Networking Infrastructures Overview

  • This event challenges participants to demonstrate their knowledge of network administration and infrastructure through an objective test.
  • Topics covered include:
    • Network design
    • Protocols
    • Hardware
    • Security
  • Importance: Reliable connectivity is crucial in today's digital workplace.

Event Overview

  • Division: High School
  • Event Type: Individual Event
  • Event Category: Objective Test
  • Event Elements:
    • Length: 50-minute test
    • Question Format: 100 multiple-choice questions

Educational Alignments

  • Career Cluster Framework Connection: Digital Technology
  • NACE Competency Alignment:
    • Career & Self-Development
    • Critical Thinking
    • Technology Knowledge Areas

Knowledge Areas

  • Networking Basics
  • Network Topologies and Architecture
  • Network Security
  • Network Protocols and Standards
  • Network Hardware and Connectivity
  • Test questions are based on the aforementioned knowledge areas and objectives outlined for this event.

Competition Information

  • District/Region/Section: Check with district leadership for specific competition information and deadlines.
  • State: Contact state leader for state-specific competition information and deadlines.

National Required Competition Items

  • Important FBLA Documents:
    • Competitors should be familiar with:
    • Competitive Events Policy & Procedures Manual
    • Honor Code
    • Code of Conduct
    • Dress Code

Eligibility Requirements

  • Membership Deadline:
    • Members must pay FBLA national membership dues by March 1, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • Repeat Competitors:
    • Members can only compete in an event at the NLC more than once if they have not previously placed in the top 10 of that event; if so, ineligible for future events unless modified.
  • Conference Registration:
    • Must be officially registered and pay the national conference registration fee.
  • Official Hotel Requirement:
    • Must stay within the official FBLA housing block.
  • State Entry Limits:
    • Each state may submit up to four entries per event.
  • Event Participation Limits:
    • Each member may participate in:
    • One individual or team event
    • One chapter event (e.g., Community Service Project or Local Chapter Annual Business Report)
  • Competitor Responsibility:
    • Only registered competitors can plan, research, prepare, and set up their presentations; assistance from advisers and others is not allowed.
  • Participation Requirement:
    • Must complete all event components to qualify for an award.
  • Identification at Check-in:
    • Must present valid photo ID (physical or digital), matching the name on the conference badge.
  • Late Arrivals:
    • Allowed to compete until results are finalized; five penalty points will be deducted for late arrivals.

Event Schedule Notes

  • Schedules are posted in local time for the NLC host city.
  • No schedule changes are permitted.

Event Administration

  • Test Duration: 50 minutes
  • Format: Online objective test proctored and completed on-site.
  • Materials: No reference or study materials are allowed.
  • Calculators: Personal calculators are not permitted; an online calculator will be provided within the platform.
  • Question Review: Ability to flag questions for review within the testing platform.

Scoring

  • Each correct answer earns one point; no penalty for incorrect answers.
  • Tiebreakers:
    1. Number of correct responses to 10 pre-selected tiebreaker questions.
    2. If still tied, review responses to 20 pre-selected questions.
    3. If a tie persists, the fastest completion time will rank higher.
  • Results are official once announced and cannot change post-NLC.

Penalty Points

  • Possibility of disqualification for Code of Conduct or Honor Code violations.
  • Five points deducted for Dress Code violations or late arrivals.

Recognition

  • A maximum of 10 entries (individuals or teams) may be recognized per event.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

  • FBLA complies by providing reasonable accommodations; requests must be submitted via registration system before the official deadline.

Electronic Devices

  • All electronic devices must be turned off and stored away unless documented accommodation is provided; visible devices are Honor Code violations.

Sample Preparation Resources

  • Official sample test items available in CONNECT to familiarize competitors with test format and questions.

Study Guide: Knowledge Areas and Objectives

Networking Basics (20 test items)

  1. Characteristics and types of LANs (e.g., SOHO, enterprise, datacenter).
  2. Functions of the physical and data link layers of the OSI model.
  3. Functions of network and transport layers of the OSI model.
  4. Functions of session, presentation, and application layers of the OSI model.
  5. How data travels across networks (e.g., packets, routers, switches).
  6. Devices receiving internet connection (e.g., ISP, equipment, cabling).
  7. Purpose of IP addresses, MAC addresses, and subnetting.
  8. Differences between IPv4 and IPv6.
  9. IPv4 address classes.

Network Topologies and Architecture (20 test items)

  1. Examples of peer-to-peer and client-server networks.
  2. Characteristics of different types of networks (e.g., LAN, MAN, WAN).
  3. Recommend network topologies according to business needs (e.g., bus, mesh, star).
  4. Explain characteristics of network topologies (e.g., star, bus, ring, mesh).
  5. Wireless connectivity options for various scales of networks.
  6. Use cases for IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.
  7. Benefits, costs, and risks of cloud architectures.
  8. Factors affecting range, speed, and reliability of wireless connections.
  9. Characteristics of 5G networks.

Network Security (25 test items)

  1. Differences between risks, vulnerabilities, exploits, and threats.
  2. Internal and external sources of risk and vulnerabilities (e.g., zero-day, employees, outdated software).
  3. Basic forms of network security (e.g., user management, permissions, encryption, authentication).
  4. Malware protection measures (e.g., antivirus, filtering, patch management).
  5. Characteristics of DoS attacks (e.g., botnets, overload, DDoS).
  6. Common network attacks (e.g., phishing, spoofing, poisoning).
  7. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
  8. Vulnerability mitigations (e.g., closing ports, software updates, antivirus).
  9. Importance of hashing, digital signatures, and certificates in network security.
  10. Characteristics of authentication methods (e.g., MFA, SSO, remote authentication).

Network Protocols and Standards (20 test items)

  1. Common transfer protocols (e.g., FTP, SFTP, SMTP).
  2. Relationship between DNS, DHCP, and IP addresses.
  3. 802.11 wireless standards characteristics (e.g., range, speed, frequency).
  4. 802.3 wired standards characteristics (e.g., range, speed, frequency).
  5. Characterize TCP and UDP.
  6. Dynamic routing protocols (e.g., BGP, EIGRP, OSPF).
  7. Well-known ports reserved for specific protocols (e.g., port 22 for SFTP and SSH).
  8. Use of network address translation (NAT).
  9. Wireless encryption standards (e.g., WPA2, WPA3).

Network Hardware and Connectivity (15 test items)

  1. Functions of common network devices (e.g., modems, routers, switches).
  2. Function and characteristics of network adapters (e.g., NIC, virtual adapters, PCIe adapters).
  3. Ethernet cable types (e.g., STP, UTP, coaxial).
  4. Fiber optic cable types and connectors.
  5. Benefits of rack and blade server infrastructures.
  6. Equipment needed for Internet connectivity.
  7. Use of NAS and RAID hard drive configurations.

References for Knowledge Areas & Objectives

  • Association for Computing Machinery. Information Technology Curricula 2017. https://www.acm.org/binaries/content/assets/education/curricula-recommendations/it2017.pdf
  • CompTIA. CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Core 1 Objectives. https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-a-220-1101-exam-objectives-(3-0)
  • CompTIA. CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Core 2 Objectives. https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-a-220-1101-exam-objectives-(3-0)
  • CompTIA. CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Objectives. https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-network-n10-009-exam-objectives-(4-0)
  • IBM. What is network infrastructure? https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/network-infrastructure
  • Microsoft. Fundamentals of computer networking. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/network-fundamentals/

Conclusion

  • These guidelines serve as a comprehensive resource for participants in the Networking Infrastructures event, covering all essential aspects from eligibility to the detailed knowledge areas necessary for preparation.