CompTIA N10-008 CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Exam Practice Test

https://www.tunnelsup.com/subnet-calculator/

IP Address: 172.28.85.95/27

Netmask: 255.255.255.224

Network Address: 172.28.85.64

Usable Host Range: 172.28.85.65 - 172.28.85.94

Broadcast Address: 172.28.85.95

Using the cloud as a redundant data center means that the company does not need to invest in building and maintaining a physical backup site, which can be costly and time-consuming. Instead, the company can pay for the cloud services as needed, which can reduce the initial capital expenses and operational costs. However, this does not mean that the other options are true. Changing cloud providers may not be easy due to compatibility, contractual, or regulatory issues. Security for company data may not be better in the cloud, depending on the cloud provider’s policies and practices. The need for backups is not eliminated, as the cloud data still needs to be protected from loss, corruption, or unauthorized access.

References:

• Part 1 of current page talks about how Bing is your AI-powered copilot for the web and provides various examples of how it can help you with different tasks, such as writing a joke, creating a table, or summarizing research. However, it does not mention anything about using the cloud as a redundant data center.
• Part 2 of current page shows the search results for “ai powered search bing chat”, which include web, image, and news results. However, none of these results seem to be relevant to the question, as they are mostly about Bing’s features, products, or announcements, not about cloud computing or data centers.
• Therefore, I cannot find the answer or the explanation from the current page. I have to use my own knowledge and information from other sources to verify the answer and provide a short but comprehensive explanation. I will cite these sources using numerical references.
• : CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, Version 8.0, Domain 3.0: Network Operations, Objective 3.4: Given a scenario, use appropriate resources to support configuration management, Subobjective 3.4.2: Cloud-based configuration management, https://www.comptia.jp/pdf/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives.pdf
• : Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture, Chapter 9: Fundamental Cloud Security, Section 9.1: Cloud Security Threats, https://ptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/images/9780133387520/samplepages/9780133387520.pdf
• : Cloud Computing: Principles and Paradigms, Chapter 19: Data Protection and Disaster Recovery for Cloud Computing, Section 19.1: Introduction, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9780470940105.ch19

A cable tester is a tool that can verify the integrity and functionality of a network cable. It can measure the electrical characteristics of the cable, such as resistance, capacitance, and impedance, and detect any faults or defects, such as shorts, opens, or crosstalk. A cable tester can help the network administrator troubleshoot the problem by determining if the cable is faulty or not. A tone generator is a tool that can send an audible signal through a cable to help locate and identify it. A multimeter is a tool that can measure voltage, current, and resistance of electrical circuits. An optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) is a tool that can test the quality and length of fiber optic cables.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 7.0 (N10-007), Objective 2.3: Given a scenario, use the appropriate tool to support wired or wireless networks.

The most effective security control to keep a company’s physical perimeter protected against intrusions leveraged by social-engineering techniques is employee training. Employee training is a process of educating and raising awareness among staff members about security policies, procedures, and best practices. Employee training can help prevent social-engineering attacks, which are attempts to manipulate or deceive people into revealing sensitive information or granting unauthorized access to resources. Social-engineering techniques can include phishing, impersonation, tailgating, dumpster diving, or baiting. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 343; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 13-8.

An A record, also known as an address record, is a type of DNS record that maps a hostname to an IPv4 address. An A record is used to resolve a domain name to an IP address, so that clients can connect to the server or service by using the domain name instead of the IP address. For example, an A record can map www.example.com to 192.0.2.1.

An A record is the most common type of DNS record for cloud DNS, as it allows the company to use a custom domain name for their cloud services, such as web hosting, email, or storage. An A record can also be used to create subdomains, such as blog.example.com or mail.example.com, that point to different IP addresses or servers.

The other options are not correct because they are not the best type of DNS record for cloud DNS. They are:

• MX. MX stands for mail exchange, and it is a type of DNS record that specifies the mail servers that are responsible for receiving and delivering email messages for a domain name. MX records are used for email services, but they are not sufficient for cloud DNS, as they do not map a hostname to an IP address.
• CNAME. CNAME stands for canonical name, and it is a type of DNS record that specifies an alias name for another domain name. CNAME records are used to create multiple names for the same IP address or server, such as www.example.com and example.com. CNAME records are useful for cloud DNS, but they are not the best type, as they depend on another A record to resolve the IP address.
• NS. NS stands for name server, and it is a type of DNS record that delegates a DNS zone to an authoritative server. NS records are used to specify which DNS servers are responsible for answering queries for a domain name or a subdomain. NS records are essential for cloud DNS, but they are not the best type, as they do not map a hostname to an IP address.

