Network+ N10-009
Articles covering CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) exam objectives. These guides focus on networking concepts, infrastructure, operations, security, and troubleshooting topics essential for the Network+ certification.
Network+ Objective 1.1: Explain Concepts Related to the OSI Reference Model
Learn the fundamentals of the OSI reference model, including all seven layers from Physical to Application. This comprehensive guide covers layer functions, protocols, data flow, troubleshooting techniques, and real-world implementation scenarios essential for the Network+ certification.
Network+ Objective 1.2: Compare and Contrast Networking Appliances, Applications, and Functions
Explore the differences between physical and virtual networking appliances, understand the roles of routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices. Learn about network functions like VPN, QoS, and TTL, and discover how to select and deploy the right appliances for different scenarios.
Network+ Objective 1.3: Summarize Cloud Concepts and Connectivity Options
Learn about network functions virtualization (NFV), virtual private clouds (VPC), cloud gateways, and connectivity options. Understand cloud deployment models, service models, and key concepts like scalability, elasticity, and multitenancy essential for modern cloud networking.
Network+ Objective 1.4: Explain Common Networking Ports, Protocols, Services, and Traffic Types
Master the essential networking protocols, ports, and services including HTTP/HTTPS, FTP/SFTP, SSH, SMTP, DNS, DHCP, and more. Understand IP protocol types (TCP, UDP, ICMP, IPsec) and traffic types (unicast, multicast, anycast, broadcast) essential for network administration and troubleshooting.
Network+ Objective 1.5: Compare and Contrast Transmission Media and Transceivers
Learn about wireless and wired transmission media including 802.11 standards, cellular, satellite, Ethernet standards, fiber optic cables, and copper cables. Understand transceivers, connector types, and how to select appropriate media for different network scenarios and requirements.
Network+ Objective 1.6: Compare and Contrast Network Topologies, Architectures, and Types
Master network topologies including mesh, star, spine and leaf, and point-to-point designs. Understand hierarchical network models, collapsed core architectures, and traffic flow patterns (north-south vs. east-west) essential for network design and implementation.
Network+ Objective 1.7: Given a Scenario, Use Appropriate IPv4 Network Addressing
Master IPv4 network addressing including public vs. private addresses, APIPA, RFC 1918, subnetting with VLSM and CIDR, and IPv4 address classes (A, B, C, D, E). Learn to design and implement appropriate addressing schemes for different network scenarios.
Network+ Objective 1.8: Summarize Evolving Use Cases for Modern Network Environments
Explore modern network technologies including SDN/SD-WAN, VXLAN, zero trust architecture, SASE/SSE, Infrastructure as Code, and IPv6 addressing. Learn how these evolving technologies address current network challenges and enable future-ready network architectures.
Network+ Objective 2.1: Explain Characteristics of Routing Technologies
Master routing technologies including static and dynamic routing, routing protocols (BGP, EIGRP, OSPF), route selection criteria, address translation (NAT/PAT), First Hop Redundancy Protocol (FHRP), Virtual IP (VIP), and subinterfaces essential for network design and implementation.
Network+ Objective 2.2: Given a Scenario, Configure Switching Technologies and Features
Learn to configure VLANs with database management and SVI, implement interface settings including native VLAN, voice VLAN, and 802.1Q tagging. Master spanning tree protocols, link aggregation, speed/duplex configuration, and MTU optimization with jumbo frames for high-performance networks.
Network+ Objective 2.3: Given a Scenario, Select and Configure Wireless Devices and Technologies
Master wireless technologies including channel configuration, frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz), SSID management, network types (mesh, ad hoc, point-to-point, infrastructure), encryption (WPA2/WPA3), guest networks, authentication methods, antenna selection, and access point types for modern wireless networks.
Network+ Objective 2.4: Explain Important Factors of Physical Installations
Learn about physical installation factors including distribution frames (IDF/MDF), rack configuration, cabling infrastructure, power systems (UPS/PDU), environmental controls (temperature, humidity, fire suppression), and security considerations essential for reliable network infrastructure design and implementation.
Network+ Objective 3.1: Explain the Purpose of Organizational Processes and Procedures
Master organizational processes including comprehensive documentation (physical/logical diagrams, rack diagrams, cable maps), asset inventory (hardware, software, licensing, warranty), IPAM, SLA management, wireless surveys, lifecycle management (EOL/EOS, patches, decommissioning), change management, and configuration management (production, backup, baseline) essential for effective network operations.
Network+ Objective 3.2: Given a Scenario, Use Network Monitoring Technologies
Learn network monitoring methods including SNMP (traps, MIB, versions v2c/v3, community strings, authentication), flow data, packet capture, baseline metrics with anomaly alerting, log aggregation (syslog, SIEM), API integration, port mirroring, and monitoring solutions (network discovery, traffic analysis, performance monitoring, availability monitoring, configuration monitoring) for comprehensive network management.
