ICND1 100-105 Exam Topics, Part 1: New Topics, Moved Topics
Yes, Cisco announced new #ICND1, #ICND2, and #CCNA R&S exams in May 2016. The new exams – 100-105, 200-105, and 200-125, respectively – have plenty of interesting new topics and new performance levels.
This post is part 1 of two posts that take a deeper look at the ICND1 100-105 exam topics versus the now-old ICND1 100-101 exam topics.
Exam Topics – What They Are
First, just to be clear: this post discusses the exam topics. The exam topics give us general guidelines as to what is on the exam. And honestly, we can only discuss the exam topics, rather than what we each see on any particular occurrence of the actual exam because of the non-disclosure agreement that is asked of each exam taker just before taking the exam.
You can find the exam topics for all the new exams starting at this page. Here’s an excerpt of standard wording from the top of the pages with some good reminders and perspective:
“The following topics are general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam. In order to better reflect the contents of the exam and for clarity purposes, the guidelines below may change at any time without notice.”
So with this post and others like it, I am reading the publicly posted exam topics and giving my personal opinion as to what those words mean. Note that the analysis in this and other blog posts represents my opinion of Cisco System’s publicly available exam topics for the old and new exams. I do not represent Cisco, and these opinions are my own.
Cisco’s Own Analysis and Wendell’s Analysis
Cisco has posted useful information, in fairly large volume, about the new exams. (Kudos to Cisco!) In particular, Cisco has broken down the content of the new exams as well. You should read their content as well, because:
- Cisco does own the exam, so any insights directly from Cisco are very valuable
- Their materials give much more of the context of what the exam changes mean to networkers compared to what I have written here
- They do get into some detail about what has changed in the exam topics, with different emphasis than what I have written
This post and three other upcoming posts are an analysis of the literal exam topic documents, old and new. As you might guess, when writing the books, I have to get into the minutia of the exam topics and what they mean, so these posts take those observations at that few get to (or have to) think about. But do not make the mistake of thinking that just because you’re reading this post, I’ve covered every point Cisco makes in their material about the exams – make sure and read their pages.
Note that www.cisco.com/go/ccna is a great place to start.
This Post Organized for Those Transitioning from the Old Exams
This post analyzes the new ICND1 100-105 exam topics in a way that should be helpful for folks who have been working towards the old exam. I may come back in a few months with a post about the exam on the whole, for those who did not care about the old exam. But everything I write here is focused on the changes, and not on what has not changed.
For context, keep in mind that Cisco has provided two paths to CCNA R&S certification since 2003: A two exam path and a one exam path. Using current terminology, to become CCNA R&S certified, you can either take and pass the ICND1 and ICND2 exams or the CCNA exam. Then, from a content perspective:
ICND1 + ICND2 = CCNA
In this post and the Part 2 post, I will focus on the transition to the new exam topics, with the following main points:
- Totally New to ICND1: Topics not in the old CCNA R&S exam topics (that is, topics in neither ICND1 nor ICND2), but are now in the exam topics for the ICND1 100-105 exam.
- Moved from ICND2: Topics formerly in the old ICND2 200-101 exam topics, but now moved to the new ICND1 100-105 exam.
- Troubleshooting Performance Levels: Cisco bumped the performance level of the verbs for several subject areas up to “troubleshoot”; this section details those topics.
- Topics Removed from CCNA and ICND1: Topics that were listed in the old ICND1 100-101 exam topics and appear to be completely removed from the new exams.
This part 1 blog post looks at the first two bullets, and the part 2 blog post looks at the last two.
Be Thinking about Your Favorites!
From a content perspective, CCNA R&S = ICND1 + ICND2. For the ICND1 half of the new content, what are your favorite and least favorite additions to the ICND1 100-105 exam? Or which is least favorite? I’ve set up a couple of polls so ask. Circle back here when you are ready to answer. FYI, I collected Cisco’s literal exam topics into a kind of general subject area in some cases, just to make the poll work a little better.
Poll 3: Most Favorite New ICND1 Subject
Poll 4: Least Favorite New ICND1 Subject
New Topics for ICND1 100-105
ICND1 has one glaring large new topic: RIP Version 2 (RIPv2). All the other individual topics are noticeably smaller, but add up given the larger number of them.
Adding RIP to ICND1
If you step back and look at the history of IPv4 routing protocols in the CCNA R&S exam topics, RIP has an interesting history. RIP, either version 1, 2, or both, had been part of CCNA dating back to the first version of the CCNA in 1998. For the CCNA R&S exam topics published in 2013, Cisco completely removed RIP. Now it’s back, with version 2 only (at least as stated overtly in the exam topics).
