Cisco has announced big changes to its certification program.

As of February 24, 2020, all current certifications will be retired, and Cisco will begin offering new certification programs.

The good news is if you’re working toward any current CCNA certification, keep going. You have until February 24, 2020 to complete your current CCNA. If you already have CCENT/ICND1 certification and would like to earn CCNA, you have until February 23, 2020 to complete your CCNA certification in the current program.  Likewise, if you’re thinking of completing the current CCENT/ICND1, ICND2, or CCNA Routing and Switching certification, you can still complete them between now and February 23, 2020.

A must-have study guide for exam 640-911 on Cisco's Unified Data Center

The Cisco Certified Network Associate Data Center certification is Cisco's newest certification, covering the Cisco Unified Data Center technologies. Written by unparalleled author and Cisco authority Todd Lammle, and CCIE John Swartz, this comprehensive study guide is essential reading for anyone preparing to take the 640-911 exam (Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking), providing in-depth coverage of all the exam's objectives. In addition, it offers expanded coverage on key topics reflected on the exam.

• Addresses understanding basic networking and ethernet technologies
• Reviews the OSI and DoD model and TCP/IP Transport Layer
• Covers basic IP routing technologies, layer 2 switching technologies, and routing principles
• Provides an introduction to Nexus switch as well as how to configure it

CCNA Data Center Study Guide offers you access to additional study tools, including bonus practice exams, electronic flashcards, a searchable PDF of a glossary of terms. Plus, you will be able to use the free nexus simulator to perform all the hands-on labs in the book.

