Network+ Network Operations

Exam Objective 3

Physical Diagram

A visual representation showing the physical layout of devices, cables, and connections in a network.

Logical Diagram

A diagram showing network devices, logical flows, and connections without physical layout details.

Rack Diagram

A visual schematic illustrating the placement of networking equipment within racks or cabinets.

Cable Maps and Diagrams

Visual documentation showing cable routing and connections between network devices.

Network Diagrams

Diagrams depicting network topology and device connections at various layers

Layer 1

Physical layer connections involving cables and hardware.

Layer 2

Data link layer connections, including switches and MAC addressing.

Layer 3

Network layer connections, including routers and IP addressing.

Asset Inventory

A detailed list and tracking system for all network hardware and software assets.

Hardware

Physical devices such as routers, switches, servers, and endpoints included in the asset inventory.

Software

Applications and licensed software tracked as part of the asset inventory.

Licensing

Management and tracking of software licenses and compliance.

Warranty Support

Documentation and tracking of warranty and support agreements for hardware and software.

IP Address Management (IPAM)

Processes and tools used to plan, track, and manage IP address allocations in a network.

Service-Level Agreement (SLA)

A contract defining the expected level of service between a provider and a client.

Wireless Survey/Heat Map

An analysis and visual representation of wireless signal strength and coverage in an area.

Life-Cycle Management

Managing the stages of network device and software life from acquisition to retirement.

End-of-Life (EOL)

The point at which a product is no longer sold or produced by the manufacturer.

End-of-Support (EOS)

The point at which a manufacturer no longer provides updates or support for a product.

Software Management

Managing software updates and patches for network devices and systems.

Patches and Bug Fixes

Updates released to fix software vulnerabilities or improve performance.

Operating System (OS)

The software that manages hardware and network resources on devices.

Firmware

Low-level software programmed into hardware devices that controls their functions.

Decommissioning

The process of removing hardware or software from active use and properly disposing of it.

Change Management

Formal process to request, track, approve, and implement changes to the network.

Request Process Tracking/Service Request

Monitoring and documenting all change requests or service tickets throughout their lifecycle.

Configuration Management

Tracking and maintaining device settings and software configurations.

Production Configuration

The active configuration currently running on network devices.

Backup Configuration

Saved copies of configurations used to restore devices if needed.

Baseline/Golden Configuration

Standardized, approved configuration used as a reference for devices.

SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol used to monitor and manage network devices.

Traps

Notifications sent from devices to management systems signaling specific events or alerts.

Management Information Base (MIB)

A virtual database containing device objects monitored via SNMP.

Versions

SNMP protocol versions including v2c and v3, with varying features and security.

Community Strings

Passwords used to authenticate SNMP messages between devices and managers.

Authentication

Security mechanisms to validate SNMP communication.

Flow Data

Information collected about IP traffic flows for network analysis and monitoring.

Packet Capture

Technique of intercepting and logging traffic passing over a network.

Baseline Metrics

Standard measurements of normal network behavior used for anomaly detection.

Anomaly Alerting/Notification

Systems that detect and notify administrators of unusual network events.

Log Aggregation

Collecting logs from multiple devices into a centralized location.

Syslog Collector

A system that collects and stores syslog messages from network devices.

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)

Tools that provide real-time analysis of security alerts and events.

Application Programming Interface (API) Integration

Connecting and managing network devices and tools through APIs.

Port Mirroring

Copying network traffic from one port to another for monitoring and analysis.

Solutions

Tools and methods used for network management and troubleshooting.

Ad Hoc

Manual or spontaneous network discovery performed as needed.

Scheduled

Automated, recurring network discovery performed on a set schedule.

Traffic Analysis

Examining network traffic to identify patterns, issues, or threats.

Performance Monitoring

Tracking network performance metrics like bandwidth and latency.

Availability Monitoring

Checking uptime and accessibility of network devices and services.

Configuration Monitoring

Tracking changes and states of device configurations.

Recovery Point Objective (RPO)

The maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time during recovery.

Recovery Time Objective (RTO)

The target maximum time allowed to restore service after a failure.

Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)

Average time required to repair a failed component or device.

Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF)

Average expected time between device or system failures.

Cold Site

A backup location with infrastructure but no active equipment.

Warm Site

A backup site with pre-installed equipment and partial functionality.

Hot Site

A fully operational backup site with real-time data replication.

High-Availability Approaches

Methods to maintain continuous network service:

Active-Active

Multiple systems actively sharing load simultaneously.

Active-Passive

Primary system actively runs while secondary system waits for failover.

Tabletop Exercises

Discussion-based simulations of disaster scenarios and responses.

Validation Tests

Hands-on testing of recovery procedures to ensure effectiveness.

Site-to-Site VPN

Virtual private network connecting entire networks securely.

Client-to-Site VPN

VPN allowing individual clients to connect securely:

Clientless

VPN connection without client software.

Split Tunnel vs. Full Tunnel

Whether traffic is split between local network and VPN or fully routed through VPN.

Connection Methods

Methods to access and manage network devices:

SSH

Secure protocol for remote command-line management of network devices.

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Visual interface for managing network devices.

API

Application programming interface for automated management.

Console

Direct physical connection for device management.

Jump Box/Host

A dedicated system used as a secure gateway to access other network devices.

In-Band vs. Out-of-Band Management

Methods for managing devices:

In-Band Management

Managing devices over the same network used by regular traffic.

Out-of-Band Management

Using a dedicated management channel separate from regular network traffic.