At the same time, Cisco has been keeping another routing protocol, OSPF, as a split topic between ICND1 and ICND2. These latest announcements put OSPF squarely into ICND2, with no mention of OSPF in the ICND1 100-105 exam topics.
I am sure the inclusion of RIPv2 in ICND1 100-105 will receive some criticism. Frankly, I’d probably leave it out if I had full control of the topics in these exams. However, RIP has one big advantage: it is a great routing protocol to learn as your first routing protocol. OSPF is a bit more complicated, making it a more difficult starting point.
Figure 1: Summary of ICND1 100-105 Additions
Small Changes to ICND1
The second big change to ICND1 for the 100-105 exam is actually a bunch of small changes. If you were to compare the new ICND1 100-105 exam topics vs the old ICND1 100-101 exam topics you would find a variety of mentions of terms found in the new but not found in the old. Together, they add up to some study effort, but individually, not a lot for any one topic.
The following list summarizes the exam topics, with shortened wording to reduce them to their essentials.
1.2 Compare and Contrast TCP and UDP
1.3 Describe components: Firewall, Wireless LAN Controller, Access Points
1.4 Compare and contrast LAN designs and architectures
1.5 Compare and contrast topologies
1.7 Apply Troubleshooting methods
1.9.c Compare and contrast IPv4 addresses… multicast
1.14.g Compare and contrast IPv6 addresses… anycast
3.6.c Configure, verify, and troubleshoot static IPv4/IPv6 routes (host routes)
3.7 Configure, verify, and troubleshoot RIPv2
2.6.b, 5.2.b Configure and verify LLDP
It is my opinion that the items in the above list are small rather than large (other than the re-statement of the RIPv2 exam topic, which is a large topic). So let me fill in a few reasons for that opinion, other than the fact that I’ve been living with the exam topics and the revision of the books for close to the last year.
Take the exam topic about configuring, verifying, and troubleshooting static IPv4 and IPv6 routes. The old exams included static IPv4 and IPv6 routes. The new exam topics include the mention of “host routes”, which are routes to an individual IPv4 or IPv6 address. So, once you understand static routes (which was already in the old exam topics), adding an understanding of host routes requires almost no time to learn. For instance, adding material about IPv4 host routes probably took a page of the new ICND1 Cert Guide, while RIPv2 got its own new chapter.
Of the rest of the items in the list, most took just a page or two in the book. The longer topics in terms of book space were the LAN design and architecture topic and the material on topologies.
Finally, note that the above list does not attempt to list every single new topic, but to hit the highlights. The next section mentions a few more new topics in context, namely: configuration restore, timezone, SCP, and MD5 verify. Stay tuned!
Moved from (Old) ICND2 to (New) ICND1
The topics discussed so far are topics not found in any of the old exams (ICND1 100-101, ICND2 200-101, or CCNA 200-120) – or at least the nouns are not listed in the exam topics. This next section discusses topics that did exist in the old exams, specifically in the old ICND2 200-101 exam topics, but that are now in the new ICND1 100-105 exam. But there are a few twists.
The theme for these topics is Device Management. For the exams introduced in 2013, Cisco moved these Device Management topics from ICND1 over to ICND2. Here in 2016, Cisco moves them back over to ICND1.
Additionally, Cisco has also added new topics and interesting wording to the device management exam topics that now sit in the new ICND1 100-105 exam topics. Those details include mention of a few additions subjects not formerly listed for the old exams. So I decided to keep that handful of new terms/subjects here in the context of the discussion about these exam topics related to device management.
Per the new ICND1 Exam Topics, these are the topics that have moved from the old ICND2 to the new ICND1, at least in my opinion:
5.1 Configure and verify Syslog
5.2 Configure and verify device management
5.2.a Backup and restore device configuration
5.2.b Using Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP for device discovery
5.2.c Licensing
5.2.d Logging
5.2.e Timezone
5.2.f Loopback
5.5 Perform device maintenance
5.5.a Cisco IOS upgrades and recovery (SCP, FTP, TFTP, and MD5 verify)
5.5.b Password recovery and configuration register
5.5.c File system management
Figure 2: Device Management Topics Moved or Related to Old ICND2 200-101
As for those terms in the above list that are not found in any of the old exams (which are in white text in the figure), here are a few comments about what those are:
SCP: A another protocol and method to copy files in and out of a router or switch.
MD5 verify: A method with commands/options in IOS to ensure that the IOS files you loaded into the device has not been changed since Cisco posted the file for download, helping to prevent some types of attacks.
LLDP: An IETF standard for device discovery similar to CDP.
