Compare local networking hardware

A network uses an IEEE 802.11 standard to establish connections. What type of network is this?

A wireless local area network (WLAN)

What type of network has no specific geographical restrictions?

A wide area network (WAN) can span any geographical distance.

A network uses Fiber Channel adapters to implement connections. What type of network is this?

A storage area network (SAN).

True or false? A MAC address identifies the network to which a NIC is attached.

False. A media access control (MAC) address is a unique hardware identifier for an interface port. It does not convey any information about logical network addresses.

A workstation must be provisioned with a 4 Gbps network link. Is it possible to specify a single NIC to meet this requirement?

Yes. On an NIC with 4 gigabit Ethernet ports, the ports can be bonded to establish a 4 Gbps link.

You are completing a network installation as part of a team. Another group has cabled wall ports to a patch panel. Is any additional infrastructure required?

Yes. The patch panel terminates cabling, but it does not establish any connections between the cable segments. You must install a networking appliance to act as a concentrator and connect the cable segments. On modern networks, this means installing a switch and cabling it to the patch panel ports using RJ45 patch cords.

You are planning to install a network of wireless access points with power supplied over data cabling. Each access point requires a 20W power supply. What version of PoE must the switch support to fulfill this requirement?

PoE+ (802.3at) or PoE++/4PPoE (802.3bt).

You are performing a wiring job, but the company wants to purchase the media and components from another preferred supplier. The plan is to install a network using copper cabling that will support Gigabit Ethernet. The customer is about to purchase Cat 5e cable spools. What factors should they consider before committing to this decision?

Cat5e will meet the requirement and will cost the least. Cat 6 offers better performance without adding too much cost. Cat 6A would be the best choice for supporting future requirements, but it is likely to cost more than the customer is budgeting for.

A network consultant is recommending the use of S/FTP to extend a cable segment through a factory. Is this likely to be an appropriate cable choice?

Yes. Shielded/foiled twisted pair (S/FTP) will provide the best protection from the external interference sources likely to be generated by factory machinery.

You are reviewing network inventory and come across an undocumented cable reel with "CMP/MMP" marked on the jacket. What installation type is this cable most suitable for?

The cable is plenum cable, rated for use in plenum spaces (building voids used with HVAC systems).

You need to connect permanent cable to the back of a patch panel. Which networking tool might help you?

A cable stripper to remove the jacket insulation and a punchdown tool to terminate the wire pairs into insulation displacement connector (IDC) blocks.

Which fiber optic connector uses a small form factor design?

The Lucent Connector (LC).

You are assessing standards compatibility for a Wi-Fi network. Most employees have mobile devices with single-band 2.4 GHz radios. Which Wi-Fi standards work in this band?

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), and the legacy standards 802.11g and 802.11b.

You are explaining your plan to use the 5 GHz band predominantly for an open plan office network. The business owner has heard that this is shorter range, so what are its advantages over the 2.4 GHz band?

Each numbered channel in a 2.4 GHz network is only 5 MHz wide, while Wi-Fi requires about 20 MHz. Consequently, there is not much space for separate networks, and the chances of overlap are high. Numerous other product types of work in the 2.4 GHz band, increasing the risk of interference. Using 5 GHz will present a better opportunity to use channel bonding to increase bandwidth. As an open plan office does not have solid walls or other building features to block signals, the slightly reduced range of 5 GHz signaling should not be a significant drawback.

Can 802.11ac achieve higher throughput to a single client by multiplexing the signals from both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands? Why or why not?

No. First, a client can only use one radio at a time and so cannot connect simultaneously to the 2.4 GHZ and 5 GHz bands. Secondl, 802.11ac works only at 5 GHz; 802.11ac access points use the 2.4 GHz band to support 802.11b/g/n clients. The 802.11ac standard can increase bandwidth by using multiple input output (MIMO) antenna configurations to allocate more streams, such as 2x2 or 3x3.

You are setting up a Wi-Fi network. Do you need to configure the BSSID?

No. You need to configure the service set identifier (SSID), unless you want to rely on the default value. The SSID is a name for users to recognize the network by. The basic SSID (BSSID) is the MAC address of the access point’s radio. As this is coded into the device firmware, it does not need to be configured. Stations use the BSSID to send frames to the access point.

True or false? Only a single network name can be configured on a single access point.

False. Each band can be assigned a different service set identifier (SSID) or network name. Access points also allow the configuration of multiple SSIDs per radio, such as configuring a secure network for known clients and an open network for guests.

True or false? A long-range fixed wireless installation operating without a license is always illegal.

False. These installations may use unlicensed spectrum but must not exceed the effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) defined for the frequency band by regulations.