✅ Full Topic Checklist for Network Engineer Interviews
🔹 Networking Basics 🔹 NAT and PAT
OSI & TCP/IP models Static NAT, Dynamic NAT
MAC vs IP Address PAT configuration and troubleshooti
ARP, RARP 🔹 ACLs and Security
MTU, fragmentation Standard and Extended ACLs
Subnetting, Supernetting, CIDR Named ACLs
Broadcast vs Unicast vs Multicast Firewall basics (zones, stateful inspe
🔹 IP Addressing DHCP Snooping
IPv4, IPv6 (structure, basic config) DAI (Dynamic ARP Inspection)
Subnetting/VLSM VLAN hopping & mitigation
Public vs Private IPs VPN basics (IPSec, SSL)
APIPA, Loopback 🔹 WAN Technologies
🔹 Switching (Layer 2) Leased line, MPLS
VLANs & Trunking SD-WAN: Overview, vManage, featu
VTP (V1/V2/V3) PPP, HDLC, Frame Relay (basic know
STP, RSTP, MSTP 🔹 Network Monitoring & Tools
EtherChannel (LACP, PAgP) Cisco CLI (show, debug, config)
MAC address table SolarWinds: SNMP, NetFlow, alertin
Port Security Wireshark: packet capture basics
Loop avoidance Ping, traceroute, telnet, SSH
🔹 Routing (Layer 3) Syslog & SNMP traps
Static Routing 🔹 Troubleshooting
RIP (basic understanding) Layer-by-layer approach
OSPF (area types, LSA types, DR/BDR) Troubleshooting routing/switching i
EIGRP (metric calculation, DUAL) Interface status, errors
BGP (basic concepts, attributes, neighborship) CDP, LLDP
Route summarization and redistribution Loop prevention, high CPU, flapping
📅 10-Day Study Plan
Day 1: Core Networking Basics Day 2: Switching Concepts
OSI & TCP/IP Models VLANs, VTP, DTP
Encapsulation/Decapsulation Trunking (802.1q)
IP addressing (IPv4, subnetting, VLSM) STP (types, priority, root bridge)
Private/Public IPs, NAT, PAT EtherChannel (LACP, PAgP)
Practice subnetting questions (fast!) Troubleshooting switching issues
Day 6: Tools & Real World Day 7: Troubleshooting Practi
Cisco CLI commands (show, debug, config) Common network issues
SolarWinds: Alerts, SNMP, NetFlow Layer-wise troubleshooting approac
Wireshark: Basic packet analysis Show command review (show ip rou
SD-WAN (basics, use cases) Real-world case studies
Day 10: Revision + Mock Interviews Tips for Success:
Revise weak areas Use Cisco Packet Tracer or EVE-NG f
Practice 1–2 full-length mock interviews (tech + HR) Refer to Cisco Docs, CBT Nuggets, o
Confidence boosting + calm mindset prep Keep notes of errors you make – rev
Stay active on LinkedIn + Naukri + In
🔝 Top YouTube Channels for Network Engineers
1. 🎓 NetworkChuck
Fun + deep technical content — great for subnetting, Cisco CLI, SD-WAN, and more
📺 NetworkChuck YouTube Channel
Recommended Playlists:
Subnetting Mastery
Cisco CCNA Full Course (Free)
Wireshark Basics
4. Kevin Wallace Training
Former Cisco engineer. Precise, exam-oriented, and clear.
📺 Kevin Wallace YouTube Channel
Best For:
OSPF, EIGRP, BGP breakdowns
Troubleshooting concepts
Interview-level explanations
✅ Top YouTube Channels for Packet Tracer Labs (with Full Explanations)
1. 🧠 Jeremy’s IT Lab (FREE Full CCNA + Labs)
One of the best free full CCNA courses with step-by-step Packet Tracer labs.
🔗 Playlist: Jeremy’s Full CCNA Course with Packet Tracer Labs
🔗 Website for Free Lab Files: https://jeremysitlab.com/
🧰 Topics Covered:
OSI/TCP-IP, Subnetting
VLANs, STP, Trunking
Routing: OSPF, EIGRP, Static
ACLs, NAT, DHCP
IPv6
4. 📘 IPCisco (Configuration Labs + Quiz Style Labs)
Written tutorials + screenshots and downloadable .pkt files.
🔗 Website: https://ipcisco.com/
🔗 Packet Tracer Labs: BGP Packet Tracer Lab
🧰 Topics Covered:
BGP, OSPF, EIGRP
STP, VLANs
IPv6, HSRP, ACLs
📅 Suggested 10-Day Lab Practice (Mapped to Topics)
Day Topic Lab Source
IP addressing,
1 Jeremy’s IT Lab – Day 1–3
Subnetting, CLI
Jeremy’s + David Bombal VLAN
2 VLANs, Trunking, STP
Lab
Practical Networking + Jeremy’s
3 Static Routing, OSPF
OSPF Lab
EIGRP + BGP
4 IPCisco BGP Lab
(optional)
ACLs (standard &
5 David Bombal ACL Lab
extended)
6 NAT, PAT, DHCP Jeremy’s + Practical Networking
SD-WAN (conceptual
7 David Bombal SD-WAN
only)
Troubleshooting end-
8 Practical Networking labs
to-end
9 Full network scenario Jeremy’s final labs
Do a network design + CLI
10 Mock config + review
config yourself
📦 Want Lab Files?