Restore device configuration: This turn of phrase could refer to the configuration archive feature of IOS (so I added that topic to the book, by the way.)
Part 2: Performance Levels and Removed Topics
In the next post in the series, I’ll stick with the ICND1 exam, and talk about two more ideas. First, that post will talk about performance levels based on the verbs used in the exam topics. That post then looks at topics that appear to be removed from ICND1, that is, topics that were in the old ICND1 exam and are no longer specifically mentioned.
In “moved from Old ICND2” image, there is a typo “Timeone”
Oh no, I had just bought the book from Barns and Nobles ICND1 101 and ICND 2 from 2013. Sucks !!
Sorry about the timing of your purchase. Note that many bookstores have a generous return policy – they won’t survive without lots of repeated buys from the same customer, so they’re often pretty good about returns. You might inquire if you want to use the new ones.
Wendell
I just bought your book 6 months ago but haven’t sat for the certification. Is it still possible I can return it and get the new icnd1 book?
Hi Stevo,
I have only opinions, for what it’s worth…
First, the question you ask is a question for the company that sold you the book. While for most retail products the idea of returning something after 6 months may be an automatic “no”, it’s worth asking. Most booksellers know that they will survive mostly through repeat customers, so they might have a generous return policy.
That said, a bookseller knowledgable about the certs may not be so willing. EG, you bought them 6 months ago, the fact that Cisco announced the new Certs and exams 5 months ago would be against you. I could imagine an argument that you should have returned the book at that point, instead of waiting 5 more months.
My $.02.
Wendell
Hello,
Is there a place where I can get additional explanation of the questions on the Pearson practice tests that come on the accompanying DVD with the book? I missed a particular question and even after reviewing the relevant portion in the book again, I don’t understand why I missed it. Thank you!
Hi Marc,
There are two primary ways to learn more about the question. Looking in the book is one, but each question has an explanation attached to it. Just click the answer button at the bottom of each question when using study mode and you can see the explanation to the question. That’s probably the best way to learn more about the question and answers. We do try and give reasons why each right answer is right and wrong answer is wrong, but admittedly we may not touch on each incorrect answer at every question.
It’s also possible that the question has an issue. If you reach that conclusion, just click the feedback button and write your note. Those end up in a queue and if it’s a technical issue with the content it will land in my queue of todo’s. When you do that, I get a screen shot of your PCPT app window and the ID of the question, so I know what question you’re asking about.
Hope this helps,
Wendell
Hi Wendell. Question., So I’ve been reading the books I got from 2013, I feel kind of sad that Cisco took some good stuff from there out. I was picking at the new book today and there is some new stuff as well as other stuff out. This might sound kind of crazy but I’m thinking about keeping the 2013 books with me and getting the new ones since there is some good precious information in the old ones. After all, lots of jobs I do still have lots of old equipment like the switch 2950 and the 1900s too. But I have so many books already, my wife wants to give me the boot, I have two walls full of them already. Help.. advice!! lol
Hi Mr. Unix,
I feel your pain. My wife and I are both book packrats, and it’s hard to throw old stuff away. Anyway, on my books, I did a little of that electronically with the new editions. I copied 3-4 of the previous edition’s chapters to the new edition as softcopy-only chapters, for no other reason than the kind of reasons you mentioned. Specifically:
ICND1: old chapters on route summarization and point-to-point WANS
ICND2: Both Frame Relay chapters
Both: a “Topics from Previous Editions” with a bunch of smaller topics.
So, you do get a little of the old. So if you do get the new ones, maybe you’ll end up retiring the old ones to the storage locker? 🙂
Wendell
Hi there
I’m finishing reading the old 100-101 book, happy to get through.
I’M wondering, do I have to rebuy the new 100-105 book, re-read another 800 pages to pass the exam, or is there any book that sums up the new additions somewhere ?
thanks
Hi Jason,
Congrats on getting through the 100-101 book – it’s a long set of topics on these exams, for sure.
There isn’t a separate delta book. But I can give you a few pointers.
First, you don’t need to re-read the entire 100-105 book after reading the 100-101 book. It’s maybe 20-30% new material, and most of it’s in obvious places, like in chapters not found at all in the 100-101 book. So:
Look at the table of contents for the 100-105 book at the ciscopress.com web site
Notice many chapters that clearly aren’t in the old book, like: 10, 19, 23, 24, and 33 through 36
Read those chapters in the new book
I’d then at least review all the key topics in all chapters of the new book
And do all your review, practice questions, etc with the new book. We turned a lot of the static review elements into interactive elements on the book’s web page, by the way.
