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CompTIA A+ 1101 (Core 1) (In Progress) > 2.2 Compare & contrast common networking hardware > Flashcards

2.2 Compare & contrast common networking hardware Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Internet?

A

Global network of networks

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2
Q

What does the core of the internet consist of?

A

Fiber optic links connecting IXPs

This map depicts a fraction of the Americas' IXPs, vital for internet data routing.
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3
Q

Meaning of IXP?

A

Internet eXchange Point

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4
Q

What is an IXP?

A

Location where ISPs and network operators interconnect their networks

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5
Q

Who mostly created the core of the Internet?

A

Telecommunications companies & academic institutions

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6
Q

Why do ISPs use transit & peering arrangements?

A

To control traffic beyond their network boundaries

Meaning to & from parts of the Internet they don’t directly control

ISPs are tiered based on their reliance on transit arrangements.

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7
Q

What is a transit arrangement in internet connectivity?

A

When an ISP pays another ISP to route traffic to destinations it doesn’t serve

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8
Q

What is a peering arrangement in internet connectivity?

A

When ISPs exchange traffic between their networks without payment

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9
Q

What networks to customers connect to for Internet connectivity?

A

ISP’s network

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10
Q

How do users connect to the ISP’s network?

A

via the ISP network’s nearest Point of Presense (PoP)

i.e. a local telephone exchange

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11
Q

What is an Internet connection type?

A

Media, hardware, & protocols used to link the LAN to the ISP’s PoP

PoP = Point of Presense

i.e. Satellite, Fiber, Cable, DSL, Cellular, & WISP

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12
Q

What is a WAN interface?

A

Hardware used to connect a LAN to a ISP’s WAN

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13
Q

What does it mean that a WAN interface is typically point-to-point?

A

There are only 2 devices connected to the media

Unlike Ethernet where multiple devices can be connected through switches

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14
Q

What do WAN interfaces typically use to establish connections?

A

Digital modem

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15
Q

What do modems do?

A

Establishes the physical connection to the WAN interface

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16
Q

What do routers do?

A

Use IP to identify networks & forward data between them

IP = Internet Protocol

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17
Q

Meaning of ISP?

A

Internet Service Provider

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18
Q

What global telecom network do many internet connections use?

A

PSTN

PSTN = Public Switched Telephone Network

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19
Q

What cabling is used at the core of the PSTN?

PSTN = Public Switched Telephone Network

A

Fiber optic

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20
Q

What cabling is used at the edge of the PSTN?

PSTN = Public Switched Telephone Network

A

Copper

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21
Q

What is the edge of the PSTN referred to as?

A

POTS, “local loop”, or “last mile”

POTS = Plain Old Telephone System

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22
Q

How does DSL work?

A

Using the PSTN’s POTS as the communication channel

Meaning the PSTN’s copper cabling is used (the edge)

PSTN = Public Switched Telephone Network | POTS = Plain Old Telephone System

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23
Q

Meaning of DSL?

A

Digital Subscriber Line

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24
Q

2 types of DSL?

A
  • ADSL
  • SDSL
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25
Q

How does ADSL differ from SDSL?

A

Providing a fast downlink but a slow uplink

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26
Q

How does SDSL differ from ADSL?

A

Offering the same uplink & downlink speeds

These connections are ideal for businesses and branch offices, with higher upstream data transfer.

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27
Q

How are LANs connected to the telephone cabling in DSL?

A

Via DSL modem

DSL modems can be a standalone device or be embeded as a function of a SOHO router

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28
Q

What does the DSL modem’s RJ11 WAN port connect to?

A

Phone point

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29
Q

what does the DSL modem’s RJ45 port connect to?

A

Router

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30
Q

Why does DSL require splitters at each phone socket?

A

To separate voice & data signals

splitters can be self-installed on each phone point or it may be integrated into sockets

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31
Q

How is cable internet provided?

A

CATV services

CATV Network
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32
Q

Meaning of CATV?

A

Cable Access TV

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33
Q

3 things CATV networks are described as?

CATV Network
A
  • HFC
  • Broadband cable
  • Cable

HFC = Hybrid Fiber Coax

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34
Q

Why are CATV networks described as HFC?

Hybrid Fiber Coax

CATV Network
A

Combines a fiber optic core network with copper coaixal cable links to customer equipment

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35
Q

Downlink bandwidth of Cable internet based on DOCSIS?

DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) defines the standards for transmitting data over cable TV systems.

A
  • 38 Mbps (North America)
  • 50 Mbps (Europe)
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36
Q

Uplink bandwidth of Cable Internet based on DOCSIS?

DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) defines the standards for transmitting data over cable TV systems.

A

27Mbps

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37
Q

Cable used to connect cable modems to routers?

A

RJ45 cable

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38
Q

How do cable modems connect to the access provider’s network?

