1
Q
What does AAA stand for?
A
Authentication Authorization Accounting
2
Q
What is the purpose of AAA? It does two things.
A
Controls access and tracks user activity on a network
3
Q
What is a NAP/NAS in AAA?
A
A device that acts as a middleman forwarding authentication requests
4
Q
Does a NAP/NAS store credentials?
A
No it only forwards authentication data
5
Q
What devices can act as a NAP/NAS? Name 3 possibilities.
A
Switches, access points, and VPN gateways
6
Q
What is the main role of a NAP/NAS?
A
Transit device between client and AAA server
7
Q
What is a supplicant?
A
The device requesting access (user device like PC or laptop)
8
Q
What is RADIUS?
A
A protocol used to handle AAA services
9
Q
Does RADIUS store credentials?
A
No it is a protocol not a storage component
10
Q
What is the AAA server?
A
The system that actually performs authentication authorization and accounting
11
Q
Where is the AAA server located?
A
Typically within the local network
12
Q
Which component forwards authentication data but does not store it?
A
NAP/NAS
13
Q
Which component is the client in AAA?
A
Supplicant
14
Q
Which component verifies credentials in AAA?
A
AAA server
15
Q
Which component defines how AAA works?
A
RADIUS protocol
16
Q
Simple flow of AAA process?
A
Supplicant → NAP/NAS → AAA server → back to NAP/NAS → Supplicant
17
Q
What solution forwards internet traffic and caches content?
A
Proxy server
18
Q
What is the main purpose of a proxy server?
A
Forward requests and cache content
19
Q
Why is caching used in a proxy server?
A
Improve performance and reduce bandwidth usage
20
Q
A proxy server handles what type of traffic?
A
HTTP/Internet traffic
21
Q
Does a proxy server sit between client and internet?
A
Yes
22
Q
What does NAT do?
A
Translates private IPs to public IPs
23
Q
Is NAT used for caching content?
A
No
24
Q
What is the main purpose of UTM?
A
Security management (multiple security features)
25
Does UTM cache web content?
No
26
A load balancer manages traffic accross multiple what?
Servers
27
Is a load balancer used for caching?
No
28
Which solution improves performance by storing frequently accessed data?
Proxy server
29
Which solution reduces bandwidth usage by caching?
Proxy server
30
Which device translates LAN IPs to WAN IP?
NAT
31
Which solution is used when multiple servers handle the same workload?
Load balancer
32
What type of device is a video doorbell system?
Smart device
33
What is a smart device?
A device that can be configured and monitored over a network
34
What network do smart devices fall under?
IoT network
35
Can a smart doorbell be accessed remotely?
Yes
36
What is Zigbee?
A wireless communication technology
37
Is Zigbee a device type?
No
38
What is a hub in IoT?
A device that connects and manages smart devices
39
Does a smart device require a hub to exist?
Not always
40
What is a control system in IoT?
A system that operates or manages devices
41
Is a doorbell system itself a hub?
No
42
What does OT stand for?
Operational Technology
43
What is OT used for? Two things.
Embedded systems and physical device networks
44
Is a smart doorbell considered OT in this context?
No (classified as smart device)
45
DELETE
DELETE
46
DELETE
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47
Delete
Delete
48
What is the maximum one-way latency that VoIP can support without significantly impacting call quality.
150ms
49
What is the MOST likely issue if a device has a valid IP, subnet mask, and gateway but cannot access certain websites?
DNS configuration issue.
50
What does DNS do?
Translates domain names into IP addresses
51
What happens if DNS is misconfigured?
Websites cannot be resolved (no access by name)
52
What command can you use to check IP configuration?
ipconfig
53
If only some websites are inaccessible but network is connected what is likely the problem.
DNS issue
54
What should you do if DNS settings are incorrect?
Reconfigure to a valid DNS server
55
If the network cable were faulty what would I expect?
No connectivity or intermittent connection.
56
What is port flapping?
A port rapidly switching between up and down states
57
Would port flapping affect only certain websites?
No
58
Is malware the MOST likely cause in a DNS-type symptom scenario?
No
59
What key clue points to DNS instead of physical/network issues?
Valid IP configuration but limited web access
60
What layer does DNS operate on in TCP/IP?
Application layer
61
DELETE
DELETE
62
What is a common symptom of DNS failure?
Can ping IPs but not domain names
63
What should you test to confirm DNS issues?
