Table of Contents

Resources

Objective 1: Networking Fundamentals

An informative graphic displaying interconnected network nodes, illustrating the OSI model layers and their functions. Each layer is color-coded and labeled, creating a visual guide for understanding the layers and their interactions.

Navigating the Network Layers: A Visual Guide to OSI Model Fundamentals.

Introduction to Networking Fundamentals

  • Introduction to the importance of Networking Fundamentals
  • Overview of the OSI model and encapsulation concepts
  • Exploring network topologies and their characteristics
  • Detailed explanation of the seven layers of the OSI model
  • Functions, protocols, and examples associated with each layer
  • Emphasizing the role of encapsulation in data transmission
  • Exploring various network topologies: bus, star, ring, mesh, and hybrid
  • Advantages, disadvantages, and use cases for each topology
  • Discussing the impact of topology on network performance and fault tolerance
  • Comparing and contrasting LAN, WAN, MAN, PAN, and WLAN
  • Understanding the scope and typical use cases for each network type
  • Differentiating between client-server and peer-to-peer networks

Cables, Connectors, and IP Addressing

  • Overview of different cable types and their appropriate usage
  • Explaining connectors, termination standards, and fiber types
  • Configuring subnets and understanding IP addressing schemes

Ports, Protocols, and Network Services

  • Explaining common ports and protocols and their applications
  • Introducing encrypted alternatives for secure communication
  • Understanding IP protocol types and connection-oriented vs. connectionless

Network Services, Connectivity Options, and Architecture

  • Exploring DHCP, DNS, and NTP services and their functionalities
  • Understanding basic corporate and datacenter network architecture
  • Summarizing cloud concepts and connectivity options
  • Explaining different connection types in storage area networks
  • Discussing Fibre Channel, FCoE, and iSCSI technologies

Cloud Computing and Infrastructure Concepts

  • Understanding deployment models: public, private, hybrid, and community
  • Explaining service models: SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, and DaaS
  • Introduction to infrastructure as code and its importance in automation
  • Exploring security implications in cloud computing and multitenancy
  • Understanding the concepts of elasticity and scalability in networks
  • Highlighting the importance of network security measures

Objective 2: Network Implementations

An image depicting a network technician managing a control panel with various networking devices, such as routers, switches, and access points. The technician is connecting cables, configuring settings, and optimizing network performance. The devices are labeled and color-coded for clarity.

Mastering the Network: Efficient Management of Networking Devices.

Introduction to Networking Devices

  • Overview of networking devices and their roles
  • Explanation of Layer 2 switches, routers, hubs, access points, etc.
  • Comparison of various networking devices and their features

Routing Technologies and Concepts

  • Understanding dynamic routing protocols: RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP
  • Explaining link state, distance vector, and hybrid routing protocols
  • Configuration and usage of static routing and default routes

Bandwidth Management and QoS

  • Introduction to bandwidth management and traffic shaping
  • Explaining quality of service (QoS/) principles and techniques
  • Implementation of QoS for prioritizing network traffic

Ethernet Switching Features and Configurations

  • Configuration and deployment of VLANs and Voice VLANs
  • Explaining port configurations, tagging, and aggregation
  • Implementation of port security, mirroring, and jumbo frames

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP/) and Neighbor Discovery Protocol

  • Understanding ARP and its role in resolving IP addresses to MAC addresses
  • Explaining Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP/) in IPv6 networks
  • Troubleshooting common issues related to ARP and NDP

Wireless Standards and Technologies

  • Exploring different 802.11 standards: a, b, g, n, ac, ax
  • Frequencies, range, and channel bonding in wireless networks
  • Overview of antenna types, encryption standards, and SSID configurations

Cellular Technologies and Wireless Communication

  • Understanding cellular technologies: CDMA, GSM, LTE, 3G, 4G, 5G
  • Exploring the concepts of MIMO and MU-MIMO in wireless communication
  • Analyzing the advancements and implications of cellular networks

Objective 3: Network Operations

An image showcasing a network operations center (NOC) with multiple screens displaying real-time performance metrics, logs, and environmental sensor data. Technicians are monitoring and managing the network's performance and addressing any issues. The NOC is well-organized and equipped with advanced monitoring tools.

Optimizing Network Performance: Inside the Network Operations Center (NOC).

Performance Monitoring and Management

  • Introduction to performance metrics and sensors
  • Understanding device/chassis performance metrics
  • Monitoring temperature, CPU usage, and memory
  • Network metrics: bandwidth, latency, and jitter
  • Overview of SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol/)
  • Using traps, OIDs, and MIBs for monitoring

Network Logs and Logging

  • Importance of network device logs
  • Log reviews and their significance
  • Types of logs: traffic logs, audit logs, syslog
  • Logging levels/severity levels
  • Interface statistics/status and their interpretation
  • Monitoring interface errors or alerts

Environmental Factors and Sensors

  • Monitoring environmental factors: temperature, humidity, electrical
  • Importance of monitoring flooding and its impact on the network
  • Baselines and their significance in network monitoring
  • Overview of NetFlow data for network analysis
  • Tracking network uptime and downtime