A

Via coaxial cable with F-type connectors

Coaxial cable links premises to a CMTS in a street, which sends data traffic to the ISP’s PoP and then to the Internet via fiber backbone.

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39
Q

Meaning of FTTx?

A

Fiber To The X

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40
Q

What is FTTx?

A

Initiative to upgrade last-mile connectivity with fiber optic cables for higher internet bandwidth

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41
Q

2 types of FTTx projects?

A
  • FTTC
  • FTTP
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42
Q

Meaning of FTTC?

A

FTT Curb

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43
Q

Meaning of FTTP?

A

FTT Premises

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44
Q

How does FTTC work?

A

Retains copper wiring to customer premises but extends fiber link to a cabinet for multiple subscribers

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45
Q

How do DSL service providers support FTTC?

A

via VDSL

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46
Q

Meaning of VDSL?

A

Very high-speed DSL

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47
Q

How does VDSL differ from other DSL types?

A

Achieves higher bit rates at the expense of range

VDSL allows for symmetric & asymmetric modes

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48
Q

asymmetric downlink bandwidth of VDSL?

A

52 Mbps

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49
Q

asymmetric uplink bandwidth of VDSL?

A

6 Mbps

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50
Q

Symmetric bandwidth of VDSL?

bandwidth is the same on up & downlink

A

26Mbps

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51
Q

What does VDSL2 specify?

A

A very short range rate of 100Mbps (bi-directional)

short range is 100m/300 feet.

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52
Q

What does it mean that DSL modems are not interchangeable?

A

A DSL modem of 1 type may not support a different type of DSL

An ADSL modme is unlikely to support VDSL, though most VDSL modems support ADSL

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53
Q

How does FTTP work?

A

Connects the service provider’s fiber optic cable directly to the customer’s building

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54
Q

How is FTTP implemented as?

A

PON

(PON = Passive Optical Network)

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55
Q

In an PON, where does the fiber cable connect to?

(This is about FTTP) (PON = Passive Optical Network)

A

an OLT (Optical Line Terminal)

The OLT is located in a street cabinet

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56
Q

In a PON, what happens after the fiber cable connects to an OLT?

OLT

(This is about FTTP) (PON = Passive Optical Network) (OLT = Optical Line Terminal)

A

Splitters direct subscriber traffic to ONTs at their premises

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57
Q

Meaning of ONT?

ONT
A

Optical Network Terminal

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58
Q

What do ONTs in a PON do?

(This is about FTTP) (PON = Passive Optical Network)

ONT
A

Converts the optical signal to an electrical one

The optical signals carried by fiber optic cables are converted into electrical signals by the ONT to be used by the customer’s devices

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59
Q

How is an ONT in a PON connected to the customer’s router?

(This is about FTTP) (PON = Passive Optical Network)

A

RJ45 copper wire patch cord

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60
Q

What identity do IP addresses contain?

A

Identity of network & a host within that network

MAC addresses only identify a hardware port

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61
Q

What do SOHO routers do?

A

Routes between local & Internet network interfaces

It acts like a LAN & WAN router

62
Q

What do LAN routers do?

A

Divides a LAN into multiple logical subnetworks

Many hosts in a broadcast domain can slow performance and raise security risks due to unfiltered traffic. LAN routers fix that.

63
Q

What type of routers typically only have Ethernet interfaces?

A

LAN routers

64
Q

What do WAN/border routers do?

A

Forwards traffic to & from the Internet or private WAN links

Private WAN links are dedicated connections between organization locations for secure communication.

65
Q

What interfaces do WAN/border routers have?

A

Digital modem & Ethernet interfaces

Digital modem interface for WAN; Ethernet interfaces for LAN

66
Q

What do firewalls do?

A

Filters allowed & denied hosts & protocols

67
Q

Meaning of ACL?

A

Access Control List

68
Q

What is an ACL?

A

The firewall’s configured rules

69
Q

What do ACLs list?

A

Network addresses, protocol types, & traffic permissions

70
Q

What is networking hardware?

A

Devices that forward data & allows computer connections via network media

i.e. routers, switches, patch panels, NICs, SDN, etc.

71
Q

Meaning of NIC?

A

Network Interface Card

72
Q

Purpose of NICs?

A

Allow devices to connect to Ethernet networks

73
Q

What standard do most PC MOBO NICs support?

A

1000BASE-T Ethernet

NICs may also support other types of Ethernet, like fiber optic

74
Q

Why may NICs have multiple ports of the same type?

A

To be bonded for a higher-speed link

i.e. 4 gigabit Ethernet ports could be bonded to give a nominal lnk speed of 4Gbps

75
Q

How do NICs process electrical/light signals as digital data?

A

By having the Ethernet’s data link layer divide the signals into frames

Frames have a consistent format defined by Ethernet standards

75
Q

What kind of addresses do NICs have?