References1: DNS records overview | Google Cloud2: Network+ (Plus) Certification | CompTIA IT Certifications3: ClouDNS: What is a DNS record?

The application layer of the OSI model (Open Systems Interconnection) is responsible for providing services to applications that allow users to access and download files from a remote computer. These services include file transfer, email, and web access, as well as other related services. In order for a user to access and download files from a remote computer, the application layer must provide the necessary services that allow the user to interact with the remote computer.

802.11n is a wireless standard that supports up to 600 Mbps data rate and operates in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. 802.11n uses multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology to increase the number of spatial streams and improve the wireless performance and range. 802.11n meets the requirements of the wireless network design.

References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 1.6: Explain the functions of network services.

EIGRP is an advanced distance vector routing protocol that is able to automatically update routing tables and also uses features of link-state routing protocols, such as the ability to send updates about the current topology of the network. EIGRP also has the ability to use a variety of algorithms to determine the best route for a packet to take, allowing for more efficient routing across the network.

To allow Windows clients from outside the office to access workstations without using third-party software, the administrator can use the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). RDP is a built-in feature of the Windows operating system that allows users to remotely connect to and control other Windows computers over a network connection.

To use RDP, the administrator will need to enable the Remote Desktop feature on the workstations that need to be accessed, and ensure that the appropriate firewall rules are in place to allow RDP traffic to pass through. The administrator will also need to provide the remote users with the necessary credentials to access the workstations.

Once RDP is set up and configured, the remote users can use the Remote Desktop client on their own computers to connect to the workstations and access them as if they were physically present in the office. This allows the administrator to provide remote access to the workstations without the need for any additional software or third-party tools.

Layer 4 is where TCP/IP port numbers identify which network application is receiving the packet and where it is applied. Layer 4 is also known as the transport layer in the TCP/IP model or the OSI model. The transport layer is responsible for providing reliable or unreliable end-to-end data transmission between hosts on a network. The transport layer uses port numbers to identify and multiplex different applications or processes that communicate over the network. Port numbers are 16-bit numbers that range from 0 to 65535 and are divided into three categories: well-known ports (0-1023), registered ports (1024-49151), and dynamic ports (49152-65535). Some examples of well-known port numbers are 80 for HTTP, 443 for HTTPS, and 25 for SMTP. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], Transport Layer - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

The technique that would fulfill the requirement of transferring data in multiple networks is 802.1Q tagging. 802.1Q tagging is a method of adding a tag or identifier to Ethernet frames that indicate which VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) they belong to. VLANs are logical subdivisions of a network that allow devices in different physical locations or segments to communicate as if they were in the same network. VLANs improve network performance, security, and management by reducing broadcast traffic, isolating sensitive data, and grouping devices by function or department. By using 802.1Q tagging, two Layer 2 switches can exchange data from multiple VLANs over a single trunk link, without mixing or losing the VLAN information. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 64; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 2-12.

The network administrator can use the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to monitor the temperatures of all the devices. SNMP is a widely-used protocol for managing and monitoring network devices, such as routers, switches, servers, and other networking equipment. SNMP allows network administrators to gather information about the performance and status of devices on the network, including temperature readings.

To retrieve the temperature information, the administrator will have to configure SNMP on the devices and configure SNMP manager software on their computer. Once the SNMP manager software is configured, it will be able to send SNMP requests to the devices and retrieve information such as temperature, voltage, fan speeds, etc. Many network devices have built-in SNMP support, and the administrator may also need to install SNMP agent software on the devices to enable SNMP monitoring.

The administrator can also use some specific command or tool like IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) or DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management) tools for monitoring the temperatures of all the devices.

The most likely cause of the administrator’s inability to connect to the internet is the incorrect default gateway. The default gateway is the IP address of the router that connects the local network to the internet. The default gateway should be in the same subnet as the IP address of the device. However, in this case, the IP address of the device is 4.11.17.6 and the subnet mask is 255.255.255.252, which means the subnet has only four addresses: 4.11.17.4, 4.11.17.5, 4.11.17.6, and 4.11.17.7. The first and the last addresses are reserved for the network and the broadcast, respectively, so the only valid addresses for the device and the gateway are 4.11.17.5 and 4.11.17.6. Therefore, the default gateway should be 4.11.17.5, not 4.11.17.1, which is in a different subnet. The routing table, the subnet mask, and the DNS are not the causes of the problem, as they are either correct or irrelevant for the internet connectivity.