Ping a domain vs ping an IP address
64
DELETE
DELETE
65
What is duplex in networking?
How data is transmitted (half or full duplex)
66
What is full duplex?
Send and receive data at the same time
67
What is half duplex?
Send OR receive
68
What happens during a duplex mismatch?
Collisions and slow network performance
69
What symptom strongly suggests a duplex mismatch?
Very slow speeds but still connected
70
DELETE
DELETE
71
What should duplex settings typically be set to?
Auto-negotiate
72
What happens if one side is full duplex and the other is half duplex?
Network inefficiency and collisions
73
Does a duplex mismatch affect the whole network?
No
74
Where do you check duplex settings on a PC?
Network adapter settings (NIC properties)
75
Where do you check duplex settings on the network side?
Switch port configuration
76
Why is duplex mismatch often missed?
Connection still works but is slow
77
What is the key troubleshooting clue for duplex issues?
Slow speeds with no physical damage
78
Is replacing cables the first step for slow speeds without damage?
No
79
Is router firmware likely the issue if only one user is affected?
No
80
If all computers on a network device are slow what does that indicate?
Shared device issue
81
What is the first step when all connected devices are slow?
Identify the network device type
82
Why check if device is hub or switch?
Hubs share bandwidth switches do not
83
What happens when many devices use a hub?
Network slows due to collisions
84
Do switches provide dedicated bandwidth per device?
Yes
85
What is a key clue for shared network problem?
All devices affected
86
What type of device causes collisions?
Hub
87
What type of device reduces collisions?
Switch
88
What is the main difference between hub and switch?
Bandwidth handling
89
What does a high number of damaged frames on a switch usually indicate?
Physical layer problem with cabling
90
What is the most common cause of damaged frames affecting multiple users on the same switch?
External interference affecting Ethernet cables
91
Examples of external interference sources affecting network cabling?
Power lines fluorescent lighting electric motors
92
If multiple users on the same switch experience slow speeds what layer is most likely affected?
Physical layer
93
What symptom suggests EMI on Ethernet cabling?
Damaged frames reported by switch
94
Does a duplex mismatch usually affect one device or multiple users?
One device
95
What is a duplex mismatch?
Switch and adapter using different duplex modes
96
Typical symptom of duplex mismatch?
Slow connection on single workstation
97
Would malware cause damaged frames reported by a switch?
No
98
Would an outdated NIC driver cause damaged frames across multiple users?
No
99
If a switch reports damaged frames what should be checked first?
Cable quality and interference sources
100
What OSI layer handles frame transmission errors from interference?
Physical layer
101
What device reports damaged frames in this scenario?
Switch
102
Slow speeds affecting multiple users on one switch usually indicate what type of issue?
Shared infrastructure problem
103
Best first troubleshooting step when damaged frames appear on switch ports?
Inspect cabling and nearby interference sources
104
How many pins does a standard USB 2.0 motherboard header have?
9 pins (arranged in a 10-pin block with one missing)
105
How many pins does a standard USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 motherboard header have?
20 pins (arranged in a 2x10 format)
106
How many USB ports can a single USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 motherboard header support?
Up to two ports
107
What is a key physical difference between a USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 header?
USB 3.0 headers are significantly larger and have 20 pins; USB 2.0 headers have 9 pins.
108
Does a USB 3.0 header support more ports than a USB 2.0 header?
No; both typically support a maximum of two ports.
109
Which motherboard header is used for front-panel audio?
The HD Audio (or AC'97) header (not USB)
110
Can a PCIe x1 card be installed into a PCIe x16 slot?
Yes (Smaller PCIe cards can always fit into larger PCIe slots).
111
Can a PCIe x16 card be installed into a PCIe x1 slot?
Generally no (unless the slot is 'open-ended' which is rare).
112
Can legacy PCI cards and PCIe cards exist in the same system?
Yes (They use different buses but can coexist on the same motherboard).
113
What is the primary use for PCIe x16 slots?
Dedicated Video Cards (High-bandwidth applications).
114
What are typical uses for PCIe x1 cards? Name three. There are 3.
Network cards (NICs) sound cards and USB expansion cards.
115
Are standard PCIe cards considered 'riser cards'?
No (Riser cards are specialized adapters used to change the orientation of a card).
116
True or False: A PCIe x4 card will work in a PCIe x8 slot.
True (PCIe is designed so smaller lane counts work in larger slots).
CompTIA A+ Core 1
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