CompTIA Network+ All Cards V.4

Cable Distribution Systems

Structured layout and organization of the network media to ensure efficient and reliable data communication

Cable Distribution System

Organized system to connect the network’s backbone in MDF to the IDF and to end user’s wall jacks

Demarcation Point

Location at which the Internet service provider’s connection ends and the network infrastructure and cabling begin

Main Distribution Frame (MDF)

Serves as the main starting pint for all interior cabling that will be distributed throughout the facility

Cable Tray

Unit or assembly of units that form a rigid structural system to secure the cables and raceways used by the cables as they go across the building

Racks

Designed to hold carious devices like switches, routers, patch panels, and servers to facilitate efficient space management and easy access for ongoing network maintenance

2-post Rack

Designed with two vertical posts and is used for lighter equipment or for patch panels and network cabling in telecommunications setups

4-post Rack

Designed with two vertical posts and is used for lighter equipment or for patch panels and network

Wall-mounted Rack

Space-saving solution used for smaller network equipment and is ideal for environments with limited floor space or for hosing peripheral network components

Full Cabinet Rack/ Rack Enclosure

Fully enclosed rack with sides, doors, and a top that offers a secure and protected environment for high-value equipment

Patch Panel

Device or unit featuring a number or jacks for the use of connecting and routing circuits for monitoring, interconnecting, and testing circuits in a convenient and flexible manner

110 Block

Type of punch down block for both voice and data applications that rely on CAT 5 or newer copper-based networks

Fiber Distribution Panel

Uses fiber connectors like SC, LC, ST, or MTRJ to make connections

Fox & Hound

Toner Probe

Power Distribution Systems

Ensure consistent and reliable power delivery for networking equipment, infrastructure, and environments

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source fails

Power Distribution Unit (PDU)

Specialized device for distributing electric power to various network components and computing equipment

Generator

Installed outside of a datacenter to provide longer-term power during a power outage in a region

Managing Power Load

Critical in preventing circuit overloads and ensuring efficient power usage inside datacenters

Voltage

Electric potential difference and is a key factor in power distribution systems

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System

Technology designed for indoor environmental comfort that provides temperature control, humidity management, and airflow regulation

Temperature Control

Fundamental consideration as computer networks and data centers house electronic equipment that generates heat

Humidity

Concentration of water vapor present in the air ( 40 to 60 %)

Port-side Exhaust and Intake

Strategic method of air distribution in which server racks are positioned in alternating rows with cold and hot air

Wet Pipe System

Most basic type of fire suppression system that involves using a sprinkler system and pipes that always contain water

Pre-action System

Helps minimize the risk of accidental releases when using a wt pipe system

Suppression System

Utilizes a clean agent as part of its suppression system

point-to-point Wireless Networks

Connect two distinct locations over long distances using high-gain antennas

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model

Developed in 1977 by the International Organization for Standardization

Reference Model

Used to categorize the functions of a network in the OSI Model during troubleshooting efforts

Physical Layer

Where transmission of bits across the network occurs and includes physical and electrical network characteristics

Transition Modulation

If it changes during the clock cycle, then a 1 is represented (otherwise, a 0 is represented)

Asynchronous

Uses start and stop bits to indicate when transmissions occur from the sender to the receiver

Synchronous

Uses a reference clock to coordinate the transmissions by both sender and receiver

Broadband

Divides bandwidth into separate channels

Baseband

Uses all available frequencies on a medium (cable) to transmit data. (Uses a reference clock)

Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM)

Each session takes a turn, using time slots, to share the medium between all users

Statistical Time-Division Multiplexing (StatTDM)

Dynamically allocates the time slots on an as-needed basis

Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM)

Divides the medium into channels based on frequencies and each session is transmitted over a different channel

Layer 1

Repeaters, passing along whatever is received. Fiber optic cable, Ethernet cable, Coaxial cable, Bluetooth, Wi-FI, Near Field Communication (NFC), Hubs, Access points, Media Converters

Data Link Layer

Packages data into frames and transmits those frames on the network

Media Access Control (MAC)

Physical addressing system of a device which operates on a logical topology

Logical Link Control (LLC)

Provides connection services and allows acknowledgement of receipt of messages. (the most basic form of flow control)

