Introduction

The Network+ certification was developed by the Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) to provide an industry-wide means of certifying the competency of computer service technicians in basics of computer networking. The Network+ certification is granted to those who have attained the level of knowledge and networking skills that show a basic competency with networking needs of both personal and corporate computing environments.

CompTIA's exam objectives are periodically updated to keep their exams applicable to the most recent developments. However, this is not a regular occurrence since the foundational elements remain constant even as the higher-end technology advances. The Network+ objectives have recently been changed to a small degree to reflect the very latest changes in technology. This book is current for the 2005 objectives as stated by CompTIA (www.comptia.org).

What Is Network+ Certification?

The Network+ certification was created to offer an introductory step into the complex world of IT networking. You need to pass only a single exam to become Network+ certified. But obtaining this certification does not mean you can provide realistic networking services to a company. In fact, this is just the first step toward true networking knowledge and experience. By obtaining Network+ certification, you will be able to obtain more networking experience and gain an interest in networks in order to pursue more complex and in-depth network knowledge and certifications.

For the latest pricing on the exam and updates to the registration procedures, call Prometric at (866) 776-6387 or (800) 776-4276. You can also go to either www.2test.com or www.prometric.com for additional information or to register online. If you have further questions about the scope of the exams or related CompTIA programs, refer to the CompTIA website at www.comptia.org.

Is This Book for You?

Network+ Fast Pass is designed to be a succinct, portable exam review guide that can be used either in conjunction with a more complete study program (Sybex's Network+ Study Guide, Fourth Edition, computer-based training courseware, classroom/lab environment) or as an exam review for those who don't feel the need for more extensive test preparation. It isn't our goal to give the answers away, but rather to identify those topics on which you can expect to be tested and to provide sufficient coverage of these topics.

Perhaps you've been working with information technologies for years now. The thought of paying lots of money for a specialized IT exam-preparation course probably doesn't sound too appealing. What can they teach you that you don't already know, right? Be careful, though. Many experienced network administrators have walked confidently into the test center only to walk sheepishly out of it after failing an IT exam. After you've finished reading this book, you should have a clear idea of how your understanding of the technologies involved matches up with the expectations of the Network+ test makers.

Or perhaps you're relatively new to the world of IT, drawn to it by the promise of challenging work and higher salaries. You've just waded through an 800-page study guide or taken a class at a local training center. Lots of information to keep track of, isn't it? Well, by organizing the Fast Pass book according to CompTIA's exam objectives, and by breaking up the information into concise, manageable pieces, we've created what we think is the handiest exam review guide available. Throw it in your briefcase and carry it to work with you. As you read the book, you'll be able to quickly identify those areas you know best and those that require a more in-depth review.

How Is This Book Organized?

This book is organized according to the official objectives list prepared by CompTIA for the Network+ exam. The chapters correspond to the four major domains of objective and topic groupings. In fact, the exam itself is weighted across these four domains as follows:

• Domain 1.0 – Media and Topologies (20%)

• Domain 2.0 – Protocols and Standards (20%)

• Domain 3.0 – Network Implementation (25%)

• Domain 4.0 – Network Support (35%)

Within each chapter, the top-level exam objective from each domain is addressed in turn. Each objective's section is further divided into two sections:

Critical Information

The Critical Information section presents the greatest level of detail on information that is relevant to the objective. This is the place to start if you're unfamiliar with or uncertain about the technical issues related to the objective.

Exam Essentials

Here you are given a short list of topics that you should explore fully before taking the test. Included in the Exam Essentials areas are notations of the key information you should have taken out of the Network+ Study Guide, Fourth Edition or the Critical Information section.

At the end of each chapter are Review Questions. These questions are designed to help you gauge your mastery of the chapter.

The Exam Objectives

The following are the areas (referred to as domains, according to CompTIA) in which you must be proficient in order to pass the Network+ exam:

Domain 1: Media and Topologies

This content area deals with basics of the logical and physical shape of various networks and how the topology of the network affects the technologies used in the network. We will also discuss common network devices and the connectors that you can use to form various types of networks.

Domain 2: Protocols and Standards

This content area deals with the OSI model of communication and how all of the network devices and network protocols are organized based on the model. We will focus on the TCP/IP suite of protocols and differentiate between all of the protocols in the suite.

Domain 3: Network Implementation

This content area deals with connecting the various components of a network together to create a functioning network. We will also discuss firewalls, VLANs, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery.

Domain 4: Network Support

This content area deals with troubleshooting a network. We will discuss the tools and utilities that you can use to troubleshoot a network as well as a troubleshooting methodology that has been proven effective.

How to Contact the Publisher

Sybex welcomes feedback on all of its titles. Visit the Sybex website at www.sybex.com for book updates and additional certification information. You'll also find forms you can use to submit comments or suggestions regarding this or any other Sybex title.

