2. Network Flashcards
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1), while IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
What is the function of a DHCP server?
Automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration details to devices on a network.
What is a MAC address?
A unique physical address assigned to a network interface card (NIC), used for communication within a local network.
What is the default port for HTTPS?
Port 443.
What is the purpose of a switch in networking?
Connects devices within a network and uses MAC addresses to forward data to the correct device.
What is the OSI model, and what are its seven layers?
A conceptual framework for understanding network communication; the layers are Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application.
What is the difference between TCP and UDP?
TCP is connection-oriented and ensures reliable data delivery, while UDP is connectionless and faster but does not guarantee delivery.
What is the purpose of a subnet mask?
Divides an IP address into network and host portions, determining the range of IP addresses within a network.
What is the default IP range for private Class C networks?
192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255.
What is the maximum speed of Cat6 Ethernet cables?
Up to 10 Gbps for distances up to 55 meters.
What is the purpose of a VPN?
Creates a secure, encrypted connection between a device and a private network over the internet.
What is the difference between a router and a switch?
A router connects different networks and routes traffic, while a switch connects devices within the same network and forwards data using MAC addresses.
What are the common wireless network standards, and their maximum speeds?
802.11n: 600 Mbps; 802.11ac: 1.3 Gbps; 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6): 9.6 Gbps.
What is the role of a DNS server?
Translates domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into IP addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
What are the key differences between IPv6 and IPv4?
IPv6 has 128-bit addresses, supports auto-configuration, and eliminates the need for NAT, while IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses.
What is the purpose of a DMZ in networking?
A Demilitarized Zone isolates public-facing services (e.g., web servers) from the internal network for added security.
What is the function of a packet sniffer?
Captures and analyzes network traffic for troubleshooting and monitoring purposes.
What is a default gateway?
The device (usually a router) that connects a local network to other networks, including the internet.
What is port forwarding?
Directs incoming traffic on a specific port to a specific device or service within a private network.
What is the purpose of QoS (Quality of Service)?
Prioritizes certain types of network traffic (e.g., VoIP or streaming) to ensure consistent performance.
What is a VLAN, and why is it used?
A Virtual LAN segments a physical network into smaller, logical networks to improve security and manageability.
What is the difference between a static IP and a dynamic IP?
A static IP is manually assigned and remains constant, while a dynamic IP is automatically assigned by a DHCP server and can change.
What is a traceroute command used for?
Traces the path packets take to a destination, identifying delays or failures in the route.
What is the default port number for FTP?
Port 21.
What is PoE (Power over Ethernet)?
A technology that delivers power and data over Ethernet cables, commonly used for devices like IP cameras and wireless access points.
What is the purpose of an IP address?
Identifies a device on a network and allows it to communicate with other devices.
What is the difference between a public and a private IP address?
A public IP address is assigned by an ISP and can be accessed over the internet, while a private IP address is used within a local network and cannot be directly accessed from outside.
What is a subnet?
A subnet is a division of an IP network into smaller, manageable sections to improve performance and security.
What is a NAT (Network Address Translation)?
A process that modifies IP address information in packet headers to allow multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address.
What is the purpose of a router in a network?
A router forwards data packets between different networks, determining the best path for data to travel.
What is the maximum transmission unit (MTU)?
The largest size of a data packet that can be transmitted over a network, typically 1500 bytes for Ethernet.
What is the difference between a Layer 3 switch and a router?
A Layer 3 switch can perform routing functions, while a router is specifically designed to route packets between networks.
What is the purpose of DNS caching?
DNS caching stores previously resolved domain name to IP address mappings to reduce lookup times and improve browsing speed.
What is a DHCP lease?
The amount of time an IP address is assigned to a device by a DHCP server before it must be renewed or released.
What is the function of ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)?
Resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses, allowing devices within a local network to communicate.
What is the difference between a full-duplex and half-duplex network?
Full-duplex allows data to be sent and received simultaneously, while half-duplex only allows data to flow in one direction at a time.
