Huawei HCIA-Datacom study plan

Huawei HCIA-Datacom · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Data Communication and Network Fundamentals

Diagram the OSI and TCP/IP models from memory and map at least 10 protocols to their layers
Trace a full encapsulation and decapsulation path for a ping between two hosts on different subnets
Explain the role of ARP, ICMP, and the MAC address table in a single broadcast domain without notes
Convert between binary, decimal, and hexadecimal for addresses and masks until each conversion takes under 20 seconds

A one-page hand-drawn diagram plus a 15-question self-quiz scored at 80% or higher

Week 2

Subnet a /24 into variable-length blocks and assign addresses to point-to-point links and LAN segments
Summarize contiguous prefixes into a single aggregate route and verify the result with a written calculation
Configure static routes, default routes, and floating static routes on two routers and confirm forwarding with show commands
Predict the longest-match forwarding decision for 10 sample destination addresses

A completed addressing and subnetting worksheet (20 items) with a working two-router static routing lab configuration file

Week 3

Bring up a single-area OSPF adjacency between two routers and verify neighbor state reaches Full
Explain the purpose of hello timers, router ID selection, cost, and DR/BDR election in a broadcast segment
Compare OSPF routes against static routes in the routing table and justify which is preferred and why
Diagnose and fix a deliberately broken adjacency by inspecting hello parameters and area mismatches

A troubleshooting log documenting three injected OSPF faults, the command used to find each, and the fix

Week 4

Build a VLAN plan for a four-switch topology and configure access and trunk ports consistently on both ends
Configure 802.1Q trunking and verify that only the permitted VLANs cross each link
Configure link aggregation between two switches and confirm the bundle is forwarding in both directions
Verify Layer 2 isolation between VLANs and explain why inter-VLAN traffic needs a Layer 3 gateway

A working four-switch lab with VLANs, trunks, and an aggregated link, plus a port-map table and captured verification output

Week 5

Describe the STP election of root bridge, root port, and designated port for a given triangle topology before testing it
Configure RSTP and confirm convergence behavior after deliberately breaking a link
Tune priority values to force a chosen root bridge and document the resulting topology change
Identify and resolve a Layer 2 loop scenario using loop protection features

A before-and-after topology diagram with predicted versus observed root bridge and port roles, plus a one-page loop-recovery report

Week 6

Write basic and advanced ACL rules to permit and deny specific subnets and verify each rule with a hit count
Configure source NAT and static NAT on a border router and confirm translations in the translation table
Set up a DHCP server on a router and confirm a client receives an address, gateway, and DNS option
Configure local and remote authentication for device login and explain the role of each AAA function

A security and services lab sheet with tested ACL match results, a NAT translation table screenshot description, and a successful DHCP lease log

Week 7

Enable NTP synchronization and verify the device clock offset drops to near zero
Send syslog messages to a collector and classify messages by severity level
Enable SSH for remote management, disable Telnet, and restrict management access with an ACL
Compare PPP and HDLC encapsulation on a serial link and bring up a PPP link with authentication

A management and WAN checklist with verified evidence for NTP sync, syslog delivery, SSH-only login, and a working PPP authenticated link

Week 8

Configure IPv6 addresses, enable routing, and verify neighbor discovery on a small topology
Describe how VXLAN overlays relate to underlay routing and name the role of the tunnel endpoint
Use a RESTful or NETCONF request to retrieve configuration data from a simulated controller and parse the response
Re-run a timed mixed-domain practice set and convert every missed item into a corrected note card

A final 60-question timed practice exam scored at 85% or higher, with a written error analysis listing each weak objective and its review action

Week 3: Subnet a random /22 into at least four usable segments and predict forwarding for 10 destinations with no reference material

Week 4: Bring up a four-switch VLAN and trunk topology from a blank configuration file in under 30 minutes without notes

Week 6: Pass a 30-question checkpoint covering domains 1 through 4 at 80% or higher

Week 8: Pass a full-length mixed-domain practice exam at 85% or higher with every wrong answer documented and corrected