That should cover most of the new stuff. Hope this helps,
Wendell
Thanks a lot Mr. Odom for the quick answer,
very appreciated,
I bought the books early last year and have been on and off studying for the ccnet. I’m only like 5 chapters into the book. Should I buy the new versions or will these versions with some supplemental studying do the trick?
Hi Brandon,
I know this sounds self-serving, but if the $$ aren’t an issue, you’d be better off with the new books. Get the new ICND1, skip chapters 1 through 5 (which are mostly the same content as the old edition), and pick up with the new book.
There’s enough new content to make the new book worthwhile, rather than just looking for the content online. Also, the new book as practice questions on the new content, and has interactive study tools for each chapter/part. So it should be an improved experience all around, beyond the fact that it covers all the content for the 100-105 half of CCNA.
Hope this helps,
Wendell
Thank you so much for replying. I also bought the third edition portable command guide. Should I worry about getting the 4th edition?
Hi Brandon,
That’s probably more a personal preference issue, plus how much that $40-ish is to you. Clearly, the new book would have more commands covered. But you could use the old, note the obvious new topics, use the command tables at the ends of the chapters of my book to supplement what you have in the command guide Ed 3, etc. I think it’s just a classic case of whether the extra effort on your part is worth that much $$. But you should see the same commands scattered about in the Cert Guides.
Wendell
Hello Mister Odom. Last year I passed icnd1 v2 with the old book’s edition. Now I am about to take the journey towards icnd2 v3 for which I’m planning to buy the e-book version (I’ve got the old edition along with the e-book and ccnp flg v2).
Do I need to buy the new icnd1 v3 book as well? Would I find question related for example to icnd1 new material (such as rip2) in the new icnd2 exam?
I bought the 200-120 network simulator, that helped me so much to pass icnd1. Would you advise me to buy the new one? Is already out there? (Hope in some kind of discount from editor for the ones you bought the old version)
Thanks in advance for your attention and thank you so much for helping us all. Rgds
Hi Fausto,
I don’t think you need the ICND1 100-105 book as well. As long as you’ve got the ICND2 200-105 eBook, you have all you need. EG, RIP is a new topic in the ICND1, but not ICND2, exam. So while Cisco could ask a question in the ICND2 exam from the ICND1 exam topics – because Cisco states they can ask anything – I’d say it’s unlikely. Also, the new ICND2 200-105 happens to include an appendix that is a copy of the RIP chapter – I put it there for just such cases as yours. 🙂 Glad to hear at least one person might read the RIP chapter copy included in the ICND2 book!
The new edition of the CCNA sim is due in March. There is an upgrade offer from Pearson, with some rules on timing, but you’d need to check their web site or inquire there as to the specifics. I think you could do a lot with the old one. Given the timing, Id say study away, note the topics you didn’t get a chance to practice with the Sim, and then you can make the call whether to purchase the updated Sim depending on timing and whether the free upgrade deal applies to you or not.
Hope this helps,
Wendell
Thank you so much Mister Odom for your advise. Very much appreciated. Rgds Fausto
has route summerization been removed from the ICND1 exam
Hi Bob,
Indeed, Cisco removed Route Summarization from the exam topics.
Wendell
Thank you Wendell. How much configuration do you think will be on it. How about ACLS and NAT
Sure, Bob.
On your next question, even I knew a reliable number, I think it’d be an NDA violation to state it. All that can be known about how much of a topic is on the exam is the percentage numbers found in the exam topic list. Those are by domains, and couldn’t be extrapolated to the depth of how much ACL or how much NAT, for instance.
Just to inject a little reality, think of it like this. They’ll have roughly 50 questions per exam. Then compare that to the number of topics. There’s no way one exam can ask about all topics. However, you have to prepare for all topics.
Sorry…
Wendell
Thank you Wendell. I do want to let you know that your text is the 3rd book that I have tried to read on this exam. This one is by far the most easiest to understand. I find myself enjoying the read, whereas the other books were a little boring. I am currently on Chapt. 19 and I am scheduled to test on March 17th
I am a new graduate and want to do CCNA certifications. I am planning to break it into ICND1 and 2 exams. Kindly recommend books that I will need exams preparation please.
Hi Musa,
Sorry for the delay. In case you’re still looking, I have some favorites – the two books that I wrote! I’ve written the official cert guide books for the ICND1 and ICND2 exams since Cisco first created the exams. You can find info about the ICND1 book here: https://www.certskills.com/products/ccent/icnd1certguide/ and the ICND2 book here: https://www.certskills.com/products/icnd2/icnd2certguide/ Thanks for asking!
Wendell