Common Network Configuration Options( Comptia Objective 2.6)

Question 1

What is the difference between a Dynamic and Static IP Address?

Answer 1

• A Dynamic IP address is the most commonly used. It is automatically assigned by a DHCP server when a computer seeks out the DHCP server. Commonly assigned by a SOHO router.
• A Static IP addresses are assigned manually and should be unique from every device on the local network.

Question 2

What is APIPA?

Answer 2

• Automatic Private IP Addressing( APIPA) are IP addresses that are automatically assigned when a computer can’t connect to a DHCP server for an automatic IP address.
  
  • Addresses with APIPA will start with 169.254.0.0 on the network. They are link-local addresses meaning you can’t connect to the internet only on the local LAN.

Question 3

What is a Subnet Mask?

Answer 3

• Defines which portion of an IP Address is the network number and which portion is the individual host.
• Commonly assigned automatically by Windows after typing IP Address.

Question 4

What is a Gateway?

Answer 4

• The Gateway is the IP address of the host that enables access to the internet or other networks.
• The IP address of the of the gateway should always be on the same network as the computers connecting to it.

Question 5

What is DNS?

Answer 5

• Domain Name Sever
• translates web addresses into an IP address
• Typically ran by an ISP( Internet Service Provider buit can also be ran internally by a company/ corporation

Question 6

Where are DHCP/IP addresses and DNS configured?

Answer 6

• Can be configured by going to Control Panel>Network and Internet>Network and Sharing Center and then select Change adapter settings. Then right click on the Ethernet icon or LAN and select properties. Finally highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 and then click the properties button.

Question 7

What is IPv4?

Answer 7

• This is the most common type of IP format used today. Comprised of IP addresses that use 4 octets e.g. 192.168.0.1. Each octets numbers range between 0 and 255. Each octet contains 8 bits so an IPv4 IP address is 32 bits long.
• Expressed in dotted-decimal notation.

Question 8

What is IPv6?

Answer 8

• Though slow to adopt IPv6 is the next generation of IP Addressing. It is used on the internet and some LANS and WANS.
• Designed to meet the inadequacies of IPv4 due to world shortage of IP Addresses.
• Expressed via Hexi-decimal IP addresses and are 128 bits long.
• Will allow 340 undecillion theoretical addresses.
• Much more secure than IPv4.

Question 9

What are the loopback IP address for IPv4 and IPv6?

Answer 9

• For IPv4 the loopback address is 127.0.0.1

- For IPv6 the loopback address is ::1

Question 10

Because IPv6 addresses are so long they can be shortened or Truncated. How is this done?

Answer 10

• This can be done by removing leading zeros. Any group of 4 zeros can be truncated to a single zero, zero is always zero there is no need for the additional zeros.
• The second way is when you see more than one consecutive set of zeros you can truncate them to double colon ::
• E.G IPv6 address 2001:7120:0000:8001:0000:0000:0000: 1F10 can be abbreviated to
  2001: 7120:0:8001::1F10

Question 11

What is a VLAN?

Answer 11

• A Virtual LAN is usually implemented to segment the network
• Also used to reduce data collisions, organize a network, boost performance and security.
• VLANS often controlled by a device such a managed switch.