References

• 1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 83-84
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Subnetting Quiz, question 8
• 3: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Practice Test, question 3

The type of data center architecture that will most likely be used in a large SDN and can be extended beyond the data center is spine and leaf. Spine and leaf is a network topology that consists of two layers of switches: spine switches and leaf switches. Spine switches are interconnected to each other and form the core of the network, while leaf switches are connected to each spine switch and form the access layer of the network. Spine and leaf topology provides high scalability, performance, and flexibility for data center networks, especially for SDN (Software Defined Networking) environments that require dynamic traffic flows and virtualization. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 16; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 1-9.

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."

The document that would most likely be used to review disaster recovery information for a system is a business continuity plan (BCP). A BCP is a document that outlines the procedures and resources needed to maintain or resume critical business functions in the event of a disaster or disruption. A BCP typically includes a disaster recovery plan (DRP), which is a subset of the BCP that focuses on restoring IT systems and data after a disaster. A BCP also covers other aspects of business continuity, such as risk assessment, business impact analysis, emergency response, crisis management, and testing. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 346; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 13-9.

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

NIC Teaming, also known as load balancing and failover (LBFO), allows multiple network adapters on a computer to be placed into a team for the following purposes: (https://www.bing.com/search?q=what+is+nic+teaming+used+for%3F &form=QBLH&sp=-1&pq=what+is+nic+teaming+used+for&sc=10-28&qs=n&sk=&cvid=13882A9A9B584D8099F4ABCAD034E821&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=)

https://www.omnisecu.com/cisco-certified-network-associate-ccna/three-tier-hierarchical-network-model.php

Core Layer consists of biggest, fastest, and most expensive routers with the highest model numbers and Core Layer is considered as the back bone of networks. Core Layer routers are used to merge geographically separated networks. The Core Layer routers move information on the network as fast as possible. The switches operating at core layer switches packets as fast as possible.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a client-server based protocol, meaning that the two computers involved communicate with each other in a request-response pattern. The client sends a request to the server and the server responds with the requested data. This type of architecture is known as client-server, and it is used for many different types of applications, including FTP. Other architectures, such as service-oriented, connection-oriented, and data-centric, are not used for FTP.

Enterprise authentication is a method of securing wireless networks that uses an external authentication server, such as RADIUS, to verify the identity of users and devices. Enterprise authentication can provide user traceability by logging the network connections and activities of each authenticated user. This can help the organization meet its security requirement and comply with any regulations or policies that mandate user accountability12.

References:

• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Exam Objectives, page 83
• CompTIA Network+ Cert Guide: Wireless Networking, page 13

802.11b (Wi-Fi 1)

11 Mbps

100 meter maximum effective range

802.11a (Wi-Fi 2)

54 Mbps

50 meter maximum effective range

EIGRP stands for Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol, which is a hybrid routing protocol that uses a successor and a feasible successor to determine the best route to a destination. A successor is the next-hop router that has the lowest cost (or metric) to reach the destination, and a feasible successor is a backup router that has a cost that is less than the cost of the successor. EIGRP uses the successor and the feasible successor to achieve fast convergence and load balancing. EIGRP also uses a Diffusing Update Algorithm (DUAL) to maintain the routing table and avoid routing loops. IS-IS, OSPF, and BGP are other routing protocols that do not use a successor and a feasible successor, but rather use different algorithms and criteria to select the best route.

References

• 1: EIGRP – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 2.1
• 2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 150-151
• 3: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Exam Subnetting Quiz, question 20
• 4: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Practice Test, question 9

The agent was trying to duplicate the problem by asking the user to perform the same steps that led to the issue. This is a common troubleshooting technique that helps the agent to identify the root cause of the problem and verify if it is reproducible or intermittent. By duplicating the problem, the agent can also gather more information about the symptoms and error messages that the user encountered. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], [Troubleshooting Methodology - CompTIA Network+ N10-007 - 1.4 | Professor Messer IT Certification Training Courses]

Confidentiality is the property of preventing unauthorized access or disclosure of data. Encryption is a method of transforming data into an unreadable format that can only be decrypted by authorized parties who have the correct key. Encryption can increase the confidentiality of data communication across the network by making it harder for attackers to intercept or eavesdrop on the data. References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 4.1: Summarize the purposes of physical security devices. Subobjective: Encryption.

