1. Describe fast convergence techniques and mechanisms

• Down detection
• Interface dampening

2. Describe loop detection and mitigation protocols

• Spanning tree types
• Spanning tree tuning techniques

3. Describe mechanisms that are available for creating loop-free topologies

• REP
• Multipath
• Switch clustering
• Flex links
• Loop detection and mitigation

4. Describe the effect of transport mechanisms and their interaction with routing protocols over different types of links

5. Describe multicast routing concepts

6. Describe the effect of fault isolation and resiliency on network design

• Fault isolation
• Fate sharing
• Redundancy
• Virtualization
• Segmentation

1. Describe route aggregation concepts and techniques

• Purpose of route aggregation
• When to leak routes / avoid suboptimal routing
• Determine aggregation location and techniques

2. Describe the theory and application of network topology layering

• Layers and their purposes in various environments

3. Describe the theory and application of network topology abstraction

• Purpose of link state topology summarization
• Use of link state topology summarization

4. Describe the effect of fault isolation and resiliency on network design or network reliability

• Fault isolation
• Fate sharing
• Redundancy

5. Describe metric-based traffic flow and modification

• Metrics to modify traffic flow
• Third-party next hop

6. Describe fast convergence techniques and mechanisms

• Protocol timers
• Loop-free alternates

7. Describe factors affecting convergence

• Recursion
• Microloops
• Transport

8. Describe unicast routing protocol operation [OSPF, EIGRP, ISIS, BGP, and RIP] in relation to network design

• Neighbor relationships
• Loop-free paths
• Flooding domains and stubs
• iBGP scalability

9. Analyze operational costs and complexity

• Routing policy
• Redistribution methods

10. Describe the interaction between routing protocols and topologies

11. Describe generic routing and addressing concepts

• Policy-based routing
• NAT
• Subnetting
• RIB-FIB relationships

12. Describe multicast routing concepts

• General multicast concepts
• Source specific
• MSDP/anycast
• PIM
• mVPN

13. Describe IPv6 concepts and operation

• General IPv6 concepts
• IPv6 security
• IPv6 transition techniques

1. Cloud

• Compare and contrast public, private, hybrid, and multicloud design considerations
  - Infrastructure, platform, and software as a service (XaaS)
  -Performance, scalability, and high availability
  -Security implications, compliance, and policy
  -Workload migration
• Describe cloud infrastructure and operations
  -Compute virtualization (containers and virtual machines)
  -Connectivity (virtual switches, SD-WAN and SD-Access
  -Virtualization functions (NFVi, VNF, and L4/L6
  -Automation and orchestration tools (CloudCenter, Cisco DNA-center, and Kubernetes)

2. Network programmability (SDN)

• Describe architectural and operational considerations for a programmable network
  -Data models and structures (YANG, JSON and XML
  -Controller based network design (policy driven configuration and northbound/ southbound APIs
  -Configuration management tools (agent and agentless) and version control systems (Git and SVN
  -Device programmability (gRPC, NETCONF and RESTCONF)

3. Internet of things (IoT)

• Describe architectural framework and deployment considerations for IoT
  -IoT technology stack (IoT Network Hierarchy, data acquisition and flow)
  -IoT standards and protocols (characteristics within IT and OT environment)
  -IoT security (network segmentation, device profiling, and secure remote)

1. Describe Layer 2 and Layer 3 tunnelling technologies

• Tunnelling for security
• Tunnelling for network extension
• Tunnelling for resiliency
• Tunnelling for protocol integration
• Tunnelling for traffic optimization

2. Analyze the implementation of tunnelling

• Tunnelling technology selection
• Tunnelling endpoint selection
• Tunnelling parameter optimization of end-user applications
• Effects of tunnelling on routing
• Routing protocol selection and tuning for tunnels

1. Analyze various QoS performance metrics

• Application requirements
• Performance metrics

2. Describe types of QoS techniques

• Classification and marking
• Shaping
• Policing
• Queuing

3. Identify QoS strategies based on customer requirements

• DiffServ
• IntServ

4. Identify network management requirements

5. Identify network application reporting requirements

6. Describe technologies, tools, and protocols that are used for network management

7. Describe the reference models and processes that are used in network management, such as FCAPS, ITIL®, and TOGAF

8. Describe best practices for protecting network infrastructure

• Secure administrative access
• Control plane protection

9. Describe best practices for protecting network services

• Deep packet inspection
• Data plane protection

10. Describe tools and technologies for identity management

11. Describe tools and technologies for IEEE 802.11 wireless deployment

12. Describe tools and technologies for optical deployment

13. Describe tools and technologies for SAN fabric deployment