A

MAC addresses

76
Q

Meaning of MAC?

A

Media Access Control

77
Q

Where is the destination & source MAC address placed in Ethernet frames?

A

Header

78
Q

What does a MAC address consist of?

A

48-bit hexadecimal number

MAC addresses can be writen with color or hyphen separators or no separators at all (i.e. 00 : 60 : 8c : 12 : 3a : bc or 00608c123abc)

79
Q

How many values does the hexadecimal numbering system have?

A

16

80
Q

What are the hexadecimal values?

A

0-9 & A-F

81
Q

What does each Hexadecimal digit represent?

A

4 bits

So hex number “60” = 01100000 (96)

82
Q

What are computers in a office setup typically connected to?

A

Wall ports that are linked to a patch panel

83
Q

What is the rear of a patch panel used for?

A

Terminating cables running through walls to IDC punchdown blocks

IDC = Insulation Displacement Connector

84
Q

What does the front of a patch panel have?

A

Pre-wired RJ45 ports to connect to a switch

85
Q

What cable is used to connect a port on a patch panel to a switch?

A

Patch cord

86
Q

How do patch panels enable flexible network configurations?

A

Allows to easily swap patch cords to change wall-to-switch port connections

87
Q

Why is effective labeling vital in structured cabling installation?

A

To know which patch panel port is connected to which wall port

88
Q

What were hubs used for?

A

Implementing the 10BASE-T & 100BASE-T Ethernet cabling designs

aka “Star topology”

89
Q

What is the 10BASE-T & 100BASE-T Ethernet cabling design referred to as?

A

Star topology

This is because each end system is cabled to a concentrator (the hub)

90
Q

How many ports do hubs typically have?

A

Between 4 & 48

91
Q

How does a hub work?

A

Repeats incoming data from one port to all the other ports

Each connected device receives & processes it, even if it’s not for them

92
Q

What is a collision domain?

A

Network segment where devices contend for a shared communication channel

This can lead to collisions which can slow down network performance

93
Q

When do devices connected to a hub ignore received frames?

A

When frames don’t match its MAC address

94
Q

What happens when a collision occurs in a hub?

The more computers there are, the more collisions

A

All devices must wait a random period of time before trying again

This random backoff period help reduce the likelihood of collisions happ

The random backoff reduces collision recurrence.

95
Q

What does it mean that communication in hubs are half-duplex?

A

A computer can send or receive, but not at the same time

96
Q

Why are hubs practically obselete?

A

Thye aren’t compatible with Gigabit Ethernet

Hubs are typically only used in niche cases, often to support older equipment that needs to remain operational.

97
Q

How do Switches differ from hubs?

A

Forwarding frames to the destination MAC address

Rather than broadcasting frames to all devices

98
Q

How are switches able to route frames?

A

By decoding frames to identify the source & destination MAC addresses

Each switch port is a separate collision domain, eliminating contention

99
Q

What does it mean for devices on a switch to have full-duplex?

A

Devices can send & receive simultaneously at the full speed

The full speed is dependent on the network cabling & NIC

100
Q

What happens when a switch encounters a new source MAC address?

A

It records it in its MAC address table

101
Q

What happens if a switch needs to forward a frame to an unknown destination MAC address?

A

It broacasts the frame to all ports except the one it arrived on

This process is known as flooding

102
Q

How do unmanaged switches differ from managed switches?

A

Functioning without requiring any configuration

Plug it in, connect hosts, and it sets up Ethernet connections automatically

103
Q

What type of switch is embedded in most SOHO router/modems?

A

Unmanaged switch

Some older SOHO routers use LAN interfaces as hubs, limiting speed to below 1Gbps

104
Q

How do managed switches differ from unmanaged switches

A

Having additional functonality for configuration

A managed switch will work as an unmanaged switch out of the box

105
Q

How do admins manage a managed switch’s settings?

A

Via management port

106
Q

How are most managed switches designed for?

A

To be bolted into standard network racks

107
Q

How many ports do typical workgroup switches come with?

A

24 or 48 ports

108
Q

What does it mean when switches have uplink ports?

A

They can connect to other switches

109
Q

How do modular switches work?

A

Providing power & a fast communications backplane to link multiple switches

This enables the provisioning of hundreds of access ports via a single compact appliance

110
Q

What interface is used to configure managed switches?

A

Web or Command-Line interface

111
Q

Meaning of PoE?

A

Power over Ethernet

112
Q

What is PoE?

A

A means of supplying power from a switch port to a Powered Device (PD)

A powered device lie a VoIP handset, camera, AP, etc.

113
Q

3 IEEE standards PoE is defined in?

A
  • 802.3af
  • 802.3at
  • 802.3bt
114
Q

How much power can 802.3af deliver to devices?

A

up to 13W

115
Q

What is the max power delivery of 802.3af?