To prevent IP address conflicts when allocating a portion of a DHCP scope's subnet for statically assigned devices, it is recommended to use the concept of DHCP exclusion ranges. DHCP exclusion ranges allow a DHCP administrator to specify a range of IP addresses within the scope that should not be assigned to DHCP clients. This can be useful in situations where some devices on the network need to be assigned static IP addresses, as it ensures that the statically assigned addresses do not overlap with addresses assigned by the DHCP server. To set up a DHCP exclusion range, the administrator needs to specify the start and end IP addresses of the range, as well as the subnet mask. The DHCP server will then exclude the specified range of addresses from its pool of available addresses, and will not assign them to DHCP clients. By using DHCP exclusion ranges, the technician can ensure that the statically assigned addresses do not conflict with addresses assigned by the DHCP server, and can prevent IP address conflicts on the network.

Anthony Sequeira

"Another frequent configuration you might make in a DHCP implementation is to configure an exclusion range. This is a portion of the address pool that you never want leased out to clients in the network. Perhaps you have numbered your servers 192.168.1.1–192.168.1.10. Because the servers are statically configured with these addresses, you exclude these addresses from the 192.168.1.0/24 pool of addresses."

Mike Meyers

"Exclusion ranges represent an IP address or range of IP addresses from the pool of addresses that are not to be given out by the DHCP server. Exclusions should be made for the static addresses manually configured on servers and router interfaces, so these IP addresses won’t be offered to DHCP clients."

A SQL server connects over port 1433. Port numbers are used to identify specific applications or services on a network device. Port 1433 is the default port for Microsoft SQL Server, which is a relational database management system that uses SQL (Structured Query Language) to store and manipulate data. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 147; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 6-4.

To monitor and provide traffic segmentation across the network, a technician may use the concept of VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks). VLANs are a way of dividing a single physical network into multiple logical networks, each with its own unique identifier or "tag."

By assigning each department a specific VLAN identifier, the technician can segment the network traffic and ensure that the different departments' traffic is kept separate from one another. This can help to improve network security, performance, and scalability, as well as allowing for better monitoring and control of the network traffic.

To implement VLANs, the technician will need to configure VLAN tagging on the network devices, such as switches and routers, and assign each department's devices to the appropriate VLAN. The technician may also need to configure VLAN trunking to allow the different VLANs to communicate with each other.

By using VLANs, the technician can effectively monitor and segment the network traffic, providing better control and visibility into the network.

In a split-tunnel VPN, the client can access both the local network and the remote network simultaneously, with some network traffic sent through the VPN tunnel and other traffic sent to the local gateway. This approach allows for more efficient use of bandwidth and reduces the load on the VPN server. It also allows the client to continue accessing local resources while connected to the remote network.

A repeater is a device used to extend the range of a wireless network by receiving, amplifying, and retransmitting wireless signals. It is typically used to extend the range of a wireless network in a large area, such as an office building or a campus. Repeaters can also be used to connect multiple wireless networks together, allowing users to move seamlessly between networks. As stated in the CompTIA Network+ Study Manual, "a wireless repeater is used to extend the range of a wireless network by repeating the signal from one access point to another."

A software-defined network (SDN) is a network architecture that decouples the control plane from the data plane and centralizes the network intelligence in a software controller. The control plane is the part of the network that makes decisions about how to route traffic, while the data plane is the part of the network that forwards traffic based on the control plane’s instructions. The control layer is the layer in an SDN that contains the controller and the routing protocols that communicate with the network devices. The control layer is responsible for managing and configuring the network devices and providing them with the necessary information to forward traffic. References: https://www.comptia.org/training/books/network-n10-008-study-guide (page 378)

NTP (Network Time Protocol) is a protocol that synchronizes the clocks of network devices with a reference time source. NTP uses a hierarchical system of time sources, called strata, to distribute the time information. A stratum 0 device is the most accurate time source, such as an atomic clock or a GPS receiver, but it is not directly accessible across a network connection. A stratum 1 device is a network device that is directly connected to a stratum 0 device, such as a dedicated NTP server or a router with a GPS antenna, and it acts as a primary time server for other network devices. A stratum 2 device is a network device that synchronizes its time with a stratum 1 device, and so on. The higher the stratum number, the lower the accuracy and reliability of the time source. A stratum 16 device is a network device that has no valid time source and is considered unsynchronized.

