply ACL concepts and configurations to a network

• Troubleshoot issues with ACLs

• Explain network tunneling and different tunneling technologies such as GRE, MPLS, and IPsec

• Explain VPNs and DMVPNs

Become efficient in planning and configuring local infrastructures

• Implement WAN technologies such as static routes, OSPF, ACLs, and NAT

• Apply these concepts to an actual network you will be building throughout the course

• Learn troubleshooting skills to help you efficiently overcome problems

Learn it Right, Learn it Well, and Reap the Rewards

Spending the time now to fully understand how to set up WAN technologies will help you in the field and for studying more advanced topics.

Who Should Take this Course:

• Those who are studying for the CCNA exam

• Those who who want the skills to build local infrastructures

Why take the course from me?

• Experience: I’ve been in the IT world since 2000, have a masters in computers, and over 20 industry standard certifications

• Know how to Teach: I was trained as an instructor by the USAF, have a bachelors in education, teaching since 1997, and well over 6,000 hours of classroom instruction time.

• I’ve been a hiring manager since 2010, I know what skill sets employers are looking for.

TechKnowSurge’s Unique Approach

Your instructor has training and years of experience as an educator, as a technician, and as a leader. The course implements the following features:

• Microstep lectures and segmented videos that meters learning into bite size chunks. It also makes it easy to go back and review concepts when needed.

• Staged-Based Educational Model where information is covered multiple times in increasing amounts of complexity. The approach helps reinforce learning and creates a knowledge and skill set less likely to fade with time.

• Extensive coverage of topics to make sure topics are explained fully

TechKnowSurge’s Unique Approach

Your instructor has training and years of experience as an educator, as a technician, and as a leader. The course implements the following features:

• Microstep lectures and segmented videos that meters learning into bite size chunks. It also makes it easy to go back and review concepts when needed.

• Staged-Based Educational Model where information is covered multiple times in increasing amounts of complexity. The approach helps reinforce learning and creates a knowledge and skill set less likely to fade with time.

• Extensive coverage of topics to make sure topics are explained fully

• Well-organized content. A tremendous amount of effort has been placed on what order content should be delivered to maximize learning and minimizing confusion.

• A focus on pedagogy. A funny name, but your instructor has a deep understanding of educational theory and what drives learning.

• Module overviews explaining what to expect for each module and sets a mindset for why the information is important to learn.

• Video intros, overviews, and summaries to explain the intention of each video, reinforce learning, and prepare you for success.

• High quality and engaging videos that use graphics, great explanations, and analogies to explain complex topics in an easy to understand way.

• Real world application. Step beyond just the theory. Your instructor has real world experience and will share that with you throughout the course.

Employer insight, know what employers are looking for. Your instructor runs IT Departments and hires individuals just like you.

Content and Overview

This well organized course will has the following modules:

Welcome and Getting Started: Prepare yourself for efficiently and successfully completing the course. You’ll get an overview of what the course is all about and what you should expect out of it.

Wide Area Networks (WANs): This module provides a foundational understanding of Wide Area Networks (WAN), focusing on essential concepts and technologies that connect geographically dispersed networks. Participants will explore different types of WAN connections, such as leased lines, MPLS, and broadband, while gaining familiarity with key terminology and equipment used in WAN setups. By the end of this module, learners will have a solid grasp of WAN fundamentals, enabling them to comprehend more advanced networking concepts and configurations.

Configuring WAN Links: In this module, participants will learn about two key WAN protocols: High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC) and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP). The module will begin with an explanation of the characteristics, advantages, and use cases of both HDLC and PPP in WAN environments. Learners will then move on to hands-on configuration, where they will set up HDLC and PPP connections on routers

Routing: This module introduces the essentials of routing, explaining how a router learns and manages routes through both static configurations and dynamic protocols. Participants will explore the components of a routing table, including route types and metrics, and understand how these elements determine the optimal path for packet delivery. The module also covers the interaction between Layer 2 forwarding and Layer 3 routing, illustrating how these layers work together to efficiently deliver packets to their destinations.

