Once you’ve passed the CCENT, your next step toward Cisco certification and a career in IT is the CCNA. CCNA ICND2 Essential Training covers the second part of the exam that networking candidates need to take to earn their Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching (CCNA RS) certification. The ICND2 exam validates a candidate’s ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks. Author Lazaro Diaz covers topics including:

• LAN switching
• The Spanning-Tree Protocol
• Backing up and restoring Cisco devices
• IP services (FHRP, syslog, GLBP, and SNMP v2 and v3)
• Configuring EIGRP
• IP routing via OSPF
• Setting up wide area networks (WANs) with PPP and frame relay
• Understanding virtual private networks (VPNs)

Using Packet Tracer and cabling, you’ll learn how to combine these protocols and technologies to create redundant switch networks that are stable and fast. Along the way, Laz provides practical examples of networking challenges that you’ll encounter in the exam and in real life.