References:

• Part 1 of current page talks about how Bing is your AI-powered copilot for the web and provides various examples of how it can help you with different tasks, such as writing a joke, creating a table, or summarizing research. However, it does not mention anything about NTP or time sources.
• Part 2 of current page shows the search results for “ai powered search bing chat”, which include web, image, and news results. However, none of these results seem to be relevant to the question, as they are mostly about Bing’s features, products, or announcements, not about NTP or time sources.
• Therefore, I cannot find the answer or the explanation from the current page. I have to use my own knowledge and information from other sources to verify the answer and provide a short but comprehensive explanation. I will cite these sources using numerical references.
• : CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, Version 8.0, Domain 2.0: Infrastructure, Objective 2.5: Given a scenario, implement network time synchronization, Subobjective 2.5.1: NTP, https://www.comptia.jp/pdf/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives.pdf
• : Network Time Protocol (NTP), https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/press/internet-protocol-journal/back-issues/table-contents-58/154-ntp.html
• : How NTP Works, https://www.meinbergglobal.com/english/info/ntp.htm

Out of band management is a process for accessing and managing network devices and infrastructure at remote locations through a separate management plane from the production network. Out of band management requires network devices to be managed using a different set of IP addresses than the ones used for in-band management or data traffic. This provides a secure and dedicated alternate access method to administer connected devices and IT assets without using the corporate LAN.

The packet shown in the image is an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) packet, which is used to monitor and manage network devices. SNMP uses community strings to authenticate requests and responses between SNMP agents and managers. However, community strings are sent in clear text and can be easily intercepted by attackers. Therefore, one way to secure SNMP traffic is to set a private community string that is not the default or well-known value. Another way to secure SNMP traffic is to use SNMPv3, which is the latest version of the protocol that supports encryption and authentication of SNMP messages.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 7.0 (N10-007), Objective 2.5: Given a scenario, use remote access methods.

Hub-and-spoke is the network topology that best describes a central device connected to multiple independent devices. A network topology is the physical or logical arrangement of devices and links on a network. A hub-and-spoke topology is a type of star topology, where a central device, such as a switch or a router, acts as a hub that connects to multiple devices, such as computers or printers, that act as spokes. A hub-and-spoke topology can offer advantages such as simplicity, scalability, and reliability, but also disadvantages such as single point of failure, high dependency on the hub, and increased latency. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], Hub-and-Spoke Topology: What Is It? (Diagram Included) | SolarWinds MSP

A technique used to adjust resources dynamically for a virtual web server under variable loads is called auto-scaling. Auto-scaling automatically increases or decreases the number of instances of a virtual web server in response to changes in demand, ensuring that the right amount of resources are available to handle incoming traffic. This can help to improve the availability and performance of a web application, as well as reduce costs by avoiding the need to provision and maintain excess capacity.

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

10GBASE-LR is a standard for 10 Gbps Ethernet over single-mode fiber optic cable. It can support a maximum distance of 6.2 miles (10 km), which is much longer than the distance between the buildings. 10GBASE-SW, 10GBASE-LX4, and 10GBASE-SR are all standards for 10 Gbps Ethernet over multimode fiber optic cable, which have shorter maximum distances ranging from 984ft (300m) to 1,312ft (400m).

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 7.0 (N10-007), Objective 1.5: Compare and contrast network cabling types, standards and speeds.

802.11n is the best choice for setting up a wireless connection that utilizes MIMO on non-overlapping channels. 802.11n is a wireless standard that offers faster speeds and longer range than previous standards. 802.11n uses multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, which allows multiple antennas to transmit and receive multiple spatial streams of data simultaneously. MIMO can improve wireless performance, reliability, and capacity by exploiting multipath propagation and spatial diversity. 802.11n also uses non-overlapping channels in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands to avoid interference and increase bandwidth. Non-overlapping channels are channels that do not share any part of their frequency spectrum with other channels. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], 802.11n - Wikipedia

An MX record is a type of DNS record that specifies the mail server responsible for accepting email messages on behalf of a domain name. Therefore, an engineer who needs to update an MX record is most likely working on an email server project

Layer 2 of the OSI model is the data link layer, which is responsible for transferring data between adjacent nodes on a network. It uses protocols such as Ethernet, PPP, and HDLC to encapsulate data into frames and add MAC addresses for source and destination identification. It also uses protocols such as STP, LACP, and CDP to manage the physical links and prevent loops, aggregate bandwidth, and discover neighboring devices12

A native VLAN mismatch is a common Layer 2 issue that occurs when two switches are connected by a trunk port, but have different native VLANs configured on their interfaces. A native VLAN is the VLAN that is assigned to untagged frames on a trunk port. If the native VLANs do not match, the switches will drop the untagged frames and generate an error message. This can cause connectivity problems and security risks on the network345

To resolve a native VLAN mismatch, the network technician should ensure that both switches have the same native VLAN configured on their trunk ports, or use a different port mode such as access or general.

A rogue server is a DHCP server on a network that is not under the administrative control of the network staff1. It may provide incorrect IP addresses or other network configuration information to devices on the network, causing them to lose connectivity or be vulnerable to attacks2. The physical address of the DHCP server may change if a rogue server takes over the role of assigning IP addresses to devices on the network. This can be detected by monitoring DHCP traffic or using tools such as RogueChecker2.

