December 20th, 2009 by Bob
I’ve been distracted lately with a prelaunch, Internet marketing and cash gifting is a current interest of mine. So, until I can get back into the book, I thought I’d post some video’s.
This first video is on IP addressing and it a series of 5 videos.
IP Addressing 1 of 5
If you find this video useful “Please” hit the tweet button and re-tweet. Thanks!
Tags: CCENT, CCNA, ICND1, ICND2, IP Addressing, Video
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December 2nd, 2009 by Bob
The following are chapter 3 test questions on Fundamentals of LAN’s. If you can answer 11 out of 11 or 10 out of 11 , you may want to just skim this chapter and jump to chapter 4.
—–
Fundamentals of LAN’s
1. Which of the following is true about the cabling of a typical modern Ethernet LAN?
a. Connect each device in series using coaxial cabling
b. Connect each device in series using UTP cabling
c. Connect each device to a centralized LAN hub using UTP cabling
d. Connect each device to a centralized LAN switch using UTP cabling
2. Which of the following is true about the cabling of a 10BASE2 Ethernet LAN?
a. Connect each device in series using coaxial cabling
b. Connect each device in series using UTP cabling
c. Connect each device to a centralized LAN hub using UTP cabling
d. Connect each device to a centralized LAN switch using UTP cabling
3. Which of the following is true about Ethernet crossover cables?
a. Pins 1 and 2 are reversed on the other end of the cable.
b. Pins 1 and 2 on one end of the cable connect to pins 3 and 6 on the other end of the cable.
c. Pins 1 and 2 on one end of the cable connect to pins 3 and 4 on the other end of the cable.
d. The cable can be up to 1000 meters long to cross over between buildings.
e. None of the other answers is correct.
4. Each answer lists two types of devices used in a 100BASE-TX network. If these devices were connected with UTP Ethernet cables, which pairs of devices would require a straight-through cable?
a. PC and router
b. PC and switch
c. Hub and switch
d. Router and hub
e. Wireless access point (Ethernet port) and switch
5. Which of the following is true about the CSMA/CD algorithm?
a. The algorithm never allows collisions to occur.
b. Collisions can happen, but the algorithm defines how the computers should notice a collision and how to recover.
c. The algorithm works with only two devices on the same Ethernet.
d. None of the other answers is correct.
6. Which of the following is a collision domain?
a. All devices connected to an Ethernet hub
b. All devices connected to an Ethernet switch
c. Two PCs, with one cabled to a router Ethernet port with a crossover cable and the other PC cabled to another router Ethernet port with a crossover cable
d. None of the other answers is correct.
7. Which of the following describe a shortcoming of using hubs that is improved by instead using switches?
a. Hubs create a single electrical bus to which all devices connect, causing the
devices to share the bandwidth.
b. Hubs limit the maximum cable length of individual cables (relative to switches)
c. Hubs allow collisions to occur when two attached devices send data at the same time.
d. Hubs restrict the number of physical ports to at most eight.
8. Which of the following terms describe Ethernet addresses that can be used to communicate with more than one device at a time?
a. Burned-in address
b. Unicast address
c. Broadcast address
d. Multicast address
9. Which of the following is one of the functions of OSI Layer 2 protocols?
a. Framing
b. Delivery of bits from one device to another
c. Error recovery
d. Defining the size and shape of Ethernet cards
10. Which of the following are true about the format of Ethernet addresses?
a. Each manufacturer puts a unique code into the first 2 bytes of the address.
b. Each manufacturer puts a unique code into the first 3 bytes of the address.
c. Each manufacturer puts a unique code into the first half of the address.
d. The part of the address that holds this manufacturer’s code is called the MAC.
e. The part of the address that holds this manufacturer’s code is called the OUI.
f. The part of the address that holds this manufacturer’s code has no specific name.
11. Which of the following is true about the Ethernet FCS field?
a. It is used for error recovery.
b. It is 2 bytes long.
c. It resides in the Ethernet trailer, not the Ethernet header.
d. It is used for encryption.
e. None of the other answers is correct.
The answers to the above questions can be found in our newsletter. If you’re not currently getting our newsletter, you can sign up using the form below.