Assessment Test xxxi

Chapter 1 Understanding Basic Networking 1

First Things First: What’s a Network? 2

The Local Area Network (LAN) 3

Common Network Components 5

Workstations 5

Wide Area Network (WAN) 7

Network Architecture: Peer-to-Peer or Client/Server? 9

Physical Network Topologies 11

Bus Topology 11

Star and Extended-Star Topology 12

Ring Topology 14

Mesh Topology 15

Point-to-Point Topology 16

Point-to-Multipoint Topology 17

Hybrid Topology 18

Topology Selection, Backbones, and Segments 19

Selecting the Right Topology 19

Summary 20

Exam Essentials 21

Written Lab 22

Written Lab 1: LAN Topologies 22

Review Questions 23

Chapter 2 Internetworking 27

Internetworking Basics 28

Internetworking Models 35

The Layered Approach 35

Advantages of Reference Models 36

The OSI Reference Model 36

The Application Layer 38

The Presentation Layer 39

The Session Layer 39

The Transport Layer 40

The Network Layer 46

The Data Link Layer 48

The Physical Layer 50

Summary 52

Exam Essentials 52

Written Labs 54

Written Lab 2.1: OSI Questions 54

Written Lab 2.2: Defining the OSI Layers and Devices 55

Written Lab 2.3: Identifying Collision and

Broadcast Domains 56

Review Questions 57

Chapter 3 Ethernet Technologies 61

Ethernet Networks in Review 62

Collision Domain 63

Broadcast Domain 63

CSMA/CD 63

Half- and Full-Duplex Ethernet 65

Ethernet at the Data Link Layer 66

Ethernet at the Physical Layer 75

Ethernet Cabling 80

Straight-Through Cable 80

Crossover Cable 81

Rolled Cable 81

Data Encapsulation 85

Summary 89

Exam Essentials 89

Written Labs 91

Written Lab 3.1: Binary/Decimal/Hexadecimal Conversion 91

Written Lab 3.2: CSMA/CD Operations 94

Written Lab 3.3: Cabling 94

Written Lab 3.4: Encapsulation 95

Review Questions 96

Chapter 4 TCP/IP DoD model 101

Introducing TCP/IP 102

A Brief History of TCP/IP 102

TCP/IP and the DoD Model 103

The Process/Application Layer Protocols 105

The Host-to-Host Layer Protocols 112

The Internet Layer Protocols 121

Summary 131

Exam Essentials 131

Written Lab 133

Written Lab 4: Internet Protocol (IP) Stack 133

Review Questions 134

Chapter 5 IP Addressing 139

IPv4 Addressing 140

IP Terminology 140

The Hierarchical IP Addressing Scheme 141

Private IP Addresses (RFC 1918) 146

IPv4 Address Types 148

Layer 2 Broadcasts 149

Layer 3 Broadcasts 149

Unicast Address 149

Multicast Address 149

IPv6 Addressing 150

Why Do We Need IPv6? 150

The Benefits and Uses of IPv6 151

IPv6 Addressing and Expressions 152

Address Types 154

Summary 155

Exam Essentials 156

Written Labs 157

Written Lab 5: TCP/IP 157

Review Questions 158

Chapter 6 Easy Subnetting 163

Subnetting Basics 164

IP Subnet-Zero 165

How to Create Subnets 165

Subnet Masks 167

Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) 167

Subnetting Class C Addresses 169

Subnetting Class B Addresses 178

Subnetting Class A Addresses 185

Summary 188

Exam Essentials 189

Written Labs 190

Written Lab 6.1: Written Subnet Practice #1 190

Written Lab 6.2: Written Subnet Practice #2 190

Written Lab 6.3: Written Subnet Practice #3 191

Review Questions 192

Chapter 7 Introduction to Nexus 199

NX-OS Hardware 200

SFP+ Transceivers 200

Console Port 202

Management Ports 202

L1/L2 Ports 203

Ethernet Port Names 203

Expansion Modules 203

Unified Ports 204

NX-OS Software Overview 205

NX-OS Architecture 205

Process Recovery 206

Conditional Services 208

Virtualizing the Network 210

Virtualizing Layer 2 Networks 210

Virtualizing Interswitch Links 211

Virtualizing Layer 3 Interfaces 212

Virtualizing Routing Tables 213

Virtualizing Devices 215

Virtualizing Everything 216

Summary 216

Exam Essentials 216

Written Labs 218

Written Lab 7.1: Ports 218

Written Lab 7.2: Virtualization 218

Written Lab 7.3: Layers 218

Written Lab 7.4: Nexus 1000V 219

Written Lab 7.5: VRF and VDC 219

Review Questions 220

Chapter 8 Configuring Nexus 223

The NX-OS User Interface 225

Connecting to a Nexus Device 225

Bringing Up a NX-OS Device 226

Command-Line Interface 228

Entering the CLI 228

Overview of NX-OS Modes 230

CLI Prompts 230

Editing and Help Features 233

Gathering Basic Information 237

Administrative Configurations 239

Hostnames 240

Setting Usernames and Passwords 240

Descriptions 243

Device Interfaces 244

Bringing Up an Interface 246

Creating an Switched Virtual Interface 248

Switchport Settings 249

Viewing, Saving, and Erasing Configurations 251

Deleting the Configuration and Reloading the Device 253

Verifying Your Configuration 253

Summary 262

Exam Essentials 262

Written Lab 8.1 264

Hands-on Labs 264

Hands-on Lab 8.1: Erasing an Existing Configuration 264

Hands-on Lab 8.2: Exploring User Exec and

Configuration Modes 265

Hands-on Lab 8.3: Using the Help and Editing Features 265

Hands-on Lab 8.4: Saving a NX-OS Configuration 266

Hands-on Lab 8.5: Setting the Hostname, Descriptions,

and IP Address 267

Review Questions 268

Chapter 9 IP Routing 273

Routing Basics 274

The IP Routing Process 278

Testing Your IP Routing Understanding 284