Static Routes: In this module, participants will learn how to configure static routes on a router, focusing on three key types: default routes, host routes, and floating routes. The module provides step-by-step guidance on setting up each route type, explaining their purposes and how they influence traffic flow within a network. Participants will also gain hands-on experience configuring these routes in various scenarios, ensuring they can effectively manage network traffic and implement backup routes for redundancy.

Dynamic Routing Protocols: This module covers the various types of dynamic routing protocols, including Distance Vector, Link State, and Hybrid protocols, explaining their functions, advantages, and disadvantages. Participants will explore how these protocols automatically manage and distribute routing information within a network. The module then focuses on configuring the Routing Information Protocol (RIP) on a network, providing practical steps to implement RIP, and discussing its use cases, benefits, and limitations in dynamic routing environments.

OSPF: This module provides the basics of the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol, explaining how it operates as a Link State routing protocol to efficiently manage and distribute routing information within a network. Participants will learn about OSPF's key features, such as link-state advertisements (LSAs) and the Dijkstra algorithm. The module includes hands-on exercises for configuring OSPF on a network.

OSPF Settings: In this module, participants will dive into advanced OSPF settings, focusing on the role of hello timers, costs, and load balancing in optimizing network performance. The module explains how OSPF hello timers impact neighbor relationships, how OSPF cost influences route selection, and how load balancing can be achieved across multiple paths. Learners will also gain practical experience configuring these OSPF settings on a network, ensuring they can fine-tune OSPF operations to meet specific network requirements.

OSPF Multi-Access Networks: This module addresses the unique challenges OSPF faces in multi-access networks, such as broadcast domains where multiple routers can form adjacencies. Participants will learn about potential issues like excessive LSA traffic and how OSPF uses the Designated Router (DR), Backup Designated Router (BDR), and DROTHER roles to manage these environments efficiently. The module will cover the OSPF election process for DR and BDR, detailing the criteria and procedures involved. Finally, learners will configure OSPF settings on multi-access networks to ensure stability and optimal performance.

Project: OSPF: This module provides practical experience in applying OSPF concepts and configurations to network environments, ensuring learners can effectively implement and manage OSPF settings for optimal performance. Participants will also focus on troubleshooting WAN and OSPF issues, using diagnostic tools and techniques to identify and resolve common problems. The module includes hands-on labs and real-world scenarios to reinforce skills in deploying OSPF and addressing connectivity or performance issues across WAN and OSPF configurations.

NAT: This module explains the purpose and operation of Network Address Translation (NAT) and Port Address Translation (PAT), detailing how these techniques facilitate private-to-public IP address mapping and enable multiple devices to share a single public IP address. Participants will learn the differences between static NAT, dynamic NAT, and dynamic PAT, and gain hands-on experience configuring each type using an interface’s IP address. The module includes practical exercises to set up NAT/PAT configurations, ensuring effective network address management and connectivity.

Project: PAT: This module focuses on applying Port Address Translation (PAT) concepts and configurations to network environments, including practical exercises to set up and manage PAT for IP address conservation and efficient resource utilization. Participants will also develop skills in troubleshooting NAT and PAT issues, using diagnostic tools and techniques to identify and resolve common problems. By the end of the module, learners will be adept at implementing and troubleshooting PAT to ensure reliable and efficient network address management.

ACLs: This module covers the purpose and functions of firewalls in network security, explaining how they act as barriers to protect networks from unauthorized access and threats. Participants will also learn about Access Control Lists (ACLs) and their role in network protection, detailing how standard and extended ACLs can be used to control and filter network traffic. The module includes hands-on configuration of both standard and extended ACLs, providing practical experience in implementing and managing these security measures to safeguard network resources.

