CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Exam Objectives Notes

Test Details

  • Required Exam: A+ Core 1 (220-1101)

  • Number of Questions: Maximum of 90

  • Types of Questions: Multiple-choice and performance-based. Performance-based questions assess practical skills and problem-solving abilities.

  • Length of Test: 90 minutes

  • Recommended Experience: 12 months of hands-on experience

  • Passing Score: 675 (on a scale of 100–900)

Exam Objectives (Domains)

The exam covers the following domains with the given weightage:

  • 1.0 Mobile Devices: 15%

  • 2.0 Networking: 20%

  • 3.0 Hardware: 25%

  • 4.0 Virtualization and Cloud Computing: 11%

  • 5.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting: 29%

1.0 Mobile Devices

1.1 Laptop Hardware and Components

  • Hardware/device replacement:

    • Battery: Identifying battery types, handling precautions and proper disposal methods.

    • Keyboard/keys: Replacing damaged keys or entire keyboards, understanding different keyboard layouts.

    • Random-access memory (RAM): Upgrading or replacing RAM modules, understanding RAM types and compatibility.

    • Hard disk drive (HDD)/solid-state drive (SSD) migration: Transferring data from an old drive to a new one, understanding different drive interfaces and speeds.

    • HDD/SSD replacement: Replacing damaged or outdated storage drives, understanding form factors and interfaces.

    • Wireless cards: Replacing or upgrading wireless cards, understanding different wireless protocols and standards.

  • Physical privacy and security components:

    • Biometrics: Fingerprint scanners, facial recognition, and other biometric authentication methods.

    • Near-field scanner features: Understanding NFC technology and its security implications.

1.2 Display Components

  • Types:

    • Liquid crystal display (LCD):

      • In-plane switching (IPS): Wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction.

      • Twisted nematic (TN): Fast response times, suitable for gaming.

      • Vertical alignment (VA): High contrast ratios and good viewing angles.

    • Organic light-emitting diode (OLED): Superior contrast and color accuracy, self-emissive pixels.

  • Mobile display components

  • WiFi antenna connector/placement

  • Camera/webcam

  • Microphone

  • Touch screen/digitizer

  • Inverter: Powers the backlight in older LCD screens.

1.3 Accessories and Ports

  • Connection methods:

    • Universal Serial Bus (USB)/ USB-C/microUSB/miniUSB: Connecting peripherals and charging devices.

    • Lightning: Apple's proprietary connector for iPhones and iPads.

    • Serial interfaces: Legacy interface for connecting peripherals.

    • Near-field communication (NFC): Short-range wireless communication for payments and data transfer.

    • Bluetooth: Wireless communication for connecting peripherals and devices.

    • Hotspot: Sharing a mobile device's internet connection with other devices.

  • Accessories:

    • Touch pens: Styluses for touch screen devices.

    • Headsets: Audio input and output devices.

    • Speakers: Audio output devices.

    • Webcam: Video input device.

  • Docking station: Provides additional ports and connectivity options for laptops.

  • Port replicator: Expands the number of available ports on a laptop.

  • Trackpad/drawing pad: Input devices for navigation and drawing.

1.4 Mobile-Device Network Connectivity and Application Support

  • Wireless/cellular data network (enable/disable):

    • 2G/3G/4G/5G: Different generations of cellular network technology.

    • Hotspot: Sharing a mobile device's internet connection with other devices.

    • Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) vs. code-division multiple access (CDMA): Two different cellular network technologies.

    • Preferred Roaming List (PRL) updates: Updates the list of preferred cellular networks for roaming.

  • Bluetooth:

    • Enable Bluetooth

    • Enable pairing

    • Find a device for pairing

    • Enter the appropriate PIN code

    • Test connectivity

  • Location services:

    • Global Positioning System (GPS) services

    • Cellular location services

  • Mobile device management (MDM)/mobile application management (MAM):

    • Corporate email configuration

    • Two-factor authentication: Adding an extra layer of security to logins.

    • Corporate applications: Managing and distributing applications to mobile devices.

  • Mobile device synchronization:

    • Account setup:

      • Microsoft 365

      • Google Workspace

      • iCloud

    • Data to synchronize:

      • Mail

      • Photos

      • Calendar

      • Contacts

    • Recognizing data caps: Understanding and managing data usage limits.

2.0 Networking

2.1 TCP and UDP Ports and Protocols

  • Ports and protocols:

    • 20/21 – File Transfer Protocol (FTP): Used for transferring files between a client and a server.

    • 22 – Secure Shell (SSH): Provides secure remote access to a server.

    • 23 – Telnet: Provides unencrypted remote access to a server (less secure than SSH).

    • 25 – Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP): Used for sending email.

    • 53 – Domain Name System (DNS): Translates domain names to IP addresses.

    • 67/68 – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP): Automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network.

    • 80 – Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): Used for accessing websites.

    • 110 – Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3): Used for retrieving email.

    • 137/139 – Network Basic Input/Output System (NetBIOS)/NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT): Provides networking services for applications on a local area network.

    • 143 – Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP): Used for retrieving email and managing mailboxes on a server.

    • 161/162 – Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): Used for monitoring and managing network devices.

    • 389 – Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP): Used for accessing directory services.

    • 443 – Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS): Secure version of HTTP, used for accessing secure websites.

    • 445 – Server Message Block (SMB)/Common Internet File System (CIFS): Provides file sharing and printing services on a network.

    • 3389 – Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): Provides remote access to a computer.

  • TCP vs. UDP:

    • Connectionless:

      • DHCP

      • Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)

    • Connection-oriented:

      • HTTPS

      • SSH

2.2 Common Networking Hardware

  • Routers: Forward network traffic between networks.

  • Switches:

    • Managed: Allows configuration and management of network traffic.

    • Unmanaged: Plug-and-play devices that do not require configuration.

  • Access points: Provide wireless network access.

  • Patch panel: Centralized point for connecting network cables.

  • Firewall: Protects a network from unauthorized access.

  • Power over Ethernet (PoE):

    • Injectors: Add PoE capability to non-PoE devices.

    • Switch: Provides PoE power to connected devices.

    • PoE standards: Define the amount of power that can be delivered over Ethernet cables.

  • Hub: Older device that forwards network traffic to all connected devices (less efficient than a switch).

  • Cable modem: Provides internet access via cable television lines.

  • Digital subscriber line (DSL): Provides internet access via telephone lines.

  • Optical network terminal (ONT): Provides internet access via fiber optic lines.

  • Network interface card (NIC): Connects a computer to a network.

  • Software-defined networking (SDN): Allows network administrators to manage network services via software.

2.3 Wireless Networking Protocols

  • Frequencies

    • 2.4GHz: Shorter range, better at penetrating walls.

    • 5GHz: Longer range, less interference.

  • Channels

    • Regulations: Govern the use of wireless frequencies.

    • 2.4GHz vs. 5GHz: Different characteristics and suitability for different environments.

  • Bluetooth

  • 802.11

    • a

    • b

    • g

    • n

    • ac (WiFi 5)

    • ax (WiFi 6)

  • Long-range fixed wireless

    • Licensed: Requires a license to operate.

    • Unlicensed: Does not require a license to operate.

    • Power: Transmit power is limited by regulations.

    • Regulatory requirements for wireless power

  • NFC

  • Radio-frequency identification (RFID)

2.4 Services Provided by Networked Hosts

  • Server roles:

    • DNS

    • DHCP

    • Fileshare

    • Print servers

    • Mail servers

    • Syslog

    • Web servers

    • Authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA)

  • Internet appliances:

    • Spam gateways

    • Unified threat management (UTM)

    • Load balancers

    • Proxy servers

  • Legacy/embedded systems:

    • Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)

  • Internet of Things (IoT) devices

2.5 SOHO Network Configuration

  • Internet Protocol (IP) addressing

    • IPv4

      • Private addresses

      • Public addresses

    • IPv6

    • Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)

    • Static

    • Dynamic

    • Gateway

2.6 Common Network Configuration Concepts

  • DNS

    • Address- A

      • AAAA

    • Mail exchanger (MX)

    • Text (TXT)

      • Spam management

        • DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM)

        • Sender Policy Framework (SPF)

        • Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC)

  • DHCP

    • Leases

    • Reservations

    • Scope

  • Virtual LAN (VLAN)

  • Virtual private network (VPN)

