Networking Fundamentals

Question 1

load balancer

Answer 1

internet appliance designed to spread requests over multiple servers to evenly distribute the demand and balance a system

Common load balancing configurations include identical, cross-region, and content-based load balancing.

(Cheryl is in charge of maintaining her company’s website accessibility. Upon inspection, she finds that too much traffic is being directed to one web server while other web servers are sitting idle. What internet appliance could Cheryl use to resolve this issue?)

Question 2

Which sets of connectors are used for twisted pair cabling?

Answer 2

RJ 45 and RJ 11.

commonly for phone lines and ethernet, respectively.

Question 3

What type of IP address is 192.168.15.211?

Answer 3

a private IPv4 address

IPv4 addresses follow the format of four decimal octets. IPv6 format is eight hexadecimal quartets. IP addresses that begin with 192.168 are in the RFC1918 set of private addresses.

Question 4

William is publishing his company’s website to the internet and wants to ensure a secure connection. Which of these protocols should William use?

Answer 4

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of the HTTP protocol. HTTPS is run on port 443.

Question 5

What addressing scheme relieves the burden of being limited by IP addresses?

Answer 5

IVP6 addressing.

The public IPv4 address space has been exhausted for quite some time now, meaning that all of these addresses have been purchased or allocated, usually by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Many technical savvy companies have already begun the transition to using IPv6, which contains a possible 340 undecillion addresses, or 2 to the 128th power (yes, a lot of addresses). Many, if not all, ISPs have IPv6 enabled equipment already in operation.

Question 6

Static addresses

Answer 6

manually assigned and entered on a device. This will effectively disable DHCP. He should also reserve the IP address in the DHCP pool as good practice to prevent it from being leased to another device.

Question 7

David is installing a new Web server at the office, but doesn’t want DHCP giving it a new IP address every time he has to reboot it during maintenance. What kind of address should David assign to the new Web server?

Answer 7

static address

Question 8

LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)

Answer 8

works in conjunction with Active Directory to provide user authentication and management in a network. It is the successor to the DAP (Directory Access Protocol).

Question 9

In a Windows environment, this protocol is often associated with Active Directory for central management of a user database. What is this protocol called?

Answer 9

LDAP (lightweight directory access protocol)

Question 10

router

Answer 10

device that connects multiple network devices and determines the best path for reaching a specified device using routing tables.

Routers are OSI Layer 3 devices and make decisions based on logical addresses.

Key functions of a router include connecting multiple network devices to one another, breaking up broadcast domains, and connecting one LAN to another LAN on a WAN.

Question 11

switch

Answer 11

A device that works at OSI Layer 2, examines the header of incoming packets for the MAC address, and forwards the packet to the correct location. Switches can be managed or unmanaged

• A managed switch is one that allows for port configuration, traffic management, and traffic monitoring. Managed switches offer quality of service (QoS), redundancy, port mirroring, and VLANs.
• An unmanaged switch does not allow for configuration and passes on all data for a MAC address to its ports.

Question 12

access points

Answer 12

technically any device to which a host can connect in order to access a network. Wired access points include hubs and switches. However, the term usually refers to a wireless access point (WAP) that allows Wi-Fi devices to connect to a network.

Question 13

patch panel

Answer 13

dumb device that is essentially a large rack-mounted HUB whose sole purpose is to connect cables together. A dumb device is a device that broadcasts all data coming in through the input port out over all output ports. A dumb device, like a patch panel, makes no logical decisions and simply serves as a connection and relay point.

Question 14

firewall

Answer 14

security appliance, either hardware or software, that filters network traffic based on a preconfigured set of rules

Question 15

PoE - Power over Ethernet

Answer 15

technology that delivers power to devices over data lines, such as an ethernet cable, rather than having a separate power cord.

Question 16

injector

Answer 16

midspan device that sits between the switch and the access point and supplies power via an ethernet connection

Question 17

switch

Answer 17

sits in front of the midspan injector device and provides power to the ethernet cable.