A role-based access control (RBAC) policy is a security measure that assigns permissions and privileges to users based on their roles and responsibilities within an organization. RBAC helps to enforce the principle of least privilege, which states that users should only have the minimum level of access required to perform their tasks. RBAC also helps to prevent unauthorized access, modification, or misuse of sensitive data or resources by limiting the scope and impact of user actions.

A software patching policy, firewalls on the software development servers, and longer and more complex password requirements are all good security practices, but they do not directly address the issue of preventing the former software developer from modifying code. A software patching policy ensures that software is updated regularly to fix bugs and vulnerabilities, but it does not prevent a user from introducing new code changes. Firewalls on the software development servers protect the servers from external attacks, but they do not prevent a user from accessing the servers internally. Longer and more complex password requirements make it harder for attackers to guess or crack passwords, but they do not prevent a user from using their own valid credentials.

References

1: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) - Definition and Examples

2: Network+ (Plus) Certification | CompTIA IT Certifications

3: [What is the Principle of Least Privilege? - Definition from Techopedia]

A duplicate IP address occurs when two devices on the same network have the same IP address assigned to them. This can cause intermittent connection issues, as the network devices may not be able to distinguish between the two conflicting devices. A duplicate IP address can be caused by a visitor manually configuring a static IP address that is already in use by another device on the guest network. The network IP range of 192.168.1.0/28 has only 14 usable host addresses, so the chances of a duplicate IP address are higher than a larger network.

References

• 1: Troubleshooting IP Configurations – CompTIA Network+ N10-006 – 4.6
• 2: Troubleshooting Duplicate IP Addresses - CompTIA Network+ N10-005: 2.5
• 3: Network Address Translation – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.4

The VLAN database is the database that stores the VLAN configuration information on a switch, such as the VLAN IDs, names, and ports. The VLAN database is stored in a separate file from the switch configuration file, and it is not affected by the erase startup-config or reload commands. Therefore, to delete the VLAN database, the administrator needs to use a specific command, such as delete flash:vlan.dat or delete vlan.dat, depending on the switch model. Deleting the VLAN database will ensure that no network settings related to VLANs persist on the switch when it is moved to a remote site.

References

• 1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 163
• 2: N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 5.5 - Professor Messer IT Certification Training Courses
• 3: CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) Practice Exam w/PBQ & Solution, question 6

Layer 2 of the OSI model, also known as the data link layer, is responsible for physical addressing and error detecting. Physical addressing refers to the use of MAC addresses to identify and locate devices on a network segment. Error detecting refers to the use of techniques such as checksums and CRCs to identify and correct errors in the data frames.

References:

• OSI Model | Computer Networking | CompTIA1

Fiber is the best cable choice for long distances, as it can transmit data over 1,640ft (500m) without significant signal loss or interference. Fiber is also immune to electromagnetic interference and can support higher bandwidths than copper cables. Cat 5e and Cat 6a are copper cables that have a maximum distance of 328ft (100m) for Ethernet networks. Coaxial cable is also a copper cable that can reach longer distances, but it is mainly used for cable TV and not for Ethernet networks.

Hub-and-spoke is a network topology where each node connects to a central switching device, such as a hub or a switch. All traffic between the nodes must pass through the central device, which acts as a single point of communication and control. Hub-and-spoke topology is simple, easy to manage, and cost-effective, but it also has drawbacks, such as low redundancy, high latency, and scalability issues.

References:

• Network Topologies – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.21
• CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 92

According to the network troubleshooting methodology, the first step a network administrator should take is to identify the problem. This involves gathering information from the users, the network devices, and the symptoms of the issue. Identifying the problem helps to narrow down the scope and the possible causes of the network issue.

References

• 1: Network troubleshooting methodology | CompTIA Network+ N10-008 …
• 2: Chapter 21. A Network Troubleshooting Methodology - CompTIA Network+ …
• 3: Network Troubleshooting Methodology – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 5.1

SNMPv3 is a protocol that offers device monitoring using authentication and encryption. SNMP stands for Simple Network Management Protocol, and it is a standard way of collecting and organizing information about network devices, such as routers, switches, servers, printers, and so on. SNMPv3 is the latest version of SNMP, and it provides enhanced security features, such as data integrity, data origin authentication, data confidentiality, and access control. SNMPv3 can use different algorithms to encrypt and authenticate the communication between the network management system and the network devices12.

