Cisco - interview guide

Cisco interview questions - a complete guide

Cisco is a networking company, so networking questions are certain. Here is how to prepare for networking, coding and the interview.

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About Cisco

Cisco is a global company in networking equipment (routers, switches), security and collaboration software, with a large centre in Bengaluru. Networking questions are certain here.

This guide covers 12 Cisco interview questions with answers - what each question checks and how to answer it - plus the Cisco interview process, round by round, a 7-day preparation plan for freshers, tips and the mistakes to avoid.

Cisco hiring process

  1. Step 1: Online test

    Technical MCQs (networking, OS, DBMS) and coding - this is where most people are filtered out.

  2. Step 2: Technical interview(s)

    Networking, DSA, CS fundamentals and your project - with follow-ups on the subject you pick.

  3. Step 3: Managerial / HR

    Fit and motivation.

Cisco does not publish its interview process for India freshers in detail (as of our check). This information is based on candidate reports and varies by role, level and team.

Sources (checked 15 October 2026): Cisco Careers (cisco.com). Hiring processes change - read the official notice before you apply.

Cisco interview questions and answers

Networking

  1. 1.How do ping and traceroute work?

    What they're checking
    Practical networking.
    How to answer
    Ping sends an ICMP echo to see whether the host is alive and how long it took. Traceroute raises the TTL step by step to find each router on the path.

  2. 2.How many usable hosts are in 192.168.1.0/24?

    What they're checking
    Subnetting.
    How to answer
    32 - 24 = 8 host bits: 2^8 = 256, minus the network and broadcast addresses = 254 usable.

  3. 3.What is the difference between a router and a switch?

    What they're checking
    Basics.
    How to answer
    A switch connects devices within one network (by MAC address); a router connects different networks (by IP).

  4. 4.What is a VLAN?

    What they're checking
    Network design.
    How to answer
    Dividing one physical switch into several logical networks - for security and traffic control.

  5. 5.Explain the TCP three-way handshake.

    What they're checking
    The transport layer.
    How to answer
    SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK - both sides confirm the connection, then data flows.

Coding and HR

  1. 6.Detect a loop in a linked list.

    What they're checking
    Basic coding.
    How to answer
    Two pointers - slow (1 step) and fast (2 steps). If they meet, there is a loop. O(1) space.

  2. 7.Why Cisco?

    What they're checking
    Motivation.
    How to answer
    Your interest in networking or security - specific and true.

More networking questions

  1. 8.How does DHCP work?

    What they're checking
    Network basics.
    How to answer
    A device gets an IP automatically - DORA: Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge.

  2. 9.What does ARP do?

    What they're checking
    The link between layers 2 and 3.
    How to answer
    It finds the MAC address for an IP address so a frame reaches the right device on the local network.

  3. 10.What is NAT?

    What they're checking
    Internet access.
    How to answer
    Hiding many private IPs at home or in an office behind one public IP to connect to the internet.

  4. 11.Reverse the bits of a number.

    What they're checking
    Bit manipulation.
    How to answer
    32 times: shift the result left, add the number's last bit, shift the number right.

One more question

  1. 12.A user's internet isn't working - how would you check it step by step?

    What they're checking
    Troubleshooting thinking.
    How to answer
    Bottom to top: cable/Wi-Fi, got an IP (DHCP)?, ping the gateway, DNS working, then the website.

7-day preparation plan for the Cisco interview

  1. Day 1: OSI and TCP/IP.
  2. Day 2: Subnetting - 10 questions.
  3. Day 3: Protocols - DHCP, ARP, NAT, DNS.
  4. Day 4: Ping, traceroute, router vs switch, VLAN.
  5. Day 5: DSA - linked lists, bits.
  6. Day 6: OS basics and your project.
  7. Day 7: A mock interview.

Preparation tips

  • Study networking (OSI, TCP/IP, subnetting) well - it always comes up at Cisco.
  • Whatever you call your 'favourite' subject will get deep questions - choose carefully.
  • Prepare for both coding and MCQs in the online test.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Not practising subnetting.
  • Naming a 'favourite subject' without thinking - the deep questions come on it.
  • Studying networking only in theory.

Frequently asked questions

How important is networking in the Cisco interview?

Very - networking questions are commonly reported, especially for networking roles.

What is in the Cisco online test?

Commonly technical MCQs (networking, OS, DBMS) and coding.

How many rounds are there at Cisco?

Commonly an online test, one or two technical interviews, and managerial/HR.

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