What is an SSID?
A Service Set Identifier is the name of a wireless network that allows devices to identify and connect to it.
What is the difference between 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g?
802.11a operates at 5 GHz with up to 54 Mbps, 802.11b operates at 2.4 GHz with up to 11 Mbps, and 802.11g operates at 2.4 GHz with up to 54 Mbps.
What is an IP address class?
A categorization of IP address ranges (Class A, B, C) that determine the size of the network and the number of available host addresses.
What is the function of a proxy server?
Acts as an intermediary between a client and a server, providing security, caching, and content filtering.
What is the purpose of a firewall?
Protects a network by filtering incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined security rules.
What is the difference between a stateful and stateless firewall?
A stateful firewall tracks the state of connections, while a stateless firewall checks each packet independently without maintaining state information.
What is a ping command used for?
Tests network connectivity by sending an ICMP echo request to a target device and measuring response time.
What is a mesh network?
A type of network topology where each device is connected to every other device, ensuring redundancy and improved reliability.
What is the purpose of a Load Balancer?
Distributes network traffic across multiple servers to optimize resource use and improve response time and availability.
What is a WAN (Wide Area Network)?
A network that spans a large geographical area, connecting multiple LANs (Local Area Networks).
What is the difference between a public cloud and a private cloud?
A public cloud is owned and managed by a third-party service provider, while a private cloud is used exclusively by a single organization.
What is the purpose of a DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) in network security?
Isolates public-facing services from the internal network to enhance security by preventing external threats from accessing critical resources.
What is the purpose of a VLAN tagging?
Marks Ethernet frames with a VLAN identifier to indicate which VLAN they belong to, enabling the segregation of traffic within the same physical network.
What is the difference between an IP address and a MAC address?
An IP address identifies a device on a network for routing purposes, while a MAC address uniquely identifies a device�s network interface at the hardware level.
What is a network topology?
The arrangement of devices and connections in a network. Common topologies include star, bus, ring, mesh, and hybrid.
What is the difference between a switch and a hub?
A switch directs data packets to specific devices on the network, while a hub broadcasts data to all devices.
What is the function of a network interface card (NIC)?
A hardware component that allows a device to connect to a network and communicate with other devices.
What is the purpose of a DNS (Domain Name System) resolver?
Resolves domain names to IP addresses so that devices can locate and communicate with each other on the internet.
What is the maximum speed of Cat5e Ethernet cables?
Up to 1 Gbps for distances up to 100 meters.
What is the purpose of the 802.1X standard in networking?
Provides port-based network access control, requiring devices to authenticate before gaining access to the network.
What is a crossover cable used for?
Used to connect two devices of the same type, such as connecting two computers directly.
What is the function of a DHCP relay?
A network device that forwards DHCP messages between clients and servers, typically used in larger networks.
What is a BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)?
A protocol used to exchange routing information between different networks (autonomous systems) on the internet.
What is a VPN tunnel?
A secure, encrypted connection that encapsulates data as it travels across an untrusted network.
What is a loopback address?
A special IP address (127.0.0.1 for IPv4) used to test network functionality on a device itself.
What is the difference between a private IP address and a public IP address?
Private IP addresses are used within local networks, while public IP addresses are used to identify devices on the internet.
What is a broadcast domain?
A network segment where a broadcast sent by any device is received by all other devices in the segment.
What is the purpose of an IDS (Intrusion Detection System)?
Monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and alerts administrators to potential security threats.
What is the purpose of an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)?
Similar to an IDS, but an IPS actively blocks detected threats in addition to alerting administrators.
What is the difference between TCP and UDP ports?
TCP ports provide connection-oriented, reliable communication, while UDP ports provide connectionless, faster communication.
What is an IP packet?
A unit of data transmitted across an IP network, containing both the data payload and routing information.
What is the role of a packet filter?
A device or software that examines incoming or outgoing packets to determine whether they should be allowed or blocked based on security rules.