References:

• Network Monitoring Tools – CompTIA Network+ N10-006 – 2.12
• CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Exam Objectives, page 93

Multipathing is a technique that allows a device to use more than one path to communicate with another device. This provides redundancy, load balancing, and fault tolerance for network connections. A business that purchased redundant internet connectivity from two separate ISPs is most likely implementing multipathing to ensure continuous access to the internet in case one ISP fails or becomes congested. References: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Certification Study Guide, page 437; The Official CompTIA Network+ Student Guide (Exam N10-008), page 16-8.

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.

IaaS is an example of on-demand scalable hardware that is typically housed in the vendor’s data center. IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service, which is a cloud computing model that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS allows customers to rent servers, storage, network devices, and other hardware components from a cloud service provider, rather than purchasing and maintaining them on-premise. IaaS offers advantages such as scalability, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. Customers can adjust their hardware resources according to their needs and pay only for what they use. Customers can also access their hardware resources from anywhere via a web browser or an API. References: [CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives], What Is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)? | IBM

"The Data Link layer also determines how data is placed on the wire by using an access method. The wired access method, carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD), was once used by all wired Ethernet networks, but is automatically disabled on switched full-duplex links, which have been the norm for decades. Carrier-sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) is used by wireless networks, in a similar fashion."

The logging level debugging is the highest level of logging, which means that the switch will log every possible event, including low-priority and verbose messages. This can result in excessive amounts of data being sent to the syslog server, which can affect the performance and storage of the server. To fix the issue, the technician should adjust the logging level to a lower value, such as informational, warning, or error, depending on the desired level of detail and severity. This will reduce the amount of log data generated by the switch and only send the relevant and necessary messages to the syslog server.

https://betterstack.com/community/guides/logging/log-levels-explained/

It is most likely that the issue is caused by port security, as this is a feature that can prevent new devices from connecting to the LAN. Port tagging, port aggregation, and port mirroring are all features that are used to manage traffic on the network, but they are not related to the connectivity of new devices. If the technician has configured port security on the network and the new PC does not meet the security requirements, it will not be able to connect to the LAN.

The disadvantages of RIP (Routing Information Protocol) include the following.

---Outdated, insecure, and slow. This is your parents' protocol. It was a thing before the Web was born.

---The more well-known problem of the 15 hop limitation in which data must travel

---Convergence time is terrible for information propagation in a network

---Metrics. It determines the number of hops from source to destination, and gives no regard to other factors when determining the best path for data to travel

---Overhead. A good example would be routing tables. These are broadcast at half-minute intervals to other routers regardless of whether the data has changed or not. It's essentially like those old cartoons where the town guard in the walled city cries out, '10 o' the clock and all is well!'.

RIPv2 introduced more security and reduced broadcast traffic, which is relevant for some available answers here.

An Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) is a type of wireless network that does not require an access point or a wired network. An IBSS allows wireless devices to communicate directly with each other using ad hoc mode. An IBSS is also known as an ad hoc network or a peer-to-peer network. A network technician can configure an IBSS to connect two laptops together and transfer files.

References: Network+ Study Guide Objective 1.4: Explain the properties and characteristics of TCP/IP

TXT stands for Text and is a type of DNS record that can store arbitrary text data associated with a domain name. TXT records can be used for various purposes, such as verifying the ownership of a domain, providing information about a domain, or implementing security mechanisms such as SPF (Sender Policy Framework) or DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail). In this scenario, the security company most likely asked the company to configure a TXT record with a specific value that can prove the ownership of the domain. AAAA stands for IPv6 Address and is a type of DNS record that maps a domain name to an IPv6 address. CNAME stands for Canonical Name and is a type of DNS record that maps an alias name to another name. SRV stands for Service and is a type of DNS record that specifies the location of a service on a network.

References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 7.0 (N10-007), Objective 1.8: Explain the purposes and use cases for advanced networking devices.

MTTR is directly related to how quickly a system can be repaired if any major part fails3. The management team requires that the infrastructure be capable of being repaired in less than 60 minutes, which means they have a low MTTR requirement.

MTTR stands for Mean Time To Repair and is a metric used to measure the average amount of time it takes to repair a failed component or system. In this case, the requirement is for the infrastructure to be capable of being repaired in less than 60 minutes if any major part fails, which means the MTTR should be less than 60 minutes.

The network troubleshooting methodology is a systematic process of identifying and resolving network problems. It consists of eight steps: 

1. Identify the problem.

2. Establish a theory of probable cause.

3. Test the theory to determine the cause.

4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and identify potential effects.

