CompTIA® Network+ Certification Prep

About This Course

This course will teach you everything you need to know to take and pass the challenging CompTIA Network+ certification exam and become an excellent network technician. You'll learn about topologies, the OSI Seven-Layer model, protocol suites, modern network operating systems, network hardware, cabling standards, remote connectivity, Internet connections, network troubleshooting, and more. This course will prepare you for the 2009 exam objectives (N10-005 and JK0-016). CompTIA Network+ certification also counts as one of the elective exams for the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification.

Please note that if you receive your EXAM TITLE certification before 1/1/2011, you will be a lifetime credential holder not subject to credential renewals. If you achieve the certification after 1/1/2011, you will be subject to a renewal process every three years. Register today to start working toward a lifetime credential!

Course Revised July 2013

About The Instructor

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Scott Jernigan.

With a Master of Arts degree in Medieval History, Scott Jernigan feels as much at home in the musty archives of London as he does in the warm glow of a computer monitor. Scott teaches A+ Certification and PC hardware classes around the country, including several stints at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, Lucent Technologies in Baltimore, MD, and the United Nations in New York City. Scott has also edited numerous computer books, including the best-selling "All in One A+ Certification Exam Guide" and the "Network+ Certification Exam Guide" from McGraw-Hill. Practicing what he teaches, Scott is an A+ and Network+ Certified Technician.

Syllabus

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

Week 1

Wednesday - Lesson 01

In Lesson 1, we'll examine the purpose of IT certifications, with specific emphasis on CompTIA Network+ and how it fits into the career of a network tech. We'll explore how networks work in general, covering such essential concepts as servers and clients, Ethernet, switches, and LANs. In the last two sections of the lesson, you'll examine two different models technicians have used to troubleshoot networks successfully: the OSI seven-layer model and the TCP/IP model.

Friday - Lesson 02

In this lesson, you'll learn about all kinds of network connections, such as cable types—coaxial, twisted-pair, and fiber—and wireless options. It should be fun and informative and carry you deeper into the CompTIA Network+ journey.

Week 2

Wednesday - Lesson 03

Here in Lesson 3, we'll jump into network topologies and standards, exploring Ethernet in detail. You'll get a shorter look at some other standards that used to matter as well, including the star topology, so you won't be surprised by them on the CompTIA Network+ exam.

Friday - Lesson 04

Network hardware enables networking devices—nodes—to connect together into a network. In Lesson 4, we'll cover all the major device types, such as switches, routers, and wireless access points, teaching how they function in modern networks.

Week 3

Wednesday - Lesson 05

Most modern networks use TCP/IP, so it's essential knowledge for competent techs. In Lesson 5, we'll delve into the protocol suite, discussing the many protocols included, how they work together, and what resources they require. We'll also discuss the addressing and naming conventions used in TCP/IP networks and how computers get named.

Friday - Lesson 06

In Lesson 6, we'll delve into interconnecting networks, such as the Internet. Routers are the primary tools used for the job, so we'll explore how they work and the routing protocols they use.

Week 4

Wednesday - Lesson 07

In Lesson 7, I'll explain the many sides of virtualization, a process of using software to handle jobs traditionally serviced with hardware. We'll cover VLANs and virtual computing, and I'll describe how complex networks use these technologies to accomplish specific goals.

Friday - Lesson 08

In Lesson 8, we'll examine the many forms of remote connectivity, ways to interconnect a local computer or network with distant computers. We'll discuss everything from older-style dial-up and T-1 lines to the latest satellite and fiber connections.

Week 5

Wednesday - Lesson 09

In this lesson, we'll discuss the many aspects of network security. We'll examine threats to your network, from social engineering to cracking encryption. Then we'll look at the many ways the good guys combat the bad guys through authentication and authorization standards and protocols.

Friday - Lesson 10

In Lesson 10, we'll start to put together everything you've learned so far in this course. You'll get the scoop on designing and implementing both wired and wireless SOHO networks. We'll also discuss specialized network devices and network configuration management.

Week 6

Wednesday - Lesson 11

In Lesson 11, we'll roll up our sleeves and plunge into network troubleshooting. We'll look first at the CompTIA Network+ troubleshooting model and then examine top network hardware faults. We'll finish the lesson with a discussion on network hardware tools.

Friday - Lesson 12

In this final lesson, we'll complete the network troubleshooting we began in Lesson 11, though this time we'll focus on software tools. You'll learn about essential network utilities to help you fix, maintain, and optimize your network.

Requirements

Familiarity with personal computers, including hardware and software. Proficiency with Windows. CompTIA A+ certification is strongly recommended, but not required. Internet access, e-mail, and the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser.