CompTIA Network+ N10-009

Hours: 50 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Online, Self-Paced

Course Overview:

The CompTIA Network+ certification validates your ability to install, configure, and manage wired and wireless networks. It demonstrates that you have the skills to troubleshoot common network problems and ensure network security. This certification is ideal for those who are beginning their careers in IT networking or want to validate their foundational network knowledge. Earning your CompTIA Network+ certification will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you advance your IT career.

Upon course completion, students will be able to:

• Explain the OSI and TCP/IP Models.
• Explain properties of network traffic.
• Install and configure switched networks.
• Configure IP networks.
• Install and configure routed networks.
• Configure and monitor ports and protocols.
• Explain network application and storage issues.
• Monitor and troubleshoot networks.
• Explain network attacks and mitigations.
• Install and configure security devices.
• Explain authentication and access controls.
• Deploy and troubleshoot cabling solutions.
• Implement and troubleshoot wireless technologies.
• Compare and contrast WAN technologies.
• Use remote access methods.
• Identify site policies and best practices.

This course prepares a student to take the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 national certification exam.

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Explaining Network Topologies

Computer networks are complex systems that incorporate multiple functions, standards, and proprietary technologies. The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is used to try to simplify some of this complexity. It divides network technologies among seven functional layers. This makes it easier to separate and focus on individual concepts and technologies while retaining an understanding of relationships between functions of technologies placed in other layers.

This module uses the OSI model to give you an overview of the technologies that you will be studying in the rest of the course. You will compare the functions of these layers in the OSI model and apply those concepts to the installation and configuration of a small office/home office network.

You will also learn how to apply a methodology to structure troubleshooting activity, so that you can diagnose and resolve problems efficiently.

Lesson 2: Supporting Cabling and Physical Installations

At the Physical layer, networks are made from different cabling types and their connectors and transceivers. These establish direct links between nodes in a local segment. At the Data Link layer, nodes in these segments are given a standard means of exchanging data as frames.

As they are closely related, networking products often define standards for both the Physical and Data Link layers. While plenty of products have been used in the past, many cabled networks are now based on the Ethernet standards. Understanding the options and specifications for Ethernet are essential to building and supporting networks of all sizes.

In this module, you will summarize standards for deploying Ethernet over copper and fiber optic media types and identify the tools and techniques required to deploy and troubleshoot Ethernet cabling.

Lesson 3: Configuring Interfaces and Switches

Cabling establishes the links between nodes on the network, but each node also requires a network interface that both connects the cabling and performs the Data Link layer addressing and framing functions necessary for communications.

Also, not many networks are established by directly connecting each end system to every other local system. Cabling and support costs are reduced by using intermediate systems to establish local networks. These intermediate systems are deployed as network appliances such as hubs, bridges, and switches. Installing and configuring these devices will be a regular task for you during your career in network administration.

Lesson 4: Configuring Network Addressing

The Physical and Data Link layers covered in the previous course modules establish local links between nodes. At the Network layer—layer 3—these individual networks can be connected together into a network of networks, or internetwork.

In this module, you will identify the addressing and data delivery methods of the Internet Protocol (IP). IP is at the heart of most modern networks and consequently one of the most important topic areas for a network professional to understand and apply.

IP is implemented on network hosts using a wide variety of configuration interfaces and tools. You must be confident about selecting an appropriate tool to use to complete a particular support or troubleshooting task.

This module also introduces IPv6 addressing concepts and highlights some key differences between IPv6 and IPv4.

Lesson 5: Configuring Routing and Advanced Switching

Now that you are aware of the basic concepts of IP addressing and forwarding, you can start identifying ways that paths between networks are implemented. Routers work at layer 3 to aggregate information about neighboring networks and forward packets along an appropriate path to their final destination.

While configuring routing infrastructure is often a senior job role, you should understand basic concepts and be able to apply them to solve common issues.

Lesson 6: Implementing Network Services

Layers 1 through 3 of the OSI model are concerned with addressing and packet forwarding and delivery. This basic connectivity is established for the purpose of transporting application data. In this module, you will describe how protocols at layer 4 provision the transport services that network applications depend upon. Also, this module identifies application protocols that perform low-level network operations tasks, such as providing dynamic address or name resolution services.

Lesson 7: Explaining Application Services

Where DHCP and DNS support basic network operations, other Application layer protocols provide platforms for user-level services, such as websites, databases, file/printer sharing, email, and voice/video calling.

You must be able to identify the ports used by these services and their performance and security requirements so that you can assist with product deployments and upgrades and perform basic troubleshooting.

Lesson 8: Supporting Network Management

So far in this course, you have learned about all the different network media and topologies plus the application protocols that go toward building network connectivity and services. In this module, you will demonstrate use of tools and management methods that will help you document network assets, determine baselines, and optimize your network's performance.

Lesson 9: Explaining Network Security Concepts

You have identified the basic components and concepts for deploying and monitoring a network, but a network implementation is not complete without security mechanisms. In this module, you will describe basic concepts related to network security. As a networking professional, it is part of your responsibility to understand these fundamental concepts so that you can support network security controls.

Lesson 10: Applying Network Security Features

Authentication and authorization policies and systems enforce access control. Access control ensures that an organization's data is processed and stored securely. During your career in network support, you will often have to configure accounts and permissions and troubleshoot issues arising from access control.

Lesson 11: Supporting Network Security Design

The idea of an office network with web, file, and messaging services is a familiar one, but it is not the only use of networking. Networks are also used to support industrial and fulfillment processes, for example. The types and variety of services run over a network have a direct impact on its design, and on the security design especially. To support these diverse networks, you must be able to explain segmentation and security zone concepts. You should also be able to describe the technologies used to ensure the physical security of a network site.

Lesson 12: Configuring Wireless Networks

Wireless media technologies have distinct advantages for businesses over cabling. They can be easier to install to existing premises, and they support the device mobility that users require from laptop or smartphone-based access to networks. Wireless technology implementations offer various advantages, but you need to understand their limitations and security issues to support them properly in your network environments.

Lesson 13: Comparing Remote Access Methods

Most local networks require some sort of external connection, whether to the global Internet or within an enterprise WAN. These long-distance communications are typically facilitated by service provider links. Supporting WAN and Internet access effectively is an essential competency to learn.

User services and network management often require the creation of various types of remote access, including virtual private networks (VPNs). While remote access makes networks more usable and accessible, it also broadens the attack surface. You must understand the implications of different remote access models and protocols so that you can support their secure use.

Lesson 14: Summarizing Cloud Concepts

As the Internet becomes more robust and capable of matching the performance of local networks, many services are being moved from on-premises servers to cloud providers. Even where services are kept on-site, the different requirements and design principles of datacenters are essential competencies for network technicians at all levels.

This module completes the Network+ course by summarizing the software-driven virtualization, automation, and orchestration functionality that underpins cloud services.

All necessary course materials are included.

Certification(s):

This course prepares a student to take the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 national certification exam.

System Requirements:

Internet Connectivity Requirements:

• Cable, Fiber, DSL, or LEO Satellite (i.e. Starlink) internet with speeds of at least 10mb/sec download and 5mb/sec upload are recommended for the best experience.

NOTE: While cellular hotspots may allow access to our courses, users may experience connectivity issues by trying to access our learning management system.  This is due to the potential high download and upload latency of cellular connections.   Therefore, it is not recommended that students use a cellular hotspot as their primary way of accessing their courses.

Hardware Requirements:

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 4 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher.  1920x1080 resolution is recommended for the best experience.
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone for Webinar or Live Online sessions.

Operating System Requirements:

• Windows 7 or higher.
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions
  

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

Web Browser Requirements:

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is described in the above course outline.