Isochronous

Network devices use a common reference clock source and create time slots for transmission

Synchronous

Network devices agree on clocking method to indicate beginning and end of frames and can use control characters

Asynchronous

Network devices reference internal clocks and use start and stop bits for synchronization

Packet Switching

Data is divided into packets and then forwarded

Circuit Switching

Dedicated communication link is established between two devices

Message Switching

Data is divided into messages which may be stored and then forwarded

Route Discovery and Selection

Manually configured as a static route or dynamically through a routing protocol

Connection Services

Augment Layer 2 connection services to improve reliability

Internet Control Message Protocol

Sends error messages and operational information to an IP destination

Transport Layer

Dividing line between the upper layers and the lower layers of the OSI model

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

Connection-oriented protocol that is a reliable way to transport segments across the network

User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

Connectionless protocol that is an unreliable way to transport segments across the network

Windowing

Allows the clients to adjust the amount of data in each segment

Buffering

Occurs when devices allocate memory to store segments if bandwidth is not readily available

Session Layer

Keeps Conversations separate to prevent intermingling of data

Set Up Session

Checking of users credentials and assigning numbers to sessions to help identify them

Maintain Session

Where data transfers back and forth across the network

Tear Down Session

Ending of a session after the transfer is done or when the other party disconnects

H.323

Used to set up, maintain, and tear down voice and video connections (operates over Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP)

NetBios

Used to share files over a network

Layer 5 Examples

H.323, RTP, NetBios

Presentation Layer

Formats the data to be exchanged and secures that data with proper encryption

Data Formatting

Data is formatted by the computer to have compatibility between different devices

Encryption

Used to scramble the data in transit to keep it secure from prying eyes and provide data confidentiality

Application Layer

Provides application-level services where users communicate with the computer

Application Services

Unites communicating components from more than one network application

Service Adevertisement

Sending out of announcements to other devices on the network to state the services they offer

Encapsulation

The process of putting headers (and trailers) around some data

Decapsulation

The process of removing headers (and trailers) around some data

Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Flag

A single unit of information transmitted in a computer network

SYN (Synchronization) Flag

Used to synchronize connection during the three-way handshake

ACK (Acknowledgment) Flag

Used during the three-way handshake, but also used to acknowledge the successful receipt of packets

FIN (Finished) Flag

Used to tear down the virtual connections created using the three-way handshake and the SYN flag

RST (Reset) Flag

Used when a client or server receives a packet that it was not expecting during the current connection

PSH (Push) Flag

Used to ensure data is given priority and is processed at the sending or receiving ends

URG (Urgent) Flag

Similar to PSH and identifies incoming data as urgent

MAC Address

Physical address that is used to identify a network card on a local area network

Ether Type

Used to indicate which protocol is encapsulated in the payload of a frame. IPV4 or IPV6 would be indicated here

Wireshark

Packet analyzer that can pull apart some network traffic and show different layers of the OSI model

Networks

Encompass a diverse range of connections extending to both wireless networks and wired networks

Clients

Devices that users access the network with

Servers

Provide resources to the network

Hubs

Older network devices that connect other devices like clients and servers over a local area network

Switches

“Smarter hubs” that provide more security and more efficient bandwidth utilization

Wireless Access Points (WAPs/APs)

Allow wireless devices to connect to a wired network

Routers

Used to connect different networks together

Firewalls

Security barriers between internal networks and the external world (usually the Internet)

Load Balancers

Devices or software that distribute network or application traffic across multiple servers

Proxy

Acts as an intermediary between a user’s device and the Internet

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)

Detect unauthorized access or anomalies and alert administrators

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Not only detect threats, but also take action to prevent intrusion

Controllers

In Software-Defines Networking (SDN) context, these are central units used to manager flow control to networking devices.

Network-attached Storage (NAS) Device

Dedicated file storage system that provides data access to a heterogeneous group of clients

Storage Area Network (SAN)

High-speed network that provides access to consolidated block-level data storage

Media

In networking, it refers to the physical materials used to transmit data

Wide Area Network (WAN) Link

Used to connect networks over large geographical areas

Client/Server Model

Utilizes a dedicated server to provide access to network resources (files, scanners, printers, etc.)