Network Interview Questions Flashcards
Troubleshoot with a user over the phone who can’t log into their computer. (7)
Tier 1
- Check the power source and ensure it is properly plugged in and turned on.
- Verify user credentials, including username, password, and caps lock status.
- Check for error messages and use them to guide troubleshooting.
- Verify network connection is working properly.
- Restart the computer to see if it resolves the issue.
- Try logging in with a different account to determine if the problem is specific to the user’s account.
- Scan for malware and check for other security issues if none of the above steps work.
Troubleshoot a user who can’t log into their computer while over the phone?
Tier 2 (6)
- Verify user account status in AD.
- Check for relevant event logs or error messages.
- Reset password and retry login.
- Verify group membership and privileges.
- Review security policies and network configurations.
- Send a new device and perform a system restore if needed on old system.
Troubleshoot a user who calls and says they can’t print- what would you do to troubleshoot?
- Ask basic questions to gather information about the issue to see if any errors could point me in the right direction.
- Check printer network settings!
- Check printer settings on the computer and ensure the correct printer is selected and set as default.
- Restart both the computer and printer and check for software updates or driver issues.
- Escalate the problem to a higher level of support or contact the printer manufacturer for assistance if the issue persists.
Can you tell me about a time you had trouble diagnosing a network error? What did you do?
To diagnose a network error, I would start by gathering as much information as possible to see if I hear an error or issue that can point in the right direction.
Could be a weak Wi-Fi signal, or the physical cable is worn or completely snapped, could be an application that’s hogging up the bandwidth, excessive CPU,
Explain LAN vs WAN
LAN stands for (Local Area Network) refers to a group of devices that are connected to each other within a small geographic area, such as an office or building.
WAN (Wide Area Network), on the other hand, refers to a larger network that spans across a wider geographic area, such as multiple buildings or even countries.
What goes into Wi-Fi management and configuration?
- This includes configuring wireless access points, security settings.
It’s also important to consider factors such as signal strength, bandwidth, and interference when setting up and managing a Wi-Fi network.
- Topographically where would you put a Firewall?
- Firewall placement depends on network topology and security requirements
- Typically placed at perimeter of network between internal network and internet
- Can also be placed internally within a network
- Monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic
- Blocks unauthorized or malicious access
- Provides additional layers of protection and controls access between different network segments
- Placement and configuration depend on organization’s needs, goals, network architecture, traffic patterns, and security policies
What is a VPN?
A VPN is Virtual Private Network which is a private WAN (Wide Area Network) built on the internet. It creates secured tunnels which allow secure connection between different networks. So by using a VPN a client can connect to the organization’s network remotely.
What is an IPv4 address? What are the different classes of IPv4 and what are Private and Special IP adresses?
An IPv4 address is a 32-bit dynamic address that is usually displayed in dotted decimal notation. It has 5 classes A, B, C, D, E.
A - Large Networks B - Medium Networks C - Local Area Networks D - Reserved for multicasting E - Reserved for research purposes
Special IP addresses range from 127.0.0.1 to 127.255.255.255 and are network testing addresses or known as loopback addresses.
- On what device would you put DHCP on?
- DHCP is typically put on a router or server
- Responsible for managing the network and assigning IP addresses
- Automatically assign IP addresses to devices as that connect to the network
Define and describe the 7 layers of the OSI model?
“All people seem to need data processing.”
Application (APDU) - Contains protocols commonly used by users.
Presentation (PPDU) - Concerned with syntax and semantics of information transmitted.
Session (SPDU) - Allows users on different machines to establish sessions with each other.
Transport (TPDU) - Uses TCP protocol to transport data.
Network (Packet) - Uses network addresses to route packets to a destination node. Uses IP protocol.
Data Link (Frame) - Provides means to transfer data between network entities and possible detect errors that may occur. Uses MAC addresses.
Physical (Bit) - Concerned with transmitting raw bits over communication channels.
- What is NAT used for?
- NAT (Network Address Translation) is used to translate private IP addresses to public IP addresses, allowing devices on a local network to communicate with the internet.
- This is typically done through a router or firewall, which assigns a unique public IP address to each device on the network.
Describe the TCP/IP Reference Model
The TCP/IP Reference Model is a conceptual model that describes the communication protocols used on the internet.
Application - HTTP, SMTP, RTP, DNS
Transport - TCP, UDP
Internet - IP, ICMP
Network Interface / LInk - Ethernet, 802.11, DSL, SONET
What is HTTP and HTTPS Protocol?
HTTP is HyperText Transfer Protocol which defines a set of rules and standards on how information can be transmitted on the World Wide Web (WWW). Uses the TCP protocol and default port is 80.
HTTPS is HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure which is a secure version of HTTP. On top of HTTP it uses SSL/TLS protocol to provide the extra layer of security and uses port 443 by default.
What is the SMTP Protocol?
SMTP is Simple Mail Transfer Protocol which is a set of rules for communication between servers. These rules help software send emails over the Internet and the default port is 25.
What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name Server. It serves as a directory of the internet that translates domain names to their corresponding IPs. Default port is 53.
What is UDP Protocol?
UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol and is based on Datagrams. Usually used for broadcasting or multicasting but does not use the three way handshake model and does not do any error checking.
What is the ICMP Protocol?
ICMP stands for Internet Control Message Protocol and is a network layer protocol which is used for error handling. ICMP does not have a default port since it was designed to communicate network-layer information not between application layer processes.
What is the ARP Protocol?
ARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol. It is a network-level protocol used to convert IP addresses to MAC addresses when devices are trying to communicate with each other over local networks.
What is the FTP protocol?
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is an application layer protocol used to transfer files and data between hosts. Default port is usually 21.
What is Cryptography?
Cryptography is the study of techniques for securing information for communication to prevent third parties from reading the data.