Network+ Exam Cheat Sheet

OSI Model

• Layer 1: Physical

• Layer 2: Data Link

• Layer 3: Network

• Layer 4: Transport

• Layer 5: Session

• Layer 6: Presentation

• Layer 7: Application

IP Addressing

• IPv4 vs IPv6

• Subnetting: CIDR

• Private vs Public IP

• DHCP and Static IPs

Network Topologies

• Star, Mesh, Ring

• Bus, Hybrid, Point-to-Point

• Point-to-Multipoint

Common Protocols

• TCP and UDP

• HTTP/HTTPS

• FTP/SFTP

• SMTP, POP3, IMAP

Network Devices

• Routers, Switches

• Firewalls, Access Points

• Load Balancers

Cabling Standards

• CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6a

• Fiber Optics: Single-mode vs Multimode

• Coaxial, Patch, and Crossover cables

Wireless Networking

• 802.11 Standards (a/b/g/n/ac/ax)

• Frequencies: 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz

• Encryption Methods (WPA, WPA2, WPA3)

WAN Technologies

• MPLS, Metro-Ethernet

• T1/E1, Frame Relay

• Leased Lines, VDSL/ADSL

Security Concepts

• CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability

• Authentication, Authorization, Accounting (AAA)

Network Security Devices

• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)

• Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)

• SIEM systems

Security Protocols

• IPSec, SSL/TLS

• SSH, PGP

• SNMPv3

Network Hardening

• Port Security, MAC Filtering

• VLAN Segmentation

• Firewall Rules, Access Control Lists (ACLs)

Documentation

• Network Diagrams

• Configuration Management

• Change Management

Monitoring Tools

• Packet Analyzers (Wireshark)

• Network Scanners (Nmap)

• Log Management Solutions

Performance Management

• QoS (Quality of Service)

• Bandwidth Throttling

• Load Balancing Concepts

Troubleshooting Methodology

• Identify the problem

• Establish a theory of probable cause

• Test the theory to determine the cause

• Implement a solution

Troubleshooting Networking Issues

• Connectivity Problems

• Slow Network Performance

• Duplicate IP Addresses

• DNS Issues

Troubleshooting Tools

• Ping, Traceroute

• Ipconfig/ifconfig

• Netstat, Tcpdump

Common Cable Issues

• Cable Types and Their Issues

• Signal Loss, Crosstalk

• Attenuation, Latency

Network Service Issues

• Email, Web, DHCP

• File Transfer Problems

• Authentication Services

Industry Standards

• IEEE 802 Standards

• RFCs and Protocols

• ANSI/TIA

Best Practices

• Network Policies and Procedures

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Regular Updates and Patches

Compliance

• HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS

• SOX, FISMA

• Other Regulatory Requirements

Business Continuity

• Disaster Recovery Planning

• Backup Strategies

• Redundant Systems