Most of these sites offer downloadable .pkt files:
Jeremy’s IT Lab: https://jeremysitlab.com/labs
Practical Networking: https://www.practicalnetworking.net/stand-alone/packet-tracer-labs/
IPCisco: https://ipcisco.com/packet-tracer-labs/
🔹 Network Automation (optional but valuable)
AT, Dynamic NAT Basics of Python for networking
figuration and troubleshooting Cisco DevNet or Netmiko, Ansible (just awareness)
and Security 🔹 Cloud Networking (optional for some companies)
d and Extended ACLs AWS/GCP networking basics
VPC, Subnets, Internet Gateway, Security Groups
basics (zones, stateful inspection) 🔹 HR & Behavioral
Tell me about yourself
namic ARP Inspection) Why do you want to switch?
opping & mitigation Explain a challenge you faced and how you solved it
ics (IPSec, SSL) Strengths/weaknesses
Technologies Future goals
N: Overview, vManage, features
LC, Frame Relay (basic knowledge)
ork Monitoring & Tools
I (show, debug, config)
nds: SNMP, NetFlow, alerting
rk: packet capture basics
ceroute, telnet, SSH
& SNMP traps
leshooting
y-layer approach
shooting routing/switching issues
e status, errors
evention, high CPU, flapping
Switching Concepts Day 3: Routing Protocols I Day 4: Routing Protocols II
Static & dynamic routing EIGRP (DUAL, metrics, topology table)
OSPF (types, LSA, areas, DR/BDR) BGP basics (iBGP, eBGP, attributes, neighborship)
es, priority, root bridge) Routing tables Route summarization
annel (LACP, PAgP) Practice lab: OSPF configuration Lab: Configure EIGRP & BGP
shooting switching issues
Troubleshooting Practice Day 8: Interview Questions – Technical
n network issues Prepare answers to most asked questions:
What happens when you type a URL?
ise troubleshooting approach
OSPF vs EIGRP
ommand review (show ip route, show cdp, etc.)
L2 vs L3 switch
rld case studies
VLAN hopping
Mock interview with a friend or AI
or Success:
o Packet Tracer or EVE-NG for practice
Cisco Docs, CBT Nuggets, or NetworkChuck on YouTube
tes of errors you make – revise daily
tive on LinkedIn + Naukri + Indeed for job leads
2. 📘 Jeremy’s IT Lab (Best for CCNA) 3. 🔧 David Bombal (Labs + Real W
Very clear, CCNA-focused tutorials Strong focus on labs, Packet Tracer, SD
📺 Jeremy's IT Lab Channel 📺 David Bombal Channel
Highly Recommended: Best Playlists:
FREE Full CCNA 200-301 Course Cisco Packet Tracer Labs
Covers: OSI, IP addressing, switching, routing, NAT, ACLs, and more
BGP for Beginners
SD-WAN Basics
5. 🧠 Keith Barker (CBT Nuggets)
Easy explanations, great for beginners to mid-level engineers
📺 Keith Barker Channel
Focus On:
Troubleshooting
Cisco CLI Demos
Real-life scenario handling
Explanations)
2. 🧪 David Bombal (Cisco Labs + Real-World Skills)
Very hands-on and focused on real scenarios. Good for BGP, ACL, DHCP, and Switching labs.
🔗 Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidBombal
🔗 Packet Tracer Playlist: David Bombal Packet Tracer Labs
🧰 Topics Covered:
Cisco CLI basics
VLAN & VTP labs
ACLs, NAT, DHCP
Troubleshooting labs
Day 5: Network Security & ACLs
Standard/Extended ACLs
utes, neighborship) Named ACLs
Firewall basics
Port security, DHCP snooping
Lab: ACL configuration and testing
Day 9: Resume + HR Prep
Finalize updated resume (highlight CCNA, tools used, projects)
Prepare HR answers:
Why do you want to switch?
Tell me about yourself
Strengths/weaknesses
STAR method for scenario questions
vid Bombal (Labs + Real World)
ocus on labs, Packet Tracer, SD-WAN, Wireshark
Bombal Channel
Packet Tracer Labs
or Beginners
3. 🧩 Practical Networking (Step-by-Step Labs + Explanations)
Covers Packet Tracer labs with clear conceptual explanation before hands-on config.
🔗 Labs + Downloads: https://www.practicalnetworking.net/stand-alone/packet-tracer-labs/
🧰 Topics:
VLANs, IP Routing, ACLs
Inter-VLAN Routing
Static/Dynamic Routing
NAT, DHCP
