Chapter 2 of 6 · Cisco CCNA 200-301
Network Access
VLANs, trunking, discovery protocols, EtherChannel, Spanning Tree and the wireless LAN topics.
- 9topics
- 52 minfast track
- 6diagrams and exhibits
- 20%of the exam
Topics in this chapter
Take them in order, or jump to the one you need.
- 1VLANs, Access Ports and Inter-VLAN RoutingLearn how to create VLANs across switches, assign access ports for data and voice, understand the default VLAN, and connect VLANs…Diagram6 min
- 2Trunk Ports, 802.1Q and the Native VLANLearn how trunk ports carry multiple VLANs between switches using 802.1Q tagging, how the native VLAN works, and how to configure…Diagram6 min
- 3Layer 2 Discovery with CDP and LLDPLearn how Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP find neighbouring devices, what each protocol shares, their differences, and how to…5 min
- 4EtherChannel with LACPLearn how EtherChannel bundles links into one logical link, how LACP and PAgP negotiate, how to configure Layer 2 and Layer 3…6 min
- 5Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree OperationsLearn how Rapid PVST+ elects a root bridge, sets port roles and states, and how PortFast, BPDU guard, root guard and loop guard…Diagram6 min
- 6Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP ModesCompare autonomous, cloud-based and split-MAC controller wireless architectures, learn how CAPWAP tunnels work, and recognise the…5 min
- 7Physical Connections for WLAN ComponentsSee how access points and wireless controllers connect to switches, which links are access or trunk ports, and how link…Diagram6 min
- 8AP and WLC Management AccessCompare ways to manage an access point or wireless controller: console, Telnet, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, plus TACACS+ or RADIUS for…6 min
- 9WLAN Configuration in the Controller GUIWalk through creating a WLAN in a Cisco controller GUI: profile and SSID, interface mapping, security settings, QoS profiles and…6 min
About this chapter
What this chapter covers
Network Access is about how devices connect to the network at Layer 2, and how wireless clients join it.
It covers the switching technologies that organise a campus network, and the wireless components that extend it to devices without a cable.
The chapter follows domain 2.0 of the Cisco CCNA 200-301 version 1.1 exam topics. It has nine published objectives, and each gets its own page.
Weight in the exam
Domain 2.0 carries about 20 percent of the published exam objectives.
It is level with Network Fundamentals as the second-largest domain, behind IP Connectivity. The wired switching topics involve many configuration commands. The wireless topics involve concepts and reading a controller interface.
How the topics fit together
The first half of the chapter is wired switching, and the second half is wireless.
The wired topics build in a sensible order:
- VLANs divide a switch into separate networks.
- Trunking carries those VLANs between switches.
- CDP and LLDP help you discover what is connected to what.
- EtherChannel combines parallel links into one logical link for more bandwidth and resilience.
- Spanning Tree keeps all of this redundancy from creating loops, and the protection features keep it safe.
The wireless topics start with the architectures and AP modes that decide how access points are managed. They then look at the physical connections between APs, controllers and switches, and at the ways to manage the devices securely. The final page covers creating a WLAN in the controller's graphical interface.
A wireless AP plugs into a switch port, so the VLAN, trunk and PoE settings from the first half decide whether the wireless side works.
How to use these pages
Each topic page has the same shape, so you can skim for what you need.
- What it is: the idea in plain words.
- How it works: the mechanism, with diagrams and example commands.
- What to remember for the exam: the facts to memorise.
- Common mistakes: the classic traps.
- Check yourself: three prompts to test your understanding.
The wired topics reward hands-on practice in a simulator or lab. For the wireless topics, spend time reading controller screens and matching settings to what they do.
Ready for more practice?
The full Cisco CCNA 200-301 question bank has 1,206 questions, with timed practice exams and an explanation for every answer.
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