2.7 Internet Connection and Network Types

  • Internet connection types

    • Satellite

    • Fiber

    • Cable

    • DSL

    • Cellular

    • Wireless Internet service provider (WISP)

  • Network types

    • Local area network (LAN)

    • Wide area network (WAN)

    • Personal area network (PAN)

    • Metropolitan area network (MAN)

    • Storage area network (SAN)

    • Wireless local area network (WLAN)

2.8 Networking Tools

  • Crimper

  • Cable stripper

  • WiFi analyzer

  • Toner probe

  • Punchdown tool

  • Cable tester

  • Loopback plug

  • Network tap

3.0 Hardware

3.1 Cable Types and Connectors

  • Network cables

    • Copper

      • Cat 5

      • Cat 5e

      • Cat 6

      • Cat 6a

      • Coaxial

      • Shielded twisted pair (STP)

        • Direct burial

      • Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)

    • Plenum

    • Optical

      • Fiber

    • T568A/T568B

  • Peripheral cables

    • USB 2.0

    • USB 3.0

    • Serial

    • Thunderbolt

  • Video cables

    • High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

    • DisplayPort

    • Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

    • Video Graphics Array (VGA)

  • Hard drive cables

    • Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)

    • Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

    • External SATA (eSATA)

    • Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE)

  • Adapters

  • Connector types

    • RJ11

    • RJ45

    • F type

    • Straight tip (ST)

    • Subscriber connector (SC)

    • Lucent connector (LC)

    • Punchdown block

    • microUSB

    • miniUSB

    • USB-C

    • Molex

    • Lightning port

    • DB9

3.2 RAM Installation

  • RAM types

    • Virtual RAM

    • Small outline dual inline memory module (SODIMM)

    • Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3)

    • Double Data Rate 4 (DDR4)

    • Double Data Rate 5 (DDR5)

    • Error correction code (ECC) RAM

  • Single-channel

  • Dual-channel

  • Triple-channel

  • Quad-channel

3.3 Storage Device Selection and Installation

  • Hard drives

    • Speeds

      • 5,400rpm

      • 7,200rpm

      • 10,000rpm

      • 15,000rpm

    • Form factor

      • 2.5

      • 3.5

  • SSDs

    • Communications interfaces

      • Non-volatile Memory Express (NVMe)

      • SATA

      • Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)

    • Form factors

      • M.2

      • mSATA

  • Drive configurations

    • Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks (RAID) 0, 1, 5, 10

  • Removable storage

    • Flash drives

    • Memory cards

    • Optical drives

3.4 Motherboard, CPU, and Add-on Card Installation

  • Motherboard form factor

    • Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX)

    • Information Technology eXtended (ITX)

  • Motherboard connector types

    • Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

    • PCI Express (PCIe)

    • Power connectors

    • SATA

    • eSATA

    • Headers

    • M.2

  • Motherboard compatibility

    • CPU sockets

      • Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD)

      • Intel

      • Server

      • Multisocket

      • Desktop

      • Mobile

  • Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)/Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) settings

    • Boot options

    • USB permissions

    • Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security features

    • Fan considerations

    • Secure Boot

    • Boot password

  • Encryption

    • TPM

    • Hardware security module (HSM)

  • CPU architecture

    • x64/x86

    • Advanced RISC Machine (ARM)

    • Single-core

    • Multicore

    • Multithreading

    • Virtualization support

  • Expansion cards

    • Sound card

    • Video card

    • Capture card

    • NIC

  • Cooling

    • Fans

    • Heat sink

    • Thermal paste/pads

    • Liquid

3.5 Power Supply Installation and Replacement

  • Input 110-120 VAC vs. 220-240 VAC

  • Output 3.3V vs. 5V vs. 12V

  • 20-pin to 24-pin motherboard adapter

  • Redundant power supply

  • Modular power supply

  • Wattage rating

3.6 Multifunction Devices/Printers

  • Properly unboxing a device – setup location considerations

  • Use appropriate drivers for a given OS

    • Printer Control Language (PCL) vs. PostScript

  • Device connectivity

    • USB

    • Ethernet

    • Wireless

  • Public/shared devices

    • Printer share

    • Print server

  • Configuration settings

    • Duplex

    • Orientation

    • Tray settings

    • Quality

  • Security

    • User authentication

    • Badging

    • Audit logs

    • Secured prints

  • Network scan services

    • Email

    • SMB

    • Cloud services

  • Automatic document feeder (ADF)/flatbed scanner

3.7 Printer Consumables

  • Laser

    • Imaging drum, fuser assembly, transfer belt, transfer roller, pickup rollers, separation pads, duplexing assembly

