30-Day Daily Study Timetable
🔹 Week 1 – Switching Fundamentals
Day 1:
OSI Model
TCP/IP basics
What is a Switch
Day 2:
MAC address
ARP
Collision vs Broadcast domains
Day 3:
VLAN concepts
Access vs Trunk ports
Day 4:
Create VLANs in Packet Tracer
Practice trunk configuration
Day 5:
Inter VLAN Routing (Router-on-a-stick)
Day 6:
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) theory
Day 7:
STP lab practice + revision
🔹 Week 2 – Core Routing
Day 8:
Static Routing
Default Route
Day 9:
Dynamic Routing – RIP
Day 10:
OSPF Fundamentals
Day 11:
OSPF lab practice
Day 12:
EIGRP basics
Day 13:
Route summarization & subnetting
Day 14:
Full Week 2 Revision + Labs
🔹 Week 3 – Security & ISP Basics
Day 15:
NAT Basics (Static, Dynamic, PAT)
Day 16:
ACLs (Standard & Extended)
Day 17:
WAN technologies (PPP, HDLC)
Day 18:
DHCP, DNS fundamentals
Day 19:
QoS basics
Day 20:
Troubleshooting tools (ping, traceroute,
show/debug)
Day 21:
Week 3 revision + labs
🔹 Week 4 – ISP Level Skills
Day 22:
BGP Theory (AS, eBGP vs iBGP)
Day 23:
Basic BGP configuration lab
Day 24:
Route filtering (prefix-lists, route-maps)
Day 25:
MPLS basics
Day 26:
VRF concepts
Day 27:
High availability (HSRP/VRRP/GLBP)
Day 28:
Full mock lab (Switching + Routing
combined)
Day 29:
Weak area revision
Day 30:
Final full topology lab + tests
Switching and Routing (From Beginner to ISP
Level)
Week 1 – Day 1 (Beginner Friendly Version)
1. What is a Network? (Very Simple)
A network is when two or more devices are connected so they can share data.
Example in real life:
You send a WhatsApp message → that’s networking
You browse a website → that’s networking
2. What is a Switch? (Simple Words)
A switch is a box that connects multiple computers together in the same
office/home.
Think like this:
Computer ----\
Switch ---- Internet
Computer ----/
The switch makes sure data goes to the correct computer.
3. What is OSI Model? (Beginner Way)
The OSI Model is just a learning model to understand how data travels.
You only need to remember:
Layer 1–2 → Physical things (cable, switch)
Layer 3 → IP addressing and routing
Layer 4–7 → Applications (browser, email, apps)
You don’t need to memorize all now.
4. First Simple Practical Practice
You can do this in Cisco Packet Tracer:
Step 1:
Open Packet Tracer
Step 2:
Add:
1 Switch
2 PCs
Step 3:
Connect them using Copper Straight-through Cable
PC1 settings:
IP Address: [Link]
Subnet Mask: [Link]
PC2 settings:
IP Address: [Link]
Subnet Mask: [Link]
Step 4:
Test connection:
On PC1 → Command Prompt → type:
ping [Link]
If you see Reply from … → success ✅
5. Your Only Task Today
Just do this:
Create 2 PCs + switch in Packet Tracer
Assign IPs
Ping between them
Great — let’s start Week 1, Day 2 👨🏫
Today we’ll keep everything super simple.
1. What is a MAC Address? (Very Simple)
Every device has a unique physical address called MAC Address.
Think like this:
Your phone number = IP address (logical, can change)
Your fingerprint = MAC address (physical, fixed)
Example MAC format:
00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E
Switch uses MAC addresses to send data to the correct device.
2. What is ARP? (Very Easy Explanation)
ARP = Address Resolution Protocol
Problem:
Your computer knows the IP address, but not the MAC address.
Solution:
It says:
“Who has this IP? Tell me your MAC address.”
That question is called an ARP request.
Device replies with its MAC.
3. What is a Broadcast? (Simple)
A broadcast message is sent to all devices in the network.
Example in real life:
You shout in a room:
“Who has my charger?”
Everyone hears it → This is broadcast
ARP works using broadcast.
🔬 Practice Lab for Day 2
Step 1:
Open your old Packet Tracer file (2 PCs + 1 Switch)
Step 2:
Click on Switch → CLI
Type:
enable
show mac address-table
You’ll see MAC addresses of connected PCs.
Step 3:
On PC1:
ping [Link]
This triggers ARP.
1. What is a VLAN? (Simple Explanation)
A VLAN is like making separate rooms inside one office.
Example:
Without VLAN:
Everyone is in one big room → everyone can hear everyone.
With VLAN:
Room 1 → Sales team
Room 2 → HR team
Even though they use the same switch, they are separate networks.
2. Why VLAN is Used?
VLAN helps to:
✅ Improve security
✅ Reduce network traffic
✅ Organize users
3. Real-Life Example
Departme VLAN
nt ID
IT 10
HR 20
Departme VLAN
nt ID
Sales 30
🔬 Packet Tracer Practical (Very Easy)
Step 1: Create VLANs in Switch
Click the switch → CLI and type:
enable
configure terminal
vlan 10
name IT
vlan 20
name HR
Step 2: Assign Ports to VLANs
interface fa0/1
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 10
interface fa0/2
switchport mode access
switchport access vlan 20
Step 3: Connect Devices
PC1 → Switch port fa0/1 (VLAN 10)
PC2 → Switch port fa0/2 (VLAN 20)
Assign IPs:
PC1:
[Link]
[Link]
PC2:
[Link]
[Link]
Step 4: Test
Try ping:
From PC1 → ping [Link]
It will fail ✅ (this is correct because VLANs are separated)