CompTIA Network+

Network+ domain #1: networking fundamentals [2022 update]

One of the most recognizable IT and information security networking certifications is Network+. As time goes on, new versions of certification exams are released, and Network+ releases the latest exam version, N10-008, in September of 2021. Some of the material covered in this latest exam version has changed and changes to Domain names. This article will detail Network+ Domain 1.0, entitled Networking Fundamentals. It will explore what the Network+ cert is, what has changed since the last Network+ exam version, and the objectives and sub-objectives this Domain covers. If you are looking for a great starter to your Network+ exam outline for Domain 1.0, look no further.

What is Network+?

Network+ is an IT and information security networking certification offered by CompTIA. This certification validates the skills and knowledge required to securely establish, maintain, and troubleshoot essential organization networks. This is one of the most popular networking certs on the market, with 500,000 cert holders worldwide.

What has changed since the last Network+ exam version?

There have been some changes since exam version N10-007 that you need to be aware of. Aside from Domain name changes and slight changes to exam material weights, there have been sub-objective changes, especially on the foundational networking tools and technologies used to create secure networks. Below is a comparison of N10-007 and N10-008 (and their respective weights of exam material covered):

Network+ N10-007 Domains	Network+ N10-008 Domains
1. Networking Concepts (23%)	1. Networking Fundamentals (24%)
2. Infrastructure (18%)	2. Network Implementations (19%)
3. Network Operations (17%)	3. Network Operations (16%)
4. Network Security (20%)	4. Network Security (19%)
5. Network Troubleshooting and Tools (22%)	5. Network Troubleshooting (22%)

Domain 1.0 has had a slight name change since the last exam version and is now Networking Fundamentals. It also covers a little more material, adding an extra 1% of exam material to what it covers. Without further ado, let’s dive into the material covered by Domain 1.0.

Domain 1.0: Networking Fundamentals

1.1 Compare and contrast the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model layers and encapsulation concepts

1. OSI Model

Layer 1 – Physical
Layer 2 – Data link
Layer 3 – Network
Layer 4 – Transport
Layer 5 – Session
Layer 6 – Presentation
Layer 7 – Application

2. Data encapsulation and decapsulation within the OSI model context

Ethernet header
Internet Protocol (IP) header
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/User Datagram Protocol (UDP) headers
TCP flags
Payload
Maximum transmission unit (MTU)

1.2 Explain the characteristics of network topologies and network types

1. Types of network topologies

Mesh
Star/hub-and-spoke
Bus
Ring
Hybrid

3. Service-related entry point

Demarcation point
Smartjack

4. Virtual network concepts

vSwitch
Virtual network interface card (vNIC)
Network function virtualization (NFV)
Hypervisor

5. Provider links

Satellite
Digital subscriber line (DSL)
Cable
Leased line
Metro-optical

1.3 Summarize the types of cables and connectors and explain which is the appropriate type for a solution

1. Copper

Twisted pair
- Cat 5/5e
- Cat 6/6a
- Cat 7
- Cat 8
Coaxial/R6
Twinaxial
Termination standards
- TIA/EIA-568A
- TIA/EIA-568B

2. Fiber

Single-mode
Multimode

3. Connector types

Local connector (LC), Straight tip (ST), Subscriber connector (SC), Mechanical transfer (MT), registered jack (RJ)
- Angled physical contact (APC)
- Ultra-physical contact (UPC)
RJ11
RJ45
F-type connector
Transceivers/media converters
Transceiver types

4. Cable management

Patch panel/patch bay
Fiber distribution panel
Punchdown block
- 66
- 110
- Krone
- Bix

5. Ethernet standards

Copper
- 10BASE-T
- 100BASE-TX
- 1000BASE-T
- 10GBASE-T
- 40GBASE-T

6. Fiber

100BASE-FX
100BASE-SX
1000BASE-SX
10GBASE-SR
10GBASE-LR
Coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM)
Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM)
Bidirectional wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)

1.4 Given a scenario, configure a subnet and use appropriate IP addressing schemes

1. Public vs. private

RFC1918
Network address translation (NAT)
Port Address translation (PAT)

2. IPv4 vs. IPv6

Automatic Private IP
Addressing (APIPA)
Extended unique identifier (EUI-64)
Multicast
Unicast
Anycast
Broadcast
Link local
Loopback
Default gateway

3. IPv4 subnetting

Classless
Classful
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) notation

4. IPv6 concepts

Tunneling
Dual stack
Shorthand notation
Router advertisement
Stateless address autoconfiguration (SLAAC)

1.5 Explain common port and protocols, their application, and encrypted alternatives

1. Protocols and their ports

File Transfer Protocol (FTP): 20/21
Secure Shell (SSH): 22
Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP): 22
Telnet: 23
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP): 25
Domain Name System (DNS): 53
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP): 67/68
Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP): 69
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): 80
Post Office Protocol v3 (POP3): 110
Network Time Protocol (NTP): 123
Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP): 143
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): 161/162
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP): 389
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) [Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)]: 443
HTTPS [Transport Layer Security (TLS)]: 443
Server Message Block (SMB): 445
Syslog: 514
SMTP TLS: 587
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (over SSL) (LDAPS): 636
IMAP over SSL: 993
POP3 over SSL: 995
Structured Query Language (SQL) Server: 1433
SQLnet: 1521
MySQL: 3306
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): 3389
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP): 5060/5061
IP protocol types

1.6 Explain the use and purpose of network services

1. DHCP

Scope
Exclusion ranges
Reservation
Dynamic assignment
Static assignment
Lease time
Scope options
Available leases
DHCP relay
IP helper/UDP forwarding

2. DNS

Record types
- Address (A vs. AAAA)
- Canonical name (CNAME)
- Mail exchange (MX)
- Start of authority (SOA)
- Pointer (PTR)
- Text (TXT)
- Service (SRV)
- Name server (NS)
Global hierarchy
- Root DNS servers
Internal vs. external
Zone transfers
Authoritative name servers
Time to live (TTL)
DNS caching
Reverse DNS/reverse lookup/forward lookup
Recursive lookup/iterative lookup

3. NTP

Stratum
Clients
Servers

1.7 Explain basic corporate and datacenter network architecture

1. Three-tiered

Core
Distribution/aggregation layer
Access/edge

2. Software-defined networking

Application layer
Control layer
Infrastructure layer
Management plane

3. Spine and leaf

Software-defined network
Top-of-rack switching
Backbone

4. Traffic flows

North-South
East-West

5. Branch office vs. on-premises datacenter vs. colocation

6. Storage area networks

Connection types
- Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
- Fibre Channel
- Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI)

1.8 Summarize cloud concepts and connectivity options

1. Deployment models

Public
Private
Hybrid
Community

2. Service models

Software as a service (SaaS)
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
Platform as a service (PaaS)
Desktop as a service (DaaS)

3. Infrastructure as code

Automation/orchestration

4. Connectivity options

Virtual private network (VPN)
Private-direct connection to a cloud provider

5. Multitenancy

6. Elasticity

7. Scalability

8. Security implications

Earning the Network+ certificate

To earn the Network+ certification, you first pass the Network+ certification exam. The exam covers five knowledge domains, and Domain 1.0 covers Networking Fundamentals.

Sources:

Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, CompTIA
Network+ N10-007 vs. N10-008: What’s the Difference?, CompTIA

Author

Greg Belding

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Greg is a Veteran IT Professional working in the Healthcare field. He enjoys Information Security, creating Information Defensive Strategy, and writing – both as a Cybersecurity Blogger as well as for fun.