Question 18

PoE Power over Ethernet Standards - IEEE 802.3

Answer 18

PoE- 802.3af-15.4 W—WAPs, static surveillance cameras, VoIP phones
PoE+- 802.3at-30W—alarm systems, PTZ cameras, video IP phones
PoE++- 802.3bt (Type 3)-60 W—multi-radio WAPs, video conferencing equipment
PoE++- 802.3bt (Type 4)-100 W—laptops, flat-screen monitors

Question 19

hub

Answer 19

Layer 1 device that sends all incoming data to all connected devices as a broadcast. Hubs are also known as multiport repeaters.

Question 20

cable modem

Answer 20

connects to a cable line to provide connectivity. A cable modem is technically no longer a modem, however, since it does not modulate and demodulate analog signals.

Question 21

DSL (digital subscriber line)

Answer 21

provides connectivity via a telephone line.

Question 22

ONT (optical network terminal)

Answer 22

provides connectivity via a fiber-optic line.

Question 23

NIC (network interface card)

Answer 23

also known as a network adapter card, is used to provide the physical interface between a computer and the cabling used for connectivity

Question 24

SDN (software defined networking)

Answer 24

sets up a network virtually via the cloud. The SDN replaces the functionality of the router in a network

Question 25

What are the two operating frequencies for wi-fi?

Answer 25

2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz.

Question 26

2.4 Ghz (operating frequency for wi-fi)

Answer 26

This relatively low frequency (compared with 5 GHz) has a greater transmission range because it passes through objects such as walls and floors better. On the negative side, throughput is slower and it is an open frequency range that other devices use. Devices like cordless phones and microwave ovens can interfere with it.

Question 27

5 Ghz (operating frequency for wifi)

Answer 27

At this higher frequency, throughput is faster. On the negative side, the transmission range is shorter as the signal is attenuated by objects such as walls and floors.

Question 28

What's the difference between 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz for wifi frequency?

Answer 28

While 2.4 ghz has a greater transmission range and passes through floors and walls better, 5 ghz doesn't and has a shorter transmission range. 5 ghz has a faster speed, while 2.4 ghz is slower because it's an open frequency and phones/microwaves interfere with it. 2.4 has 14 channels (11 available in the US) and 5 ghz has 25 (20 mhz) channels that we never have to set or change (we use 24 for wifi). They're also both unlicensed frequencies, which means anyone could use them (interference/eavesdropping could happen).

Question 29

What did the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) with the communication channels?

Answer 29

defined 14 different 22 MHz communications channels but only allows for the use of the first 11 channels.

Question 30

What is the 802.11 specification for wifi?

Answer 30

part of the IEEE 802 wireless networking standards. It is used for Wi-Fi communications. The (different letters) all use the ethernet protocol and carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) media access method. The main characteristics that differentiate them are their operating frequencies, theoretical maximum data speed, and throughput.

Question 31

What are the 802.11 standards, what are their frequencies, throughput, and range?

Answer 31

**a**—5 GHz frequency, 54 Mbps maximum throughput, 120 meters range **b**—2.4 GHz frequency, 11 Mbps maximum throughput, 140 meters range **g**—2.4 GHz frequency, 54 Mbps maximum throughput, 140 meters range **n**—5/2.4 GHz frequency, 600 Mbps maximum throughput, 250 meters range **ac (Wi-Fi 5)**—5 GHz frequency, 6.5 Gbps maximum throughput, 140 meters range **ax (Wi-Fi 6)**—5/2.4 GHz frequency, 9.6 Gbps maximum throughput, 140 meters range

Question 32

long-range fixed wireless connection

Answer 32

point-to-point wireless technology that employs the use of directional antennas to send and receive network signals usually from **10 to 20 km**. Power can be transmitted via long-range fixed wireless and is commonly known as **wireless power transfer (WPT)**. Power is generated by the transmitting station and sent via microwave or laser light to the receiver who turns the transmission back into electricity.

