Networking Exam Ultimate Study Guide.

Host Devices (End Devices)

Devices situated at the network edge hosting applications, providing services directly to users.

Switch

Intermediary hardware that connects multiple local devices within a network.

Router

Intermediary device that forwards data packets between disparate networks.

Wireless Router

Integrates access point functionality and typically incorporates a switch for wired connections.

Access Point (AP)

Connects to a router or network infrastructure to extend wireless coverage.

Modem

Connects a home or small office network to the Internet service provider infrastructure.

LAN (Local Area Network)

Encompasses devices connected over a limited geographic area; managed by an individual or enterprise IT department.

VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)

Segments switch ports to function as multiple discrete switches, isolating traffic.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)

Connects endpoints wirelessly using radio frequencies within a small geographic range.

PAN (Personal Area Network)

Interconnects devices within an individual's workspace using short-range Bluetooth technology.

WMN (Wireless Mesh Network)

Employs interconnected access points to expand WLAN coverage dynamically.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

Spans across a city or educational/corporate campus using fiber-optic cabling or wireless links.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

Links multiple distinct networks over large geographic separations through contracted service providers.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Establishes an encrypted, secure tunnel over public infrastructure to provide remote access.

Analog Telephone (Dial-up)

Uses a modem to connect and requires dialing configurations including area codes and outside-line prefixes.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

Multi-channel broadband standard carrying voice, video, and data concurrently across copper lines.

Broadband

Multiplexes concurrent signals across different transmission frequencies on a single shared medium.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

Always-on connection carrying voice and data over separate frequencies on copper phone lines.

VDSL (Very High-Speed DSL)

Supports speeds up to 26 Mbps symmetric or 52 Mbps asymmetric download and 6 Mbps upload.

Cable

Delivers network access, voice, and television transmissions via coaxial infrastructure linked to a modem.

Fiber

Transmits high-speed network traffic as pulses of light over optical fiber lines.

Satellite

Primarily utilized in rural regions lacking wired cable or DSL infrastructure.

Cellular, Tethering, and Hotspots

Utilizes cellular networks; tethering links devices to a cell phone for data access.

Port Identification

TCP and UDP associate logical port numbers with application layer sessions rather than physical ports.

Source Port

Dynamically assigned by the local system to isolate multiple concurrent sessions of the same application.

Destination Port

Fixed, well-known port number mapping to the target server-side application service.

DNS (Domain Name Service)

Resolves domain names into IP addresses, typically using UDP for requests and TCP for larger transfers.

HTTP

Unencrypted hypertext transfer protocol serving web pages and multimedia, operating on port 80.

HTTPS

Encrypted, authenticated hypertext transport serving secure web content, operating on port 443.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

Handles client-to-server outbound email dispatch and server-to-server mail relaying, operating on port 25.

POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3)

Downloads stored email messages directly from a mail server, operating on port 110.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

Facilitates remote synchronization and management of email messages on a server, operating on port 143.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

Unencrypted client/server file transfer using ports 20 (Data) and 21 (Control); SFTP is a secure replacement.

TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)

Low-overhead, connectionless file transfer operating on port 69.

SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block / Common Internet File System)

Standard file, directory, and printer sharing mechanism for Microsoft, operating on port 445.

AFP (Apple Filing Protocol)

Proprietary Apple protocol for file services across macOS environments, operating on port 548.

SSH (Secure Shell)

Authenticated, encrypted command-line terminal access to remote hosts, operating on port 22.

Telnet

Unencrypted, plain-text remote command-line access operating on port 23.

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)

Provides full remote desktop control, operating on port 3389.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

Automates client IP addressing and other configurations, operating on ports 67 (Server) and 68 (Client).

NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT)

Enables legacy NetBIOS communication over TCP/IP networks, operating on ports 137-139.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

Transmits centralized monitoring metrics and management alerts for network infrastructure, operating on ports 161 and 162.

SLP (Service Location Protocol)

Dynamically advertises and identifies available local network shared services operating on port 427.