Tags: CCENT, CCNA, Cisco, ICND1
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November 19th, 2009 by Bob
The OSI Reference Model
To pass the ICND1 exam, you must be conversant in a protocol specification with which you are very unlikely to ever have any hands-on experience—the OSI reference model. The difficulty these days when discussing the OSI protocol specifications is that you have no point of reference, because most people cannot simply walk down the hall and use a computer whose main, or even optional, networking protocols conform to the entire OSI model.
OSI is the Open System Interconnection reference model for communications.
OSI Layers and Their Functions
Cisco requires that CCNAs demonstrate a basic understanding of the functions defined by each OSI layer, as well as remembering the names of the layers. It is also important that, for each device or protocol referenced throughout the book, you understand which layers of the OSI model most closely match the functions defined by that device or protocol. The
upper layers of the OSI reference model (application, presentation, and session—Layers 7, 6, and 5) define functions focused on the application. The lower four layers (transport, network, data link, and physical—Layers 4, 3, 2, and 1) define functions focused on endto-end delivery of the data. The CCNA exams focus on issues in the lower layers—in particular, with Layer 2, upon which LAN switching is based, and Layer 3, upon which routing is based. Table 2-4 defines the functions of the seven layers.
| Layer |
Functional Description |
| 7 |
Layer 7 provides an interface between the communications software and any applications
that need to communicate outside the computer on which the application resides. It also
defines processes for user authentication. |
| 6 |
This layer’s main purpose is to define and negotiate data formats, such as ASCII text,
EBCDIC text, binary, BCD, and JPEG. Encryption also is defined by OSI as a presentation
layer service. |
| 5 |
The session layer defines how to start, control, and end conversations (called sessions).
This includes the control and management of multiple bidirectional messages so that the
application can be notified if only some of a series of messages are completed. This allows
the presentation layer to have a seamless view of an incoming stream of data. |
| 4 |
Layer 4 protocols provide a large number of services, as described in Chapter 6 of this book.
Although OSI Layers 5 through 7 focus on issues related to the application, Layer 4 focuses
on issues related to data delivery to another computer—for instance, error recovery and
flow control. |
| 3 |
The network layer defines three main features: logical addressing, routing (forwarding), and
path determination. The routing concepts define how devices (typically routers) forward
packets to their final destination. Logical addressing defines how each device can have an
address that can be used by the routing process. Path determination refers to the work done by
routing protocols by which all possible routes are learned, but the best route is chosen for use. |
| 2 |
The data link layer defines the rules (protocols) that determine when a device can send data
over a particular medium. Data link protocols also define the format of a header and trailer
that allows devices attached to the medium to send and receive data successfully. The data
link trailer, which follows the encapsulated data, typically defines a Frame Check Sequence
(FCS) field, which allows the receiving device to detect transmission errors. |
| 1 |
This layer typically refers to standards from other organizations. These standards deal with
the physical characteristics of the transmission medium, including connectors, pins, use of
pins, electrical currents, encoding, light modulation, and the rules for how to activate and
deactivate the use of the physical medium. |
Note: You need to memorize the table above. Here are a few mnemonic phrases to help you:
* All People Seem To Need Data Processing (Layers 7 to 1)
* Please Do Not Take Sausage Pizzas Away (Layers 1 to 7)
* Pew! Dead Ninja Turtles Smell Particularly Awful (Layers 1 to 7)
OSI Reference Model-Example Devices & Protocols
| Layer Name |
Protocols and Specifications |
Devices |
Application, presentation,
session (Layers 5–7) |
Telnet, HTTP, FTP, SMTP,
POP3, VoIP, SNMP |
Firewall, intrusion detection
system |
| Transport (Layer 4) |
TCP, UDP |
|
| Network (Layer 3) |
IP |
Router |
| Data link (Layer 2) |
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), HDLC,
Frame Relay, PPP |
LAN switch, wireless access
point, cable modem, DSL modem |
| Physical (Layer 1) |
RJ-45, EIA/TIA-232, V.35,
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) |
LAN hub, repeater |
Next up: Chapter 3 Fundamentals of LANs

Tags: CCENT, CCNA, Cisco, ICND1
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