The Network+ Exam Objectives

At the beginning of each chapter in this book, we have included the complete listing of the Network+ objectives as they appear on CompTIA's website. These are provided for easy reference and to assure you that you are on track with the objectives.

Domain 1.0 Media and Topologies

1.1 Recognize the following logical or physical network topologies given a diagram, schematic or description:

• Star

• Bus

• Mesh

• Ring

1.2 Specify the main features of 802.2 (Logical Link Control), 802.3 (Ethernet), 802.5 (token ring), 802.11(wireless), and FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) networking technologies, including:

• Speed

• Access method (CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) and CSMA / CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detection))

• Topology

• Media

1.3 Specify the characteristics (For example: speed, length, topology, and cable type) of the following cable standards:

• 10BASE-T and 10BASE-FL

• 100BASE-TX and 100BASE-FX

• 1000BASE-TX, 1000BASE-CX, 1000BASE-SX and 1000BASE-LX

• 10GBASE-SR, 10GBASE-LR and 10GBASE-ER

1.4 Recognize the following media connectors and describe their uses:

• RJ-11 (Registered Jack)

• RJ-45 (Registered Jack)

• F-Type

• ST (Straight Tip)

• SC (Standard Connector)

• IEEE1394 (FireWire)

• LC (Local Connector)

• MTRJ (Mechanical Transfer Registered Jack)

1.5 Recognize the following media types and describe their uses:

• Category 3, 5, 5e, and 6

• UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)

• STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)

• Coaxial cable

• SMF (Single Mode Fiber) optic cable

• MMF (Multimode Fiber) optic cable

1.6 Identify the purposes, features and functions of the following network components:

• Hubs

• Switches

• Bridges

• Routers

• Gateways

• CSU / DSU (Channel Service Unit / Data Service Unit)

• NICs (Network Interface Card)

• ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) adapters

• WAPs (Wireless Access Point)

• Modems

• Transceivers (media converters)

• Firewalls

1.7 Specify the general characteristics (For example: carrier speed, frequency, transmission type and topology) of the following wireless technologies:

• 802.11 (Frequency hopping spread spectrum) 802.11x (Direct sequence spread spectrum)

• Infrared

• Bluetooth

1.8 Identify factors which affect the range and speed of wireless service (For example: interference, antenna type and environmental factors).

Domain 2.0 Protocols and Standards

2.1 Identify a MAC (Media Access Control) address and its parts.

2.2 Identify the seven layers of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) model and their functions.

2.3 Identify the OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) layers at which the following network components operate:

• Hubs

• Switches

• Bridges

• Routers

• NICs (Network Interface Card)

• WAPs (Wireless Access Point)

2.4 Differentiate between the following network protocols in terms of routing, addressing schemes, interoperability and naming conventions:

• IPX / SPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange / Sequence Packet Exchange)

• NetBEUI (Network Basic Input / Output System Extended User Interface)

• AppleTalk / AppleTalk over IP (Internet Protocol)

• TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)

2.5 Identify the components and structure of IP (Internet Protocol) addresses (IPv4, IPv6) and the required setting for connections across the Internet.

2.6 Identify classful IP (Internet Protocol) ranges and their subnet masks (For example: Class A, B and C).

2.7 Identify the purpose of subnetting.

2.8 Identify the differences between private and public network addressing schemes.

2.9 Identify and differentiate between the following IP (Internet Protocol) addressing methods:

• Static

• Dynamic

• Self-assigned (APIPA (Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing))

2.10 Define the purpose, function and use of the following protocols used in the TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) suite:

• TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

• UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

• SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)

• TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)

• SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

• HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

• POP3 / IMAP4 (Post Office Protocol version 3 / Internet Message Access Protocol version 4)

• Telnet

• SSH (Secure Shell)

• ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol)

• ARP / RARP (Address Resolution Protocol / Reverse Address Resolution Protocol)

• NTP (Network Time Protocol)

• NNTP (Network News Transport Protocol)

• SCP (Secure Copy Protocol)

• LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)

• IGMP (Internet Group Multicast Protocol)

• LPR (Line Printer Remote)

2.11 Define the function of TCP / UDP (Transmission Control Protocol / User Datagram Protocol) ports.

2.12 Identify the well-known ports associated with the following commonly used services and protocols:

• 20 FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

• 21 FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

• 22 SSH (Secure Shell)

• 23 Telnet

• 25 SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

• 53 DNS (Domain Name Server)

• 69 TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)

• 80 HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

• 110 POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3)

• 119 NNTP (Network News Transport Protocol)

• 123 NTP (Network Time Protocol)

• 143 IMAP4 (Internet Message Access Protocol version 4)

• 443 HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

2.13 Identify the purpose of network services and protocols (For example: DNS (Domain Name Service), NAT (Network Address Translation), ICS (Internet Connection Sharing), WINS (Windows Internet Name Service), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), NFS (Network File System), Zeroconf (Zero configuration), SMB (Server Message Block), AFP (Apple File Protocol) and LPD (Line Printer Daemon)).

