Exam Profile: Cisco 200-105 ICND2 v3.0
Date: May 27, 2016
The ICND2 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 2 serves as the second of two steps in the hugely popular certification, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
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 LAN Switching Technologies (26% of your exam questions will come from this section)
1.1 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot VLANs (normal/extended range) spanning multiple switches
1.1.a Access ports (data and voice)
1.1.b Default VLAN
1.2 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot interswitch connectivity
1.2.a Add and remove VLANs on a trunk
1.2.b DTP and VTP (v1&v2)
1.3 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot STP protocols
1.3.a STP mode (PVST+ and RPVST+)
1.3.b STP root bridge selection
1.4 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot STP-related optional features
1.4.a PortFast
1.4.b BPDU guard
1.5 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot (Layer 2/Layer 3) EtherChannel
1.5.a Static
1.5.b PAGP
1.5.c LACP
1.6 Describe the benefits of switch stacking and chassis aggregation
1.7 Describe common access layer threat mitigation techniques
1.7.a 802.1x
1.7.b DHCP snooping
1.7.c Nondefault native VLAN
2.0 Routing Technologies (29% of your exam questions will come from this section)
2.1 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot Inter-VLAN routing
2.1.a Router on a stick
2.1.b SVI
2.2 Compare and contrast distance vector and link-state routing protocols
2.3 Compare and contrast interior and exterior routing protocols
2.4 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot single area and multiarea OSPFv2 for IPv4 (excluding authentication, filtering, manual summarization, redistribution, stub, virtual-link, and LSAs)
2.5 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot single area and multiarea OSPFv3 for IPv6 (excluding authentication, filtering, manual summarization, redistribution, stub, virtual-link, and LSAs)
2.6 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot EIGRP for IPv4 (excluding authentication, filtering, manual summarization, redistribution, stub)
2.7 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot EIGRP for IPv6 (excluding authentication, filtering, manual summarization, redistribution, stub)
3.0 WAN Technologies (16% of your exam questions will come from this section)
3.1 Configure and verify PPP and MLPPP on WAN interfaces using local authentication
3.2 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot PPPoE client-side interfaces using local authentication
3.3 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot GRE tunnel connectivity
3.4 Describe WAN topology options
3.4.a Point-to-point
3.4.b Hub and spoke
3.4.c Full mesh
3.4.d Single vs dual-homed
3.5 Describe WAN access connectivity options
3.5.a MPLS
3.5.b MetroEthernet
3.5.c Broadband PPPoE
3.5.d Internet VPN (DMVPN, site-to-site VPN, client VPN)
3.6 Configure and verify single-homed branch connectivity using eBGP IPv4 (limited to peering and route advertisement using Network command only)
4.0 Infrastructure Services (14% of your exam questions will come from this section)
4.1 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot basic HSRP
4.1.a Priority
4.1.b Preemption
4.1.c Version
4.2 Describe the effects of cloud resources on enterprise network architecture
4.2.a Traffic path to internal and external cloud services
4.2.b Virtual services
4.2.c Basic virtual network infrastructure
4.3 Describe basic QoS concepts
4.3.a Marking
4.3.b Device trust
4.3.c Prioritization
4.3.c. [i] Voice
4.3.c. [ii] Video
4.3.c. [iii] Data
4.3.d Shaping
4.3.e Policing
4.3.f Congestion management
4.4 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot IPv4 and IPv6 access list for traffic filtering
4.4.a Standard
4.4.b Extended
4.4.c Named
4.5 Verify ACLs using the APIC-EM Path Trace ACL analysis tool
5.0 Infrastructure Maintenance (15% of your exam questions will come from this section)
5.1 Configure and verify device-monitoring protocols
5.1.a SNMPv2
5.1.b SNMPv3
5.2 Troubleshoot network connectivity issues using ICMP echo-based IP SLA
5.3 Use local SPAN to troubleshoot and resolve problems
5.4 Describe device management using AAA with TACACS+ and RADIUS
5.5 Describe network programmability in enterprise network architecture
5.5.a Function of a controller
5.5.b Separation of control plane and data plane
5.5.c Northbound and southbound APIs
5.6 Troubleshoot basic Layer 3 end-to-end connectivity issues
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. Fortunately, coming from ICND1 you should be quite familiar with this issue. From routing and switching to WAN and infrastructure services, there is a wealth of information you must demonstrate mastery with.
Like ICND1, the exam certainly reflects this. 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.
- CCNA Routing and Switching ICND2 200-105 Official Cert Guide, ISBN: 9781587205798
- CCNA Routing and Switching 200-125 Portable Command Guide, ISBN: 9781587205880