Network+ Objective 3.3: Explain Disaster Recovery (DR) Concepts
Master disaster recovery concepts including DR metrics (RPO, RTO, MTTR, MTBF), DR sites (cold, warm, hot), high-availability approaches (active-active, active-passive), and testing methodologies (tabletop exercises, validation tests) essential for ensuring business continuity and minimizing downtime in network infrastructure.
Network+ Objective 3.4: Given a Scenario, Implement IPv4 and IPv6 Network Services
Learn to implement IPv4 and IPv6 network services including DHCP configuration (reservations, scopes, lease times, options, relay), DNS implementation (record types, zones, security with DNSSEC, DoH/DoT), SLAAC for IPv6, and time synchronization protocols (NTP, PTP, NTS) essential for modern network infrastructure.
Network+ Objective 3.5: Compare and Contrast Network Access Management Methods
Master network access management methods including site-to-site and client-to-site VPNs, connection methods (SSH, GUI, API, console), jump boxes, and in-band vs. out-of-band management. Learn to implement secure remote access solutions and choose appropriate access methods for different organizational requirements.
Network+ Objective 4.1: Explain the Importance of Basic Network Security Concepts
Master basic network security concepts including logical security (encryption, certificates, IAM with authentication methods like MFA, SSO, RADIUS, LDAP, SAML, TACACS+), physical security, deception technologies (honeypots, honeynets), security terminology (CIA triad, risk, vulnerability, exploit, threat), compliance (PCI DSS, GDPR), and network segmentation for IoT, IIoT, SCADA, guest networks, and BYOD environments.
Network+ Objective 4.2: Summarize Various Types of Attacks and Their Impact to the Network
Learn about various network attack types including DoS/DDoS attacks, VLAN hopping, MAC flooding, ARP poisoning/spoofing, DNS poisoning/spoofing, rogue devices (DHCP, AP), evil twin attacks, on-path attacks, social engineering (phishing, dumpster diving, shoulder surfing, tailgating), and malware. Understand attack impacts on network performance, security, and business operations.
Network+ Objective 4.3: Given a Scenario, Apply Network Security Features, Defense Techniques, and Solutions
Master network security implementation including device hardening (disable unused ports/services, change default passwords), network access control (port security, 802.1X, MAC filtering), key management, security rules (ACLs, URL filtering, content filtering), and network zones (trusted vs. untrusted, screened subnet/DMZ) essential for comprehensive network defense.
Network+ Objective 5.1: Explain the Troubleshooting Methodology
Master the systematic troubleshooting methodology including problem identification (gather information, question users, identify symptoms, determine changes, duplicate problems), theory development (question obvious causes, consider multiple approaches like OSI model and divide-and-conquer), theory testing, solution planning, implementation, verification, and documentation essential for efficient network problem resolution.
Network+ Objective 5.2: Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Common Cabling and Physical Interface Issues
Learn to troubleshoot common cabling and physical interface issues including cable problems (incorrect cable types, signal degradation from crosstalk/interference/attenuation, improper termination, TX/RX transposed), interface issues (increasing counters for CRC/runts/giants/drops, port status problems), and hardware issues (PoE power budget/standards, transceiver mismatch/signal strength) essential for maintaining reliable network connectivity.
Network+ Objective 5.3: Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Common Issues with Network Services
Master troubleshooting common network services issues including switching problems (STP loops, root bridge selection, port roles/states, VLAN assignment, ACLs), routing issues (routing table, default routes), and address configuration problems (address pool exhaustion, incorrect default gateway, duplicate IP addresses, incorrect subnet masks) essential for maintaining reliable network operations.
Network+ Objective 5.4: Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Common Performance Issues
Learn to troubleshoot common performance issues including congestion/contention, bottlenecking, bandwidth limitations (throughput capacity), latency, packet loss, jitter, and wireless problems (interference, channel overlap, signal degradation, insufficient coverage, client disassociation, roaming misconfiguration) essential for maintaining optimal network performance and user experience.
Network+ Objective 5.5: Given a Scenario, Use the Appropriate Tool or Protocol to Solve Networking Issues
Master using appropriate tools and protocols to solve networking issues including software tools (protocol analyzers, command line tools like ping/traceroute/nslookup/tcpdump/dig/netstat/ip/arp, Nmap, discovery protocols, speed testers), hardware tools (toner, cable tester, taps, Wi-Fi analyzer, visual fault locator), and basic networking device commands (show mac-address-table/route/interface/config/arp/vlan/power) essential for effective network troubleshooting and problem resolution.