Summary 288

Exam Essentials 288

Written Lab 9 290

Review Questions 291

Chapter 10 Routing Protocols 295

Dynamic Routing 296

Routing Protocol Basics 297

Distance-Vector Routing Protocols 299

Routing Information Protocol 299

EIGRP Features and Operation 301

Neighbor Discovery 302

Route Discovery and Maintenance 305

Open Shortest Path First Basics 306

OSPF Terminology 308

Configuring Routing Protocols 311

Static Routes 312

RIP 313

EIGRP 315

OSPF 317

Summary 319

Exam Essentials 320

Written Lab 10 322

Hands-on Labs 10 322

Hands-on Lab 10.1: Setting Up Ports for Labs 323

Hands-on Lab 10.2: Configuring Static Routing 324

Hands-on Lab 10.3: Configuring RIP Routing 326

Hands-on Lab 10.4: Configuring EIGRP Routing 328

Hands-on Lab 10.5: Configuring OSPF Routing 330

Review Questions 332

Chapter 11 Layer 2 Switching Technologies 337

Switching Services 338

Limitations of Layer 2 Switching 339

Bridging vs. LAN Switching 339

The Key Three: Switch Functions at Layer 2 340

VLAN Basics 343

Broadcast Control 345

Security 345

Flexibility and Scalability 346

Identifying VLANs 349

Frame Tagging 350

VLAN Identification Methods 351

VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP) 352

VTP Modes of Operation 354

Where Did I Get My VLAN and VTP Database? 356

Configuring VLANs, VTP, and IVR 358

Assigning Switch Ports to VLANs 361

Configuring Trunk Ports 361

Configuring VTP 365

Configuring Inter-VLAN Routing 367

Summary 370

Exam Essentials 370

Written Lab 11 372

Hands-on Labs 11 372

Hands-on Lab 11.1: Creating VLANs 372

Hands-on Lab 11.2: Verifying VLANs 373

Hands-on Lab 11.3: Assigning Switch Ports to VLANs 374

Hands-on Lab 11.4: Creating and Verifying Trunk Links 375

Review Questions 377

Chapter 12 Redundant Switched Technologies 383

Spanning Tree Protocol 384

Loop Avoidance 384

Spanning Tree Terms 386

Spanning Tree Operations 387

Configuring Spanning Tree on Nexus 399

LAN Port Channels 401

Configuring and Verifying Port Channels 402

Summary 406

Exam Essentials 406

Written Lab 12 406

Hands-on Lab 12 407

Review Questions 411

Chapter 13 Security 415

Introduction to Access Lists 416

Mitigating Security Issues with ACLs 419

Wildcard Masking 420

Extended Access Lists 422

Extended Access List Example 426

Named ACLs 427

Configure Session 431

Object Groups 432

Summary 434

Exam Essentials 435

Written Lab 13 436

Hands-on Lab 436

Hands-on Lab 13.1: NX-OS IP Access Lists 436

Review Questions 440

Appendix A Answers to Written Labs 445

Chapter 1: Understanding Basic Networking 446

Answers to Written Lab 1 446

Chapter 2: Internetworking 446

Answers to Written Lab 2.1 446

Answers to Written Lab 2.2 447

Answers to Written Lab 2.3 448

Chapter 3: Ethernet Technologies 448

Answers to Written Lab 3.1 448

Answers to Written Lab 3.2 451

Answers to Written Lab 3.3 451

Answers to Written Lab 3.4 452

Chapter 4: TCP/IP DoD Model 452

Chapter 5: IP Adressing 453

Chapter 6: Easy Subnetting 453

Answers to Written Lab 6.1 453

Answers to Written Lab 6.2 454

Answers to Written Lab 6.3 455

Chapter 7: Introduction to Nexus 455

Answers to Written Lab 7.1 455

Answers to Written Lab 7.2 455

Answers to Written Lab 7.3 456

Answers to Written Lab 7.4 456

Answers to Written Lab 7.5 456

Chapter 8: Configuring Nexus 456

Chapter 9: IP Routing 457

Answers to Written Lab 9 457

Chapter 10: Routing Protocols 457

Chapter 11: Layer 2 Switching Technologies 457

Chapter 12: Redundant Switched Technologies 458

Chapter 13: Security 458

Appendix B Answers to Review Questions 459

Chapter 1: Understanding Basic Networking 460

Chapter 2: Internetworking 461

Chapter 3: Ethernet Technologies 463

Chapter 4: TCP/IP DoD Model 464

Chapter 5: IP Addressing 466

Chapter 6: Easy Subnetting 467

Chapter 7: Introduction to Nexus 469

Chapter 8: Configuring Nexus 471

Chapter 9: IP Routing 474

Chapter 10: Routing Protocols 475

Chapter 11: Layer 2 Switching Technologies 476

Chapter 12: Redundant Switched Technologies 478

Chapter 13: Security 479

Appendix C About the Additional Study Tools 481

Additional Study Tools 482

Sybex Test Engine 482

Electronic Flashcards 482

Nexus Simulator 482

PDF of Glossary of Terms 482

Adobe Reader 482

System Requirements 483

Using the Study Tools 483

Troubleshooting 483

Customer Care 484

Index 485

Todd Lammle, CCSI, CCNA, CCNP, CCSP, CCVP, is the authority on Cisco networking. He has been involved in computers and networking with Fortune 500 companies for almost 30 years. Todd is President of GlobalNet Training, Inc., a networking integration and training firm based in Dallas. He is the bestselling author of numerous Cisco books, including CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide, with over 200,000 copies in print. Reach him at www.lammle.com or on Twitter at @lammle. John Swartz, CCIE No. 4426, founded Boson Software, a leading Cisco simulation software company. A Cisco instructor for 15 years, he currently teaches Unified Computing, Nexus switching, and other Data Center technologies.