Network Plus Certification/Objectives

Exam Objectives Introduction Introduction Technologies Domain 1: Network Technologies Domain % of Examination Network Technologies 20% Network Media and Topologies 20% Network Devices 17% Network Management 20% Network Tools 12% Network Security 11%Total 100% These objectives are up to date for the 2009 edition of the CompTIA Network+ exam. The Network+ certification ensures that the successful candidate has the important knowledge and skills necessary to manage, maintain, troubleshoot, install, operate and configure basic network infrastructure, describe networking technologies, basic design principles, and adhere to wiring standards and use testing tools. The skills and knowledge measured by this examination were derived from an industry-wide job task analysis and validated through an industry-wide global survey in Q2 2008. The results of this survey were used in weighing the domains and ensuring that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of the content. The table to the right lists the domains measured by this examination and the extent to which they are represented. Network+ exams are based on these objectives. Note: The bulleted lists below each objective are not exhaustive lists. Even though they are not included in this document, other examples of technologies, processes, or tasks pertaining to each objective may also be included on the exam. Network Technologies - 20% Explain the function of common networking protocols: Objective 1.1 ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) DNS (Domain Name System) FTP (File Transfer Protocol) HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) IMAP4 (Internet Message Access Protocol version 4) NTP (Network Time Protocol) POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) - VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) - VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) SNMP2/3 (Simple Network Management Protocol version 2 or 3) SSH (Secure Shell) TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) suite Telnet TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) TLS (Transport Layer Security) UDP (User Datagram Protocol) Identify commonly used TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) default ports: Objective 1.2 TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) ports: 20 - FTP (File Transfer Protocol) 21 - FTP (File Transfer Protocol) 22 - SSH (Secure Shell) 23 - Telnet 25 - SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) 53 - DNS (Domain Name System) 80 - HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) 110 - POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) 123 - NTP (Network Time Protocol) 143 - IMAP4 (Internet Message Access Protocol version 4) 443 - HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) UDP (User Datagram Protocol) ports: 53 - DNS (Domain Name System) 67 - BOOTPS/DHCP (Bootstrap Protocol/Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) 69 - TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) 161 - SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) Identify the following address formats: Objective 1.3 IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) MAC (Media Access Control) addressing Given a scenario, evaluate the proper use of the following addressing technologies and addressing schemes: Objective 1.4 Addressing Technologies: Subnetting Classful vs. classless - e.g. CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing), Supernetting NAT (Network Address Translation) PAT (Port Address Translation) SNAT (Static Network Address Translation) Public vs. private DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - static, dynamic APIPA (Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing) Addressing schemes: Unicast Multicast Broadcast Identify common IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) and IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) routing protocols: Objective 1.5 Link state: OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) IS-IS (Intermediate System - Intermediate System) Distance vector: RIP (Routing Information Protocol) RIPv2 (Routing Information Protocol version 2) BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) Hybrid: EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) Explain the purpose and properties of routing: Objective 1.6 IGP (Interior Gateway Protocol) vs. EGP (Exterior Gateway Protocol) Static vs. dynamic Next hop Understanding routing tables and how they pertain to path selection Explain convergence (steady state) Compare the characteristics of wireless communication standards: Objective 1.7 802.11 a/b/g/n: Speeds Distance Channels Frequency Authentication and encryption: WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service) TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) Network Media and Topologies - 20% Categorize standard cable types and their properties: Objective 2.1 Type: Category 3, 5, 5e, and 6 STP (Shielded Twisted Pair), UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) Multimode fiber, single-mode fiber Coaxial RG-59 RG-6 Serial Plenum vs. Non-plenum Properties: Transmission speeds Distance Duplex Noise immunity - security, EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) Frequency Identify common connector types: Objective 2.2 RJ-11 (Registered Jack 11) RJ-45 (Registered Jack 45) BNC (Bayonet Neill-Concelman) SC (Subscriber Connector or Standard Connector or Siemon Connector) ST (Straight Tip) LC (Local Connector) RS-232 (Recommended Standard 232) Identify common physical network topologies: Objective 2.3 Star Mesh Bus Ring Point to point Point to multipoint Hybrid Given a scenario, differentiate and implement appropriate wiring standards: Objective 2.4 568A 568B Straight vs. crossover Rollover Loopback Categorize WAN technology types and properties: Objective 2.5 Type: Frame relay E1/T1 (E-Carrier Level 1/T-Carrier Level 1) E3/T3 (E-Carrier Level 3/T-Carrier Level 3) ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) SDSL (Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line) VDSL (Very High Bitrate Digital Subscriber Line) Cable modem Satellite OC-x (Optical Carrier) Wireless ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) SONET (Synchronous Optical Networking) MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) ISDN BRI (Integrated Services Digital Network Basic Rate Interface) ISDN PRI (Integrated Services Digital Network Primary Rate Interface) POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) Properties: Circuit switch Packet switch Speed Transmission media Distance Categorize LAN technology types and properties: Objective 2.6 Types: Ethernet 10BaseT 100BaseTX 100BaseFX 1000BaseT 1000BaseX 10GBaseT 10GBaseSR 10GBaseLR 10GBaseER 10GBaseSW 10GBaseLW 10GBaseEW Properties: CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) Broadcast Collision Bonding Speed Distance Explain common logical network topologies and their characteristics: Objective 2.7 Peer to peer Client/server VPN (Virtual Private Network) VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) Install