The INTRO exam is one of the two qualifying exams available to candidates pursuing a two-exam option for the Cisco Certified Network Associate CCNA certification. The INTRO (640-821) exam will test materials covered in the new "Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies" (INTRO) course.

Exam Topics

The following information provides general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the INTRO exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam.

• Use a subset of Cisco IOS commands to analyze and report network problems
• Use embedded layer 3 through layer 7 protocols to establish, test, suspend, or disconnect connectivity to remote devices from the router console
• Determine IP addresses

• Establish communication between a terminal device and the router IOS, and use IOS for system analysis
• Manipulate system image and device configuration files
• Perform an initial configuration on a router and save the resultant configuration file
• Use commands incorporated within IOS to analyze and report network problems
• Assign IP addresses
• Describe and install the hardware and software required to be able to communicate via a network
• Use embedded data link layer functionality to perform network neighbor discovery and analysis from the router
• Use embedded layer 3 through layer 7 protocols to establish, test, suspend or disconnect connectivity to remote devices from the router console

• Demonstrate the mathematical skills required to work seamlessly with integer decimal, binary and hexadecimal numbers and simple binary logic
• Define and describe the structure and technologies of computer networks
• Describe the hardware and software required to be able to communicate via a network
• Describe the physical, electrical and mechanical properties and standards associated with optical, wireless, and copper media used in networks
• Describe the topologies and physical issues associated with cabling common LANs
• Identify the key characteristics of common wide area networking (WAN) configurations and technologies, and differentiate between these and common LAN technologies
• Describe the purpose and fundamental operation of the internetwork operating system (IOS)
• Describe the role of a router in a WAN
• Identify the major internal and external components of a router, and describe the associated functionality
• Identify and describe the stages of the router boot-up sequence
• Describe how the configuration register and boot system commands modify the router boot-up sequence
• Describe the concepts associated with routing, and the different methods and protocols used to achieve it
• Describe how an IP address is associated with a device interface, and the association between physical and employ IP addressing techniques
• Employ IP addressing techniques
• Compare and contrast collision and broadcast domains, and describe the process of network segmentation
• Describe the principles and practice of switching in an Ethernet network
• Explain how collisions are detected and handled in an Ethernet system
• Explain the fundamental concepts associated with the Ethernet media access technique
• Describe how the protocols associated with TCP/IP allow host communication to occur
• Describe the operation of the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) and identify the reasons, types and format of associated error and control messages
• Describe the principles and practice of packet switching utilizing the Internet Protocol (IP)

How 2 Prepare

Follow two simple steps:

1. Study thoroughly the Cisco Press book:
   CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide
   Author: Wendell Odom,
   Published: August 2003
   ISBN: 1-58720-094-5
   Cisco Press 2004.
    
2. Purchase our INTRO Test membership to finalize your preparation.