network+ exam

What to know:

1. Multiple choice practice questions are good, do as many as you can. 
2. THERE ARE SIMULATIONS ON THE EXAM. 
• These simulations describe a scenario that you need to fix, what they don't do is give you operating instructions for the simulations themselves. 

Concepts to Study

• OSI Model, there are very few TCP/IP model questions 
• psychical network configuration 
• know cable ratings, their color, and their properties, their usage 
• Know important protocols & port numbers and their functions 
• Be Able To:
• compare the layers of the OSI and TCP/IP models
• Know all of the layers, the order they go in, and their fuctions 
• Classify how applications, devices, and protocols relate to the OSI model layers
• i.e. switches, routers, servers, etc. 
• Explain the purpose and properties of routing and switching
• identify common TCP and UDP default ports 
• explain the function of common networking protocols 
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• given a scenario, implement the following network troubleshooting methodology 
• idenfify virtual network components 
• in a digital model, identify  the router, switch, etc.
• Given a scenario, install and configure routers and switches
• given a scenario, install and configure a wireless network
• given a scenario, troubleshoot common wireless problems given a scenario, troubleshot common router and switch problems 
• given a scenario and a set of requirements, plan and implement a basic SOHO network 
• categorize and contrast different wireless standards 
• categorize WAN technology types and properties 
• given a scenario, troubleshoot common physical connectivity problems
• identify components of wiring distribution
• explain the purpose and features of various network applicances
• given a scenario use appropriate hardware tools to troubleshoot connectivity issues 
• given a scenario use appropriate software tools to troubleshoot connectivity issues 
• given a scenario use the appropriate network monitoring resource to anaylze traffic
• explain different methods and rationales for network performance
• given a scenario, implement appropriate wireless security measures
• explain the methods of network access security 
• explain methods of user authentication
• explain common threats vulnerabilities and mitigation techniques 
• given a scenario install and configure a basic firewall
• categorize different types of network secuiryt appliances and methods 

Exam Tomorrow!!

Network Topologies 

1. Bus
• simplest topology 
• nodes of the network are individually linked up to two successive other nodes or another node and a terminating node (terminator)  
• considered archaic 
• difficult to troubleshoot network issues
• redundancy issues 
• need for terminators 
• amount of traffic created 
• nodes linked in this topology are called "daisy-chained"
2. Ring 
• similar to bus network in that nodes are linked to each other 
• ends of a ring network are not terminated because there are no ends
• a "circular" network in which each and every node is linked to two other nodes 
• shares many of the same weaknesses as the bus topology 
• troubleshooting difficult
• redundancy 
• traffic 
• difficulty of adding a node to a token ring network
3. Star
• most typical and practical network setup 
• each node maintains an individual connection to the switch 
• traffic between each node only goes through the switch and not through other nodes 
• increases redundancy of the network 
• increases data privacy 
• reliant on the switch 
• extensive wiring necessary
4. Mesh/Ad-Hoc
• rarely occurring configuation in which every node is connected to every other node 
• usually only occurs in wireless networks in "ad hoc" mode 
• each wireless card maintains a connection to ech other wireless node it wish to connect with 
• is inefficient and requires a large amount of overhead and is difficult to manage
5. Combined/Hybrid 
• a topology referring to the case where more than one topology is utilized 

Types of networks(Access Models)

1. Decentralized
• often referred to as "peer to peer" network 
• does not contain any distinctions between client and server 
• every node acts as a client and/or server depending on the task at hand
• difficult to maintain (each node must be manually configured, updated, maintained individually)
2. Client-Server Access
• nodes can either act as "clients' or as "servers" 
• management is easy
• network can offer services that decentralized networks cannot 
3. Centralized
• a modified client-server network in which clients have no individual control 
• all maintenance and setup occurs at the server level