Aruba ACDA study plan
Aruba ACDA · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Design Fundamentals and Methodology & Campus Wired Network Design
Define the ACDA design methodology phases and list the inputs and outputs of each phase
Distinguish requirements gathering from constraints analysis by writing three example requirements and three example constraints for a campus
Identify the wired design building blocks (access, aggregation, core, collapsed core) and state when each applies
Sketch a two-tier versus three-tier campus topology and annotate link roles and oversubscription points
Your checkpoint
A one-page campus topology diagram with a written requirements/constraints list and a justification for the chosen tier model
Campus Wired Network Design & Design Fundamentals and Methodology
Calculate oversubscription ratios and bandwidth budgets for a given access-to-aggregation design
Select cable and transceiver types for defined distances and speeds
Explain PoE standards and power budgeting for access switches
Describe spanning tree and link-aggregation design choices and their impact on loop prevention and capacity
Map a VLAN and subnet plan to a physical topology
Your checkpoint
A wired design workbook with a VLAN/subnet table, an oversubscription calculation, and a PoE power budget for one building
Campus Wireless Network Design & Design Fundamentals and Methodology
Derive AP count and placement from capacity and coverage requirements for a sample floor plan
Compare channel plans for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and justify channel width choices
Explain roaming behavior and the design factors that affect it
Select antenna types and mounting positions for high-density and warehouse-like spaces
Describe how wireless design validates against a site survey process
Your checkpoint
A wireless design brief for one floor including AP count, placement rationale, channel plan, and predicted coverage/capacity assumptions
Campus Wireless Network Design & Campus Wired Network Design
Integrate wired and wireless designs by mapping AP uplinks to switch ports, PoE, and VLANs
Identify and resolve conflicts between wired capacity and wireless capacity assumptions
Explain how controller or controller-less architectures affect design decisions
Review weeks 1-3 deliverables for internal consistency and correct errors
Your checkpoint
A consolidated campus design package combining the wired workbook and wireless brief with an AP-to-switch uplink table
WAN and Branch Connectivity Design
Compare WAN transport options and select one for a stated branch profile
Design a branch topology including local switching, routing, and failover path
Explain routing protocol and overlay choices at the branch edge
Describe QoS and bandwidth planning for branch traffic classes
Your checkpoint
A branch connectivity design document for two branch profiles covering transport choice, failover, and QoS treatment
Network Security Design & WAN and Branch Connectivity Design
Apply a defense-in-depth model to the campus and branch designs produced so far
Define segmentation and role-based access policies for wired, wireless, and guest traffic
Select authentication and onboarding methods for users and devices
Describe how branch security integrates with the campus security posture
Your checkpoint
A security design addendum with a segmentation table, access policy matrix, and authentication method per user/device class
Network Management and Monitoring Design & Network Security Design
Define monitoring requirements derived from the design's availability and performance goals
Select metrics and telemetry sources for wired, wireless, WAN, and security layers
Design alerting thresholds and escalation paths for key failure scenarios
Describe how management access itself is secured
Your checkpoint
A monitoring and management plan mapping each design layer to metrics, thresholds, and alert owners
Design Fundamentals and Methodology & Campus Wired Network Design & Campus Wireless Network Design & WAN and Branch Connectivity Design & Network Security Design & Network Management and Monitoring Design
Assemble all prior deliverables into a single coherent design document
Reconcile inconsistencies across domains and document the tradeoffs made
Produce a design review checklist spanning all six domains
Complete timed practice on weak areas identified during review
Your checkpoint
A complete end-to-end design document plus a self-authored cross-domain review checklist used to audit it
Milestones
Week 2: Can produce a wired topology with VLAN plan and oversubscription math from a short scenario without notes
Week 4: Consolidated campus package is internally consistent: every AP has a switch port, PoE budget, and VLAN assignment that match the wired workbook
Week 6: Security addendum covers every user and device class in the campus and branch designs with no unaddressed traffic type
Week 8: Full design document passes the self-authored cross-domain checklist with all gaps either fixed or explicitly documented as accepted tradeoffs