Plans, Procedures, and Policies

  • Introduction to plans and procedures in network operations
  • Change management and its role in maintaining network stability
  • Incident response plan, disaster recovery plan, and business continuity plan
  • System life cycle and its impact on network operations
  • Standard operating procedures (SOPs/) for network management

Documentation and Policies

  • Importance of organizational documents and policies
  • Overview of common documentation: network diagrams, wiring diagrams
  • Site survey reports and audit/assessment reports
  • Baseline configurations and their role in network management
  • Understanding common agreements: NDA, SLA, MOU

Network Availability and Resilience

  • Explaining high availability (HA/) and disaster recovery (DR/) concepts
  • Load balancing and its role in ensuring network availability
  • Multipathing and NIC teaming for redundancy
  • Redundant hardware and clustering for improved network resilience
  • Facilities and infrastructure support for network uptime

Backup and Restore

  • Importance of network device backup and restore
  • Backing up and restoring device state and configuration
  • Understanding the different recovery sites: cold, warm, hot, and cloud
  • Implementing redundancy and high availability (HA/) mechanisms
  • MTTR, MTBF, RTO, and RPO in network operations

—–## Objective 4: Network Network Security

An image illustrating a network administrator configuring a network firewall, implementing access control lists (ACLs), and managing patch and firmware updates on network devices. The administrator is working diligently to enhance network security and protect against vulnerabilities.

Strengthening Network Security: Administrator’s Vigilance in Action.

Network Hardening Techniques

  • Introduction to network hardening
  • Best practices for network hardening
  • Securing SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol/)
  • Implementing Router Advertisement (RA/) Guard
  • Configuring port security and dynamic ARP inspection
  • Control plane policing and private VLANs

Physical Security and Its Importance

  • Understanding the significance of physical security
  • Implementing best practices for physical security
  • Securing switchports and disabling unneeded services
  • Changing default passwords and enforcing password complexity
  • Implementing DHCP snooping and changing default VLAN

Patch and Firmware Management

  • Importance of patch and firmware management in network security
  • Best practices for managing patches and firmware updates
  • Configuring access control lists and role-based access
  • Understanding firewall rules and implicit/explicit deny
  • Wireless security considerations and best practices

Wireless Security and IoT Access

  • Implementing MAC filtering and proper antenna placement
  • Setting appropriate power levels for wireless networks
  • Configuring wireless client isolation and guest network isolation
  • Understanding preshared keys (PSKs/) and EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol/)
  • Exploring geofencing and captive portal for enhanced wireless security
  • Considerations for IoT access and securing IoT devices

Detection and Prevention Methods

  • Exploring various detection methods for network security
  • Implementing camera-based detection and motion detection
  • Using asset tags and tamper detection mechanisms
  • Employee training and its role in prevention
  • Implementing access control hardware such as badge readers and biometrics
  • Importance of locking racks, cabinets, and access control vestibules

Asset Disposal and Sanitization

  • Best practices for asset disposal in network security
  • Performing factory reset and wiping configurations
  • Sanitizing devices before disposal to ensure data security
  • Proper methods for disposing of network assets securely

Objective 5: Network Troubleshooting

An image showcasing a network technician using diagnostic tools, such as a cable tester and a laptop with network software tools, to troubleshoot and resolve network connectivity issues. The technician is surrounded by a network rack and cables.

Network Troubleshooting in Action: Technician Resolving Connectivity Issues.

Network Troubleshooting Methodology

  • Introduction to network troubleshooting
  • Identify the problem: Gathering information, questioning users, and determining symptoms
  • Establish a theory of probable cause: Considering multiple approaches and using the OSI model
  • Test the theory to determine the cause: Confirming or reestablishing theories
  • Establish a plan of action: Resolving the problem and identifying potential effects
  • Implement the solution or escalate: Fixing the problem or escalating as necessary
  • Verify full system functionality: Ensuring the problem is resolved and implementing preventive measures
  • Document findings, actions, outcomes, and lessons learned

Troubleshooting Cable Connectivity Issues

  • Common cable considerations: Throughput, speed, and distance
  • Understanding shielded and unshielded cables, plenum, and riser-rated cables
  • Exploring cable applications: Rollover/console cables, crossover cables, and Power over Ethernet
  • Troubleshooting common cable issues: Attenuation, interference, incorrect pinout, bad ports, open/short, and more
  • Essential tools for cable troubleshooting: Cable crimper, punchdown tool, tone generator, cable tester, and more

Network Software Tools and Commands

  • Exploring essential network software tools: WiFi analyzer, protocol analyzer, bandwidth speed tester, and more
  • Understanding command line tools: ping, ipconfig/ifconfig/ip, nslookup/dig, traceroute/tracert, and more
  • Basic network platform commands for troubleshooting: show interface, show config, show route, and more
  • Considerations when using network software tools and commands: Device configuration review, routing tables, and more

Troubleshooting General Networking Issues

  • Common networking issues: Collisions, broadcast storms, duplicate MAC/IP addresses, asymmetrical routing, and more
  • Troubleshooting techniques for specific issues: Switching loops, routing loops, DHCP server issues, and more
  • Network performance considerations and baselines
  • Addressing security-related issues: Firewall settings, blocked services/ports/addresses, and more
  • Exploring DNS, NTP, BYOD, and licensed feature challenges