CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) - Networking Fundamentals Flashcards

Question 1

What is a Star Topology?

Accepted Answer

A network topology where all devices connect to a central hub or switch. If the central device fails, the entire network segment goes down. It is widely used due to its ease of installation and management.

Question 2

Describe a Mesh Topology.

Accepted Answer

A network topology where every device is connected to every other device. This provides high redundancy and fault tolerance, as multiple paths exist for data. However, it is expensive and complex to implement for large networks.

Question 3

What is `Cat5e` cabling used for?

Accepted Answer

`Category 5e` (Enhanced) is an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable standard supporting speeds up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit Ethernet) over distances up to 100 meters. It's commonly used for home and small business networks.

Question 4

What are the key characteristics of `Cat6` cabling?

Accepted Answer

`Category 6` is a UTP cable standard supporting speeds up to 1 Gbps over 100 meters and 10 Gbps over shorter distances (up to 55 meters). It has stricter specifications for crosstalk and system noise than `Cat5e`, often featuring a spline to separate wire pairs.

Question 5

Differentiate between Single-mode and Multi-mode Fiber Optic cables.

Accepted Answer

-   **Single-mode Fiber (SMF):** Uses a single path for light, allowing for longer distances (up to tens of kilometers) and higher bandwidth. Typically uses laser light sources and is ideal for long-haul networks.
-   **Multi-mode Fiber (MMF):** Uses multiple paths for light, suitable for shorter distances (up to a few hundred meters) and lower bandwidth. Typically uses LED light sources and is common in LANs and data centers.

Question 6

Explain the structure of an `IPv4` address.

Accepted Answer

An `IPv4` address is a 32-bit numerical label assigned to devices on a network, typically represented in dotted-decimal notation (e.g., `192.168.1.1`). It consists of four octets (8-bit segments), each ranging from 0 to 255.

Question 7

What are the advantages of `IPv6` over `IPv4`?

Accepted Answer

`IPv6` uses 128-bit addresses, providing a vastly larger address space to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices. Other advantages include improved routing efficiency, better security features (`IPsec` built-in), and simplified auto-configuration.

Question 8

What is the purpose of subnetting?

Accepted Answer

Subnetting divides a larger network into smaller, more manageable sub-networks (subnets). This improves network performance by reducing broadcast traffic, enhances security by isolating network segments, and allows for more efficient use of `IPv4` addresses.

Question 9

What is the `TCP/IP` suite?

Accepted Answer

The `TCP/IP` (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) suite is a set of communication protocols used to interconnect network devices on the internet. It defines how data should be formatted, addressed, transmitted, routed, and received across networks.

Question 10

What is `DNS` and what port does it use?

Accepted Answer

`DNS` (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names (e.g., `google.com`) into machine-readable `IP` addresses. It primarily uses `UDP` port `53` for queries and `TCP` port `53` for zone transfers.

Question 11

What is `DHCP` and what ports does it use?

Accepted Answer

`DHCP` (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) automatically assigns `IP` addresses and other network configuration parameters (like subnet mask, default gateway, DNS servers) to devices on a network. It uses `UDP` ports `67` (server) and `68` (client).

Question 12

What are the default port numbers for `HTTP` and `HTTPS`?

Accepted Answer

-   `HTTP` (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) uses `TCP` port `80` for unencrypted web communication.
-   `HTTPS` (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) uses `TCP` port `443` for encrypted web communication, utilizing `SSL/TLS`.

Question 13

What are the default port numbers for `FTP` and `SSH`?

Accepted Answer

-   `FTP` (File Transfer Protocol) uses `TCP` ports `20` (data) and `21` (control) for transferring files.
-   `SSH` (Secure Shell) uses `TCP` port `22` for secure remote access and command execution.

Question 14

List common `802.11` wireless standards and their key characteristics.

Accepted Answer

-   `802.11a`: 5 GHz band, up to 54 Mbps.
-   `802.11b`: 2.4 GHz band, up to 11 Mbps.
-   `802.11g`: 2.4 GHz band, up to 54 Mbps (backward compatible with `802.11b`).
-   `802.11n` (Wi-Fi 4): 2.4/5 GHz, up to 600 Mbps, introduced MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output).
-   `802.11ac` (Wi-Fi 5): 5 GHz band, up to 6.9 Gbps, introduced MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO).
-   `802.11ax` (Wi-Fi 6/6E): 2.4/5/6 GHz, up to 9.6 Gbps, introduced OFDMA and improved MU-MIMO for higher efficiency and capacity.

Question 15

What is the primary function of a Router?

Accepted Answer

A router connects different networks (e.g., a local network to the internet) and forwards data packets between them based on `IP` addresses. It operates at Layer 3 (Network Layer) of the `OSI` model, making routing decisions.

Question 16

What is the primary function of a Switch?

Accepted Answer

A switch connects multiple devices within the same local area network (`LAN`). It forwards data frames to specific destination devices based on their `MAC` addresses, improving network efficiency by reducing unnecessary traffic. It operates at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) of the `OSI` model.

Question 17

What is a Firewall?

Accepted Answer

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, preventing unauthorized access.

Question 18

What is an Access Point (`AP`)?

Accepted Answer

An Access Point (`AP`) is a networking hardware device that allows `Wi-Fi` compliant devices to connect to a wired network. It creates a wireless local area network (`WLAN`), extending network access wirelessly.

Question 19

What is a `VPN` and how does it enhance security?

Accepted Answer

A `VPN` (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure, encrypted connection (a 'tunnel') over a less secure network, such as the internet. It enhances security by encrypting data traffic, masking the user's `IP` address, and providing privacy and data integrity, making it appear as if the user is on the private network.

Question 20

Explain `NAT` (Network Address Translation).

Accepted Answer

`NAT` is a method of remapping one `IP` address space into another by modifying network address information in the `IP` header of packets while they are in transit across a traffic routing device (typically a router). It allows multiple devices on a private network to share a single public `IP` address, conserving public `IP` addresses.

Question 21

What is `SMTP` and its default port?

Accepted Answer

`SMTP` (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending email messages between mail servers. It uses `TCP` port `25` for unencrypted communication, and `TCP` port `587` (Submission) or `465` (SMTPS) for secure email submission.

Question 22

What are `POP3` and `IMAP` used for, and what are their default ports?

Accepted Answer

Both are email retrieval protocols:
-   `POP3` (Post Office Protocol version 3): Downloads emails from the server to a single device and typically deletes them from the server. Uses `TCP` port `110` (unencrypted) or `995` (encrypted).
-   `IMAP` (Internet Message Access Protocol): Allows users to access and manage emails directly on the server from multiple devices, keeping emails synchronized. Uses `TCP` port `143` (unencrypted) or `993` (encrypted).

CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) - Networking Fundamentals

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