The completely revised and only authorized textbook for the Cisco Networking Academy Program CCNA 2 curriculum

A portable reference that supports the topics in the Cisco Networking Academy CCNA 2 curriculum aligning 1:1 with course modules Features improved readability, enhanced topic explanations, real-world examples, and all-new graphical presentations Written by leading CCNA author Wendell Odom and Academy instructor Rick McDonald, who bring a fresh voice to the course materialRouters and Routing Basics CCNA 2 Companion Guide is the official supplemental textbook for the CCNA 2 course of the Cisco Networking Academy Program. Completely revised from the previous edition with new examples and explanations, this textbook includes original material developed by the authors, yet it fully aligns with the CCNA 2 curriculum. Written by experienced authors who present material in a comprehensive manner--using their own voices and their own examples--this new edition augments student understanding of course material. The new edition incorporates improved features to aid instructors and enhance student comprehension. For example, chapters align with course modules in both name and number, and chapter objectives are stated as questions to encourage students to think about and find answers as they read chapters. End of- chapter questions and summaries align with chapter objectives to emphasize key topics, while key terms are listed in each chapter opener in the order of occurrence to alert students to upcoming vocabulary words. In addition, new features include "How To" quick references for step-by-step tasks; real-world examples and all-new illustrations; concise explanations with a focus on word usage and sentence structure for improved readability; and correlations to the CCNA exam in Chapter Objectives, Check Your Understanding questions, and new Challenge Activities.

Accessing the WAN

CCNA Exploration Companion Guide

Bob Vachon

Rick Graziani

Accessing the WAN, CCNA Exploration Companion Guide is the official supplemental textbook for the Accessing the WAN course in the Cisco Networking Academy CCNA Exploration curriculum version 4. This course discusses the WAN technologies and network services required by converged applications in enterprise networks. The Companion Guide, written and edited by Networking Academy instructors, is designed as a portable desk reference to use anytime, anywhere. The book's features reinforce the material in the course to help you focus on important concepts and organize your study time for exams.

New and improved features help you study and succeed in this course:

Chapter objectives: Review core concepts by answering the focus questions listed at the beginning of each chapter. Key terms: Refer to the updated lists of networking vocabulary introduced and turn to the highlighted terms in context in each chapter. Glossary: Consult the all-new comprehensive glossary with more than 250 terms. Check Your Understanding questions and answer key: Evaluate your readiness with the updated end-of-chapter questions that match the style of questions you see on the online course quizzes. The answer key explains each answer. Challenge questions and activities: Strive to ace more challenging review questions and activities designed to prepare you for the complex styles of questions you might see on the CCNA exam. The answer key explains each answer.

Bob Vachon is the coordinator of the Computer Systems Technology program and teaches networking infrastructure courses at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Bob has worked and taught in the computer networking and information technology field for 25 years and is a scholar graduate of Cambrian College.

Rick Graziani teaches computer science and computer networking courses at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. Rick has worked and taught in the computer networking and information technology field for 30 years.

How To: Look for this icon to study the steps that you need to learn to perform certain tasks.

Packet Tracer Activities: Explore networking concepts in activities interspersed throughout some chapters using

Packet Tracer v4.1 developed by Cisco. The files for these activities are on the accompanying CD-ROM.

Also available for the Accessing the WAN Course

Accessing the WAN,

CCNA Exploration

Labs and Study Guide

ISBN-10: 1-58713-201-X

ISBN-13: 978-1-58713-201-8

Companion CD-ROM

The CD-ROM provides many useful tools and information to support your education:

Packet Tracer Activity exercise files

A Guide to Using a Networker's Journal booklet Taking Notes: A .txt file of the chapter objectives More IT Career Information Tips on Lifelong Learning in Networking

This book is part of the Cisco Networking Academy Series from Cisco Press. The products in this series support and complement the Cisco Networking Academy online curriculum.


This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come packaged with the bound book.


CCNA Cybersecurity Operations Companion Guide is the official supplemental textbook for the Cisco Networking Academy CCNA Cybersecurity Operations course.


The course emphasizes real-world practical application, while providing opportunities for you to gain the skills needed to successfully handle the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of an associate-level security analyst working in a security operations center (SOC).


The Companion Guide is designed as a portable desk reference to use anytime, anywhere to reinforce the material from the course and organize your time.


The book’s features help you focus on important concepts to succeed in this course:


·         Chapter Objectives—Review core concepts by answering the focus questions listed at the beginning of each chapter.

·         Key Terms—Refer to the lists of networking vocabulary introduced and highlighted in context in each chapter.

·         Glossary—Consult the comprehensive Glossary with more than 360 terms.

·         Summary of Activities and Labs—Maximize your study time with this complete list of all associated practice exercises at the end of each chapter.

·         Check Your Understanding—Evaluate your readiness with the end-of-chapter questions that match the style of questions you see in the online course quizzes. The answer key explains each answer.


How To—Look for this icon to study the steps you need to learn to perform certain tasks.


Interactive Activities—Reinforce your understanding of topics with dozens of exercises from the online course identified throughout the book with this icon.


Packet Tracer Activities—Explore and visualize networking concepts using Packet Tracer. There are exercises interspersed throughout the chapters and provided in the accompanying Lab Manual book.


Videos—Watch the videos embedded within the online course.


Hands-on Labs—Develop critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills by completing the labs and activities included in the course and published in the separate Lab Manual.