– CISCO IOS · LEVEL 1 · STUDY LEARNING
Cisco Catalyst switch configuration for security integrators BETA
A practitioner-led walkthrough of the first 90 minutes of work on a new Cisco Catalyst switch. Console connection, AAA, SSH hardening, NTP and syslog, an example VLAN scheme, port security, link aggregation, StackWise, and an 8-step camera-offline troubleshooting walkthrough. Animated CLI throughout. Free.
What you will learn
This course covers the work that needs to happen on a Catalyst switch the day it lands on a security network deployment. Not vendor-marketing material, not certification cram, the actual configuration steps a practitioner runs through to take the switch from out-of-the-box to ready-for-the-cameras-and-doors.
Every command is validated against Cisco IOS-XE documentation before it goes in a lesson. Configurations use an example reference design — adapt the VLAN numbers, names, and addressing to whatever scheme the customer already runs. CLI animations play out one keystroke at a time so the rhythm of the work is visible.
Course outline
Get Connected
Console cable, hostname, AAA, SSH hardening, disabling cleartext services.
Time and Visibility
NTP configuration with authenticated upstream servers, remote syslog with source-interface.
VLANs and Ports
Example VLAN scheme (99/100/101/102/666) you can adapt to a customer scheme, trunk and access modes, native VLAN, port security.
Aggregation and Stacking
EtherChannel with LACP, StackWise concepts, master election, stack cabling.
Hardening
BPDU guard, root guard, DHCP snooping, DAI, IP source guard, write memory.
Troubleshooting
Show commands the practitioners actually use, plus an 8-step camera-offline walkthrough.
Who this is for
- Security and physical security integrators who land on a project where Cisco Catalyst is on the bill of materials.
- IT generalists moving into security network work and needing the Cisco-side fundamentals fast.
- Practitioners studying CCNA who want a field-grounded reinforcement alongside their certification path.
- Anyone joining a deployment and trying to understand what the integrator just configured on the rack.
Course details
- Level, Level 1 (beginner)
- Length, ~90 minutes
- Lessons, 21 across 6 parts
- Knowledge checks, 8 total (2 per checkpoint, 4 in the final)
- Format, single-page interactive site, runs in any modern browser
- Cost, Free
- Author, Hans Study
- Status, BETA
Ready to start?
The course opens at lesson 01 and steps through all 21 lessons in order. Use the prev / next buttons to move between lessons. Score is tracked on the bottom bar and a completion certificate appears at the end.
Open the course →