N10-008 CompTIA Network+ Exam Questions and Answers

(Note: Ips will be change on each simulation task, so we have given example answer for the understanding)

To troubleshoot all the network components and review the cable test results, you can use the following steps:

• Click on each device and cable to open its information window.
• Review the information and identify any problems or errors that may affect the network connectivity or performance.
• Diagnose the appropriate component(s) by identifying any components with a problem and recommend a solution to correct each problem.
• Fill in the remediation form using the drop-down menus provided.

Here is an example of how to fill in the remediation form for PC1:

• The component with a problem is PC1.
• The problem is Incorrect IP address.
• The solution is Change the IP address to 192.168.1.10.

You can use the same steps to fill in the remediation form for other components.

To enter commands in each device, you can use the following steps:

• Click on the device to open its terminal window.
• Enter the command ipconfig /all to display the IP configuration of the device, including its IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS servers.
• Enter the command ping  to test the connectivity and reachability to another device on the network by sending and receiving echo packets. Replace with the IP address of the destination device, such as 192.168.1.1 for Core Switch 1.
• Enter the command tracert  to trace the route and measure the latency of packets from the device to another device on the network by sending and receiving packets with increasing TTL values. Replace with the IP address of the destination device, such as 192.168.1.1 for Core Switch 1.

Here is an example of how to enter commands in PC1:

• Click on PC1 to open its terminal window.
• Enter the command ipconfig /all to display the IP configuration of PC1. You should see that PC1 has an incorrect IP address of 192.168.2.10, which belongs to VLAN 2 instead of VLAN 1.
• Enter the command ping 192.168.1.1 to test the connectivity to Core Switch 1. You should see that PC1 is unable to ping Core Switch 1 because they are on different subnets.
• Enter the command tracert 192.168.1.1 to trace the route to Core Switch 1. You should see that PC1 is unable to reach Core Switch 1 because there is no route between them.

You can use the same steps to enter commands in other devices, such as PC3, PC4, PC5, and Server 1.

The technician was identifying the problem by gathering information with this note. This is the first step of the troubleshooting methodology, which is a systematic process of finding and resolving issues in a network or system. By gathering information, the technician can understand the symptoms, scope, and impact of the problem, as well as collect relevant data from various sources, such as users, logs, tools, or documentation. The note shows that the technician was asking questions to the user, checking the network status and configuration, and reviewing previous tickets to gather information about the problem. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], Troubleshooting Methodology - CompTIA Network+ N10-007 - 1.4 | Professor Messer IT Certification Training Courses

The DNS ‘start of authority’ (SOA) record stores important information about a domain or zone such as the email address of the administrator, when the domain was last updated, and how long the server should wait between refreshes. All DNS zones need an SOA record in order to conform to IETF standards. SOA records are also important for zone transfers.

The users are unable to navigate to websites on the internet but can access local network resources, indicating a possible DNS issue. The ping command result showing “TTL expired in transit” suggests that packets are not reaching their destination due to a DNS misconfiguration that is not resolving website names into IP addresses correctly3. A possible solution is to check and correct the DNS server settings on the network devices4.

References: 3: What does “TTL expired in transit” mean?54: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide - Chapter 14: Network Monitoring2

• DHCP scope exhaustion occurs when there are no more available IP addresses in the DHCP pool to assign to new clients12.
• This can cause network connectivity issues for clients that rely on DHCP to obtain an IP address dynamically12.
• The symptoms of DHCP scope exhaustion include:
• The solution for DHCP scope exhaustion is to either increase the size of the DHCP pool, split the network into smaller subnets with their own DHCP scopes, or implement a DHCP relay agent to forward DHCP requests to another DHCP server with more available addresses12.
• Incorrect firewall settings, inappropriate VLAN assignment, hardware failure, and overloaded CAM table in switch are not likely causes of the network connectivity issues described in the question, as they would affect all clients or specific segments of the network, not randomly selected users12. References:
• 1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Cram, 6th Edition, Chapter 3: IP Addressing and Subnetting, p. 98-99
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 4: IP Addressing, p. 156-157

An email protection gateway is an appliance that can filter and block malicious emails and attachments before they reach the recipients. An email protection gateway can mitigate the risk of hyperlinks from inbound emails by scanning the links for malicious content, rewriting the links to point to a safe domain, or blocking the links altogether. An email protection gateway can also perform other functions such as spam filtering, antivirus scanning, encryption, and data loss prevention. A DNS server, a proxy server, an endpoint email client, and a sandbox are not appliances that can enable this capability, as they have different purposes and functions.

References

• 1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 304
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Subnetting Quiz, question 15
• 3: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Practice Test, question 5
• 4: Email Protection Gateway – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 3.2

• The netstat -n command displays active TCP connections, but addresses and port numbers are expressed numerically and no attempt is made to determine names12. This option can be useful for checking the output in integer form, as well as for avoiding possible delays caused by name resolution12.
• The netstat command without any parameters displays active TCP connections, but addresses and port numbers are resolved to their corresponding names, such as hostnames and service names12. This option can be less informative and more time-consuming than the -n option12.
• The netstat -a command displays all active TCP connections and the TCP and UDP ports on which the computer is listening12. This option can be useful for checking the availability and status of ports, but it does not show the output in integer form12.
• The netstat -e command displays Ethernet statistics, such as the number of bytes and packets sent and received12. This option can be useful for checking the network performance and utilization, but it does not show the network connections or their addresses and port numbers12.

References:

• 1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 5: Network Tools and Troubleshooting
• 2: netstat | Microsoft Learn
• : 28 Netstat Commands {A Comprehensive List With Examples} - phoenixNAP
• : How to Use the Netstat Command - Lifewire

802.11b is a wireless networking standard that operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency band. It supports a maximum data rate of 11 Mbps and has a range of about 35 meters indoors and 140 meters outdoors. 802.11b is compatible with older smart-plug devices that use the same frequency band, but it may suffer from interference from other devices that also use the 2.4 GHz band, such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and cordless phones.

The distribution layer is the layer that connects the access layer to the core layer in a hierarchical network design. The distribution layer is responsible for routing, filtering, and policy enforcement between the LAN and the WAN. A router is a layer 3 device that can perform these functions and connect to different WAN technologies.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 151
• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, Deluxe Edition, page 322
• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Cram, page 233

• IGMP snooping is a feature that allows switches to monitor the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) messages between hosts and multicast routers, and to learn which ports are interested in receiving which multicast groups.
• IGMP snooping can improve the network performance by reducing the unnecessary flooding of multicast traffic to all ports, and by forwarding it only to the ports that have requested it.
• IGMP snooping can also conserve bandwidth and CPU resources on the network devices and hosts, as they do not have to process unwanted multicast packets.
• IGMP snooping can be especially useful for streaming video applications, as they often use multicast to deliver the same content to multiple devices simultaneously.
• The other options are not relevant to addressing the issue of network performance degradation due to streaming video:
• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 3: Network Protocols and Services, Section 3.2: Configure and Support IPv4 and IPv6, p. 179-180
• Professor Messer’s Network+ N10-008 Course Notes, Section 3.2: IPv4 and IPv6 Multicast, p. 37
• Professor Messer’s Network+ N10-008 Video Training Course, 3.2 IPv4 and IPv6 Multicast

Input sanitization is the process of validating and filtering the user input to prevent malicious code or commands from being executed on the web server or the web browser. Input sanitization can prevent this type of attack, which is called cross-site scripting (XSS), by removing or escaping any special characters or scripts that are not expected or allowed in the input field. Input sanitization can be implemented on the server-side or the client-side, or both, to enhance the security of the web application.

References

• 1: Web Application Attacks – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 3.2
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 317
• 3: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Subnetting Quiz, question 15
• 4: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Practice Test, question 6

A colocation service is a service that provides rack space, power, cooling, security, and connectivity for a company’s network equipment in a data center. A colocation service can be used when a company does not have sufficient rack space in its own data center and does not want to invest in building or expanding its own facilities. By using a colocation service, a company can host its new equipment in a professional and reliable environment without a major investment in facilities. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/books/network-n10-008-study-guide (page 414)

A switch is a device that provides Layer 2 connectivity to various endpoints by forwarding frames based on MAC addresses. A switch can also connect to several WAPs (wireless access points) to provide wireless connectivity to wireless devices.

A physical diagram is a type of diagram that shows the physical layout and connections of the network devices and components, such as routers, switches, cables, and connectors. A physical diagram may include specifications about the fiber connector types, such as LC, SC, FC, ST, MPO, etc., that are used to link the fiber optic cables and devices. A physical diagram can help to visualize the network topology, troubleshoot network problems, and plan network changes

QSFP+ is a type of transceiver that supports 40 gigabit Ethernet (40GbE) over four lanes of 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) each. QSFP+ stands for quad small form-factor pluggable plus, and it is a compact and hot-swappable module that plugs into a QSFP+ port on a network device. QSFP+ transceivers can support various types of cables and connectors, such as direct attach copper (DAC), active optical cable (AOC), or fiber optic cable.

Multimode is a type of fiber optic cable that supports multiple modes of light propagation within the core. Multimode fiber optic cable can carry higher bandwidth and data rates than single-mode fiber optic cable, but over shorter distances. Multimode fiber optic cable is commonly used for short-reach applications, such as within a data center or a campus network. Multimode fiber optic cable can be paired with QSFP+ transceivers to achieve 40GbE connectivity.

The other options are not correct because they do not support 40GbE. They are:

• SFP+. SFP+ is a type of transceiver that supports 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) over a single lane. SFP+ stands for small form-factor pluggable plus, and it is a compact and hot-swappable module that plugs into an SFP+ port on a network device. SFP+ transceivers can support various types of cables and connectors, such as direct attach copper (DAC), active optical cable (AOC), or fiber optic cable. However, SFP+ transceivers cannot support 40GbE by themselves, unless they are used in a breakout configuration with a QSFP+ transceiver.
• SFP. SFP is a type of transceiver that supports 1 gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) over a single lane. SFP stands for small form-factor pluggable, and it is a compact and hot-swappable module that plugs into an SFP port on a network device. SFP transceivers can support various types of cables and connectors, such as twisted-pair copper, coaxial cable, or fiber optic cable. However, SFP transceivers cannot support 40GbE by themselves, unless they are used in a breakout configuration with a QSFP+ transceiver.
• Cat 6a. Cat 6a is a type of twisted-pair copper cable that supports 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) over distances up to 100 meters. Cat 6a stands for category 6 augmented, and it is an enhanced version of Cat 6 cable that offers better performance and reduced crosstalk. Cat 6a cable can be paired with 10Gbase-T transceivers to achieve 10GbE connectivity. However, Cat 6a cable cannot support 40GbE by itself, unless it is used in a breakout configuration with a QSFP+ transceiver.
• Cat 5e. Cat 5e is a type of twisted-pair copper cable that supports 1 gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) over distances up to 100 meters. Cat 5e stands for category 5 enhanced, and it is an improved version of Cat 5 cable that offers better performance and reduced crosstalk. Cat 5e cable can be paired with 1000base-T transceivers to achieve 1GbE connectivity. However, Cat 5e cable cannot support 40GbE by itself, unless it is used in a breakout configuration with a QSFP+ transceiver.

References1: QSFP+ - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics2: Multimode Fiber - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics3: Network+ (Plus) Certification | CompTIA IT Certifications4: SFP+ - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics5: SFP - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics6: Cat 6a - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics7: [Cat 5e - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics]

VRRP is an open standard protocol, which is used to provide redundancy in a network. It is a network layer protocol (protocol number-112). The number of routers (group members) in a group acts as a virtual logical router which will be the default gateway of all the local hosts. If one router goes down, one of the other group members can take place for the responsibilities for forwarding the traffic.

Load balancing is a technique that can be used to provide fault tolerance and high performance while appearing as one URL to users. It is achieved by distributing the workload across multiple servers, which are usually located in different geographical locations. This allows for high performance and fault tolerance, as if one server fails, the other will take its place. Additionally, the multiple servers appear as one URL to the users, eliminating the need for the users to switch between servers.

• The question describes a scenario where a network event is causing all communication to stop, and the network administrator can only access the switch using the serial console port, not SSH.
• This suggests that the problem is related to the network layer or below, as SSH operates at the application layer and requires network connectivity to function.
• The port statistics show a huge discrepancy between the total receive and transmit rates, as well as the unicast and broadcast/multicast packets per second. This indicates that there is a lot of traffic being generated and forwarded within the network, but not reaching the intended destinations.
• The most likely cause of this excessive traffic is a switch loop, which occurs when there are multiple paths between switches that create a circular flow of data. Switch loops can cause broadcast storms, MAC address table instability, and network congestion, leading to network outages.
• To verify this, the network administrator should use a tool such as Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), which is designed to prevent and detect switch loops by blocking redundant links and electing a root bridge. STP can also provide information about the topology and status of the network, such as the root port, designated port, and blocked port for each switch. References:
• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 2, Section 2.3, Switching Technologies, page 741
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course Notes, Section 2.3, Switching Technologies, page 132
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Training Course, Video 2.3 - Switching Technologies, 12:00 - 14:003

tracert is a command-line tool that can trace the route of a packet from the source to the destination. It can show the number of hops, the IP address and hostname of each router, and the round-trip time for each hop. tracert can help the technician troubleshoot the unreachable website by identifying where the packet is dropped or delayed along the path. ipconfig is a command-line tool that can display and configure the IP settings of a network interface. arp is a command-line tool that can display and manipulate the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) cache, which maps IP addresses to MAC addresses. netstat is a command-line tool that can display network connections, routing tables, and statistics.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 7.0 (N10-007), Objective 2.4: Given a scenario, use appropriate software tools to troubleshoot connectivity issues.

FHRP stands for First Hop Redundancy Protocol, which is a group of protocols that allow routers or switches to provide backup or failover for the default gateway in a network. FHRP ensures that the network traffic can reach its destination even if the primary gateway fails or becomes unavailable. Some examples of FHRP protocols are HSRP, VRRP, and GLBP.