Project: ACLs: This module focuses on applying Access Control List (ACL) concepts and configurations to real-world network scenarios, ensuring learners can effectively implement ACLs to manage and secure network traffic. Participants will also develop troubleshooting skills to identify and resolve issues with ACLs, using diagnostic tools and techniques to address common problems and optimize access control. Practical exercises will reinforce the application of ACLs and troubleshooting strategies, ensuring robust network security and efficient traffic management.

Tunneling Traffic and VPNs: This module provides an overview of network tunneling and various tunneling technologies, including Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE), Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), and IP Security (IPsec). Participants will learn how these technologies create secure and efficient pathways for data transmission across networks. The module also covers Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Dynamic Multipoint VPNs (DMVPNs), explaining their purposes, functionalities, and benefits. By the end of the module, learners will understand how to implement and configure these technologies to ensure secure and reliable network communications.

Wrap Up: Time to wrap up the course and provide any final thoughts.

Instructor Bio

TechKnowSurge (Andrew Grimes) has been in the tech industry since 2000 and even longer as an Instructor. He started out as a Survival Instructor for the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1997. When he got out of the military, he started teaching computer classes. Wanting to advance his technical skills, he became a contractor working on a wide range of technologies while teaching technology college courses in the evening. Overtime, he became a hiring manager, director, and leader

His background includes:

• Building a security program within 2 years to include becoming SOC 2 Type 2 compliant

• Leading and maximizing efficiency of IT, Security, and DevOps teams

• Managing SaaS company infrastructure with millions of active users

• Managing small, medium, and large IT Infrastructures

• Migrating technologies to the cloud

• Managing multi-million dollar budgets and reducing overall budget spend year over year

• Utilizing various project management techniques such as waterfall, scrum and Kanban to maximize efficiency and success

• Bachelors in Workforce Education

• Masters in Computer Resource and Information Management

• Over 6,000 hours of teaching experience

• Over 20 industry standard certifications.

Past student reviews:

“Andrew is absolutely the best instructor I've had throughout the course of my education. He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to all things network and IT-related. Because of the education he provided, I am now working in the network engineering field, and I could not have done it without his expert guidance.” ~Michael B.

“Andrew was hands down my favorite instructor since enrolling” “He has great skills as an instructor, and I've learned a lot from his classes.” ~Jeff S.

“As an instructor, he is thorough, articulate, patient and positive. He genuinely cares that his students fully comprehend the curriculum. I have a great deal of respect for Andrew. I can't recommend him highly enough.” ~Dan H.

“I found Andrew to be one of the best Instructors” “He presents the information with real world applications, which helped to reinforce the concepts presented in the Cisco Certification track.” “I am truely thankful to have had him as my teacher.” ~Dan M.

“Andrew is very knowledgeable and brings his practical business experience with him. He expresses himself very well and treats everyone with respect. He explains very complicated concepts in a manner that is easy to understand.” “It is without reservation that I would recommend Andrew as a business professional and/or teacher.” ~Adam C.

“Andrew is an excellent instructor and more.” “Andrew is the kind of teacher that you never forget.” ~ William C.

“Andrew Grimes is a first rate instructor who genuinely cares about the success of his students. I was fortunate to have Andrew as my instructor.” “I highly recommend Andrew as an instructor and IT professional.” ~Paul C.

“Andrew is a great instructor who really cares whether his students grasp the concepts he teaches. He has a passion for teaching that many couldn't muster.” ~Patrick R.

“He was a great teacher and I would gladly take a class under him again.” ~Joshua R.

“...his style of teaching is accommodating for any level, that a student is starting off at, either beginning or advance in IT world.” ~Paul W.

“He fosters a multidimensional environment of learning in which students of diverse abilities excel.” ~Mark B

“Andrew Grimes was a great Data Networks and Telecommunications Instructor.” “I would highly recommend him to any who desires to further their education.” ~ Tommy S.

Who this course is for:

• Those who are studying for the CCNA exam
• Those who who want the skills to build local infrastructures