Question 33

What are licensed frequencies in the U.S.?

Answer 33

Frequencies whose use is granted by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission).

Question 34

unlicensed frequencies

Answer 34

frequencies that **can be used by anyone**, such as 2.4 and 5 GHz. The common use of these frequencies, however, often causes **interference** and can create susceptibility to **eavesdropping**.

Question 35

WPT (Wireless Power Transfer)

Answer 35

Power can be transmitted via long-range fixed wireless and is commonly known as wireless power transfer (WPT). Power is generated by the transmitting station and sent via microwave or laser light to the receiver who turns the transmission back into electricity.

Question 36

WPT (Wireless Power Transfer)

Answer 36

Power can be transmitted via long-range fixed wireless and is commonly known as wireless power transfer (WPT). Power is generated by the transmitting station and sent via microwave or laser light to the receiver who turns the transmission back into electricity.

Question 37

RFID (radio frequency identification)

Answer 37

uses a radio signal to send information from an RFID tag with identifying information. This is commonly used to streamline the inventory of tracking applications.

Question 38

What's the difference between a client application and a server application?

Answer 38

Client applications request services from a server application.

Question 39

What's a server?

Answer 39

not necessarily a stand-alone piece of hardware. A server is usually a process running in memory on a networked system that responds to requests from a remote client system.

Question 40

DNS (Domain Name System)

Answer 40

resolve hostnames to IP addresses. Two public DNS servers are needed for an enterprise to **host** a website, with one DNS server acting as **redundancy**. Records of hostname IP address sets are held in a **zone file**. The zone file maintains records of hostname-to-IP address mappings and contains information such as the name of the server or computer, internet protocol address, record type, computer address, and comments. If the DNS address is not located in the zone file, it requests the information from a higher-level DNS server called the **root server**.

Question 41

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

Answer 41

provides **IP configuration information**, such as an **IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server address**, automatically to clients. The scope of a DHCP server contains the information that is permitted to be shared with a client.

Question 42

fileshare / file server

Answer 42

central repository for the storage, management, and access of network files. A network can also use **network-attached storage (NAS)** for a file server

Question 43

print server

Answer 43

server that manages print requests and connects printers to a network

Question 44

mail server

Answer 44

responsible for sending, receiving, and managing emails. A mail server must be running a specialized server package, such as Microsoft Exchange, Sendmail, Postfix, or Exim, to be considered a mail server.

Question 45

syslog

Answer 45

responsible for collecting information obtained through **system monitoring**, such as **login events** or **errors**. Messages compiled in a syslog server include the **facility code**, the **severity level**, and a **textual description** of the logged events. Syslog servers are composed of **three primary components**: the listener, the database, and the management and filtering software.

Question 46

web servers

Answer 46

listens for incoming requests. The requests are executed by the web server and provide the requested content, including text, images, videos, and the running of scripts. Common web server platforms include Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) and Apache.

Question 47

authentication, authorization, and accounting (triple A or AAA)

Answer 47

access control server that acts as a *gatekeeper* for critical network components. AAA servers are also known as **domain controllers**. **Examples of AAA servers** include *remote access service (RAS)*, *Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS)*, *Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System Plus (TACACS+)*, and *Kerberos*.

Question 48

spam gateway / antispam gateway

Answer 48

internet appliance whose purpose is to block malicious emails from accessing the networ

Question 49

Unified Threat Management (UTM)

Answer 49

acts to centralize security management on a network. UTM typically provides packeting filtering and inspection, IPS, gateway antimalware, spam blocking, malicious website blocking, and application control.

Question 50

proxy servers

Answer 50

makes requests for resources on behalf of a client. The proxy server acts as an intermediary between the client and the target server.

Question 51

What's the difference between a legacy and an embedded system?