    • Imaging process: processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing, and cleaning

    • Maintenance: Replace toner, apply maintenance kit, calibrate, clean

  • Inkjet

    • Ink cartridge, print head, roller, feeder, duplexing assembly, carriage belt

    • Calibration

    • Maintenance: Clean heads, replace cartridges, calibrate, clear jams

  • Thermal

    • Feed assembly, heating element

    • Special thermal paper

    • Maintenance: Replace paper, clean heating element, remove debris

    • Heat sensitivity of paper

  • Impact

    • Print head, ribbon, tractor feed

    • Impact paper

    • Maintenance: Replace ribbon, replace print head, replace paper

  • 3-D printer

    • Filament

    • Resin

    • Print bed

4.0 Virtualization and Cloud Computing

4.1 Cloud Computing Concepts

  • Common cloud models

    • Private cloud

    • Public cloud

    • Hybrid cloud

    • Community cloud

    • Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

    • Software as a service (SaaS)

    • Platform as a service (PaaS)

  • Cloud characteristics

    • Shared resources

    • Metered utilization

    • Rapid elasticity

    • High availability

    • File synchronization

  • Desktop virtualization

    • Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) on premises

    • VDI in the cloud

4.2 Client-Side Virtualization

  • Purpose of virtual machines

    • Sandbox

    • Test development

    • Application virtualization

      • Legacy software/OS

      • Cross-platform virtualization

  • Resource requirements

  • Security requirements

5.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting

5.1 Troubleshooting Methodology

  • Always consider corporate policies, procedures, and impacts before implementing changes

    1. Identify the problem

      • Gather information from the user, identify user changes, and, if applicable, perform backups before making changes

      • Inquire regarding environmental or infrastructure changes

    2. Establish a theory of probable cause (question the obvious)

      • If necessary, conduct external or internal research based on symptoms

    3. Test the theory to determine the cause

      • Once the theory is confirmed, determine the next steps to resolve the problem

      • If the theory is not confirmed, re-establish a new theory or escalate

    4. Establish a plan of action to resolve the problem and implement the solution

      • Refer to the vendor’s instructions for guidance

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

    6. Document the findings, actions, and outcomes

5.2 Motherboard, RAM, CPU, and Power Troubleshooting

  • Common symptoms

    • Power-on self-test (POST) beeps

    • Proprietary crash screens (blue screen of death [BSOD]/pinwheel)

    • Black screen

    • No power

    • Sluggish performance

    • Overheating

    • Burning smell

    • Intermittent shutdown

    • Application crashes

    • Grinding noise

    • Capacitor swelling

    • Inaccurate system date/time

5.3 Storage Drive and RAID Array Troubleshooting

  • Common symptoms

    • Light-emitting diode (LED) status indicators

    • Grinding noises

    • Clicking sounds

    • Bootable device not found

    • Data loss/corruption

    • RAID failure

    • Self-monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) failure

    • Extended read/write times

    • Input/output operations per second (IOPS)

    • Missing drives in OS

5.4 Video, Projector, and Display Troubleshooting

  • Common symptoms

    • Incorrect data source

    • Physical cabling issues

    • Burned-out bulb

    • Fuzzy image

    • Display burn-in

    • Dead pixels

    • Flashing screen

    • Incorrect color display

    • Audio issues

    • Dim image

    • Intermittent projector shutdown

5.5 Mobile Device Troubleshooting

  • Common symptoms

    • Poor battery health

    • Swollen battery

    • Broken screen

    • Improper charging

    • Poor/no connectivity

    • Liquid damage

    • Overheating

    • Digitizer issues

    • Physically damaged ports

    • Malware

    • Cursor drift/touch calibration

5.6 Printer Troubleshooting

  • Common symptoms

    • Lines down the printed pages

    • Garbled print

    • Toner not fusing to paper

    • Paper jams

    • Faded print

    • Incorrect paper size

    • Paper not feeding

    • Multipage misfeed

    • Multiple prints pending in queue

    • Speckling