References

• 1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Subnetting Quiz, question 18
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Practice Test, question 9
• 3: CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-008, 5th Edition, page 263
• 4: CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) Practice Exam w/PBQ & Solution, question 5
• 5: What’s on the CompTIA Network+ 008 certification? | CompTIA, section 3.1

• The question asks about the most effective security mechanism against physical intrusions due to stolen credentials for data center access. The company is utilizing multifactor authentication, which is a layered approach to securing data and applications where a system requires a user to present a combination of two or more credentials to verify a user’s identity for login1.
• The answer is biometrics security hardware, which is a type of credential that uses the physical characteristics of a user, such as fingerprint, iris, or face, to authenticate the user2. Biometrics security hardware is the most effective security mechanism against physical intrusions due to stolen credentials, because it is difficult to forge, copy, or share biometric data, and it provides a strong link between the user and the identity3.
• Access card readers, access control vestibule, and motion detection cameras are not the correct answers, because they are not the most effective security mechanisms against physical intrusions due to stolen credentials. Access card readers are a type of credential that use a physical token, such as a card or a key, to authenticate the user4. Access card readers are vulnerable to physical intrusions due to stolen credentials, because the cards or keys can be lost, stolen, or duplicated. Access control vestibule is a physical security feature that creates a buffer zone between the outside and the inside of a facility, where users have to pass through two sets of doors and be verified before entering5. Access control vestibule can deter unauthorized access, but it does not prevent physical intrusions due to stolen credentials, because the intruders can still use the stolen credentials to pass through the vestibule. Motion detection cameras are a type of surveillance device that capture images or videos of any movement in a specific area. Motion detection cameras can monitor and record physical intrusions, but they do not prevent them, and they may not be able to identify the intruders if they use disguises or masks. References:
• Multifactor Authentication
• Biometrics Security Hardware
• Biometrics: Advantages for Employee Authentication
• Access Card Readers
• Access Control Vestibule
• [Motion Detection Cameras]
• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide

The DHCP server is not available is the most likely cause of the issue where a new computer is unable to ping the default gateway. DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, which is a network protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and other configuration parameters to clients on a network. The default gateway is the IP address of the router or device that connects a local network to other networks, such as the internet. Pinging is a network utility that tests the connectivity and reachability between two devices by sending and receiving echo packets. If the DHCP server is not available, the new computer will not be able to obtain an IP address or other configuration parameters, such as the default gateway, from the DHCP server. This will prevent the new computer from communicating with other devices on the network or the internet, resulting in ping failure. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], What Is DHCP? | How DHCP Works | SolarWinds MSP

Link aggregation is a technique that allows multiple physical ports to be combined into a single logical channel, which provides increased bandwidth, load balancing, and redundancy. Link aggregation can be configured using protocols such as Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) or static methods.

References

• Link aggregation is one of the common Ethernet switching features covered in Objective 2.3 of the CompTIA Network+ N10-008 certification exam1.
• Link aggregation can be used to connect two ports to the core switch to ensure redundancy23.
• Link aggregation can be configured using LACP or static methods23.

1: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 5 2: Interface Configurations – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 2.3 3: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, Chapter 11, page 323

• The question describes a scenario where a student can connect to the campus Wi-Fi with a laptop, but not with a phone, even when they are close to each other.
• This suggests that the problem is not related to the transmission speed, channel overlap, or antenna cable attenuation/signal loss, as these factors would affect both devices equally.
• The most likely cause of this connection failure is that the student entered the incorrect passphrase on the phone, or the phone has a different security configuration than the laptop.
• To verify this, the student should check the Wi-Fi settings on the phone and make sure they match the laptop’s settings, such as the SSID, security type, and passphrase.
• If the phone still cannot connect, the student should contact the network administrator or the Wi-Fi service provider for assistance. References:
• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Wireless Network Standards and Encryption, page 1251
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course Notes, Section 3.1, Wireless Network Standards and Encryption, page 192
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Training Course, Video 3.1 - Wireless Network Standards and Encryption, 12:00 - 13:003

 IP addresses beginning with 169.254. are called link-local addresses or APIPA (Automatic Private IP Addressing)1. They are assigned by the computer itself when it cannot reach a DHCP server to obtain a valid IP address from the network2. This can happen for several reasons, such as a faulty router, a misconfigured network, or a disconnected cable3.

To troubleshoot this issue, the technician should check the network settings, the router configuration, and the physical connection of the computer. The technician should also try to renew the IP address by using the command ipconfig /renew in Windows or dhclient in Linux. If the problem persists, the technician may need to contact the network administrator or the ISP for further assistance.

Tamper-evident seals are physical security controls that are designed to reveal any unauthorized or malicious attempts to access, modify, or damage hardware devices or components. They can be stickers, labels, tapes, or locks that are attached to the device or its casing, and that will show signs of damage or alteration if someone tries to open or tamper with them. Tamper-evident seals can help deter or detect intruders, protect evidence, and ensure compliance with security policies and regulations. References:

• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 7: Network Security Concepts and Tools, Section 7.2: Common Security Threats and Attacks, Subsection: Hardware Attacks1
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course, Section 7.2: Common Security Threats and Attacks, Video: Hardware Attacks2

This CIDR notation indicates that there are 64 IP addresses, of which 62 are usable for network devices. This provides the LEAST amount of unused addresses, making it the most efficient subnet for a remote office with 53 network devices. According to the CompTIA Network+ Study Guide, "Subnetting allows you to divide one large network into smaller, more manageable networks or subnets."

Establishing a theory of probable cause is the third step in the general troubleshooting process, after identifying the problem and gathering information. Establishing a theory of probable cause involves using the information gathered to formulate one or more possible explanations for the problem and testing them to verify or eliminate them. In this scenario, the network technician has confirmed the problem exists and should proceed to establish a theory of probable cause based on the information available, such as the network upgrade that was completed the night before.

Implementing a solution to fix the problem is the fifth step in the general troubleshooting process, after establishing a plan of action. Implementing a solution involves applying the chosen method or technique to resolve the problem and verifying its effectiveness. In this scenario, the network technician has not established a plan of action yet and should not implement a solution without knowing the cause of the problem.

Creating a plan of action to resolve the problem is the fourth step in the general troubleshooting process, after establishing a theory of probable cause. Creating a plan of action involves selecting the best method or technique to address the problem based on the available resources, constraints, and risks. In this scenario, the network technician has not established a theory of probable cause yet and should not create a plan of action without knowing the cause of the problem.

Documenting the problem and the solution is the seventh and final step in the general troubleshooting process, after implementing preventive measures. Documenting the problem and the solution involves recording the details of the problem, its symptoms, its cause, its solution, and its preventive measures for future reference and improvement. In this scenario, the network technician has not implemented preventive measures yet and should not document the problem and the solution without resolving and preventing it.

• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) is a cloud computing model that provides on-demand scalable hardware resources, such as servers, storage, network, and virtualization, that are typically housed in the vendor’s data center12.
• IaaS allows customers to pay only for the resources they use, and to scale up or down as needed, without having to invest in or maintain their own physical infrastructure12.
• IaaS is different from other cloud computing models, such as DaaS (Desktop as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service), which provide different levels of abstraction and functionality12.
• DaaS delivers virtual desktops to users over the internet, allowing them to access their applications and data from any device3.
• PaaS provides a platform for developing, testing, and deploying applications, without having to manage the underlying infrastructure or software.
• SaaS delivers software applications over the internet, without requiring installation or maintenance on the user’s device. References:
• [CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide], Chapter 8: Cloud Computing, Section: Cloud Computing Models
• [Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course Notes], Page 58: Cloud Computing Models
• [CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide], Chapter 8: Cloud Computing, Section: Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
• [CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide], Chapter 8: Cloud Computing, Section: Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• [CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide], Chapter 8: Cloud Computing, Section: Software as a Service (SaaS)
• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) is a cloud computing model that provides on-demand scalable hardware resources, such as servers, storage, network, and virtualization, that are typically housed in the vendor’s data center12.
• IaaS allows customers to pay only for the resources they use, and to scale up or down as needed, without having to invest in or maintain their own physical infrastructure12.
• IaaS is different from other cloud computing models, such as DaaS (Desktop as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service), which provide different levels of abstraction and functionality12.
• DaaS delivers virtual desktops to users over the internet, allowing them to access their applications and data from any device3.
• PaaS provides a platform for developing, testing, and deploying applications, without having to manage the underlying infrastructure or software.
• SaaS delivers software applications over the internet, without requiring installation or maintenance on the user’s device. References:
• [CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide], Chapter 8: Cloud Computing, Section: Cloud Computing Models
• [Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course Notes], Page 58: Cloud Computing Models
• [CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide], Chapter 8: Cloud Computing, Section: Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
• [CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide], Chapter 8: Cloud Computing, Section: Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• [CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide], Chapter 8: Cloud Computing, Section: Software as a Service (SaaS)

itter is the variation in latency or delay of packets in a network. Satellite WAN links have high latency and are prone to jitter, which can affect the quality of voice and video applications. Jitter is the greatest concern for this type of connection

• Throughput is the measure of how much data can be transferred over a network in a given time period1.
• To test the throughput of a network connection, a network administrator needs a tool that can generate and measure traffic between two endpoints2.
• iPerf is a command-line tool that can create TCP or UDP streams and measure the bandwidth, delay, jitter, and packet loss of the network23.
• iPerf can be used to test the performance of various network protocols, such as metro Ethernet, which is a type of Ethernet network that spans metropolitan areas and provides high-speed connectivity to businesses and organizations.
• iPerf can also be used to verify that the network connection meets the service level agreement (SLA), which is a contract that defines the quality and availability of the network service provided by a vendor or a carrier.
• Ping is a tool that can test the reachability and latency of a network device by sending and receiving ICMP echo packets. Ping cannot measure the throughput of a network connection, as it only tests the round-trip time of a single packet.
• NetFlow is a protocol that can collect and analyze network traffic data, such as source and destination IP addresses, ports, protocols, and bytes transferred. NetFlow can provide information about the volume and type of network traffic, but it cannot measure the throughput of a specific network connection, as it does not generate or monitor traffic streams.
• Netstat is a tool that can display information about the active and listening network connections, such as protocol, local and foreign address, and state. Netstat cannot measure the throughput of a network connection, as it only shows the status of the existing connections. References:
• 1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 1: Introduction to Networks, p. 14
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 16: Network Optimization, p. 649
• 3: iPerf - The ultimate speed test tool for TCP, UDP and SCTP
• : CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 3: Ethernet Networks, p. 105
• : CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 15: Network Monitoring, p. 611
• : CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 4: IP Addressing, p. 143
• : Ping (networking utility) - Wikipedia
• : CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 15: Network Monitoring, p. 615
• : NetFlow - Wikipedia
• : CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 16: Network Optimization, p. 650
• : [netstat - Wikipedia]

• AP transmit power: You should check if your APs have sufficient power output and adjust them if needed. You should also make sure they are not exceeding regulatory limits for your region.
• Antenna gain: You should check if your antennas have adequate gain for your coverage area and replace them if needed. You should also make sure they are aligned properly and not obstructed by any objects.

In the scenario described, the wireless controller is measuring a low EIRP value compared to the recommendations noted in the most recent site survey. EIRP is the combination of the power transmitted by the access point and the antenna gain. Therefore, to increase the EIRP value to meet the site survey's specifications, the administrator should verify or replace the AP transmit power (option A) and the antenna gain (option E). This can be achieved by adjusting the transmit power settings on the AP or by replacing the AP's antenna with one that has a higher gain

• A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a logical grouping of network devices that share the same broadcast domain, regardless of their physical location or connection1.
• VLANs can be used to segment the network into different departments, functions, or security levels, and to improve the performance, security, and manageability of the network1.
• To access the resources on a VLAN, a device needs to be assigned to the same VLAN ID, either statically or dynamically, and the switch needs to be configured to support VLAN tagging and trunking12.
• In this scenario, the most likely cause of the problem is that the last few salespeople were assigned to the wrong VLAN, either by mistake or by lack of available ports on the correct VLAN3.
• This would explain why they can access the corporate materials on the network, which are probably shared across all VLANs, but not the sales-specific resources, which are probably restricted to the sales VLAN3.
• The other options are less likely to cause the problem, as they would result in different symptoms or errors, such as:
• 1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 7: Virtual Networking, pp. 279-282
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 7: Virtual Networking, pp. 283-287
• 3: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 7: Virtual Networking, p. 288
• : CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 14: Network Security, pp. 581-582
• : CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 11: Network Services, pp. 447-449
• : CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 14: Network Security, pp. 589-590

 No more patches or bug fixes are available indefinitely. This indicates that a computer has reached end-of-support, which means that the manufacturer or vendor of the hardware or software no longer provides technical assistance, updates, or security fixes for the product12. This can expose the computer to potential security risks and compatibility issues with newer technologies

The alert that the network engineer should configure based on the operation specifications is SNMP traps to report when the chassis temperature exceeds 95°F (35°C). SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is a protocol that allows network devices to communicate their status and performance information to a central management system, called an SNMP manager. SNMP traps are messages that are sent by network devices to notify the SNMP manager of an event or condition that requires attention, such as an error, a failure, or a threshold violation. In this case, the network engineer should configure SNMP traps on the network devices to send an alert when their chassis temperature exceeds 95°F (35°C), which is the maximum operating temperature specified in the table. This alert would help the network engineer monitor and troubleshoot any overheating issues that could affect the network performance or availability. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 228; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 8-11.

Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) is a protocol that allows for redundant routers on the network with a single IP address. VRRP works by creating a virtual router that consists of one master router and one or more backup routers. The virtual router has its own IP address and MAC address that are shared among the routers in the group. The master router responds to traffic sent to the virtual router’s IP address, while the backup routers monitor the master router’s status. If the master router fails, one of the backup routers takes over as the new master router and continues to respond to traffic. This way, VRRP provides high availability and fault tolerance for the network. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/books/network-n10-008-study-guide (page 230)

Wireless AC is a wireless standard that supports up to 1.3Gbps data rate and operates in the 5GHz frequency band only. Wireless AC is also backward compatible with wireless A and N devices that use the 5GHz band. Wireless AC is suitable for high-performance applications such as HD video streaming and online gaming. References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 2.2: Explain the purposes and properties of routing and switching. Subobjective: Wireless standards and their characteristics.