What is the difference between an IPv4 address and an IPv6 address?
IPv4 addresses are 32-bit, while IPv6 addresses are 128-bit, providing a larger address space and more efficient routing.
What is an EUI-64 address format in IPv6?
A method for automatically generating a unique IPv6 address using the MAC address of a device.
What is a DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) in networking?
A network segment that is isolated from the internal network, used for hosting public-facing services like web servers.
What is a public cloud?
A cloud computing service that is available to the public, provided by third-party providers such as AWS or Microsoft Azure.
What is a private cloud?
A cloud infrastructure that is exclusively used by a single organization, offering more control and security.
What is a hybrid cloud?
A cloud computing environment that combines public and private cloud services, allowing data and applications to be shared between them.
What is a DNS zone?
A portion of the DNS namespace that is managed by a specific organization or administrator.
What is the purpose of the ARP table?
Stores IP-to-MAC address mappings to help devices find each other within a local network.
What is a load balancer in networking?
A device that distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers to improve availability and reliability.
What is the purpose of a proxy server?
Acts as an intermediary between a user and the internet, providing services such as filtering, caching, and security.
What is the difference between SSL and TLS?
SSL is the older encryption protocol for secure communications, while TLS is its more secure and updated version.
What is a port scanner?
A tool used to discover open ports on a device, typically used for network diagnostics and security testing.
What is the purpose of a subnet mask in networking?
A subnet mask defines the network and host portions of an IP address, helping to divide networks into smaller subnets.
What is a MAC address filter?
A security feature that restricts access to a network based on the MAC address of a device.
What is a ping test used for in networking?
A tool to check network connectivity between devices by sending an ICMP echo request and measuring the response time.
What is the difference between 802.11a and 802.11ac wireless standards?
802.11a operates at 5 GHz with speeds up to 54 Mbps, while 802.11ac operates at 5 GHz with speeds up to 1.3 Gbps.
What is the purpose of a routing table?
A routing table contains information used by routers to determine the best path for forwarding packets to their destinations.
What is a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)?
A logical grouping of devices on the same network, even if they are physically located in different areas.
What is the purpose of NAT (Network Address Translation)?
A method of mapping a private IP address to a public IP address, allowing multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address.
What is a port number in networking?
A unique identifier for specific services or applications on a device, allowing the network to distinguish between different types of traffic.
What is the purpose of an HTTP proxy?
An intermediary server that handles HTTP requests and responses, providing security, anonymity, or content filtering.
What is the difference between a static IP and a dynamic IP address?
A static IP is manually assigned and remains constant, while a dynamic IP is assigned by a DHCP server and may change over time.
What is the role of a network hub in a network?
A hub broadcasts data to all connected devices, allowing communication but without directing traffic intelligently.
What is the difference between IPv6 and IPv4 address space?
IPv6 offers a much larger address space (128-bit) compared to IPv4’s 32-bit address space, allowing for more devices to be connected.
What is an access control list (ACL) in networking?
A set of rules that control network traffic by defining which traffic is allowed or denied based on IP addresses, ports, or protocols.
What is the role of a DNS resolver?
A DNS resolver translates domain names into IP addresses, allowing devices to find and connect to servers.
What is the purpose of a static route?
A static route is manually configured in a router to define a specific path for network traffic.
What is the difference between a full-duplex and a half-duplex network?
Full-duplex allows communication in both directions simultaneously, while half-duplex only allows one direction at a time.
What is the role of a gateway in networking?
A gateway is a device that connects different networks, such as a local network and the internet, translating between different protocols or addressing schemes.
What is the purpose of a subnet in an IP network?
A subnet divides a larger network into smaller, more manageable segments, improving performance and security.
What is a tunneling protocol?
A protocol that encapsulates data packets to pass securely through an untrusted network, commonly used in VPNs.
What is a port triggering?
A feature on a router that opens a port when a specific outbound port is used, often used for online gaming or remote applications.
