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Amalgamated topic notes

28 CCNA topics organized by exam domain. Each page is a single unified guide — not side-by-side copies — synthesized from Panagiss CCNAmd, jdepew88 markdown, and psaumur CCNA Course Notes(wireless & WAN), with links back to source files on GitHub.

Source markdown repositories

Topics were mapped across Panagiss, jdepew88, and p-saumur course notes, compared for overlap, and merged into one guide per exam topic.

Browse 28 guidesPanagiss CCNAmdjdepew88 markdownp-saumur course notesFull jdepew88 repository

Fundamentals

OSI model, devices, cabling, and addressing foundations.

OSI Model & Packet Flow

Both sources merged

Layer responsibilities, PDUs, encapsulation, and end-to-end traffic flow.

jdepew88 splits this across three markdown files (OSI/packet, traffic flow, frames vs packets) with PDU naming and protocol/port definitions. Panagiss has no dedicated OSI file — this amalgam follows jdepew88 structure and adds Jeremy's IT Lab / NetworkChuck framing for layer-to-troubleshooting mapping.

Network Devices & Cabling

Three sources merged

Router, switch, firewall roles, copper/fiber cabling, and physical vs logical topology.

jdepew88 Network Devices and Cabling notes cover hardware roles and cable types. Panagiss Configure Routers & Switches focuses on CLI setup and inter-VLAN routing — merged here as 'what devices do' plus 'how you configure them initially'.

IP Addressing & Subnetting

Three sources merged

IPv4 classes, private ranges, CIDR, VLSM context, and hexadecimal for networking.

Panagiss IP Classes gives concise classful history and private-range context. jdepew88 Hexadecimal notes support MAC/IPv6 math. Combined with on-site subnetting trainer (SubnetIPv4-style drills).

Router & Switch Configuration

Three sources merged

Initial setup, VLANs on switches, router-on-a-stick, static routes, and verification.

Panagiss is diagram-heavy for router-on-a-stick and basic VLAN config. jdepew88 Routing Protocols introduces dynamic routing context after static configuration — merged into one progression from L2 VLANs to L3 routing basics.

Layer 2 Switching

VLANs, trunks, STP, EtherChannel, and switch security.

VLANs, Trunks & DTP

Three sources merged

Broadcast domains, 802.1Q, native VLAN, voice VLAN, VTP awareness, and DTP negotiation.

Panagiss VLAN.md explains the problem/solution with access/trunk/native VLAN config. jdepew88 adds VTP depth, voice VLAN security rationale, and DTP tables — synthesized with Panagiss trunk diagrams and jdepew88 operational cautions (VTP revision traps, DTP auto/desirable).

Spanning Tree & EtherChannel

Both sources merged

Loop prevention, port roles, Rapid PVST+, and link aggregation.

Only Panagiss publishes dedicated STP markdown with broadcast-storm and EtherChannel diagrams. jdepew88 has no STP file — study charts on this site supplement port-state tables.

Switch Security

Three sources merged

Port security, DHCP snooping, DAI, and BPDU Guard.

Panagiss Switch Security covers port security visually. jdepew88 ARP Inspection and DHCP Snooping adds mitigation workflows — merged into a single L2 defense guide.

Voice VLAN & IP Telephony

Three sources merged

Voice VLAN, Cisco IP phones, CUCME basics, and QoS priority for voice.

jdepew88 Cisco IP Phones and CUCME is the primary source. Panagiss VLAN.md voice VLAN section adds switchport voice vlan syntax — merged for CCNA voice/security/QoS crossover.

Routing

Static and dynamic routing, OSPF, EIGRP, and first-hop redundancy.

Routing Protocols Overview

Three sources merged

Distance vector vs link state, administrative distance, and protocol selection.

jdepew88 Routing Protocols has AD tables and protocol comparison. Panagiss Configure Routers & Switches adds static route and verification commands — one unified routing foundation page.

OSPF Fundamentals

Both sources merged

Link-state behavior, LSAs and LSDB, SPF, packet types, timers, Router ID, and single-area configuration.

Chris Bryant Bootcamp OSPF Notes 1 and jdepew88 OSPF.md supply the lab-style depth. This page keeps CCNA fundamentals only — neighbors, DR/BDR, and areas move to the follow-on guide; OSPFv3 has its own page.

OSPF Neighbors, DR/BDR, Cost, and Areas

Both sources merged

Adjacency requirements, neighbor states, DR/BDR election, OSPF cost, inter-area routes, stub areas, and troubleshooting.

Chris Bryant OSPF Notes 1–2 and jdepew88 OSPF.md neighbor/area sections merged into one design-focused guide with a site-native adjacency decision flow and fast troubleshooting table.

OSPFv3 for IPv6

Both sources merged

OSPF for IPv6 — per-interface config, link-local neighbors, multicast addresses, and verification.

Chris Bryant OSPF version 3 notes and jdepew88 OSPFv3 markdown are the IPv6-specific sources. Shared OSPFv2 concepts (areas, states, DR rules) live in the OSPF fundamentals and neighbors guides — not repeated here.