802.11ac is the latest wireless standard that supports the highest data rates and the most devices. It is backward compatible with previous standards such as 802.11b/g/n, so it can work with older devices as well. 802.11b is the oldest and slowest standard, 802.11g is faster but still outdated, and 802.11n is newer but not as fast or widespread as 802.11ac

A frame is a unit of data that is transmitted at the data link layer of the OSI model. A frame consists of a header, a payload, and a trailer. The header contains information such as the source and destination MAC addresses, the frame type, and the error detection code. The payload contains the data from the upper layer protocols, such as IP packets. The trailer contains the frame check sequence, which is used to verify the integrity of the frame. A switch is a device that operates at the data link layer of the OSI model. A switch forwards frames based on the MAC addresses of the devices connected to its ports. A switch can create separate collision domains and reduce network congestion. A switch can also implement VLANs, which are logical groups of devices that share the same broadcast domain, regardless of their physical location. A session is a logical connection between two or more devices that allows the exchange of data at the transport layer of the OSI model. A session is not a device or an encapsulation at the data link layer. A firewall is a device that operates at the network layer or the application layer of the OSI model. A firewall filters packets based on the IP addresses, ports, protocols, or application rules. A firewall is not a device or an encapsulation at the data link layer. A packet is a unit of data that is transmitted at the network layer of the OSI model. A packet consists of a header and a payload. The header contains information such as the source and destination IP addresses, the protocol type, and the hop count. The payload contains the data from the upper layer protocols, such as TCP segments. A packet is not an encapsulation at the data link layer. A router is a device that operates at the network layer of the OSI model. A router forwards packets based on the IP addresses and the routing table. A router can create separate broadcast domains and connect different networks. A router is not a device or an encapsulation at the data link layer. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, Chapter 2, Section 2.2 and CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, Chapter 3, Section 3.1

BGP is a routing protocol that is used to exchange routing information between different autonomous systems (ASes) on the internet. An autonomous system is a network or group of networks that is under the same administrative control and uses a common routing protocol. By acquiring its own public IP prefixes and autonomous system number, a company can use BGP to advertise these prefixes to other ASes and establish its own internet connection. This would enable the company to have more control over its internet connection and potentially improve its connectivity.EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) is a routing protocol used within a single autonomous system, so it would not be used to establish a connection to the internet. IPv6 is a version of the Internet Protocol (IP) used to identify devices on a network. It is not a routing protocol and would not be used to establish an internet connection.MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) is a networking technology that is used to route packets between different networks. It is not a routing protocol and would not be used to establish an internet connection.

SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration) is a method used by devices in an IPv6 network to configure their own IP addresses automatically using the link-local address and the network prefix that are advertised by routers. An error stating that there is an identical IP address already in use could occur if two devices on the network have duplicate MAC addresses. Since IPv6 addresses generated by SLAAC include the MAC address in the EUI-64 format, duplicate MAC addresses would result in identical IPv6 addresses. Options such as rogue DHCP server, incorrect router advertisement, and wrong VLAN assignment do not typically result in duplicate IP address conflicts under SLAAC since the address configuration is primarily derived from the MAC address​​.

The fire suppression system is a design consideration when building out an IDF because it can affect the safety and reliability of the network equipment and cabling. A fire suppression system is a system that detects and extinguishes fires in a building, using water, gas, or chemicals. Depending on the type of fire suppression system, it can have different impacts on the IDF design, such as:

• Water-based systems, such as sprinklers, can damage the network equipment and cabling if they are activated by a fire or a false alarm. Therefore, the IDF should be designed to protect the equipment and cabling from water exposure, such as using waterproof cabinets, drip pans, and conduits.
• Gas-based systems, such as clean agent systems, can displace the oxygen in the IDF and cause suffocation for anyone inside. Therefore, the IDF should be designed to allow for ventilation and air circulation, as well as warning signs and alarms to alert anyone in the IDF before the gas is released.
• Chemical-based systems, such as dry chemical systems, can leave a residue on the network equipment and cabling that can affect their performance and lifespan. Therefore, the IDF should be designed to minimize the contact between the chemical and the equipment and cabling, as well as provide a means for cleaning and restoring them after a fire.

The other options are not correct because:

• The source panel amperage is not a design consideration when building out an IDF, as it is determined by the electrical circuit and the power needs of the network equipment and cabling. The source panel amperage does not affect the layout, location, or protection of the IDF.
• The humidity levels are not a design consideration when building out an IDF, as they are controlled by the HVAC system and the ventilation of the IDF. The humidity levels do not affect the layout, location, or protection of the IDF.
• The cable transmission speeds are not a design consideration when building out an IDF, as they are determined by the type and quality of the network cabling and the network equipment. The cable transmission speeds do not affect the layout, location, or protection of the IDF.

The reason the network is not functional is that STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) is not configured on the switches. STP is a protocol that prevents loops in a network topology by blocking redundant links between switches. If STP is not enabled, the switches will forward broadcast frames endlessly, creating a broadcast storm that consumes network resources and disrupts communication. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 67; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 2-14.

According to the CompTIA Network+ troubleshooting model123, this is the first step in troubleshooting a network problem. The technician should gather information about the current state of the network, such as error messages, device status, network topology, and user feedback. This can help narrow down the scope of the problem and eliminate possible causes.

In DNS, the PTR (Pointer) record is used specifically in reverse DNS lookups to map an IP address to a domain name, which is the opposite of the more common forward DNS lookups that map domain names to IP addresses. The PTR record is the principal type of record used in reverse DNS lookups, making it the correct answer. AAAA records store IPv6 addresses, CNAME records are used for aliases, and TXT records hold text information, none of which are primarily used in reverse DNS configurations​​.

Channel overlap is a situation where multiple wireless networks use the same or adjacent frequency channels, causing interference and degradation of performance. According to the image, the corporate SSID is using channels 9, 10, 11, and 6, which are overlapping with each other and with other networks in the area. This can reduce the signal quality and strength, increase the noise and latency, and cause dropouts and connectivity issues. To avoid channel overlap, it is recommended to use non-overlapping channels, such as 1, 6, and 11, in the 2.4 GHz band, or to switch to the 5 GHz band if possible12.

References

1 - What happens when wifi channels overlap? - Server Fault

2 - Is it better to use a crowded 2.4GHz Wi-Fi channel 1, 6, 11 or “unused” 3, 4, 8, or 9? - Super User

The most likely cause of outages due to newly installed hardware is a misconfiguration of the device settings. Therefore, the first step should be to review the device configuration and check for any errors or inconsistencies that might affect the WAN connectivity.

References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 2.1: Explain the importance of network documentation.

A hot site is a backup site that is fully equipped and ready to take over the operations of the primary site in the event of a disaster. A hot site has real-time synchronization with the primary site and can provide zero data loss. A hot site is the most expensive and reliable option for disaster recovery.

References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 5.3: Explain common scanning, monitoring and patching processes and summarize their expected outputs.

Switches are devices that forward data based on MAC addresses. They create separate collision domains for each port, which reduces the chance of collisions on the network. However, if multiple switches are connected together without proper configuration, they can create broadcast storms, which are situations where broadcast frames are endlessly forwarded between switches, consuming network bandwidth and resources. Broadcast storms can be prevented by using protocols such as Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), which eliminates loops in the network topology. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 67; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 2-14.

BGP stands for Border Gateway Protocol and it is used to exchange routing information between autonomous systems (AS) on the Internet. A perimeter router is a router that connects an AS to another AS or to the Internet. Therefore, BGP is the best suited routing protocol for a perimeter router.

References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 2.4: Compare and contrast the characteristics of network topologies, types and technologies.

Shoulder surfing is the social engineering attack where an attacker watches a user log in to a corporate system and writes down the user’s log-in credentials. Social engineering is a type of attack that exploits human psychology and behavior to manipulate or trick people into revealing sensitive information or performing malicious actions. Shoulder surfing is a form of social engineering that involves observing or eavesdropping on someone’s screen, keyboard, or paper documents to obtain confidential information such as passwords, PINs, or credit card numbers. Shoulder surfing can be done in person or remotely using cameras or other devices. Shoulder surfing can be prevented by using privacy filters, locking screens, shielding keyboards, or being aware of one’s surroundings. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], What Is Shoulder Surfing? | Definition & Examples | Forcepoint

An IP header can be found at the third layer of the OSI model, also known as the network layer. This layer is responsible for logical addressing, routing, and forwarding of data packets.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Exam N10-007, Fourth Edition, Chapter 2: Network Models, p. 82

First Hop Redundancy Protocol (FHRP) provides a failover mechanism for the default gateway, allowing a backup gateway to take over if the primary gateway fails. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 4: Infrastructure.

One possible cause of poor wireless performance is a bottleneck in the network, which means that other devices or applications are consuming too much bandwidth or resources and limiting the speed of the wireless access point. To troubleshoot this issue, the engineer should ensure that there is no congestion or interference from other devices on the network, such as wired clients, servers, routers, switches, or other wireless access points. The engineer can use tools such as network analyzers, bandwidth monitors, or ping tests to check the network traffic and latency12.

Another possible cause of poor wireless performance is outdated firmware on the device, which may contain bugs or vulnerabilities that affect the functionality or security of the wireless access point. To troubleshoot this issue, the engineer should install the latest firmware for the device from the manufacturer’s website or support portal. The engineer should follow the instructions carefully and backup the configuration before updating the firmware. The engineer can also check the release notes or changelog of the firmware to see if there are any improvements or fixes related to the wireless performance3 .

The other options are not relevant to troubleshooting poor wireless performance. Creating a new VLAN for the access point may help with network segmentation or security, but it will not improve the speed of the wireless connection. Making sure the SSID is not longer than 16 characters may help with compatibility or readability, but it will not affect the wireless performance. Configuring the AP in autonomous mode may give more control or flexibility to the engineer, but it will not enhance the wireless speed. Installing a wireless LAN controller may help with managing multiple access points or deploying advanced features, but it will not increase the wireless performance.

IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service, which is a cloud service model that provides virtualized computing resources over the Internet, such as servers, storage, networking, and operating systems. IaaS allows customers to replace their on-premises servers with cloud servers that can be scaled up or down on demand and pay only for what they use. PaaS stands for Platform as a Service, which provides customers with a cloud-based platform for developing, testing, and deploying applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. SaaS stands for Software as a Service, which provides customers with access to cloud-based software applications over the Internet without installing or maintaining them on their devices. Disaster recovery as a Service (DRaaS) is a type of cloud service that provides customers with backup and recovery solutions for their data and applications in case of a disaster.

In this case, the most likely cause of the constant disconnections when moving from one location to another is likely due to a problem with the roaming functionality of the wireless network. The setting that would likely provide better network stability in this situation is the RSSI roaming threshold, which determines the signal strength required for a client device to remain connected to the wireless network. If the roaming threshold is set too low, the client device may disconnect and reconnect to the network too frequently as it moves between different access points. On the other hand, if the threshold is set too high, the client device may not roam to a new access point when necessary, leading to a loss of connectivity. Adjusting the RSSI roaming threshold to an appropriate value may help to improve the stability of the wireless network in this situation.

Next-generation firewalls can provide content filtering and threat protection, and can manage multiple IPSec site-to-site connections. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 5: Network Security.

CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) is an IEEE 802.11 standard that would be best to use for multiple simultaneous client access on a wireless network. CSMA/CA is a media access control method that allows multiple devices to share the same wireless channel without causing collisions or interference. It works by having each device sense the channel before transmitting data and waiting for an acknowledgment from the receiver after each transmission. If the channel is busy or no acknowledgment is received, the device will back off and retry later with a random delay. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/82068-csma-ca.html

In a star topology, all devices on a network connect to a central hub or switch, which acts as a common connection point. Ethernet LANs typically use a star topology, with each device connected to a central switch. References:

• Network+ N10-008 Objectives: 2.2 Explain common logical network topologies and their characteristics.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a method of verifying a user’s identity by requiring two pieces of evidence, such as something the user knows (e.g., a password) and something the user has (e.g., a token or a smartphone). 2FA adds an extra layer of security that makes it harder for hackers to access a user’s account by brute-force programs. Complex passwords are passwords that are long, random, and use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Complex passwords are more resistant to brute-force attacks than simple or common passwords. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default- source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.csoonline.com/article/3225913/what-is-two-factor-authentication-2fa-how-to-enable-it-and-why-you-should.html, https://www.howtogeek.com/195430/how-to-create-a-strong-password-and-remember-it/

According to troubleshooting methodology, after determining the most likely probable cause of an issue, the next step is to establish a plan of action to resolve the issue and identify potential effects. This step involves defining the steps needed to implement a solution, considering the possible consequences of each step, and obtaining approval from relevant stakeholders if necessary. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.comptia.org/blog/the-comptia-guide-to-it-troubleshooting

To find all devices connected within a network, a technician can use an IP scanner. An IP scanner sends a ping request to all IP addresses within a specified range and then identifies the active devices that respond to the request.

To resolve the issue of DHCP scope exhaustion without creating a new DHCP pool, the administrator can reduce the lease time. By decreasing the lease time, the IP addresses assigned by DHCP will be released back to the DHCP scope more quickly, allowing them to be assigned to new devices.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Exam N10-007, Fourth Edition, Chapter 2: The OSI Model and Networking Protocols, Objective 2.3: Given a scenario, implement and configure the appropriate addressing schema.
• https://www.networkcomputing.com/data-centers/10-tips-optimizing-dhcp-performance

CRC errors are cyclic redundancy check errors that occur when data is corrupted during transmission. CRC errors are usually caused by physical layer issues such as faulty cables, connectors, ports, or interference. The network administrator will most likely start to troubleshoot at layer 1 of the OSI model, which is the physical layer that deals with the transmission of bits over a medium. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 2.0 (Exam Number: N10-006), Domain 4.0 Network Troubleshooting and Tools, Objective 4.1 Given a scenario, implement network troubleshooting methodology.

Site-to-site VPN provides the best security for connecting a new datacenter to an old one because it creates a secure tunnel between the two locations, protecting data in transit. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 5: Network Security.

802.11ax is the latest WiFi standard that improves WiFi performance in densely populated environments and supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. 802.11ac is the previous standard that only supports 5 GHz band. 802.11g and 802.11n are older standards that support 2.4 GHz band only or both bands respectively. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/tip/Whats-the-difference-between-80211ax-vs-80211ac

The DNS record that works as an alias to another record is called CNAME (Canonical Name). CNAME records are used to create an alias for a domain name that points to another domain name.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Exam N10-007, Fourth Edition, Chapter 2: The OSI Model and Networking Protocols, Objective 2.3: Given a scenario, implement and configure the appropriate addressing schema.

If multiple users in a new building are unable to access the company’s intranet site via their web browser but are able to access internet sites, the network administrator can resolve this issue by correcting the DNS server entries in the DHCP scope. The DHCP scope is responsible for assigning IP addresses and DNS server addresses to clients. If the DNS server entries are incorrect, clients will not be able to access intranet sites.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Exam N10-007, Fourth Edition, Chapter 4: Network Implementations, Objective 4.4: Explain the purpose and properties of DHCP.

To locate a device's network port on a switch, a technician should review the switch's MAC address table. The MAC address table maintains a list of MAC addresses of devices connected to each port on the switch. By checking the MAC address of the device in question, the technician can identify the port to which the device is connected.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Sixth Edition by Glen E. Clarke

CVE stands for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, which is a list of publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities that is free to search, use, and incorporate into products and services. CVE provides a standardized identifier and description for each vulnerability, as well as references to related sources of information. CVE helps to track and document various types of known vulnerabilities and facilitates communication and coordination among security professionals.

References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://cve.mitre.org/cve/

An extended service set (ESS) is a wireless network that consists of multiple access points (APs) that share the same SSID and are connected by a wired network. An ESS allows wireless clients to roam seamlessly between different APs without losing connectivity. A basic service set (BSS) is a wireless network that consists of a single AP and its associated clients. An independent basic service set (IBSS) is a wireless network that consists of a group of clients that communicate directly without an AP. A unified service set is not a standard term for a wireless network. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_set_(802.11_network)

Using a bottom-to-top approach means starting from the physical layer and moving up the OSI model to troubleshoot a network problem. Checking for a link light is a physical layer check that verifies the connectivity of the network cable and device. References: https://www.professormesser.com/network-plus/n10-007/troubleshooting-methodologies-2/

The maximum transmission unit (MTU) is the largest size of a data packet that can be transmitted over a network. A standard Ethernet frame supports an MTU of 1500 bytes, which is the default value for most Ethernet networks. Larger MTUs are possible with jumbo frames, but they are not widely supported and may cause fragmentation or compatibility issues. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_transmission_unit

A VoIP sales call with a customer would be most affected by jitter greater than 10ms on the WAN connection. Jitter is the variation in delay of packets arriving at the destination. It can cause choppy or distorted audio quality for VoIP applications, especially over WAN links that have limited bandwidth and high latency. The recommended jitter for VoIP is less than 10ms. References: https://www.voip-info.org/voip-jitter/

SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) is a connector type that has the most flexibility. It is a hot-swappable transceiver that can support different speeds, distances, and media types depending on the module inserted. It can be used for both copper and fiber connections and supports various protocols such as Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and SONET. References: https://www.fs.com/what-is-sfp-transceiver-aid-11.html

Tracert is a command-line tool that traces the route of a packet from a source to a destination and displays the number of hops and the round-trip time for each hop. The output shown in the question is an example of a tracert output, which shows five hops with their IP addresses and hostnames (if available) and three latency measurements for each hop in milliseconds. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.lumen.com/help/en-us/network/traceroute/understanding-the-traceroute-output.html

A reservation should be configured to ensure a device with a specific MAC address is always assigned the same IP address from DHCP. A reservation is a feature of DHCP that allows an administrator to assign a fixed IP address to a device based on its MAC address. This way, the device will always receive the same IP address from the DHCP server, even if it is powered off or disconnected from the network for a long time. References: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/troubleshoot/configure-dhcp-reservations

 Port 23 should be blocked when checking firewall configuration to prevent outside users from telnetting into any of the servers at the datacenter. Port 23 is the default port for Telnet, which is an insecure protocol that allows remote access to servers and network devices. Telnet sends data in clear text, which can be easily intercepted and compromised by attackers. A more secure alternative is SSH, which uses port 22 and encrypts data. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/routing-information-protocol-rip/13788-3.html

IDS stands for intrusion detection system, which is a network appliance that monitors network traffic and alerts administrators of any suspicious or malicious activity. An IDS can warn of unapproved devices that are accessing the network by detecting anomalies, signatures, or behaviors that indicate unauthorized access attempts or attacks. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/what-is-an-intrusion-detection-system-ids.html

The nslookup command should be run to confirm the server name for all Linux servers. Nslookup is a tool that queries DNS servers to resolve hostnames to IP addresses or vice versa. It can also provide other information about DNS records, such as MX, NS, SOA, etc. By running nslookup with the IP address of a Linux server, the technician can obtain its hostname. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/663056/how-to-use-the-nslookup-command-on-linux/

A hot site is a fully redundant site that can take over operations immediately if the primary site goes down. In this scenario, the company has set up two different datacenters across the country that are current on data and applications, and they can immediately switch from one datacenter to another in case of an outage. References:

• Network+ N10-008 Objectives: 1.5 Compare and contrast disaster recovery concepts and methodologies.

 Explanation: Tailgating is a physical security attack where an unauthorized person follows an authorized person into a restricted area without proper identification or authorization. The network administrator prevented this attack by stopping and directing the person to the security desk. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 2.0 (Exam Number: N10-006), Domain 3.0 Network Security, Objective 3.1 Compare and contrast risk-related concepts.

A spectrum analyzer is a tool that measures the frequency and amplitude of signals in a wireless network. It can be used to troubleshoot issues related to interference from other networks and non-802.11 devices, such as microwave ovens or cordless phones, by identifying the sources and levels of interference in the wireless spectrum. A spectrum analyzer can also help to optimize the channel selection and placement of wireless access points. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network- n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.flukenetworks.com/blog/cabling-chronicles/what-spectrum-analyzer-and-how-do-you-use-it

Coaxial cable is a type of cable that consists of a central copper conductor surrounded by an insulating layer and a braided metal shield. Coaxial cable is commonly used to connect a cable modem to an ISP by transmitting data over cable television networks. Coaxial cable can support high bandwidth and long distances with minimal interference or attenuation. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4027/coaxial-cable

Decreasing the lease duration on the DHCP server will cause clients to renew their IP address leases more frequently, freeing up IP addresses for other clients to use. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 3: IP Addressing.

Screened Subnet devices – Web server, FTP server

Building A devices – SSH server top left, workstations on all 5 on the right, laptop on bottom left

DataCenter devices – DNS server.

A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated

Asset tags will allow the technician to record changes to new and old equipment when installing multiple UPS units in a major retail store. Asset tags are labels or stickers that are attached to physical assets such as computers, printers, servers, or UPS units. They usually contain information such as asset name, serial number, barcode, QR code, or RFID chip that can be scanned or read by an asset management system or software. Asset tags help track inventory, location, status, maintenance, and ownership of assets. References: https://www.camcode.com/asset-tags/asset-tagging-guide/

The ifconfig eth0 promisc command should be run on the Linux computer to enable promiscuous mode, which allows the computer to capture all network traffic passing through the switch mirror port. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 7: Network Devices.

• The question asks about the metrics that will most accurately show the underlying performance issues of slow or unresponsive desktops for users who are using VMs (virtual machines).
• VMs are software-based simulations of physical computers that run on a host system. They share the resources of the host system, such as CPU, memory, disk space, etc.
• If the host system does not have enough resources to support the number of VMs running on it, the performance of the VMs will suffer. This is especially true if the VMs are running resource-intensive applications or tasks.
• Therefore, the metrics that will most accurately show the underlying performance issues are CPU usage and memory. These metrics indicate how much of the host system’s resources are being consumed by the VMs and how much is available for other processes.
• The other metrics are not relevant to the question, as they are related to the network performance, not the host system performance. They are:

References:

• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 1: Networking Concepts, Section 1.3: Virtualization and Network Storage Technologies, Pages 34-36
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course, Video 1.3: Virtualization and Network Storage Technologies, Part 1
• Network + N10-008 practice exam, Question 8, Answer A and B, Explanation

Change management is the process of reviewing previous upgrades to a system. It is a systematic approach to managing changes to an organization's IT systems and infrastructure. Change management involves the assessment of potential risks associated with a change, as well as the identification of any necessary resources required to implement the change. References: Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 8: Network Troubleshooting

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is the best option for a network technician to use when installing new software on a Windows-based server in a different geographical location. This protocol allows the technician to connect to the server remotely and control it as if they were physically present.

References:

• Network+ N10-007 Certification Exam Objectives, Objective 2.2: Given a scenario, implement the appropriate network-based security and troubleshoot common connectivity issues.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a system that would most likely be found in a screened subnet. A screened subnet, or triple-homed firewall, is a network architecture where a single firewall is used with three network interfaces. It provides additional protection from outside cyber attacks by adding a perimeter network to isolate or separate the internal network from the public-facing internet1. A screened subnet typically hosts systems that need to be accessed by both internal and external users, such as web servers, email servers, or FTP servers. References: https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/screened-subnet#:~:text=A%20screened%20subnet%2C%20or%20triple-homed%20firewall%2C%20refers%20to,a%20perimeter%20network%20to%20isolate%20or%20separate%20the  1

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is a routing protocol used to exchange route information between public autonomous systems (AS). OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), EGRIP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol), and RIP (Routing Information Protocol) are all used for internal routing within a single AS. Therefore, BGP is the correct option to choose for this question.

References:

• Network+ N10-007 Certification Exam Objectives, Objective 3.3: Given a scenario, configure and apply the appropriate routing protocol.
• Cisco: Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) Overview

To detect the exact break point of a fiber link, an engineer should use an OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer). This device sends a series of pulses into the fiber, measuring the time it takes for the pulses to reflect back, and can pinpoint the exact location of the break.

References:

• Network+ N10-007 Certification Exam Objectives, Objective 2.5: Given a scenario, troubleshoot copper cable issues.
• FS: OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) Testing Principle and Applications

The network administrator should check the roaming settings on the APs and WLAN clients first. Roaming is the process of switching from one AP to another without losing connectivity. If the roaming settings are not configured properly, some users may experience poor connectivity when their devices stay connected to a distant AP instead of switching to a closer one. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/82068-roam-faq.html

TCP/UDP port 5060 is commonly used by VoIP phones. It is the default port for SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), which is a signaling protocol that establishes, modifies, and terminates multimedia sessions over IP networks. SIP is widely used for VoIP applications such as voice and video calls. References: https://www.voip-info.org/session-initiation-protocol/

A change management policy is a document that outlines the procedures and guidelines for making changes to a network or system, including how changes are approved, tested, and implemented. By following a change management policy, organizations can ensure that unnecessary modifications to the network are not permitted and version control is maintained. References:

• Network+ N10-008 Objectives: 1.6 Given a scenario, implement network configuration and change management best practices.

TACACS+ (Terminal Access Controller Access Control System Plus) can be used to centrally manage credentials for various types of administrative privileges on configured network devices. This protocol separates authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) functions, providing more granular control over access to network resources.

References:

• Network+ N10-007 Certification Exam Objectives, Objective 4.2: Given a scenario, implement secure network administration principles.

Mismatched duplex settings can cause an increase in CRC errors, which are errors in data transmission that can result in corrupted data. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 4: Infrastructure.

802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless networks operate in two frequency ranges: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz frequency range supports more channels than the 2.4 GHz frequency range, making it a better choice for high-density wireless networks.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Sixth Edition by Glen E. Clarke

The IP address configured on the router interface is 196.26.4.1/26, which belongs to the IP range assigned by the ISP (196.26.4.0/26). However, this IP address is not valid for this interface because it is the network address of the subnet, which cannot be assigned to any host device. The network address is the first address of a subnet that identifies the subnet itself. The valid IP addresses for this subnet are from 196.26.4.1 to 196.26.4.62, excluding the network address (196.26.4.0) and the broadcast address (196.26.4.63). The router interface should be configured with a valid IP address within this range to restore Internet connectivity for all users. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24136/network-address

CRC stands for Cyclic Redundancy Check, and it is a type of error-detecting code used to detect accidental changes to raw data. If the CRC count is increasing on a particular interface, it indicates that there might be an issue with the cabling, which is causing data corruption. References:

• Network+ N10-008 Objectives: 2.1 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common physical connectivity issues.

SSID (Service Set Identifier) is a feature that should be configured to allow different wireless access through the same equipment. SSID is the name of a wireless network that identifies it from other networks in the same area. A wireless access point (AP) can support multiple SSIDs with different security settings and network policies. For example, a store owner can create one SSID for business equipment and another SSID for patron use, and assign different passwords, VLANs, and QoS levels for each SSID. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/70931-multiple-ssid.html

The attacker attempting to find the password to a network by inputting common words and phrases in plaintext to the password prompt is using a dictionary attack. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 6: Network Attacks and Mitigation.

TCP port 445 is used by the Windows OS for file sharing. It is also known as SMB (Server Message Block) or CIFS (Common Internet File System) and allows users to access files, printers, and other shared resources on a network. References: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/file-server/troubleshoot/detect-enable-and-disable-smbv1-v2-v3

MDIX (medium-dependent interface crossover) is a feature that allows network devices to automatically detect and configure the appropriate cabling type, eliminating the need for crossover cables. By enabling MDIX on the switches, a technician can use the original Cat 6 cable to create a crossover connection.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Sixth Edition by Glen E. Clarke

The most effective security mechanism against physical intrusions due to stolen credentials would likely be a combination of several of these options. However, of the options provided, the most effective security mechanism would probably be an access control vestibule. An access control vestibule is a secure area that is located between the outer perimeter of a facility and the inner secure area. It is designed to provide an additional layer of security by requiring that individuals pass through a series of security checks before being allowed access to the secure area. This could include biometric authentication, access card readers, and motion detection cameras.

Access control vestibules allow the enforcement of the policy that access to a datacenter should be individually recorded by a card reader even when multiple employees enter the facility at the same time. An access control vestibule is a physical security device that consists of two doors with an interlocking mechanism. Only one door can be opened at a time, and only one person can pass through each door. This prevents tailgating or piggybacking, where unauthorized persons follow authorized persons into a secure area. An access control vestibule can also be integrated with a card reader or other authentication system to record each individual’s access. References: https://www.boonedam.us/blog/what-are-access-control-vestibules

A captive portal is a web page that requires users to authenticate before they can access the internet. If the session time-out configuration is too short, users may experience intermittent internet connectivity and have to reconnect using the web authentication process each time. The network administrator can verify the session time-out configuration on the captive portal settings and adjust it if needed. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 2.0 (Exam Number: N10-006), Domain 1.0 Network Architecture, Objective 1.8 Explain the purposes and use cases for advanced networking devices.

A default gateway is a device that routes traffic from one network to another network, such as the Internet. A default gateway is usually configured on each host device to specify the IP address of the router that connects the host’s network to other networks. In this case, the user’s device and the destination device are on different networks (192.168.1.0/24 and 192.168.2.0/24), so the user needs to configure a default gateway on their device to reach the destination device. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.techopedia.com/definition/25761/default-gateway

To improve performance for videoconferencing, the company should configure Quality of Service (QoS). This technology allows for the prioritization of network traffic, ensuring that videoconferencing traffic is given higher priority and therefore better performance. Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), Dynamic routing, Network load balancer, and Static IP addresses are not directly related to improving performance for videoconferencing.

References:

• Network+ N10-007 Certification Exam Objectives, Objective 2.6: Given a scenario, implement and configure the appropriate wireless security and implement the appropriate QoS concepts.

A virtual IP (VIP) address must be configured to ensure connectivity during a failover. A VIP address is a single IP address that is assigned to a group of servers or network devices. When one device fails, traffic is automatically rerouted to the remaining devices, and the VIP address is reassigned to the backup device, allowing clients to continue to access the service without interruption.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Exam N10-007, Fourth Edition, Chapter 6: Network Servers, p. 300

TTL (Time To Live) should be adjusted to address the issue of some visitors being unable to access the website after the A record was updated. TTL is a value that specifies how long a DNS record should be cached by DNS servers and clients before it expires and needs to be refreshed. If the TTL is too high, some DNS servers and clients may still use the old A record that points to the previous IP address of the website, resulting in connection failures. By lowering the TTL, the DNS servers and clients will update their cache more frequently and use the new A record that points to the current IP address of the website. References: https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/dns-records/dns-ttl/

Short Explanation: The switch feature that is most likely to be used to assist with logging IPv6 and MAC addresses of devices on a network segment is Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP). NDP is used by IPv6 to discover and maintain information about other nodes on the network, including their IPv6 and MAC addresses. By periodically querying NDP, the administrator can log this information for auditing purposes.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Exam N10-007, Fourth Edition, Chapter 2: The OSI Model and Networking Protocols, Objective 2.1: Compare and contrast TCP and UDP ports, protocols, and their purposes.

When evaluating a firewall to protect a datacenter’s east-west traffic, it is important to consider traffic between VMs running on different hosts. This type of traffic is referred to as east-west traffic and is often protected by internal firewalls. By implementing firewalls, an organization can protect their internal network against threats such as lateral movement, which can be caused by attackers who have breached a perimeter firewall. References: Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 5: Network Security

The dig command is used to query the NSs for a remote application. It is a command-line tool that is commonly used to troubleshoot DNS issues. When used with specific options, dig can be used to obtain information about domain names, IP addresses, and DNS records. References: Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 3: Network Infrastructure

When a user reports being unable to access network resources after making some changes, the network technician should first ask the user what changes were made. This information can help the technician identify the cause of the issue and determine the appropriate course of action.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Sixth Edition by Glen E. Clarke

Implementing file integrity monitoring (FIM) would assist with detecting activities such as website defacement or internal system attacks. FIM is a process that monitors and alerts on changes to files or directories that are critical for security or functionality. FIM can help detect unauthorized modifications, malware infections, data breaches, or configuration errors. FIM can also help with compliance and auditing requirements. References: https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-data-protection/cyber-security/what-is-file-integrity-monitoring/

Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP) is a protocol that allows a device to obtain its MAC address from its IP address. A MAC spoofing attack is an attack where a device pretends to have a different MAC address than its actual one. RARP can be used to detect a MAC spoofing attack by comparing the MAC address obtained from RARP with the MAC address obtained from other sources, such as ARP or DHCP. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.techopedia.com/definition/25597/reverse-address-resolution-protocol-rarp

NIC teaming, also known as network interface card teaming or link aggregation, allows multiple network interface cards to be grouped together to provide redundancy and increased throughput. In the event of a port failure on a switch, NIC teaming ensures that the file server remains connected to the LAN by automatically switching to another network interface card.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Sixth Edition by Glen E. Clarke

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) should be enabled when configuring redundant network links between switches. STP ensures that only one active path is used at a time, preventing network loops and stability issues.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide

Reducing the wireless power levels can limit the range of the guest wireless network and prevent users in an adjacent building from connecting to it. Adjusting the wireless channels or enabling wireless client isolation will not affect the signal strength or coverage of the guest network. Enabling wireless port security will not work on a guest network that does not use authentication or MAC address filtering. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 2.0 (Exam Number: N10-006), Domain 2.0 Network Operations, Objective 2.5 Given a scenario, implement appropriate wireless configuration settings; Guest WiFi Security - Cisco Umbrella

A subnet mask is a binary number that indicates which bits of an IP address belong to the network portion and which bits belong to the host portion. A slash notation (/n) indicates how many bits are used for the network portion. A /20 notation means that 20 bits are used for the network portion and 12 bits are used for the host portion. To convert /20 to a dotted decimal notation, we need to write 20 ones followed by 12 zeros in binary and then divide them into four octets separated by dots. This gives us 11111111.11111111.11110000.00000000 or 255.255.240.0 in decimal. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.techopedia.com/definition/950/subnet-mask

A content delivery network (CDN) is a distributed network of servers that delivers web content to users based on their geographic location. By replicating content across multiple servers in various locations, a CDN can optimize speed and reduce latency in high-density user locations.

On the first exhibit, the layout should be as follows

Graphical user interface, text, application, chat or text message Description automatically generated

Graphical user interface Description automatically generated

Graphical user interface, text, application, chat or text message Description automatically generated

Graphical user interface Description automatically generated

Exhibit 2 as follows

Access Point Name AP2

Graphical user interface Description automatically generated

Graphical user interface, text, application, chat or text message Description automatically generated

Graphical user interface Description automatically generated

Exhibit 3 as follows

Access Point Name AP3

Graphical user interface Description automatically generated

Graphical user interface, text, application, chat or text message Description automatically generated

Graphical user interface Description automatically generated

CPU utilization is a metric that measures the percentage of time a CPU spends executing instructions. When the logging level is set for debugging, the router may generate a large amount of logging data, which can increase CPU utilization and cause the router to stop responding to requests intermittently. References:

• Network+ N10-008 Objectives: 2.1 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common physical connectivity issues.

A Layer 3 switch will likely replace all the company's hubs when implementing OSPF on all of its network devices. A Layer 3 switch combines the functionality of a traditional Layer 2 switch with the routing capabilities of a router. By implementing OSPF on a Layer 3 switch, an organization can improve network performance and reduce the risk of network congestion. References: Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 5: Network Security

To determine what metrics can be gathered from a given switch, a technician should utilize the Management Information Base (MIB). The MIB is a database of network management information that is used to manage and monitor network devices. It contains information about device configuration, status, and performance. References: Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 5: Network Security

Bandwidth management is used to prioritize Internet usage per application and per user on the network. This allows an organization to allocate network resources to mission-critical applications and users, while limiting the bandwidth available to non-business-critical applications. References: Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 2: Network Operations

The reason why the alerts are not being received is that the network device is not configured to log that level to the syslog server. The severity level for the events may need to be adjusted in order for them to be sent to the syslog server. References: Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 8: Network Troubleshooting

In a half-duplex link, devices can only send or receive data at one time, not simultaneously. Late collisions occur when devices transmit data at the same time after waiting for a clear channel. One of the causes of late collisions is excessive cable length, which increases the propagation delay and makes it harder for devices to detect collisions. The link termination, device configuration, and device hardware are not likely to cause late collisions on a half-duplex link.

A broadcast storm is most likely occurring when connecting multiple unmanaged Layer 2 switches with multiple connections between each pair. A broadcast storm is a situation where broadcast packets flood a network segment and consume all the available bandwidth. It can be caused by loops in the network topology, where broadcast packets are endlessly forwarded by switches without any loop prevention mechanism. Unmanaged switches do not support features such as Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) or Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) that can detect and block loops. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/lan-switching/spanning-tree-protocol/10556-16.html

East-West traffic refers to data flows between servers or devices within the same datacenter. When a hosted virtual server is duplicated to another physical server for redundancy, it generates significant East-West traffic as the data is replicated between the two servers. References:

• Network+ N10-008 Objectives: 3.3 Given a scenario, implement secure network architecture concepts.

Zero Trust is a security framework that requires all users, whether in or outside the organization’s network, to be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated for security configuration and posture before being granted or keeping access to applications and data. Zero Trust prevents attackers from moving laterally through a system by applying granular policies and controls based on the principle of least privilege and by segmenting and encrypting data flows across the network. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/zero-trust-security/

QSFP+ is a transceiver type that can support up to 40Gbps. It stands for Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus and uses four lanes of data to achieve high-speed transmission. It is commonly used for data center and high-performance computing applications. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/transceiver-modules/data_sheet_c78-660083.html

• Port 23 is used by Telnet, an insecure protocol that sends data in plain text over the network. Telnet should be replaced by SSH, which uses port 22 and encrypts the data.
• Port 69 is used by TFTP, an insecure protocol that transfers files without authentication or encryption. TFTP should be replaced by SFTP or FTPS, which use port 22 or 990 respectively and encrypt the data.
• Port 443 is used by HTTPS, a secure protocol that encrypts the data using SSL/TLS certificates. HTTPS should be preferred over HTTP, which uses port 80 and sends data in plain text.
• Port 587 is used by SMTP, a protocol that sends email messages. SMTP can be secured by using STARTTLS, which initiates encryption after the initial handshake. Alternatively, port 465 can be used for SMTPS, which encrypts the data from the start.
• Port 8080 is used by HTTP proxy, a protocol that allows clients to access web servers through an intermediary. HTTP proxy can be secured by using HTTPS proxy, which uses port 443 and encrypts the data.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 2: Network Protocols and Services, pages 62-63, 66-67, 69-70, 72-73, 75-76.
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course Notes, Section 2.1: Common TCP and UDP Ports, pages 16-17.
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Training Course, Video 2.1: Common TCP and UDP Ports, 6.

Dynamic routing is the process of automatically updating routing tables based on network topology changes and traffic conditions. Dynamic routing protocols use various algorithms and metrics to determine the best paths for data packets. To implement dynamic routing, a network technician needs a device that can operate at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model and run dynamic routing protocols. A Layer 3 switch is such a device, as it can perform both switching and routing functions, and support protocols such as RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, etc. An IPS (intrusion prevention system) is a security device that operates at the application layer (Layer 7) and monitors and blocks malicious traffic. A bridge is a device that operates at the data link layer (Layer 2) and connects two network segments using MAC addresses. A hub is a device that operates at the physical layer (Layer 1) and broadcasts data to all connected ports. None of these devices can enable dynamic routing. References:

• Dynamic Routing
• Layer 3 Switching
• Network Devices
• [Network + N10-008 practice exam]
• [CompTIA N10-008 Free Certification Exam Material]

Category 7 (Cat 7) is a cabling standard that supports 10GBASE-T Ethernet connections up to 100 meters (328 feet). In order for a cabling system to be certified as Cat 7, all components, including the patch panel, must meet the TIA/EIA-568-A standard. This standard requires the use of shielded cables with F-type connectors for the network terminations. Reference: CompTIA Network+ Study Manual, 8th Edition, page 158.

The term "CVE" stands for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. It is a reference method used for publicly known security vulnerabilities. When a vendor issues a security advisory about vulnerabilities in their products, they often include CVE identifiers. These advisories help users understand the specific issues and apply necessary resolutions or patches. Unlike the other options, CVE specifically relates to the identification and cataloging of known vulnerabilities, making it the correct choice in the context of a vendor sending out a security advisory listing issues and their resolutions​​.

ping -t is an option for the ping command in Windows that allows the user to send continuous ping requests to a target until stopped by pressing Ctrl-C. This can help the technician run a constant ping command while testing various possible reasons for the connectivity issue. ping -w is an option for the ping command in Windows that allows the user to specify a timeout value in milliseconds for each ping request. ping -i is an option for the ping command in Linux that allows the user to specify the time interval in seconds between each ping request. ping -s is an option for the ping command in Linux that allows the user to specify the size of the data payload in bytes for each ping request.

References: How to Use the Ping Command in Windows - Lifewire (https://www.lifewire.com/ping-command-2618099)

• An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a device that can measure the characteristics of an optical fiber, such as its length, attenuation, and splice points12.
• An OTDR works by sending a pulse of light into one end of the fiber and measuring the amount of light that is reflected back at different intervals12.
• By analyzing the reflected light, an OTDR can determine the distance to any faults or breaks in the fiber, as well as the overall quality of the fiber12.
• An OTDR can also provide a graphical representation of the fiber, called a trace, that shows the attenuation and reflection along the fiber12.
• Using an OTDR can reduce repair time because it can quickly and accurately locate the fault point in the fiber, without requiring access to both ends of the fiber12.
• The other options are not suitable for testing fiber optic cables:

References:

• 1: Optical Fiber - N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.3
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Full Course for Beginners - Fiber Optic Cabling and Connectors
• 3: Wire Crimpers and Testers - N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.3
• 4: Multimeter - N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.3
• 5: Spectrum Analyzer - N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.3

 Logging level is a setting that determines what types of events are recorded by a device and sent to a syslog server. Different logging levels have different severity levels, ranging from emergency to debug. If the technician performed a manual reconfiguration of the firewall, it is possible that the logging level was changed or reset to a lower level that does not include the connection events that were previously sent to the syslog server. To fix the issue, the technician should adjust the proper logging level on the new firewall to match the desired level of detail and severity for the connection events. References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 3.4: Explain common scanning, monitoring and patching processes and summarize their expected outputs. Subobjective: Syslog.

Multicast is the network communication method to use when audio transmissions need to reach several specific devices simultaneously over an IP network. It allows for efficient network use by directing a single stream of data to multiple recipients without needing to send separate streams to each recipient. Unicast sends data to a single destination, anycast sends data to the nearest or best destination in a group, and broadcast sends data to all devices in the network segment. Thus, multicast is most appropriate for the requirement described​​.

tcpdump is a command-line tool that can capture and analyze network traffic on a given interface. tcpdump can verify the status of NAT by showing the source and destination IP addresses of the packets before and after they pass through the ISP router that translates traffic destined for the internet. tcpdump can also show the NAT protocol and port numbers used by the router. nmap, ipconfig, and tracert are not suitable tools for verifying the status of NAT, as they do not show the IP address translation process.

References

• 1: Network Address Translation – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.4
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 95-96
• 3: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Subnetting Quiz, question 16
• 4: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Practice Test, question 7

A link-state algorithm is a routing algorithm that uses information about the state of each link in the network to calculate the shortest path from one node to every other node. A link-state algorithm requires each router to maintain a complete map of the network topology and exchange link-state advertisements with its neighbors periodically or when a change occurs. A link-state algorithm uses a mathematical formula called Dijkstra’s algorithm to find the shortest path based on the link costs. A link-state algorithm provides the fastest convergence time because it can quickly detect and adapt to network changes. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], [Link-state routing protocol - Wikipedia]

To set up IPv6 addressing that includes the MAC address of each connected machine, the network administrator should implement EUI-64 and SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration). EUI-64 is a method used in IPv6 to automatically generate the interface identifier part of the address from the MAC address of the network card, thereby embedding the MAC address in the IPv6 address. SLAAC is a mechanism where a device can assign itself a unique IPv6 address in conjunction with the EUI-64 process, without the need for manual configuration or the necessity of DHCP. These two methods combined enable each device on the network to automatically configure its own IPv6 address that includes its MAC address in a stateless manner​​.

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. High humidity can cause corrosion, condensation, and short circuits in electronic devices. Low humidity can cause static electricity and damage sensitive components. The optimal humidity range for a data center is between 40% and 60%. Based on the report, the humidity level in the server room is 70%, which is too high and can affect the performance and reliability of the network equipment. Therefore, the best recommendation to the client is to install a humidity sensor and a dehumidifier to control the humidity level in the server room.

References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 5.1: Summarize the importance of physical security controls.

The logging level is set to debugging, which is the most verbose and detailed level of logging. This means that the switch will send a lot of information to the syslog server, which can cause excessive network traffic and storage consumption. To fix the issue, the technician should adjust the logging level to a lower value, such as informational or warning, which will reduce the amount of data logged

• Smart lockers are secure storage units that can be accessed remotely by authorized users via a code, a card, or a biometric scan. They can be used to store various types of devices, such as laptops, tablets, phones, or tools, and provide contactless delivery to users who need them.
• Asset tags are labels that identify and track the inventory of devices, but they do not provide storage or delivery functions.
• Biometrics are methods of verifying the identity of users based on their physical or behavioral characteristics, such as fingerprints, face, or voice. They can be used to authenticate users, but they do not provide storage or delivery functions by themselves.
• Access control vestibules are physical or logical barriers that restrict the entry or exit of users to a certain area, such as a building, a room, or a network. They can be used to enhance the security of devices, but they do not provide storage or delivery functions by themselves.
• Therefore, the correct answer is D. Smart lockers, as they can be used to store various types of devices and provide contactless delivery to users. References:
• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, Chapter 2: Network Devices and Technologies, page 66
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course Notes, Section 2.5: Network Device Placement and Installation, page 23

• The question asks about the least amount of equipment to segment two departments that have cables terminating in the same room.
• Segmentation is the process of dividing a network into smaller logical units for security, performance, or management purposes.
• One way to segment a network is by using VLANs (virtual LANs), which are logical groups of devices that share the same broadcast domain, regardless of their physical location or connection.
• VLANs can be configured on switches that support Layer 2 or Layer 3 functionality. Layer 2 switches operate at the data link layer and forward frames based on MAC addresses. Layer 3 switches operate at the network layer and forward packets based on IP addresses.
• A Layer 3 switch can perform both Layer 2 and Layer 3 functions, and can also route traffic between different VLANs without the need for an external router. This makes it a versatile and efficient device for network segmentation.
• Therefore, the answer is C, a Layer 3 switch, as it can segment two departments with the least amount of equipment.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 2: Network Devices and Technologies, Section 2.1: Network Devices, Pages 74-75
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course, Video 2.1: Network Devices, Part 1
• Network + N10-008 practice exam, Question 977, Answer C, Explanation

• Management information bases (MIBs) are hierarchical databases of network objects that are defined using a subset of ASN.1 called SMIv212.
• MIBs describe the properties and capabilities of network devices that can be monitored and managed using SNMP12.
• MIBs are organized into modules that correspond to different standards, vendors, or applications12.
• MIBs are accessed by SNMP managers and agents using object identifiers (OIDs) that uniquely identify each network object12.
• MIBs are updated periodically to reflect changes in network technologies, protocols, or device features12.
• Updating the MIBs on the SNMP manager and agent is necessary to ensure compatibility and interoperability between different versions of network devices and operating systems12.
• Updating the MIBs can also enable new monitoring and management functions that are supported by the newer versions of network devices and operating systems12.
• B. System baseline is not a correct answer because a system baseline is a set of performance metrics that are obtained by measuring the network for a specific time period34.
• A system baseline is used to validate the current network status, identify trends, and plan for future changes34.
• A system baseline is not related to adding a new system to monitoring, as it does not define the network objects or the SNMP protocol34.
• C. Network device logs are not a correct answer because network device logs are records of events or activities that occur on network devices56.
• Network device logs are used to troubleshoot, audit, or analyze network performance and security issues56.
• Network device logs are not related to adding a new system to monitoring, as they do not define the network objects or the SNMP protocol56.
• D. SNMP traps are not a correct answer because SNMP traps are unsolicited messages that are sent by SNMP agents to SNMP managers when a significant event occurs on a network device78.
• SNMP traps are used to notify the network manager of urgent or abnormal situations that require attention78.
• SNMP traps are not related to adding a new system to monitoring, as they do not define the network objects or the SNMP protocol78.

References:

• Management information base - Wikipedia
• Management Information Base Reference - IBM
• What is Network Baselining? | Webopedia
• Networking 101 – The Importance of Network Baselining
• Network device logs - CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Domain 3.3
• Logs and Monitoring – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 3.1
• Understanding Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Traps
• What is an SNMP Trap? Guide & Tools For 2024 - Comparitech

• DNS poisoning is a type of attack that exploits the vulnerabilities of the DNS protocol to redirect network traffic to malicious websites or servers12. DNS poisoning can affect both the DNS resolver cache and the DNS client cache, making it difficult to detect and remove12.
• One of the common ways that DNS poisoning can occur is when an attacker compromises the router and changes its DNS settings to point to a rogue DNS server12. This way, the router will assign the malicious DNS server to the network clients, and any DNS queries from the clients will be resolved by the attacker’s server12.
• To prevent this type of attack, one of the best practices is to change the device’s default password and use a strong and unique password for the router’s administrative interface13. This will make it harder for the attacker to gain access to the router and modify its DNS settings13.
• Changing the device’s default password is also a general security measure that should be applied to any router or network device, as many attackers exploit the fact that many users do not change the default credentials that come with the device34.
• Therefore, the correct answer is A. Change the device’s default password, as this will help prevent DNS poisoning attacks and improve the overall security of the router and the network.

References:

• 1: What is DNS poisoning and how to prevent it - BlueCat Networks
• 2: An Introduction to “DNS Poisoning” (And How to Prevent It) - Kinsta
• 3: The Best Router Settings for Home Networks - Lifewire
• 4: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points

netstat is a command-line tool that displays network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, and more. It can help the technician identify which processes or applications are using the network bandwidth on the user’s computer. netstat can also show the current bandwidth usage in bytes per second for each network interface.

References

• netstat - Wikipedia provides an overview of the netstat tool and its features.
• How to get current bandwidth usage from command line using built-in Linux tools? - Super User explains how to use netstat and other tools to monitor bandwidth usage on Linux systems.
• Get network utilization from command line - Super User shows how to use typeperf and other tools to monitor bandwidth usage on Windows systems.

"Baselines play an integral part in network documentation because they let you monitor the network’s overall performance. In simple terms, a baseline is a measure of performance that indicates how hard the network is working and where network resources are spent. The purpose of a baseline is to provide a basis of comparison. For example, you can compare the network’s performance results taken in March to results taken in June, or from one year to the next. More commonly, you would compare the baseline information at a time when the network is having a problem to information recorded when the network was operating with greater efficiency. Such comparisons help you determine whether there has been a problem with the network, how significant that problem is, and even where the problem lies."

DNS (Domain Name System) is a service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Corporate intranet websites are usually hosted on private IP addresses that are not accessible from the public internet. Therefore, the user’s laptop needs to use the correct DNS server that can resolve the intranet domain names to the private IP addresses. If the user changed the network parameters at the airport and did not revert them back, the laptop might be using a public DNS server that does not have the records for the intranet websites. This would cause the user to access all internet websites but not corporate intranet websites.

References:

• An Overview of DNS - N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.61
• DNS Configuration – CompTIA A+ 220-11012
• CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 53

API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is a set of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate and exchange data. Network automation can use APIs to perform various automated tasks, such as configuring devices, provisioning resources, monitoring performance, and optimizing networks. APIs can enable network automation to interact with different network elements, platforms, and services, regardless of their vendor, technology, or architecture.

The other options are not correct because:

• SSH stands for Secure Shell, which is a protocol that allows secure remote access to a network device. SSH can be used to manually configure and manage a network device, but it does not automate network tasks by itself.
• CLI stands for Command-Line Interface, which is a text-based interface that allows users to interact with a network device by typing commands. CLI can be used to manually configure and manage a network device, but it does not automate network tasks by itself.
• GUI stands for Graphical User Interface, which is a visual interface that allows users to interact with a network device by using icons, menus, and windows. GUI can be used to manually configure and manage a network device, but it does not automate network tasks by itself.

• The question asks about the option that is used to provide disaster recovery capabilities to spin up critical devices using internet resources.
• Disaster recovery is the process of restoring normal operations after a disruptive event, such as a natural disaster, a cyberattack, or a power outage. Disaster recovery involves planning, testing, and implementing strategies to minimize downtime and data loss.
• One of the strategies for disaster recovery is to use a cloud site, which is a virtualized environment that can be accessed over the internet. A cloud site can provide on-demand resources, scalability, and flexibility for disaster recovery purposes. A cloud site can also reduce the cost and complexity of maintaining a physical backup site.
• Therefore, the answer is A, a cloud site, as it can provide disaster recovery capabilities to spin up critical devices using internet resources.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Study Guide, Chapter 5: Network Operations, Section 5.3: Disaster Recovery Concepts and Processes, Pages 279-280
• Professor Messer’s CompTIA N10-008 Network+ Course, Video 5.3: Disaster Recovery Concepts and Processes, Part 2
• Network + N10-008 practice exam, Question 978, Answer A, Explanation

Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol used to maintain a highly accurate and reliable clock time on all devices within a network. NTP works by synchronizing the time of all the devices within a network to a single, highly accurate time source. This allows for the time of all the devices to be kept in sync with each other, ensuring a consistent and reliable time source for all devices within the network.

Port tagging is a technique that involves adding a tag or identifier to the frames or packets that belong to a certain VLAN. A VLAN is a logical segment of a network that isolates traffic between different groups of devices. Port tagging allows devices on different physical ports or switches to communicate with each other as if they were on the same port or switch. Port tagging can help keep the design simple and efficient by reducing the number of physical ports and switches needed to segment departments into different networks. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-port-tagging

A warm site is a type of disaster recovery site that has equipment ready to go in the event of a disaster at the main datacenter, but does not have live data or applications. A warm site requires some time and effort to restore the data and services from backups, but it is less expensive than a hot site that has live data and applications. A cold site is a disaster recovery site that has no equipment or data, and requires a lot of time and money to set up after a disaster. A cloud site is a disaster recovery site that uses cloud computing resources to provide data and services, but it may have issues with bandwidth, latency, security, and cost. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-warm-site

A door lock would be the best security device to use to provide mechanical access control to the MDF/IDF. A door lock is a device that prevents unauthorized access to a physical area by requiring a key, a code, a card, a biometric scan, or a combination of these factors to open it. A door lock can provide mechanical access control to the MDF/IDF, which are rooms that house network equipment such as switches, routers, servers, or patch panels. A door lock can prevent unauthorized persons from tampering with or stealing the network equipment or data. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/solutions/Enterprise/Data_Center/DC_Infra2_5/DCInfra_6.html

NDA stands for Non-Disclosure Agreement, which is a legal contract between two or more parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish to restrict access to by others. A network administrator may need to sign an NDA before sharing information about a new project with different vendors, as the project may involve sensitive or proprietary data that the company wants to protect from competitors or unauthorized use. References: https://www.adobe.com/sign/esignature-resources/sign-nda.html

 Using an out-of-band access method is the best way to prevent unauthorized access to the legacy switches that do not support cryptographic functions. Out-of-band access is a method of accessing a network device through a dedicated channel that is separate from the main network traffic. Out-of-band access can use physical connections such as serial console ports or dial-up modems, or logical connections such as VPNs or firewalls. Out-of-band access provides more security and reliability than in-band access, which uses the same network as the data traffic and may be vulnerable to attacks or failures. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios-xml/ios/fundamentals/configuration/15mt/fundamentals-15-mt-book/cf-out-band-mgmt.html

Firmware is a type of software that controls the low-level functions of a hardware device, such as a router, switch, printer, or camera. Firmware updates are patches or upgrades that fix bugs, improve performance, add features, or address security vulnerabilities in firmware. Firmware updates are commonly used to address CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) on network equipment and operating systems, as CVEs are publicly known flaws that can be exploited by attackers. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-firmware

A heat map would most likely be created as a result of the site survey. A heat map is a graphical representation of the wireless signal strength and coverage in a given area. It can show the location of APs, antennas, walls, obstacles, interference sources, and dead zones. It can help with planning, optimizing, and troubleshooting wireless networks. References: https://www.netspotapp.com/what-is-a-wifi-heatmap.html

Clustering is a technique that involves grouping multiple servers or instances together to provide high availability and fault tolerance for a database. Clustering can help improve the availability of a SQL database by allowing automatic failover and load balancing between the cluster nodes. If one node fails or becomes overloaded, another node can take over the database operations without disrupting the service. References: https://www.educba.com/sql-cluster/

Change management documentation is a record of the changes that have been made to a system or process, including the reason, date, time, and impact of each change. A technician can reference this documentation to find what solution was implemented to resolve a previously encountered issue, as well as any potential side effects or dependencies of the change. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-change-management

TACACS+ is a protocol that provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) for network devices and users. TACACS+ can help improve the security of the management console on the company’s switches by verifying the identity and credentials of the administrators, enforcing granular access policies and permissions, and logging the configuration changes made by each administrator. This way, the network administrator can ensure only authorized and authenticated users can access and modify the switch settings, and also track and correlate the changes made by each user. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-tacacs

show interface is a command-line tool that displays information about the status, configuration, and statistics of an interface on a network device. A technician can use show interface to determine where the incident is occurring in a network by checking the uplink status, speed, duplex mode, errors, collisions, and other parameters of each interface. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-show-interface

A reservation is a feature of DHCP that assigns a specific IP address to a device based on its MAC address. This way, the device will always receive the same IP address from the DHCP server, regardless of its location or connection time. A network administrator can set up a reservation for each loT device to accomplish the requirements of reducing manual configuration, assigning a specific IP address, and allowing devices to move to different switchports on the same VLAN. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-dhcp

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the most appropriate way to enable secure remote printing. VPN is a technology that creates a secure and encrypted tunnel over a public network such as the Internet. It allows remote users or sites to access a private network as if they were directly connected to it. VPN can be used for various purposes such as accessing corporate resources, bypassing geo-restrictions, or enhancing privacy and security. VPN can also be used for remote printing by allowing users to connect to a printer on the private network and send print jobs securely over the VPN tunnel. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/security-vpn/ipsec-negotiation-ike-protocols/14106-how-vpn-works.html

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts user data and demands a ransom for its decryption. Ransomware can prevent users from accessing their files and applications, and cause data loss or corruption. A proper backup implementation is essential to recover from a ransomware attack, as it can help restore the encrypted data without paying the ransom or relying on the attackers’ decryption key. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-ransomware

The default credentials are the username and password that come with a device or service when it is first installed or configured. They are often easy to guess or find online, which makes them vulnerable to unauthorized access or attacks. The default credentials should be changed to something unique and strong as soon as possible to avoid this situation. If the default credentials were not changed, someone could have accessed the SOHO router and changed the WiFi settings without the employees’ knowledge. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/network-security-basics-6-easy-ways-to-protect-your-network

 TCP is the protocol type that describes secure communication on port 443. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a connection-oriented protocol that provides reliable and ordered delivery of data packets over an IP network. TCP uses port numbers to identify different applications or services on a device. Port 443 is the default port for HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), which is an extension of HTTP that uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption to protect data in transit between a web server and a web browser. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/routing-information-protocol-rip/13788-3.html

An omni antenna should be used by the AP to provide service in a radius surrounding a radio. An omni antenna is a type of antenna that has a 360-degree horizontal radiation pattern. It can provide wireless coverage in all directions from the antenna with varying degrees of vertical coverage. It is suitable for indoor environments where users are located around the AP1. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/82068-omni-vs-direct.html  1

Giants are packets that exceed the configured MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) of a switchport or interface, which causes them to be dropped or fragmented by the switch or router. The MTU is the maximum size of a packet that can be transmitted without fragmentation on a given medium or protocol. Giants can indicate misconfiguration or mismatch of MTU values between devices or interfaces on a network, which can cause performance issues or errors. CRC errors are errors that occur when the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value of a packet does not match the calculated CRC value at the destination, which indicates corruption or alteration of data during transmission due to noise, interference, faulty cabling, etc., but not necessarily exceeding MTU values. Runts are packets that are smaller than the minimum size allowed by the medium or protocol, which causes them to be dropped or ignored by the switch or router. Flooding is a technique where a switch sends packets to all ports except the source port when it does not have an entry for the destination MAC address in its MAC address table, which can cause congestion or broadcast storms on a network.

The default gateway is the setting that the user most likely misconfigured on the PC that caused it to be unable to access websites by both FQDN and IP. The default gateway is a device, usually a router or a firewall, that connects a local network to other networks such as the Internet. It acts as an intermediary between devices on different networks and forwards packets based on their destination IP addresses. If the default gateway is not configured correctly on a PC, it will not be able to communicate with devices outside its local network, such as web servers or DNS servers. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/routing-information-protocol-rip/16448-default-gateway.html

SIEM stands for Security Information and Event Management, which is a tool that collects, analyzes, and correlates data from various network devices and sources to provide alerts and reports on security incidents and events. A report from the SIEM tool can provide a comprehensive overview of the network alerts from the past week to the executive staff, highlighting any potential threats, vulnerabilities, or anomalies. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-siem

AUP stands for Acceptable Use Policy, which is a policy that defines the rules and guidelines for using a network or service. A guest captive portal is a web page that requires users to agree to the AUP before accessing the Internet or other network resources. This is a common way to enforce security and legal compliance for guest users. References: https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/Instant_87_WebHelp/Content/instant-ug/captive-portal/captive-portal.htm

10 additional network connections are needed to transition from a star to a full-mesh topology. A star topology is a network topology where each device is connected to a central device, such as a switch or a hub. A full-mesh topology is a network topology where each device is directly connected to every other device. The number of connections needed for a full-mesh topology can be calculated by the formula n(n-1)/2, where n is the number of devices. In this case, there are six devices (one core and five distribution switches), so the number of connections needed for a full-mesh topology is 6(6-1)/2 = 15. Since there are already five connections in the star topology (one from each distribution switch to the core switch), the number of additional connections needed is 15 - 5 = 10. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/routing-information-protocol-rip/13788-3.html

The lab environment is located in the DMZ, and traffic to the LAN zone is denied by default. This is the most likely reason why the web server cannot retrieve files from the file server, and the technician can either move the computer to another zone or request an exception from the administrator to resolve the problem. A DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is a network segment that separates the internal network (LAN) from the external network (Internet). It usually hosts public-facing servers such as web servers, email servers, or FTP servers that need to be accessed by both internal and external users. A firewall is used to control the traffic between the DMZ and the LAN zones, and usually denies traffic from the DMZ to the LAN by default for security reasons. Therefore, if a web server in the DMZ needs to communicate with a file server in the LAN, it would need a special rule or permission from the firewall administrator. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/access-lists/13608-21.html

The firewall administrator is implementing a PAT (Port Address Translation) rule that directs HTTP traffic to an internal server listening on a non-standard socket. PAT is a type of NAT (Network Address Translation) that allows multiple devices to share a single public IP address by using different port numbers. PAT can also be used to redirect traffic from one port to another port on the same or different IP address. This can be useful for security or load balancing purposes. For example, a firewall administrator can configure a PAT rule that redirects HTTP traffic (port 80) from the public IP address of the firewall to an internal server that listens on a non-standard port (such as 8080) on its private IP address. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/network-address-translation-nat/13772-12.html

The power level is a setting that determines how strong the wireless signal is from an access point (AP). If the power level is too high for an AP on the far side of a warehouse, it can cause interference and overlap with other APs on the same channel or frequency. This can result in handheld devices not connecting to the nearest APs, but connecting to the AP on the far side instead. A technician should adjust the power level of the AP on the far side to reduce interference and improve connectivity. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-power-level

A hot site is the disaster recovery solution that the corporation should implement for its critical system that would cause unrecoverable damage to the brand if it was taken offline. A hot site is a fully operational backup site that can take over the primary site’s functions in case of a disaster or disruption. A hot site has all the necessary hardware, software, data, network connections, and personnel to resume normal operations with minimal downtime. A hot site is suitable for systems that require high availability and cannot afford any data loss or interruption. References: https://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/management/disaster-recovery-site/  1

Time to live (TTL) is a value that indicates how long a DNS record can be cached by authoritative NSs (name servers) or other DNS servers before it expires and needs to be updated. A lower TTL value would expedite MX record updates to authoritative NSs, as they would refresh the record more frequently. UDP forwarding is not a DNS term, but a technique of sending UDP packets from one host to another. DNS caching is the process of storing DNS records locally for faster resolution, which does not expedite MX record updates. Recursive lookup is a type of DNS query where a DNS server queries other DNS servers on behalf of a client until it finds the answer, which does not expedite MX record updates.

Wireless client isolation is a feature on wireless routers that limits the connectivity between wireless devices connected to the same network. It prevents them from accessing resources on other wireless or wired devices, as a security measure to reduce attacks and threats. This feature can be useful for guest and BYOD SSIDs, but it can also be disabled on the router’s settings. References: https://www.howtogeek.com/179089/lock-down-your-wi-fi-network-with-your-routers-wireless-isolation-option/

A honeypot is a decoy system that is intentionally left vulnerable or exposed to attract attackers and divert them from the real targets. A honeypot can also be used to collect information about the attackers’ techniques and motives. A network administrator can implement a honeypot to analyze attacks directed toward the company’s network, as a honeypot can help identify the source, target, method, and impact of an attack, as well as provide recommendations for remediation. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-honeypot

Role separation is a security principle that involves dividing the tasks and privileges for a specific business process among multiple users. This reduces the risk of fraud and errors, as no one user has complete control over the process. In the scenario, there are three employees who perform very distinct functions on the server, which is an example of role separation. References: https://hyperproof.io/resource/segregation-of-duties/

IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service, which is a cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources such as servers, storage, and networking over the Internet. When implementing IaaS, the network technician should consider the server hardware requirements, such as CPU, RAM, disk space, and network bandwidth, that are needed to run the applications and services on the cloud. The other options are not relevant to IaaS, as they are either handled by the cloud provider or by the end-user. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-iaas

A damaged cable is most likely the cause of the desktop not connecting to the network. A damaged cable can cause physical layer issues such as loss of signal, attenuation, interference, or crosstalk. These issues can prevent the desktop from establishing a link with the switch and result in the LED status light on the switchport being off. Other possible causes of physical layer issues are faulty connectors, ports, or transceivers. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/lan-switching/ethernet/14119-37.html

An omnidirectional antenna was used instead of a unidirectional antenna, which is most likely the cause of the wireless network issues. An omnidirectional antenna provides wireless coverage in all directions from the antenna, which can cause signal overlap with adjacent offices and interference with other wireless networks. A unidirectional antenna, on the other hand, provides wireless coverage in a specific direction from the antenna, which can reduce signal overlap and interference and increase signal range and quality. A unidirectional antenna would be more suitable for a warehouse environment where users are located on one side of the building1. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/82068-omni-vs-direct.html  1

DNS poisoning is a type of attack that modifies the DNS records of a domain name to point to a malicious IP address instead of the legitimate one. This can result in users being directed to cloned websites that are stealing credentials, even if they enter the correct URL for the website. The incorrect DNS server address on the user’s PC could be a sign of DNS poisoning, as the attacker could have compromised the DNS server or spoofed its response to redirect the user’s queries. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-dns-poisoning

255.255.252.0 is a subnet mask that allows for 1022 network-connected devices on the same subnet, which is the smallest subnet that can accommodate 412 devices. The subnet mask determines how many bits are used for the network portion and how many bits are used for the host portion of an IP address. A smaller subnet mask means more bits are used for the network portion and less bits are used for the host portion, which reduces the number of available hosts on the subnet. 255.255.0.0 allows for 65534 hosts on the same subnet, which is too large. 255.255.254.0 allows for 510 hosts on the same subnet, which is also too large. 255.255.255.0 allows for 254 hosts on the same subnet, which is too small.

A type 1 hypervisor is a system that is installed directly on a server’s hardware and abstracts the hardware from any guest machines. A hypervisor is a software layer that enables virtualization by creating and managing virtual machines (VMs) on a physical host. A type 1 hypervisor, also known as a bare-metal hypervisor or a native hypervisor, runs directly on the host’s hardware without requiring an underlying operating system (OS). It provides better performance and security than a type 2 hypervisor, which runs on top of an existing OS and relies on it for hardware access. References: https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/hypervisor

The technician would most likely train the employee on using site-to-site VPNs between the two city locations and client-to-site software on the employee’s laptop for all other remote access. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a technology that creates a secure and encrypted tunnel over a public network such as the Internet. It allows remote users or sites to access a private network as if they were directly connected to it. A site-to-site VPN connects two or more networks, such as branch offices or data centers, using a VPN gateway device at each site. A client-to-site VPN connects individual users, such as mobile workers or telecommuters, using a VPN client software on their devices. In this scenario, the employee needs to access the network from different locations, such as home, travel, or another city. Therefore, the technician would train the employee on how to use site-to-site VPNs to connect to the network from another city location that shares services, and how to use client-to-site software to connect to the network from home or travel locations. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/security-vpn/ipsec-negotiation-ike-protocols/14106-how-vpn-works.html

 Jitter is most likely causing the issue of intermittent one-way audio and dropped conversations for the company that uses VoIP telephones. Jitter is a variation in delay of packets arriving at the destination. It can cause choppy or distorted audio quality for VoIP applications, especially over WAN links that have limited bandwidth and high latency. The recommended jitter for VoIP is less than 10ms1. The company has recorded ping times that exceed 50ms, which indicates high jitter and latency on their network. References: https://www.voip-info.org/voip-jitter/  1

Consistent labeling would be the concept that would best help the technician to confirm which switchport corresponds to the wall jack the PC is using. Consistent labeling is a practice of using standardized and descriptive labels for network devices, ports, cables, jacks, and other components. It can help with identifying, locating, and troubleshooting network issues. For example, a technician can use consistent labeling to trace a cable from a PC to a wall jack, and then from a patch panel to a switchport. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/solutions/Enterprise/Data_Center/DC_Infra2_5/DCInfra_6.html

If the link LEDs on the workstation and modem do not light up when connecting to a workstation, it could indicate a problem with the cable connecting them. The cable could be damaged, defective, or incompatible with the devices. A technician should replace the cable with a known good one and check if the link LEDs light up. If not, the problem could be with the network interface cards (NICs) on the workstation or modem. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-link-light

Implicit deny is a firewall rule that blocks all traffic that is not explicitly allowed by other rules. Implicit deny is usually applied as the last rule in the firewall to ensure that only the necessary access requirements are allowed through the firewall and that any unwanted or malicious traffic is rejected. Implicit deny can also provide a default security policy and a baseline for auditing and logging purposes.

Secure SNMP is a protocol that allows network devices to send event messages to a centralized server or console for logging and analysis. Secure SNMP can be used to monitor and manage the status, performance, and configuration of network devices. Secure SNMP can also help to detect and respond to potential problems or faults on the network. However, secure SNMP is not a firewall rule; it is a network management protocol.

Port security is a feature that allows a switch to restrict the devices that can connect to a specific port based on their MAC addresses. Port security can help to prevent unauthorized access, spoofing, or MAC flooding attacks on the switch. However, port security is not a firewall rule; it is a switch feature.