components of wiring distribution: Objective 2.8 Vertical and horizontal cross connects Patch panels 66 block 110 block MDFs (Main Distribution Frames) IDFs (Intermediate Distribution Frames) 25 pair 100 pair Demarc Demarc extension Smart jack Verify wiring installation Verify wiring termination Network Devices - 17% Install, configure, and differentiate between common network devices: Objective 3.1 Hub Repeater Modem NIC (Network Interface Card) Media converters Basic switch Bridge Wireless access point Basic router Basic firewall Basic DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server Identify the functions of specialized network devices: Objective 3.2 Multilayer switch Content switch IDS/IPS (Intrusion Detection System/Intrusion Prevention System) Load balancer Multifunction network devices DNS (Domain Name System) server Bandwidth shaper Proxy server CSU/DSU (Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit) Explain the advanced features of a switch: Objective 3.3 PoE (Power over Ethernet) Spanning tree VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) Trunking Port mirroring Port authentication Implement a basic wireless network: Objective 3.4 Install client Access point placement Install access point Configure appropriate encryption Configure channels and frequencies Set ESSID (Enhanced Service Set Identifier) and beacon Verify installation Network Management - 20% Explain the function of each layer of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model: Objective 4.1 Physical Data Link Network Transport Session Presentation Application Identify types of configuration management documentation: Objective 4.2 Wiring schematics Physical and logical network diagrams Baselines Policies, procedures, and configurations Regulations Given a scenario, evaluate the network based on configuration management documentation: Objective 4.3 Compare wiring schematics, physical and logical network diagrams, baselines, policies and procedures, and configurations to network devices and infrastructure Update wiring schematics, physical and logical network diagrams, configurations, and job logs as needed Conduct network monitoring to identify performance and connectivity issues using the following: Objective 4.4 Network monitoring utilities (e.g. packet sniffers, connectivity software, load testing, throughput testers) System logs, history logs, event logs Explain different methods and rationales for network performance optimization: Objective 4.5 Methods: QoS (Quality of Service) Traffic shaping Load balancing High availability Caching engines Fault tolerance Reasons: Latency sensitivity High bandwidth applications VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Video applications Uptime Given a scenario, implement the following network troubleshooting methodology: Objective 4.6 Information gathering - identify symptoms and problems Identify the affected areas of the network Determine if anything has changed Establish the most probable cause Determine if escalation is necessary Create an action plan and solution identifying potential effects Implement and test the solution Identify the results and effects of the solution Document the solution and the entire process Given a scenario, troubleshoot common connectivity issues and select an appropriate solution: Objective 4.7 Physical issues: Crosstalk Near End crosstalk Attenuation Collisions Shorts Open impedance mismatch (echo) Interference Logical issues: Port speed Port duplex mismatch Incorrect VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) Incorrect IP (Internet Protocol) address Wrong gateway Wrong DNS (Domain Name System) server Wrong subnet mask Issues that should be identified but escalated: Switching loop Routing loop Route problems Proxy arp Broadcast storms Wireless issues: Interference (bleed, environmental factors) Incorrect encryption Incorrect channel Incorrect frequency ESSID (Enhanced Service Set Identifier) mismatch Standard mismatch (802.11 a/b/g/n) Distance Bounce Incorrect antenna placement Network Tools - 12% Given a scenario, select the appropriate command line interface tool and interpret the output to verify functionality: Objective 5.1 traceroute ipconfig ifconfig ping arping arp nslookup hostname dig mtr route nbtstat netstat Explain the purpose of network scanners: Objective 5.2 Packet sniffers Intrusion detection software Intrusion prevention software Port scanners Given a scenario, utilize the appropriate hardware tools: Objective 5.3 Cable testers Protocol analyzer Certifiers TDR (Time-domain Reflectometer) OTDR (Optical Time-domain Reflectometer) Multimeter Toner probe Butt set Punch down tool Cable stripper Snips Voltage event recorder Temperature monitor Network Security - 11% Explain the function of hardware and software security devices: Objective 6.1 Network-based firewall Host-based firewall IDS (Intrusion Detection System) IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) VPN (Virtual Private Network) concentrator Explain common features of a firewall: Objective 6.2 Application layer vs. network layer Stateful vs. stateless Scanning services Content filtering Signature identification Zones Explain the methods of network access security: Objective 6.3 ACL (Access Control List) MAC (Media Access Control) filtering IP (Internet Protocol) address filtering Tunneling and encryption SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network) VPN (Virtual Private Network) L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) IPSEC (Internet Protocol Security) Remote access RAS (Remote Access Service) RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) VNC (Virtual Network Computing) ICA (Independent Computing Architecture) Explain methods of user authentication: Objective 6.4 PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) Kerberos AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service) TACACS+ (Terminal Access Control Access Control System+) Network access control 802.1x CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol) MS-CHAP (Microsoft Handshake Authentication Protocol) EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) Explain issues that affect device security: Objective 6.5 Physical security Restricting local and remote access Secure methods vs. unsecure methods SSH (Secure Shell), HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), SNMPv3 (Simple Network Management Protocol version 3), SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol), SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) Telnet, HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), RSH (Remote Shell), RCP (Remote Copy Protocol), SNMPv1/2 (Simple Network Management Protocol version 1 or 2) Identify common security threats and mitigation techniques: Objective 6.6 Security threats: DoS (Denial of Service) Viruses Worms Attackers Man in the middle Smurf Rogue access points Social engineering (phishing) Mitigation techniques: Policies and procedures User training Patches and updates Exam Objectives Introduction Introduction Technologies Domain 1: Network Technologies