FLASH CARDS

6.05 Compare and contrast common network configuration concepts

  • What is DHCP?

  • DHCP is a protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and network settings to devices (hosts) that connect to the network.

  • What is a DHCP scope?

  • A DHCP scope is the range of IP addresses a DHCP server can assign to hosts on a subnet, excluding manually configured static addresses.

  • What is a DHCP lease?

  • A DHCP lease is the period of time a host can use an IP address assigned by a DHCP server before it must renew the lease.

  • What is the purpose of a DHCP reservation?

  • A DHCP reservation ensures specific devices always get the same IP address from the DHCP server based on their MAC address.

  • What ports are used by DHCP?

  • DHCP uses UDP port 67 for the server and UDP port 68 for the client.

  • What is DNS?

  • DNS is a system that translates human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses.

  • What is a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)?

  • An FQDN is the complete domain name for a host, consisting of a host name and domain name, such as pc.example.com.

  • What are the three main types of Top-Level Domains (TLDs)?

  • Generic TLDs (e.g., .com, .org), Sponsored TLDs (e.g., .gov, .edu), and Country Code TLDs (e.g., .uk, .ca).

  • What port does DNS use?

  • DNS uses TCP/UDP port 53.

  • What is the hierarchy of DNS?

  • Root (.), Top-Level Domain (e.g., .com), Domain (e.g., example), and Host (e.g., www).

  • What is the first step in the DNS resolution process?

  • The stub resolver checks its local cache for the IP address of the requested domain name.

  • What happens if the DNS resolver doesn't find an address locally?

  • The query is forwarded to a local DNS server, which may recursively query root, TLD, and authoritative servers to resolve the name.

  • What does a DNS server do after resolving a query?

  • It returns the IP address to the client, which caches the result for future queries.

  • What is an A record?

  • An A record maps a host name to an IPv4 address.

  • What is an AAAA record?

  • An AAAA record maps a host name to an IPv6 address.

  • What is an MX record?

  • An MX record identifies email servers for a domain.

  • What is a TXT record used for?

  • A TXT record stores free-form text in the DNS, commonly used to verify email services and block spam.

  • What is SPF (Sender Policy Framework)?

  • SPF is a DNS TXT record that specifies which hosts are authorized to send email for a domain.

  • What is DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)?

  • DKIM uses cryptography to validate the source server for an email message via a public key stored in a DNS TXT record.

  • What is DMARC?

  • DMARC ensures that SPF and DKIM are being used effectively, allowing domain owners to specify how email authentication failures are handled.

  • What is a VLAN?

  • A VLAN is a virtual group of network devices configured to act as if they are on the same physical network, even if they are not.

  • How are VLANs assigned?

  • VLANs are assigned using VLAN IDs (from 2 to 4094), which divide a switch into separate broadcast domains.

  • What is the default VLAN?

  • The default VLAN is VLAN 1, and all ports on a managed switch are part of this VLAN unless configured otherwise.

  • What is required for communication between VLANs?

  • Communication between VLANs requires an IP router, and each VLAN must have its own subnet and IP address range.

  • What are the benefits of VLANs?

  • VLANs improve network performance, enhance security, and allow traffic management by segmenting broadcast domains and prioritizing certain types of traffic, like VoIP.

  • What is a VPN?

  • A VPN is a technology that allows remote users to securely connect to a local network over the Internet.

  • How does a VPN ensure security?

  • A VPN uses encryption and secure protocols to create a protected tunnel through the Internet.

  • What is the main use case for a VPN?

  • A VPN is used for remote access to a company's network by teleworkers or for site-to-site connections between branch offices.

  • How does a VPN handle network access?

  • Once the VPN is established, the remote computer functions as if it is part of the local network, although performance depends on Internet bandwidth.