Network+

Question 1

Bridge

Answer 1

A connectivity device that operates at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and reads header information to forward packets according to their MAC addresses. Bridges use a filtering database to determine which packets to discard and which to forward. Bridges contain one input and one output port and separate network segments.

Question 2

Bus

Answer 2

A type of circuit used by a computer’s motherboard to transmit data to components. Most new Pentium computers use buses capable of exchanging 32 or 64 bits of data. As the number of bits of data a bus handles increases, so too does the speed of the device attached to the bus.

Question 3

Dynamic routing

Answer 3

A method of routing that automatically calculates the best path between two nodes and accumulates this information in a routing table. If congestion or failures affect the network, a router using dynamic routing can detect the problem and reroute data through a different path. Modern networks primarily use dynamic routing.

Question 4

EGP

Exterior Gateway Protocol

Answer 4

A routing protocol that can span multiple, autonomous networks. BGP and EIGRP are examples of Exterior Gateway Protocols.

Question 5

EIGRP

Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

Answer 5

A routing protocol developed in the mid-1980s by Cisco Sytems has a fast convergence time and a low network overhead but is easier to configure and less CPU-intensive than OSPF. EIGRP also offers the benefits of supporting multiple protocols and limiting unnecessary network traffic between routers.

Question 6

Firewall

Answer 6

A device (either a router or a computer running special software) that selectively filters or blocks traffic between networks. Firewalls are commonly used to improve data security.

Question 7

Gateway

Answer 7

A combination of networking hardware and software that connects two dissimilar kinds of networks. Gateways perform connectivity, session management, and data translation, so they must operate at multiple layers of the OSI model.

Question 8

Hot-swappable

Answer 8

The feature of a component that allows it to be installed or removed without disrupting operations.

Question 9

Hub

Answer 9

A connectivity device that retransmits incoming data signals to its multiple ports. Typically, hubs contain one uplink port, which is used to connect to a network’s backbone.

Question 10

Layer 3 switch

Answer 10

A switch capable of interpreting data at Layer 3 (Network layer) of the OSI model.

Question 11

Layer 4 switch

Answer 11

A switch capable of interpreting data at Layer 4 (Transport Layer) of the OSI model.

Question 12

on-board NIC

Answer 12

A NIC that is integrated into a computer’s motherboard, rather than connected via an expansion slot or peripheral bus.

Question 13

on-board port

Answer 13

A port that is integrated into a computer’s motherboard.

Question 14

OSPF

Open Shortest Path First

Answer 14

A routing protocol that makes up for some of the limitations of RIP and can coexist with RIP on a network.

Question 15

PCIe

PCI component Interconnect Express

Answer 15

A 32-bit bus standard capable of transferring data at up to 1 Gbps per data path, or lane, in full-duplex transmission. PCIe is commonly used for expansion board NICs.

Question 16

RIP

Routing Information Protocol

Answer 16

The oldest routing protocol that is still widely used, RIP is a distance-vector protocol that uses hop count as its routing metric and allows up to only 15 hops. It is considered an IGP. Compared with older, more modern, routing protocols, RIP is slower and less secure.

Question 17

RIPv2

routing Information Protocol version 2

Answer 17

An updated version of the original RIP routing protocol, which makes up for some of its predecessor’s overhead and security flaws. However, RIPv2’s packet forwarding is still limited to a maximum 15 hops.

Question 18

Router

Answer 18

A multiport device that operates at Layer 3 of the OSI model and uses logical addressing information to direct data between networks or segments. Routers can connect dissimilar LANs and WANs running at different transmission speeds and using a variety of Network layer protocols. They determine the best path between nodes based on traffic congestion, available versus unavailable routes, load balancing targets, and other factors.

Question 19

RSTP

Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol

Answer 19

As described in IEEE’s 802.1W standard, a version of the Spanning Tree Protocol that can detect and correct for network changes much more quickly.

Question 20

SFP transceiver

Small Form-factor Pluggable

Answer 20

A standard hot-swappable network interface used to link a connectivity device’s backplane with fiber-optic or copper cabling. SFPs are known as mini GBICs because they perform a similar function as GBICs, but have a smaller profile. Current SFP standards enable them to send and receive data at up to 10 Gbps.

Question 21

Static Routing

Answer 21

A technique in which a network administrator programs a router to use specific paths between nodes. Because it does not account for occasional network congestion, failed connections, or device moves and requires manual configuration, static routing is not optimal.

Question 22

STP

Spanning Tree Protocol

Answer 22

A switching protocol defined in IEEE 802.1d. STP operates in the Data Link layer to prevent traffic loops by calculating paths that avoid potential loops and by artificially blocking links that would complete a loop. Given changes to a network’s links or devices, STP recalculates its paths.

Question 23

Switch

Answer 23

A connectivity device that logically subdivides a network into smaller, individual collision domains. A switch operates at the Data Link layer of the OSI model and can interpret MAC address information to determine whether to filter (discard) or forward packets it receives.

Question 24

VLAN

Virtual Local Area Network

Answer 24

A network within a network that is logically defined by grouping its devices’ switch ports in the same broadcast domain. A VLAN can consist of any type of network node in any geographic location and incorporate nodes connected to different switches.