CompTIA Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition (Exam N10-007)

Book Preface

By picking up this book, you’ve shown an interest in learning about networking. But be forewarned. The term networking describes a vast field of study, far too large for any single certification, book, or training course to cover. Do you want to configure routers and switches for a living? Do you want to administer a large Windows network at a company? Do you want to install wide area network connections? Do you want to set up Web servers? Do you want to secure networks against attacks?

If you’re considering a CompTIA Network+ certification, you probably don’t yet know exactly what aspect of networking you want to pursue, and that’s okay! You’re going to love preparing for the CompTIA Network+ certification.

Attaining CompTIA Network+ certification provides you with four fantastic benefits. First, you get a superb overview of networking that helps you decide what part of the industry you’d like to pursue. Second, it acts as a prerequisite toward other, more advanced certifications. Third, the amount of eye-opening information you’ll gain just makes getting CompTIA Network+ certified plain old fun. Finally, you’ll significantly enhance your opportunity to get a job. Everything seems to be networked today, putting network techs in demand.

Nothing comes close to providing a better overview of networking than CompTIA Network+. The certification covers local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), the Internet (the world’s largest WAN), security, cabling, and applications in a wide-but-not-too-deep fashion that showcases the many different parts of a network and hopefully tempts you to investigate the aspects that intrigue you by looking into follow-up certifications.

The process of attaining CompTIA Network+ certification will give you a solid foundation in the whole field of networking. Mastering the competencies will help fill in gaps in your knowledge and provide an ongoing series of “a-ha!” moments of grasping the big picture that make being a tech so much fun.

Ready to learn a lot, grab a great certification, and have fun doing it? Then welcome to CompTIA Network+ certification!

Who Needs CompTIA Network+? I Just Want to Learn about Networks!
Whoa up there, amigo! Are you one of those folks who either has never heard of the CompTIA Network+ exam or just doesn’t have any real interest in certification? Is your goal only to get a solid handle on networks and a jump start on the basics? Are you looking for that “magic bullet” book that you can read from beginning to end and then start installing and troubleshooting a network? Do you want to know what’s involved with running network cabling in your walls or getting your new wireless network working? Are you tired of not knowing enough about TCP/IP and how it works? If these types of questions are running through your mind, then rest easy—you have the right book. Like every book with my name, you’ll get solid concepts without pedantic details or broad, meaningless overviews. You’ll look at real-world networking as performed by real techs. This is a book that understands your needs and goes well beyond the scope of a single certification.

If the CompTIA Network+ exam isn’t for you, you can skip the rest of this Introduction, shift your brain into learn mode, and dive into Chapter 1. But then, if you’re going to have the knowledge, why not get the certification?

What Is CompTIA Network+ Certification?
CompTIA Network+ certification is an industry-wide, vendor-neutral certification program developed and sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). The CompTIA Network+ certification shows that you have a basic competency in the physical support of networking systems and knowledge of the conceptual aspects of networking. To date, many hundreds of thousands of technicians have become CompTIA Network+ certified.

CompTIA Network+ certification enjoys wide recognition throughout the IT industry. At first, it rode in on the coattails of the successful CompTIA A+ certification program, but it now stands on its own in the networking industry and is considered the obvious next step after CompTIA A+ certification. (CompTIA A+ is the certification for PC technicians.)

What Is CompTIA?
CompTIA is a nonprofit, industry trade association based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, on the outskirts of Chicago. Tens of thousands of computer resellers, value-added resellers, distributors, manufacturers, and training companies from all over the world are members of CompTIA.

CompTIA was founded in 1982. The following year, CompTIA began offering the CompTIA A+ certification exam. CompTIA A+ certification is now widely recognized as the de facto requirement for entrance into the PC industry. Because the CompTIA A+ exam initially covered networking only lightly, CompTIA decided to establish a vendor-neutral test covering basic networking skills. So, in April 1999, CompTIA unveiled the CompTIA Network+ certification exam.

CompTIA provides certifications for a variety of areas in the computer industry, offers opportunities for its members to interact, and represents its members’ interests to government bodies. CompTIA certifications include CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+, to name a few. Check out the CompTIA Web site at www.comptia.org for details on other certifications.

CompTIA is huge. Virtually every company of consequence in the IT industry is a member of CompTIA: Microsoft, Dell, Cisco … Name an IT company and it’s probably a member of CompTIA.