Answer 51

**Legacy systems** are older systems that for one reason or another have not been updated. It is usually due to essential applications that will not run on the updated platform. **Embedded systems** are devices other than computers that have computer technology running within. Like legacy systems, these may not be able to stay updated

Question 52

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)

Answer 52

example of a critical legacy system category. A SCADA system is a high-level management system used to control manufacturing machines and processes, manage large-scale infrastructure settings, and run building components.

Question 53

internet of things (IoT) device

Answer 53

connects to the network through a central controller or coordinating device. Common examples of IoT devices include smart devices such as thermostats and home automation and security devices.

Question 54

What steps do you take to set up a SOHO (small office/home office)?

Answer 54

* Understand relevant regulations. * Make a map. * Locate the server(s). * Identify client computer locations. * Locate network resources. * Determine user connectivity type. * Designate additional connectivity options if needed.

Question 55

What is the concept of IP addressing?

Answer 55

assignment of a unique device identifier on a local network or the internet. The IP address is responsible for managing logical network addresses.

Question 56

IVP4 Addressing

Answer 56

**32-bit hierarchical address** that identifies a host on a network and is typically written in dotted-decimal notation. The 32-bit address is divided into **4 bytes, or octets**, containing **8 bits** each (ex: 192.168.10.55). IPv4 addresses are divided into **designated classes**, **A, B, C, D, E**, and **F**, based on the first 3 bits of the IP address. IPv4 addresses are **finite and are running out**. **Private addresses**—A private IP address is not routable on the internet. **Class A private address range**: 10.0.0.0–10.255.255.255 **Class B private address range**: 172.16.0.0–172.31.255.255 **Class C private address range**: 192.168.0.0.–192.168.255.255 **Public addresses**—Public addresses are routable on the internet. Public addresses are purchased and only one computer can hold any given public address at a time.

Question 57

IPV6 Addresses

Answer 57

128-bit addresses expressed in hexadecimal notation and are composed of eight 16-bit fields separated by colons (ex: 2001:0db8:3c4d:0012:0000:0000:1234:56ab, which can be reduced to 2001:db8:3c4d:12::1234:56ab)

Question 58

What is APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing) and what does it do?

Answer 58

assigns an IP address to a device that was not assigned a static or dynamic IP address. The address will be in the **169.254.0.0 network**. *This is generally not useful, other than being an indication that the device failed to get an IP address through normal means*. These addresses are also referred to as **link-local addresses**.

Question 59

What's the difference between static and dynamic IP addresses?

Answer 59

Dynamic addresses are automatically assigned by a router or DHCP server. Static addresses are set manually by a user or administrator. A device that's set manually (statically) by someone will keep that address until the configuration is changed; a dynamic address is assigned to a device every time it joins the network.

Question 60

gateway router

Answer 60

router that connects your network to another network, typically the Internet. When configuring a device on the network, you specify the internal IP address of the gateway as a default destination to send traffic.

Question 61

A - DNS record type

Answer 61

common DNS record type that signifies the host record is an IVP4 address.

Question 62

AAAA - DNS address

Answer 62

pronounced "quad A" record DNS type that signifies the host record is an IVP6 address.

Question 63

MX - Mail Exchanger

Answer 63

common DNS record type that signifies the host record is the name of address of an email server.

Question 64

Text (TXT)

Answer 64

common DNS record type that signifies that the host record is a text record for human-readable or machine-readable data.

Question 65

DKIM - DomainKeys Identified Mail

Answer 65

type of spam management that authenticates using encryption through a public-private key pair.

Question 66

SPF - Sender Policy Framework

Answer 66

spam management that authenticates an email server based on its IP address.

Question 67

DMARC - Domain based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance

Answer 67

type of spam management that combines DKIM and SPF in one framework offers more control over what the user can do with spam email.

Question 68

If you want to ensure that a device gets a special IP address, you can -

Answer 68

configure a DHCP reservation in the DHCP server.

Question 69

Lease

Answer 69

temporary IP configuration assigned by the DHCP server to a client. typically includes an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server address.

