2.8 Given a scenario, use networking tools Flashcards

1
Q

What do Wi-Fi analyzers do?

Wi-Fi analyzers is software that can be installed on a device

A

Log stats for the connected AP & detects nearby APs

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2
Q

How is wireless signal strength measured?

A

Decibal (dB) units

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3
Q

What is the signal strength’s starting/reference point?

A

0dBM (decibal milliwatts)

This represents a signal with a power of 1 milliwatt (mW). Think of it as the baseline.

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4
Q

What are signal strengths weaker than the reference point represented by?

A

Negative numbers

i.e. -30 dBm means the signal is much weaker than 1mW, like a thousandth of a miliwatt

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5
Q

Why are dBm values often negative for Wi-Fi signal strength?

A

Wi-Fi devices abide by power regulations, limiting their signal strength

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6
Q

What Wi-Fi signal strength is considered good?

A

-65 dBm or larger

-65 dBm to 0 dBm

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7
Q

What may happen if the Wi-Fi signal strength is over -80 dBm?

A

Likely to suffer from packet loss or be dropped

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8
Q

What does dB’s logarithmic scale mean?

A

A small change in value significantly alters performance

i.e. If you have a signal and you increase its strength by +3 dB, you are doubling the signal’s power. Conversely, if you decrease its strength by -3 dB, you are halving the signal’s power.

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9
Q

What is compared in the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)?

A

Data signal strength to background noise in wireless environment

i.e. with a signal at -65 dBm and noise at -90 dBm, the SNR is 25 dB. However, if the noise increases to -80 dBm, the SNR drops to 15 dB, significantly degrading the connection

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10
Q

What does Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) indicate?

A

How much stronger the data signal is compared to the noise

the background noise in the wireless environment

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11
Q

How is background noise in wireless environments measured?

A

dBm (decibel milliwatts)

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12
Q

What does a larger dBm imply for wireless background noise?

(dBm values closer to 0)

A

Higher levels of noise

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13
Q

What does a higher SNR value indicate?

(Signal-to-Noise Ratio)

A

Stronger signal relative to background noise

This results in good network performance

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14
Q

What does a lower SNR value indicate?

(Signal-to-Noise Ratio)

A

Weaker signal relative to background noise

This can lead to degraded performance or connectivity issues

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15
Q

What is SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio) measured in?

A

dB (decibels)

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16
Q

What does each computer connect to in a structured cabling system?

A

Wall port using a patch cord

17
Q

What is behind a wall port in a structured cabling system?

A

Permanent cable routed to an equipment room, connected to a patch panel

The permanent cable is routed through the wall & ceiling

The patch panel is then connected to a switch

18
Q

What connectors are patch cords typically terminated with?

A

RJ45

19
Q

What are permanent cables terminated to in a structured cabling system?

A

Patch panels via punchdown blocks

Punchdown blocks are referred to as Insulation Displacement Connectors (IDC)

20
Q

Purpose of a Cable stripper?

A

To remove the outer jacket from a cable

This exposes the intter wires for termination or splicing

Adjust the stripper to the correct diameter, then insert the cable and rotate the tool once or twice. This creates a score cut in the insulation, allowing you to remove the jacket

21
Q

Why are electrician snips needed when terminating Cat 6/6A cables?

A

They have a plastic star filler running through it

This keeps the pairs separated

There’s also a nylon thread called a “ripcord” that can be pulled down the jacket to open it up further if any wire pairs are damaged initially. Trim any excess ripcord before terminating the cable.

22
Q

Purpose of a punchdown tool?

A

To fix each conductor into an IDC

(IDC = Insulation Displacement Connector) (aka Punchdown block)

Untwist wire pairs, place them in color-coded terminals in the IDC, follow T568A or T568B order. Keep untwisting to 1/2”. Press wires into terminals with punchdown tool; blades cut insulation for contact

23
Q

Purpose of a cable tester?

A

Verify network cable integrity & accuracy

24
Q

What does an LED indicate in a cable tester?

A

Successful termination

25
Q

What does it mean if an LED does not activate when using a cable tester?

A

The wire is not conducting a signal

Typically because the insulation is damaged or the wire isn’t properly inserted into the plug or IDC

26
Q

What if a cable tester’s LEDs don’t match at each end?

A

The wires are terminated to different pins at each end

Use the same type of termination on both ends

27
Q

Purpose of a Toner probe?

A

Identify a cable within a bundle

Many cable testers also incorporate this function

28
Q

What is a toner probe’s tone generator connected to?

A

Cable using an RJ45 jack

It applies a continuous audio signal on the cable

29
Q

What does a toner probe’s probe do?

A

Detects the signal to identify cable

30
Q

What should you do before using a toner probe?

A

Disconnect the other cable end from network equipment

31
Q

Purpose of a loopback plug?

A

Test an NIC or switch port

32
Q

When should you see when you connect a loopback plug?

A

LED showing that the port can send & receive

33
Q

Purpose of a network tap?

A

Intercept & forward signals to a packet analyzer

34
Q

How does a passive network tap differ from an active one?

A

Having a splitter to copy signals to a monitor port

35
Q

How does a active network tap differ from a passive one?

A

Performing signal regeneration

Signal regeneration is the process of amplifying and restoring degraded signals to their original strength and quality along a communication path

36
Q

What signaling over copper wire is too complex for a passive tap to monitor?

A

Gigabit signaling

37
Q

What can be affected by a passive network tap’s optical splitting?

A

Some types of fiber links

38
Q

What does it mean that pasive network taps make no logic decisions?

A

Monitor port receives every frame

The copying is unaffected by load

even when there is a high volume of network traffic passing through, the process of copying the signals to the monitor port remains consistent and unaffected.

39
Q

2 ways to implement network sniffing?

A
  • Network tap
  • Switch’s SPAN/mirror port

In a SPAN/mirror port, a sensor is linked to a port on a switch set to copy the traffic from chosen access ports or all others. This lets the sensor analyze network frames without disrupting regular traffic flow.