A

15.4W

116
Q

Why can’t 802.3af supply 15.4W rather than 13W to devices?

A

Due to voltage drop over the length of the cable

117
Q

How much power can 802.3at deliver to devices?

A

Up to 25W

118
Q

What is 802.3at aka?

A

PoE+

119
Q

What is 802.3bt aka?

A

PoE++ or 4PPoE

120
Q

How much power can 802.3bt deliver to devices?

A
  • Up to 51W (Type 3)
  • Up to 73W (Type 4)
121
Q

What happens when a device connects to a PoE switch?

A

PoE switch detects if the device supports PoE

122
Q

What happens if a PoE switch detects a PoE device?

A

Determines the device’s power consumption & sets an appropriate supply voltage level

123
Q

What happens if a PoE switch detects a non-PoE device?

A

It doesn’t supply power over the port

Therefore, not damaging non-PoE devices

124
Q

Benefit of powering a device via PoE switch instead of a wall socket?

A

Enables energy-saving schemes via network software

i.e. making unused devices go into sleep states & power capping

125
Q

What can you use if a switch doesn’t support PoE?

A

Power injector

One port on the injector connects to the switch port. The other port connects to the device

126
Q

What is a power injector aka?

A

midspan

127
Q

What is the max cable length when using a power injector?

A

100m

This ensures optimal power delivery & network performance

128
Q

What transmission media do wireless technologies use?

A

Radio waves

129
Q

How do radio systems transfer signals?

Radio systems like AM/FM Radio broadcast, Two-way radios, Cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Satellite communication, etc.

A

Using transmission & reception antennas tuned to a specific frequency

130
Q

What standards are most WLANs based on?

A

IEEE 802.11 standards

131
Q

What is 802.11 aka?

A

Wi-Fi

132
Q

What is “infrastructure mode” in wireless networking?

A

802.11 network framework where devices communicate with each other via one or more APs

This means the devices connect to the network via an AP

133
Q

Meaning of AP?

A

Access Point

134
Q

What does each AP create in wireless infrastructure mode?

A

BSS (Basic Service Set)

135
Q

What is a BSS in wireless infrastructure mode?

A

Wireless network formed around an AP

136
Q

What is a BSSID in wireless infrastructure mode?

A

MAC address of the AP’s radio

i.e. In an office with two access points, “Office_WiFi_1” has a BSSID of “00:11:22:33:44:55,” and “Office_WiFi_2” has a BSSID of “66:77:88:99:AA:BB.” These BSSIDs uniquely identify the Basic Service Sets (BSS) created by each access point.

137
Q

What is the BSSID in wireless infrastructure used for?

A

To uniquely identiy the BSS

i.e. In an office with two access points, “Office_WiFi_1” has a BSSID of “00:11:22:33:44:55,” and “Office_WiFi_2” has a BSSID of “66:77:88:99:AA:BB.” These BSSIDs uniquely identify the Basic Service Sets (BSS) created by each access point.

138
Q

What else can an AP do besides creating a wireless-only network?

Wireless-only network = infrastructure mode in Wi-Fi networking

A

Bridge wireless stations with wired networks

“stations” means devices connected to the wireless network

139
Q

What is the “distribution system” (DS) in wireless networking?

A

Wired portion of the network

140
Q

How is an AP joined to a network?

A

Via Ethernet switch

An enterprise network is likely to use PoE to power the AP over the data cabling

141
Q

Meaning of SDN?

A

Software-Defined Networking

142
Q

What is SDN?

A

Model that automates network provisioning & deprovisioning in the cloud

Cloud network provisioning involves configuring resources like IP addresses, virtual networks, security policies, and connectivity for deploying applications or services. network deprovisioning involves the removal or decommissioning of network resources that are no longer needed.

143
Q

What layers does SDN devide network functions into?

A
  • Application Layer
  • Control Layer
  • Infrastructure Layer
144
Q

What are the functions of the Application Layer in SDN?

A

Applies business logic to prioritize, secure, & direct traffic

145
Q

What are the functions of the Infrastructure Layer in SDN?

A

Contains devices that handle forwarding of traffic

The devices can be physical or virtual. “forwarding” here refers to switching & routing

146
Q

What is the control plane of the control layer in SDN implemented by?

A

A virtual device referred to as the “SDN controller”

147
Q

What does each layer in SDN expose?

A

API that can be automated by scripts that calls functions in adjacent layers

API = Application Programming Interface

By adjacent layers, it means the layers above or below it.

148
Q

What is the “northbound” API (or service interface) in SDN?

API = Application Programming Interface

A

The interface between SDN apps & the SDN controller

149
Q

What is the “southbound” API in SDN?

API = Application Programming Interface

A

The interface between the SDN controller & infrastructure devices

CompTIA A+ 1101 (Core 1) (In Progress) (20 decks)

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