CMIT 351 is the first of UMGC's two Cisco-based courses aligned with the CCNA, focused on the switched and routed networks of small and medium businesses.
UMGC describes it as a hands-on introduction to Cisco internetworking devices, focusing on switching technologies and router operations that support small-to-medium business networks, including wireless local area networks (WLAN) and security concepts.
The goal is to perform basic network configuration and troubleshooting, identify and mitigate LAN security threats, and configure and secure a basic WLAN.
The course is designed to help prepare for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam. Most students find the command line and troubleshooting the steepest part, since one wrong VLAN or mask can break a whole topology.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | CMIT 351 |
| Level | Undergraduate, 3 credits |
| Prerequisite | CMIT 265 |
| Certification link | Designed to help prepare for the CCNA exam |
| Credit overlap | Credit for only one of CAPP 498E, CMIT 350, CMIT 351 or CMIT 499D |
What CMIT 351 Covers
- Switching: how switches forward frames, VLANs and trunking.
- Redundancy: loop prevention with Spanning Tree and link aggregation.
- Routing: inter-VLAN routing and static routes.
- Addressing services: DHCP for IPv4 and IPv6 basics.
- LAN security: identifying and mitigating threats such as MAC flooding and rogue DHCP.
- Wireless: configuring and securing a basic WLAN.
Key Concepts Explained
VLANs and Trunks
A VLAN splits one physical switch into separate broadcast domains. Trunk links carry traffic for several VLANs between switches, tagging each frame with its VLAN number (802.1Q).
Example: A small office puts staff in VLAN 10 and guests in VLAN 20. Access ports are assigned to one VLAN each; the link between the two switches is a trunk carrying both. Guests can reach the internet through the router but not staff devices, because traffic between VLANs must pass a layer 3 device where it can be controlled.
Inter-VLAN Routing
Devices in different VLANs need a router or layer 3 switch to communicate. A common lab design is "router on a stick": one router interface with a subinterface per VLAN, each acting as that VLAN's default gateway.
Spanning Tree Protocol
Redundant links prevent single points of failure but can create loops. Spanning Tree blocks redundant paths until they are needed, keeping the network loop-free.
Configuring and Securing a Basic WLAN
UMGC's goal includes configuring and securing a basic WLAN. In labs this usually means setting up a wireless network on a home or small-business router or a controller-based design, then hardening it.
- Choose WPA2 or WPA3 security; WPA2-Enterprise with a RADIUS server suits businesses.
- Use a strong passphrase where personal mode is used.
- Place guest users on a separate SSID and VLAN.
- Change default administrator credentials and keep firmware updated.
Explain each step in terms of the threat it prevents, which ties the WLAN work back to the LAN security outcomes.
A Troubleshooting Routine for Cisco Labs
Labs reward a consistent routine. Work up the layers and verify with show commands before changing anything:
- Physical: are interfaces up? (
show ip interface brief) - Data link: are ports in the right VLANs and trunks forming? (
show vlan brief,show interfaces trunk) - Network: are addresses, masks and gateways correct? (
show ip route, ping) - Services: is DHCP handing out addresses? Is the WLAN security set correctly?
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration labs | Building a topology | Plan addressing first, then configure |
| Troubleshooting labs | Finding faults | Work layer by layer with show commands |
| Security tasks | Mitigating LAN threats | Explain which threat each setting stops |
| Quizzes and exams | CCNA concepts | Practice commands and theory together |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Native VLAN and trunk mismatches. Both ends must agree.
- Forgotten gateways. Hosts cannot leave their VLAN without one.
- Saving configs. Unsaved changes disappear on reload.
- Memorizing without understanding. Know why a command is needed, not just its syntax.
Study Tips for CMIT 351
- Build small topologies in the simulator your course uses and break them on purpose.
- Keep a command reference grouped by task: VLANs, trunks, routing, security.
- Draw every topology with VLANs and addresses before configuring.
- Read the current CCNA exam topics for scope.
How We Help with CMIT 351
Send the lab instructions, topology, rubric and your configurations or output. A networking tutor can explain Cisco concepts, walk through a configuration, or review your lab report. For presenting lab work, see our lab report guide.
GradeEssays is independent of the University of Maryland Global Campus and Cisco. We tutor and explain; we never take quizzes or exams, sit certifications, or log in to your classroom or lab systems.
Make Sense of Switching and Routing for CMIT 351
Share the lab and your output. A networking tutor prepares worked configuration walkthroughs you can learn from.
Start My CMIT 351 HelpFree revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order
Frequently Asked Questions
UMGC lists CMIT 265.
UMGC says it is designed to help prepare for the CCNA exam, together with CMIT 352. The exam is taken separately.
UMGC allows credit for only one of CAPP 498E, CMIT 350, CMIT 351 or CMIT 499D.
UMGC lists it as a 3-credit undergraduate course.
CMIT 352 (Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation) lists CMIT 351 as its prerequisite.
Yes. Send the topology and your show command output, and we explain where the problem is.