Question 70

Reservation - ip address

Answer 70

reserving of an IP address for a specific client based on the client’s MAC address and is primarily used for devices that require a static IP address.

Question 71

scope

Answer 71

information provided outside the IP address and the subnet mask issued by the DHCP server, such as the default gateway, DNS server address, or domain name.

Question 72

virtual LAN (VLAN)

Answer 72

logical subnet, typically configured on a switch, that acts as a separate subnet. Without VLANs, every device connected to a switch would be on the same subnet. By configuring VLANs on the switch, you can have devices on that one switch in different subnets or VLANs.

Question 73

VPN - Virtual Private Network

Answer 73

encrypted connection between two networks or between a host and a network. When a host connects to a network over a VPN, it is assigned a separate IP address that is in the network’s address range.

Question 74

satellite - connection

Answer 74

employs the use of satellites to achieve connectivity. Slower than wired broadband connections; require a satellite disk. Weather and misalignment can affect connectivity

Question 75

fiber internet connection

Answer 75

type of wired connection that uses a fiber-optic cable made of thin flexible glass or plastic fiber surrounded by a rubberized outer sheath to send data via light signals. Fiber offers fast data transmission. There are two types of fiber varieties: single-mode fiber (SMF) and multimode fiber (MMF).

Question 76

cable connection

Answer 76

type of wired connection that uses a cable; either coaxial/coax or twisted pair for data transmission. Coax and twisted pair cables use different connector types and cable specifications.

Question 77

DSL (digital subscriber line)

Answer 77

type of wired connection that uses existing phone lines paired with a DSL modem to provide internet service.

Question 78

cellular connection

Answer 78

wireless connection type that uses a provider's cellular network for connectivity

Question 79

WISP - wireless internet service provider

Answer 79

wireless connection type in which an internet service provider (ISP) offers connectivity using wireless technology. WISP connections are fixed point-to-point connections.

Question 80

Local Area Network (LAN)

Answer 80

collection of devices connected to one another in one physical area, such as an office building, and can be small or large.

Question 81

WAN - wide area network

Answer 81

network that covers a large geographical area and is composed of multiple LANs. The internet is a WAN.

Question 82

PAN - personal area network

Answer 82

composed of primarily Bluetooth-connected devices.

Question 83

MAN - metropolitan area network

Answer 83

network larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN and limited to a smaller geographical area, such as a city or a campus.

Question 84

SAN - storage area network

Answer 84

network area composed of storage devices

Question 85

WLAN - wireless local area network

Answer 85

LAN in which the connections are wireless rather than wired

Question 86

What is a crimper used for?

Answer 86

used to connect a connector to a cable. It is not usually practical to use cables of a fixed length. It is also easier to run cable without the connectors on it. So, the cable is run and cut to the desired length, and then the connector is crimped on using a crimper. There are different types of crimpers for ethernet, coaxial, and fiber-optic cables.

Question 87

cable stripper

Answer 87

used to remove the insulation from the end of a cable before the connector is crimped onto it.

Question 88

wi-fi analyzer

Answer 88

used to design, optimize, or troubleshoot a Wi-Fi network. This device is used to show strong and weak spots in wireless coverage. It is a way to visualize Wi-Fi network coverage.

Question 89

punchdown tool

Answer 89

connects the exposed ends of a wire into a wiring harness.

Question 90

loopback plug

Answer 90

special cable that is wired to transmit and receive on a single connector. There are loopback plugs for different types of connectors, like USB or ethernet, for testing network interface cards (NICs).

Question 91

cable tester

Answer 91

used to certify that the cable meets the standards of the wiring code and to ensure it can be used for communication. It will identify broken wires or missing pin connections.

Question 92

network TAP

Answer 92

hardware device that creates a copy of network traffic for use by monitoring devices without interfering with network traffic. A network TAP can be easily moved from location to location to identify problems.