EIGRP

Both sources merged

DUAL, feasible successor, metrics, and EIGRP for IPv6 basics.

jdepew88 EIGRP.md only. Cross-linked to routing protocols overview for AD context.

HSRP & First-Hop Redundancy

Both sources merged

Active/standby routers, priorities, preempt, STP alignment, and FHRP virtual MAC mnemonics.

Panagiss HSRP markdown is the sole dedicated source with role diagrams and STP alignment notes.

IP Services

NAT, IPv6, DHCP, DNS, and quality of service.

NAT & PAT

Three sources merged

Static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT overload, and inside/outside interfaces.

Panagiss NAT-IPv6 diagrams illustrate static NAT and PAT paths. jdepew88 NAT.md adds terminology (inside local/global) and configuration examples — merged into one NAT reference.

IPv6 Implementation

Three sources merged

Addressing, SLAAC, DHCPv6, transition mechanisms, routing, and IPv6 ACLs.

jdepew88 splits IPv6 across five markdown files. Panagiss NAT-IPv6 includes IPv6 addressing basics — consolidated into one progressive IPv6 guide.

DHCP

Both sources merged

DORA process, DHCP relay, router DHCP server, and snooping context.

Panagiss DHCP.md is the primary config guide. jdepew88 switch-security notes inform DHCP snooping — referenced cross-topic.

Quality of Service (QoS)

Three sources merged

Classification, marking, queuing, shaping, and trust boundaries.

Both repos have QoS markdown. Panagiss provides the classify-mark-queue pipeline diagram; jdepew88 has two QoS files with policy detail — deduplicated into one pipeline-centric guide.

Security

ACLs, device hardening, threats, and management plane protection.

Access Control Lists

Three sources merged

Standard vs extended ACLs, wildcard masks, placement, and named ACLs.

Both sources emphasize ACL placement (standard near destination, extended near source). Panagiss has path diagrams; jdepew88 has application examples (NAT, redistribution, VPN interesting traffic) — merged with placement rules upfront.

Device Security & Management

Three sources merged

SSH, passwords, AAA, SNMP, Syslog, and management plane protection.

Panagiss device security covers SSH and management plane. jdepew88 SNMP and Syslog extends monitoring — one operations security guide.

Security Threat Landscape

Both sources merged

Common attacks, malware types, and defense strategies at CCNA scope.

Panagiss Security Threat Landscape is the dedicated source — linked to ACL and switch security topics for layered defense.

Wireless & WAN

Four wireless guides (fundamentals, architectures, GUI config, security) plus WAN/VPN.

Wireless Fundamentals

Three sources merged

802.11 RF, channels, service sets, and distribution system basics.

Panagiss Wireless Networks diagrams plus jdepew88 RF detail, merged with p-saumur Wireless Fundamentals (CSMA/CA, honeycomb planning, IBSS/BSS/ESS/MBSS).

Wireless Architectures

Both sources merged

802.11 frames, autonomous vs lightweight APs, CAPWAP, split-MAC, and WLC deployments.

Panagiss WLC/split-MAC diagrams with p-saumur Wireless Architectures (frame types, AP modes, unified/cloud/embedded/Mobility Express WLC models).

Wireless Configuration & WLC GUI

psaumur

WLC ports/interfaces, GUI WLAN workflow, WPA2-PSK, QoS profiles, and client verification (exam 2.9, 5.10).

Jeremy's IT Lab Day 58 lab pattern plus p-saumur Wireless Configuration (dynamic interfaces, DHCP option 43, AireOS GUI tabs, Internal/Guest WLAN lab).

Wireless Security

Three sources merged

WEP through WPA3, 802.1X/EAP, PSK vs enterprise, and integrity protocols.

jdepew88 and Panagiss security sections merged with p-saumur Wireless Security (TKIP, CCMP, GCMP, PEAP/EAP-TLS, WPA personal vs enterprise).

WAN, VPN & GRE

Three sources merged

WAN link types, MPLS roles, site-to-site IPsec, GRE tunnels, and remote-access VPN.

Panagiss WAN-VPN hub-and-spoke topologies plus jdepew88 WAN/VPN/GRE detail, enhanced with p-saumur WAN Architectures (leased line, MPLS CE/PE/P, DSL/cable, IPsec/GRE/DMVPN, TLS remote access).

Automation & Cloud

REST APIs, JSON, SDN, DNA Center, and network programmability.

Network Automation & APIs

Three sources merged

Controllers, REST APIs, JSON payloads, and southbound/northbound interfaces.

Panagiss automation contrasts traditional vs controller-based networking. jdepew88 REST APIs and JSON provide payload examples — merged with hands-on Automation Sandbox cross-link.

Cloud, SDN & Cisco DNA

Three sources merged

Cloud delivery models, SDN architecture, and DNA Center overview.

Panagiss Cloud covers service models. jdepew88 SDN and CISCO DNA add Cisco intent-based networking — one programmability/cloud capstone.