2.14 Identify the basic characteristics (For example: speed, capacity and media) of the following WAN (Wide Area Networks) technologies:

• Packet switching

• Circuit switching

• ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

• FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface)

• T1 (T Carrier level 1) / E1 / J1

• T3 (T Carrier level 3) / E3 / J3

• OCx (Optical Carrier)

• X.25

2.15 Identify the basic characteristics of the following internet access technologies:

• xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

• Broadband Cable (Cable modem)

• POTS / PSTN (Plain Old Telephone Service / Public Switched Telephone Network)

• Satellite

• Wireless

2.16 Define the function of the following remote access protocols and services:

• RAS (Remote Access Service)

• PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol)

• SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol)

• PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet)

• PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol)

• VPN (Virtual Private Network)

• RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)

2.17 Identify the following security protocols and describe their purpose and function:

• IPSec (Internet Protocol Security)

• L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)

• SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

• WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)

• WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)

• 802.1x

2.18 Identify authentication protocols (For example: CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol), MS-CHAP (Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol), PAP (Password Authentication Protocol), RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service), Kerberos and EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol)).

Domain 3.0 Network Implementation

3.1 Identify the basic capabilities (For example: client support, interoperability, authentication, file and print services, application support and security) of the following server operating systems to access network resources:

• UNIX / Linux / Mac OS X Server

• NetWare

• Windows

• Appleshare IP (Internet Protocol)

3.2 Identify the basic capabilities needed for client workstations to connect to and use network resources (For example: media, network protocols and peer and server services).

3.3 Identify the appropriate tool for a given wiring task (For example: wire crimper, media tester/certifier, punch down tool or tone generator).

3.4 Given a remote connectivity scenario comprised of a protocol, an authentication scheme, and physical connectivity, configure the connection. Includes connection to the following servers:

• UNIX / Linux / MAC OS X Server

• NetWare

• Windows

• Appleshare IP (Internet Protocol)

3.5 Identify the purpose, benefits and characteristics of using a firewall.

3.6 Identify the purpose, benefits and characteristics of using a proxy service.

3.7 Given a connectivity scenario, determine the impact on network functionality of a particular security implementation (For example: port blocking / filtering, authentication and encryption).

3.8 Identify the main characteristics of VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks).

3.9 Identify the main characteristics and purpose of extranets and intranets.

3.10 Identify the purpose, benefits and characteristics of using antivirus software.

3.11 Identify the purpose and characteristics of fault tolerance:

• Power

• Link redundancy

• Storage

• Services

• 3.12 Identify the purpose and characteristics of disaster recovery:

Backup / restore

Offsite storage

Hot and cold spares

Hot, warm and cold sites

Domain 4.0 Network Support

4.1 Given a troubleshooting scenario, select the appropriate network utility from the following:

• Tracert / traceroute

• ping

• arp

• netstat

• nbtstat

• ipconfig / ifconfig

• winipcfg

• nslookup / dig

4.2 Given output from a network diagnostic utility (For example: those utilities listed in objective 4.1), identify the utility and interpret the output.

4.3 Given a network scenario, interpret visual indicators (For example: link LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) and collision LEDs (Light Emitting Diode)) to determine the nature of a stated problem.

4.4 Given a troubleshooting scenario involving a client accessing remote network services, identify the cause of the problem (For example: file services, print services, authentication failure, protocol configuration, physical connectivity and SOHO (Small Office / Home Office) router).

4.5 Given a troubleshooting scenario between a client and the following server environments, identify the cause of a stated problem:

• UNIX / Linux / Mac OS X Server

• NetWare

• Windows

• Appleshare IP (Internet Protocol)

4.6 Given a scenario, determine the impact of modifying, adding or removing network services (For example: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), DNS (Domain Name Service) and WINS (Windows Internet Name Server)) for network resources and users.

4.7 Given a troubleshooting scenario involving a network with a particular physical topology (For example: bus, star, mesh or ring) and including a network diagram, identify the network area affected and the cause of the stated failure.

4.8 Given a network troubleshooting scenario involving an infrastructure (For example: wired or wireless) problem, identify the cause of a stated problem (For example: bad media, interference, network hardware or environment).

4.9 Given a network problem scenario, select an appropriate course of action based on a logical troubleshooting strategy. This strategy can include the following steps: