CompTIA Network+ (2009 Edition) Certification Examination Objectives INTRODUCTION The CompTIA Network+ (2009 Edition) certification is an internationally recognized validation of the technical knowledge required of foundation-level IT network practitioners. The CompTIA Network+ (2009 Edition) certification ensures that the successful candidate has the important knowledge and skills necessary to manage, maintain, troubleshoot, install, operate and configure basic network infrastructure, describe networking technologies, basic design principles, and adhere to wiring standards and use testing tools. The skills and knowledge measured by this examination were derived from an industry-wide job task analysis and validated through an industry-wide global survey in Q2 2008. The results of this survey were used in weighing the domains and ensuring that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of the content. It is recommended for CompTIA Network+ (2009 Edition) candidates to have the following: . CompTIA A+ certification or equivalent knowledge, though CompTIA A+ certification is not required. . Have at least 9 to 12 months of work experience in IT networking. The table below lists the domains measured by this examination and the extent to which they are represented. CompTIA Network+ (2009 Edition) exams are based on these objectives. Domain % of Examination 1.0 Network Technologies 20% 2.0 Network Media and Topologies 20% 3.0 Network Devices 17% 4.0 Network Management 20% 5.0 Network Tools 12% 6.0 Network Security 11% Total 100% **Note: The bulleted lists below each objective are not exhaustive lists. Even though they are not included in this document, other examples of technologies, processes or tasks pertaining to each objective may also be included on the exam. (A list of acronyms used in these objectives appears at the end of this document.) 1.0 Network Technologies 1.1 Explain the function of common networking protocols . TCP . FTP . UDP . TCP/IP suite . DHCP . TFTP . DNS . HTTP(S) . ARP . SIP (VoIP) . RTP (VoIP) . SSH . POP3 . NTP . IMAP4 . Telnet . SMTP . SNMP2/3 . ICMP . IGMP . TLS 1.2 Identify commonly used TCP and UDP default ports TCP ports . FTP . 20, 21 . SSH . 22 . TELNET . 23 . SMTP . 25 . DNS . 53 . HTTP . 80 . POP3 . 110 . NTP . 123 . IMAP4 . 143 . HTTPS . 443 UDP ports . TFTP . 69 . DNS . 53 . BOOTPS/DHCP . 67 . SNMP . 161 1.3 Identify the following address formats . IPv6 . IPv4 . MAC addressing 1.4 Given a scenario, evaluate the proper use of the following addressing technologies and addressing schemes Addressing Technologies . Subnetting . Classful vs. classless (e.g. CIDR, Supernetting) . NAT . PAT . SNAT . Public vs. private . DHCP (static, dynamic APIPA) Addressing schemes . Unicast . Multicast . Broadcast 1.5 Identify common IPv4 and IPv6 routing protocols Link state . OSPF . IS-IS Distance vector . RIP . RIPv2 . BGP Hybrid . EIGRP 1.6 Explain the purpose and properties of routing . IGP vs. EGP . Static vs. dynamic . Next hop . Understanding routing tables and how they pertain to path selection . Explain convergence (steady state) 1.7 Compare the characteristics of wireless communication standards . 802.11 a/b/g/n o Speeds o Distance o Channels o Frequency . Authentication and encryption o WPA o WEP o RADIUS o TKIP 2.0 Network Media and Topologies 2.1 Categorize standard cable types and their properties Type: . CAT3, CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6 . STP, UTP . Multimode fiber, single-mode fiber . Coaxial o RG-59 o RG-6 . Serial . Plenum vs. Non-plenum Properties: . Transmission speeds . Distance . Duplex . Noise immunity (security, EMI) . Frequency 2.2 Identify common connector types . RJ-11 . RJ-45 . BNC . SC . ST . LC . RS-232 2.3 Identify common physical network topologies . Star . Mesh . Bus . Ring . Point to point . Point to multipoint . Hybrid 2.4 Given a scenario, differentiate and implement appropriate wiring standards . 568A . 568B . Straight vs. cross-over . Rollover . Loopback 2.5 Categorize WAN technology types and properties Type: . Frame relay . E1/T1 . ADSL . SDSL . VDSL . Cable modem . Satellite . E3/T3 . OC-x . Wireless . ATM . SONET . MPLS . ISDN BRI . ISDN PRI . POTS . PSTN Properties . Circuit switch . Packet switch . Speed . Transmission media . Distance 2.6 Categorize LAN technology types and properties Types: . Ethernet . 10BaseT . 100BaseTX . 100BaseFX . 1000BaseT . 1000BaseX . 10GBaseSR . 10GBaseLR . 10GBaseER . 10GBaseSW . 10GBaseLW . 10GBaseEW . 10GBaseT Properties . CSMA/CD . Broadcast . Collision . Bonding . Speed . Distance 2.7 Explain common logical network topologies and their characteristics . Peer to peer . Client/server . VPN . VLAN 2.8 Install components of wiring distribution . Vertical and horizontal cross connects . Patch panels . 66 block . MDFs . IDFs . 25 pair . 100 pair . 110 block . Demarc . Demarc extension . Smart jack . Verify wiring installation . Verify wiring termination 3.0 Network Devices 3.1 Install, configure and differentiate between common network devices . Hub . Repeater . Modem . NIC . Media converters . Basic switch . Bridge . Wireless access point . Basic router . Basic firewall . Basic DHCP server 3.2 Identify the functions of specialized network devices . Multilayer switch . Content switch . IDS/IPS . Load balancer . Multifunction network devices . DNS server . Bandwidth shaper . Proxy server . CSU/DSU 3.3 Explain the advanced features of a switch . PoE . Spanning tree . VLAN . Trunking . Port mirroring . Port authentication 3.4 Implement a basic wireless network . Install client . Access point placement . Install access point o Configure appropriate encryption o Configure channels and frequencies o Set ESSID and beacon . Verify installation 4.0 Network Management 4.1 Explain the function of each layer of the OSI model . Layer 1 . physical . Layer 2 . data link . Layer 3 . network . Layer 4 . transport . Layer 5 . session . Layer 6 . presentation . Layer 7 . application 4.2 Identify types of configuration management documentation . Wiring schematics . Physical and logical network diagrams . Baselines . Policies, procedures and configurations . Regulations 4.3 Given a scenario, evaluate the network based on configuration management documentation . Compare wiring schematics, physical and logical network diagrams, baselines, policies and procedures and configurations to network devices and infrastructure . Update wiring schematics, physical and logical network diagrams, configurations and job logs as needed 4.4 Conduct network monitoring to identify performance and connectivity issues using the following: . Network monitoring utilities (e.g. packet sniffers, connectivity software, load testing, throughput testers) . System logs, history logs, event logs 4.5 Explain different methods and rationales for network performance optimization Methods: . QoS . Traffic shaping . Load balancing . High availability . Caching engines . Fault tolerance Reasons: . Latency sensitivity . High bandwidth applications o VoIP o Video applications . Uptime 4.6 Given a scenario, implement the following network troubleshooting methodology . Information gathering . identify symptoms and problems . Identify the affected areas of the network . Determine if anything has changed . Establish the most probable cause . Determine if escalation is necessary . Create an action plan and solution identifying potential effects . Implement and test the solution . Identify the results and effects of the solution . Document the solution and the entire process 4.7 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common connectivity issues and select an appropriate solution Physical issues: . Cross talk . Nearing crosstalk . Near End crosstalk . Attenuation . Collisions . Shorts . Open impedance mismatch (echo) . Interference Logical issues: . Port speed . Port duplex mismatch . Incorrect VLAN . Incorrect IP address . Wrong gateway . Wrong DNS . Wrong subnet mask Issues that should be identified but escalated: o Switching loop o Routing loop o Route problems o Proxy arp o Broadcast storms Wireless Issues: o Interference (bleed, environmental factors) o Incorrect encryption o Incorrect channel o Incorrect frequency o ESSID mismatch o Standard mismatch (802.11 a/b/g/n) o Distance o Bounce o Incorrect antenna placement 5.0 Network Tools 5.1 Given a scenario, select the appropriate command line interface tool and interpret the output to verify functionality . Traceroute . Ipconfig . Ifconfig . Ping . Arp ping . Arp . Nslookup . Hostname . Dig . Mtr . Route . Nbtstat . Netstat 5.2 Explain the purpose of network scanners . Packet sniffers . Intrusion detection software . Intrusion prevention software . Port scanners 5.3 Given a scenario, utilize the appropriate hardware tools . Cable testers . Protocol analyzer . Certifiers . TDR . OTDR . Multimeter . Toner probe . Butt set . Punch down tool . Cable stripper . Snips . Voltage event recorder . Temperature monitor 6.0 Network Security 6.1 Explain the function of hardware and software security devices . Network based firewall . Host based firewall . IDS . IPS . VPN concentrator 6.2 Explain common features of a firewall . Application layer vs. network layer . Stateful vs. stateless . Scanning services . Content filtering . Signature identification . Zones 6.3 Explain the methods of network access security Filtering: . ACL o MAC filtering o IP filtering . Tunneling and encryption o SSL VPN o VPN o L2TP o PPTP o IPSEC . Remote access o RAS o RDP o PPPoE o PPP o VNC o ICA 6.4 Explain methods of user authentication . PKI . Kerberos . AAA o RADIUS o TACACS+ . Network access control o 802.1x . CHAP . MS-CHAP . EAP 6.5 Explain issues that affect device security . Physical security . Restricting local and remote access . Secure methods vs. unsecure methods o SSH, HTTPS, SNMPv3, SFTP, SCP o TELNET, HTTP, FTP, RSH, RCP, SNMPv1/2 6.6 Identify common security threats and mitigation techniques Security threats . DoS . Viruses . Worms . Attackers . Man in the middle . Smurf . Rogue access points . Social engineering (phishing) Mitigation techniques . Policies and procedures . User training . Patches and updates