DHCP snooping is a feature that allows a switch to filter DHCP messages and prevent rogue DHCP servers from assigning IP addresses to devices on the network. DHCP snooping can help to prevent IP address conflicts, spoofing, or denial-of-service attacks on the network. However, DHCP snooping is not a firewall rule; it is a switch feature.

172.19.0.2 is a valid IP address configuration for the device that uses a static RFC1918 address for the network and allows for a connection over NAT (Network Address Translation). RFC1918 addresses are private IP addresses that are not routable on the public Internet and are used for internal networks. The RFC1918 address ranges are 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16. NAT is a technique that translates private IP addresses to public IP addresses when communicating with external networks, such as the Internet. FE80::1 is an IPv6 link-local address that is not a static RFC1918 address and does not allow for a connection over NAT. 100.64.0.1 is an IPv4 address that belongs to the shared address space range (100.64.0.0/10) that is used for carrier-grade NAT (CGN) between service providers and subscribers, which is not a static RFC1918 address and does not allow for a connection over NAT. 169.254.1.2 is an IPv4 link-local address that is automatically assigned by a device when it cannot obtain an IP address from a DHCP server or manual configuration, which is not a static RFC1918 address and does not allow for a connection over NAT. 224.0.0.12 is an IPv4 multicast address that is used for VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol), which is not a static RFC1918 address and does not allow for a connection over NAT.

EAP-TLS is the method that should be selected to meet the requirements for designing a new secure wireless network. EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol - Transport Layer Security) is an authentication protocol that uses X.509 digital certificates for both clients and servers. It provides strong security and mutual authentication by using TLS encryption and public key cryptography. It does not use plaintext passwords or shared secrets that can be compromised or guessed. It is also an open standard that is vendor neutral and supported by most wireless devices1. References: https://www.securew2.com/blog/what-is-eap-tls  1

Giants are packets that exceed the configured MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) of a switchport or interface, which causes them to be dropped or fragmented by the switch or router. The MTU is the maximum size of a packet that can be transmitted without fragmentation on a given medium or protocol. Giants can indicate misconfiguration or mismatch of MTU values between devices or interfaces on a network, which can cause performance issues or errors. CRC errors are errors that occur when the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value of a packet does not match the calculated CRC value at the destination, which indicates corruption or alteration of data during transmission due to noise, interference, faulty cabling, etc., but not necessarily exceeding MTU values. Runts are packets that are smaller than the minimum size allowed by the medium or protocol, which causes them to be dropped or ignored by the switch or router. Flooding is a technique where a switch sends packets to all ports except the source port when it does not have an entry for the destination MAC address in its MAC address table, which can cause congestion or broadcast storms on a network.

Load balancing is a technology that allows traffic to be sent through two different ISPs to increase performance. Load balancing is a process of distributing network traffic across multiple servers or links to optimize resource utilization, throughput, latency, and reliability. Load balancing can be implemented at different layers of the OSI model, such as layer 4 (transport) or layer 7 (application). Load balancing can also be used for outbound traffic by using multiple ISPs and routing protocols such as BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) to select the best path for each packet. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/ios-nx-os-software/border-gateway-protocol-bgp/prod_white_paper0900aecd806c4eeb.html

A VLAN mismatch is the most likely reason why an IP phone does not receive the necessary DHCP options for registration. A VLAN mismatch occurs when a device is connected to a switch port that belongs to a different VLAN than the device’s intended VLAN. This can cause communication problems or prevent access to network resources. For example, if an IP phone is connected to a switch port that belongs to the data VLAN instead of the voice VLAN, it may not receive the DHCP options that contain information such as the TFTP server address, the NTP server address, or the default gateway address for the voice VLAN. These DHCP options are essential for the IP phone to register with the VoIP system and function properly. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/voice-unified-communications/unified-communications-manager-callmanager/13979-dhcp-option-150-00.html

The switch processes the data by flooding it out of every port, except the one on which it came in. Flooding is a process where a switch sends a data frame to all ports except the source port when it does not have an entry for the destination MAC address in its MAC address table. Flooding allows the switch to learn the MAC addresses of the devices connected to its ports and update its MAC address table accordingly. Flooding also ensures that the data frame reaches its intended destination, even if the switch does not know its location. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/lan-switching/spanning-tree-protocol/10556-16.html

 A UTM appliance stands for Unified Threat Management appliance, which is a device that combines multiple security functions into one solution. A UTM appliance can provide firewall, IDS/IPS, antivirus, VPN, web filtering, and other security features. A network technician can use a UTM appliance in place of an edge firewall and an IDS to prevent future attacks, as a UTM appliance can block malicious traffic and detect and respond to intrusions more effectively. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-utm

A honeypot is a decoy system that is intentionally left vulnerable or exposed to attract attackers and divert them from the real targets. A honeypot can also be used to collect information about the attackers’ techniques and motives. In the scenario, the SaaS provider has left an unpatched VM available via a public DMZ port, which could be a honeypot technique to lure attackers and monitor their activities. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-honeypot

netstat -a is a command that displays information about active TCP connections and listening ports on a system. A network administrator can use netstat -a to check if the database engine is listening on a certain port, as well as verify if there are any connections established to or from that port. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-netstat

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is a protocol that allows network devices to communicate with a network management system (NMS) for monitoring and configuration purposes. SNMP traps are unsolicited messages sent by network devices to the NMS when certain events or conditions occur, such as errors, failures, or thresholds. Configuring SNMP traps on the network would best help the administrator determine the cause of jitter and high latency on a VoIP network, as they would provide real-time alerts and information about the network performance and status. Enabling RADIUS on the network is not relevant to troubleshooting VoIP issues, as RADIUS is a protocol that provides authentication, authorization, and accounting services for network access. Implementing LDAP on the network is also not relevant to troubleshooting VoIP issues, as LDAP is a protocol that provides directory services for storing and querying information about users, groups, devices, etc. Establishing NTP on the network is not directly related to troubleshooting VoIP issues, as NTP is a protocol that synchronizes the clocks of network devices.

An ARP request operates at the data link layer of the OSI model. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is a protocol that maps IP addresses to MAC addresses on a local area network. It allows devices to communicate with each other without knowing their MAC addresses beforehand. ARP operates at the data link layer (layer 2) of the OSI model, which is responsible for framing and addressing data packets on a physical medium. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/routing-information-protocol-rip/13788-3.html

SLAAC (Stateless Address Autoconfiguration) is a method for IPv6 devices to automatically configure their IP addresses based on the network prefix advertised by a router. The router sends periodic router advertisements (RAs) that contain the network prefix and other parameters for the devices to use. If the network gateway is not configured to send RAs, then SLAAC will not work. A DHCP server is not needed for SLAAC, as the devices generate their own addresses without relying on a server. Dual stack and anycast routing are not related to SLAAC.

The network administrator should confirm the patch’s MD5 hash prior to the upgrade to help ensure the upgrade process will be less likely to cause problems with the switches. MD5 (Message Digest 5) is a cryptographic hash function that produces a 128-bit hash value for any given input. It can be used to verify the integrity and authenticity of a file by comparing its hash value with a known or expected value. If the hash values match, it means that the file has not been corrupted or tampered with during transmission or storage. If the hash values do not match, it means that the file may be damaged or malicious and should not be used for the upgrade. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/security-vpn/secure-shell-ssh/15292-scp.html

SIEM stands for Security Information and Event Management, which is a tool that collects, analyzes, and correlates data from various network devices and sources to provide alerts and reports on security incidents and events. A network technician can use SIEM to correlate security events to analyze a suspected intrusion, as SIEM can help identify the source, target, method, and impact of an attack, as well as provide recommendations for remediation. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-siem

2.4GHz is the wireless frequency that would allow for the least signal attenuation when deploying a low-density wireless network with multiple types of building materials. Signal attenuation is the loss of signal strength or quality as it travels through a medium or over a distance. Signal attenuation can be affected by various factors such as distance, interference, reflection, refraction, diffraction, scattering, or absorption. Generally, lower frequencies have less signal attenuation than higher frequencies because they can penetrate obstacles better and travel farther. Therefore, 2.4GHz would have less signal attenuation than 5GHz, 850MHz, or 900MHz. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless-mobility/wireless-lan-wlan/82068-omni-vs-direct.html

Role-based access is a security capability that assigns permissions to users based on their roles or functions within an organization. It allows the network administrator to maintain these permissions with the least administrative effort, as they only need to configure the security groups for each role once and then assign users to those groups. Mandatory access control is a security capability that assigns permissions based on security labels or classifications, which requires more administrative effort to maintain. User-based permissions are a security capability that assigns permissions to individual users, which is not scalable or efficient for large organizations. Least privilege is a security principle that states that users should only have the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks, which is not a security capability by itself.

RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) is a protocol that should be used by the organization to allow for authentication, authorization, and auditing of network services. RADIUS is an AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) protocol that manages network access by verifying user credentials, granting access permissions, and logging user activities. RADIUS uses a client-server model where a RADIUS client (such as a router, switch, or VPN server) sends user information to a RADIUS server (such as an authentication server) for verification and authorization. The RADIUS server can also send accounting information to another server for billing or reporting purposes. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/security-vpn/remote-authentication-dial-user-service-radius/13838-10.html

A wireless controller would be able to handle the requirement of implementing a large number of WAPs throughout the building and allowing users to move around without dropping their connections. A wireless controller is a device that centrally manages and configures multiple wireless access points (WAPs) on a network. It can provide features such as load balancing, roaming, security, QoS, and monitoring for the wireless network. A wireless controller can also support wireless mesh networks, where some WAPs act as relays for other WAPs to extend the wireless coverage. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/wireless/wireless-lan-controller/index.html

Syslog is a protocol that provides a standard way for network devices and applications to send event messages to a logging server or a security appliance. Syslog messages can contain information about security incidents, errors, warnings, system status, configuration changes, and other events. A security appliance that is correlating network events from multiple devices can rely on Syslog to receive event messages from different sources and formats. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-syslog

The antenna type affects the signal strength and coverage of a WAP. Different types of antennas have different radiation patterns and gain, which determine how far and wide the signal can reach. If the user experiences a weak signal in one direction but a strong signal in the opposite direction, it could mean that the antenna type is not suitable for the desired coverage area. The technician should consider changing the antenna type to one that has a more balanced or directional radiation pattern. References: https://community.cisco.com/t5/wireless-small-business/wap200-poor-signal-strength/td-p/1565796

 RJ11 is a type of connector that is commonly used for analog phone lines. RJ11 has four wires and six positions, but only two or four of them are used. A technician can crimp an RJ11 connector to a new phone line to install an analog desk phone for a new receptionist. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-rj11

IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service, which is a cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources such as servers, storage, and networking over the Internet. IaaS can provide data storage, hardware options, and scalability to a third-party company that cannot afford new devices by allowing them to rent or lease the infrastructure they need from a cloud provider. The company can pay only for what they use and scale up or down as needed. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-iaas

A virtual switch is a software-based switch that connects virtual machines on a hypervisor. A virtual switch can create and manage VLANs, which are logical segments of a network that isolate traffic between different groups of devices. A customer can use virtual switches to segregate the traffic between guests on a hypervisor by creating a separate VLAN for each guest and assigning it to a virtual switch port. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-virtual-switch

A router is a device that uses the destination IP address to forward packets between different networks. A bridge and a Layer 2 switch operate at the data link layer and use MAC addresses to forward frames within the same network. A repeater is a device that amplifies or regenerates signals at the physical layer.

RG-6 is a type of coaxial cable that is commonly used by cable companies to provide Internet access from the demarcation point back to the central office. It has a thicker conductor and better shielding than RG-59, which is another type of coaxial cable. Multimode and Cat 5e are types of fiber optic and twisted pair cables respectively, which are not typically used by cable companies. Cat 6 and 100BASE-T are standards for twisted pair cables, not types of cabling.

Quality of service (QoS) is a mechanism that prioritizes network traffic based on different criteria, such as application type, source and destination address, port number, etc., and allocates bandwidth and resources accordingly. QoS would best improve performance for video conferencing, as it would ensure that video traffic gets higher priority and lower latency than other types of traffic on the network. Packet shaping is a technique that controls the rate or volume of network traffic by delaying or dropping packets that exceed certain thresholds or violate certain policies, which may not improve performance for video conferencing if it causes packet loss or jitter. Port mirroring is a technique that copies traffic from one port to another port on a switch for monitoring or analysis purposes, which does not improve performance for video conferencing at all. Load balancing is a technique that distributes network traffic across multiple servers or devices for improved availability and scalability, which does not

1000BaseSX is an Ethernet standard that should be used to connect the network switch to the existing multimode fiber optic cable. 1000BaseSX is a Gigabit Ethernet standard that uses short-wavelength laser (850 nm) over multimode fiber optic cable. It can support distances up to 550 meters depending on the cable type and quality. It is suitable for short-range network segments such as campus or building backbone networks. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/interfaces-modules/gigabit-ethernet-gbic-sfp-modules/product_data_sheet09186a008014cb5e.html

A vSwitch (virtual switch) is a software-based switch that provides networking capability for VMs (virtual machines) at Layer 2 of the OSI model. It connects the VMs to each other or to external networks using virtual NICs (network interface cards). A VPN (virtual private network) is a technology that creates a secure tunnel over a public network for remote access or site-to-site connectivity. VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) is a protocol that provides high availability for routers by creating a virtual router with multiple physical routers. A VIP (virtual IP) is an IP address that can be shared by multiple servers or devices for load balancing or failover purposes.

A site-to-site VPN is a type of VPN that connects two or more remote offices securely over an untrustworthy network, such as the Internet. A site-to-site VPN allows each office to access network shares and resources at the other site, as if they were on the same local network. A site-to-site VPN encrypts and tunnels the traffic between the offices, ensuring privacy and integrity of the data. References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/what-is-a-site-to-site-vpn

The output is most likely an example of an ARP poisoning attack. ARP poisoning, also known as ARP spoofing, is a type of attack that exploits the ARP protocol to associate a malicious device’s MAC address with a legitimate IP address on a local area network. This allows the attacker to intercept, modify, or redirect network traffic between two devices without their knowledge. The output shows that there are multiple entries for the same IP address (192.168.1.1) with different MAC addresses in the ARP cache of the device. This indicates that an attacker has sent fake ARP replies to trick the device into believing that its MAC address is associated with the IP address of another device (such as the default gateway). References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/security-center/arp-spoofing.html