5. Implement the solution or escalate as necessary.

6. Verify full system functionality and, if applicable, implement preventive measures.

7. Document findings, actions, and outcomes.

8. Write the lessons learned.

The last step, writing the lessons learned, is important for improving the network troubleshooting skills and knowledge. It involves reviewing the entire troubleshooting process, analyzing the root cause of the problem, evaluating the effectiveness of the solution, and identifying any best practices, tips, or tools that can be used for future reference. Writing the lessons learned can also help to update the network documentation, policies, and procedures, and share the experience and feedback with other network professionals

A divide-and-conquer approach is a troubleshooting method that involves breaking a complex problem into smaller and more manageable parts, and then testing each part to isolate the cause of the problem. In this scenario, the technician is using a divide-and-conquer approach by pinging the default gateway and DNS server of the workstation, which are two possible sources of connectivity issues. By pinging these devices, the technician can determine if the problem is related to the local network or the external network.

Which of the following most likely requires the use of subinterfaces?

• A router with only one available LAN port
• A firewall performing deep packet inspection
• A hub utilizing jumbo frames
• A switch using Spanning Tree Protocol

Answer: A

Subinterfaces are logical divisions of a physical interface that allow a router to communicate with multiple networks using a single LAN port. Subinterfaces can have different IP addresses, VLANs, and routing protocols. They are useful for reducing the number of physical interfaces and cables needed, as well as improving network performance and security.

References:

• Subinterfaces - CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Domain 1.21 - YouTube1
• CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 92

Which of the following is a characteristic of the application layer?

• It relies upon other layers for packet delivery.
• It checks independently for packet loss.
• It encrypts data in transit.
• It performs address translation.

Answer: A

The application layer is the highest layer of the OSI model, and it provides the interface between the user and the network. It does not handle the details of packet delivery, such as addressing, routing, error checking, or encryption. Those functions are performed by the lower layers of the OSI model. The application layer only focuses on the format, content, and presentation of the data.

References:

• Understanding the OSI Model – N10-008 CompTIA Network+ : 1.11
• CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 92

NIC teaming is a technique that combines two or more network interface cards (NICs) on a server into a single logical interface that can increase bandwidth, provide redundancy, and balance traffic. NIC teaming can be configured with different modes and algorithms depending on the desired outcome. Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) is a protocol that enables NIC teaming by dynamically bundling multiple links between two devices into one logical link. References: https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-008-exam-objectives-(2-0), https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/networking/technologies/nic-teaming/nic-teaming

Channel overlap is a common cause of wireless connectivity issues, especially in high-density environments where multiple APs are operating on the same or adjacent frequencies. Channel overlap can cause interference, signal degradation, and performance loss for wireless devices. The AP association time, EIRP, and RSSI are not likely to cause frequent disconnects and reconnects for wireless users.

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/

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.

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

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

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/

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.

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/

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Updating the firewalls with current firmware and software is an important step to ensure all the firewalls are hardened successfully, as it can fix any known vulnerabilities or bugs and provide new features or enhancements. Enabling an implicit permit rule is not a good practice for firewall hardening, as it can allow unwanted traffic to pass through the firewall. Configuring the log settings on the firewalls to the central syslog server is a good practice for monitoring and auditing purposes, but it does not harden the firewalls themselves. Using the same complex passwords on all firewalls is not a good practice for password security, as it can increase the risk of compromise if one firewall is breached. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives Version 2.0 (Exam Number: N10-006), Domain 3.0 Network Security, Objective 3.3 Given a scenario, implement network hardening techniques.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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/

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

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.

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/

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.

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.

Based on the site survey table, we can see that AP 2, AP 3, and AP 4 are all broadcasting on the same channel, which can cause interference and affect performance. Therefore, the next step a wireless technician should take to troubleshoot this issue is to reconfigure the channels to reduce overlap. This will help to improve network performance and eliminate any interference.

References:

• Network+ N10-007 Certification Exam Objectives, Objective 2.8: Given a scenario, troubleshoot common wireless problems and perform site surveys.

On the first exhibit, the layout should be as follows

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Exhibit 2 as follows

Access Point Name AP2

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Graphical user interface Description automatically generated

Exhibit 3 as follows

Access Point Name AP3

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Graphical user interface Description automatically generated

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

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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.

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

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

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/

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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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.

 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

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

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 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

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

A wireless controller is used to manage a corporate WLAN, providing centralized management and configuration of access points. References: CompTIA Network+ Certification Study Guide, Chapter 8: Wireless Networks.

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

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

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

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/

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/

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

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.

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

 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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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/

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

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.

 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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

 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

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

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

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

 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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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 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

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.

 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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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