CompTIA · Free, ad-free audio course
A practical audio route through network concepts, operations, troubleshooting, and the security foundations that support modern infrastructure.
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Companion Books
The study guide helps you organize and revisit the material. The flashcards book adds active recall and rapid review across the course objectives.
Study Guide
Use the companion study guide to organize the material, compare important concepts, annotate key ideas, and build a written reference for review.
Flashcards Book
Use the flashcards book for active recall, terminology checks, rapid review, and repeated practice across the course objectives.
Complete Lesson Directory
Search by topic or narrow the directory by exam domain. Courses with multiple editions are organized below so every season remains easy to find. Each lesson includes its own audio player, full description, transcript when available, and previous-or-next navigation.
184 lessons available
Getting Started
This episode introduces the Network Plus Audio Course as your structured companion for mastering networking concepts and preparing for the CompTIA exam.…
Getting Started
This episode explains the purpose of the Network Plus certification and its value in validating essential networking skills across a vendor-neutral framework.…
Getting Started
This episode provides a detailed overview of the structure and requirements of the CompTIA Network Plus exam. It explains the number and types of questions, the allotted time, scoring scale, and passing criteria.…
Getting Started
This episode focuses on breaking down the structure of CompTIA questions and learning how to analyze them effectively. It explains the key parts of a question, including the stem, the correct answer, and distractors designed to appear plausible but incorrect.…
Getting Started
This episode emphasizes the importance of designing a structured study plan that aligns with the Network Plus exam objectives. It explains how to divide the domains into manageable sections, schedule regular sessions, and track progress against clear milestones.…
Getting Started
This episode highlights the importance of practical, hands-on learning when preparing for the Network Plus exam.…
Getting Started
This episode focuses on preparing yourself for exam day to ensure you perform at your best. It discusses the importance of getting adequate rest, managing stress, and arriving early to the testing center or setting up a distraction-free environment for online proctoring.…
Getting Started
This episode introduces a set of foundational networking terms that are essential for both the exam and real-world understanding.…
Getting Started
This episode focuses on the essential security and protocol terms you must understand for the Network Plus exam.…
Getting Started
This episode introduces key terms associated with wireless networking, virtualization, and cloud computing, three areas that are heavily represented on the Network Plus exam.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces Domain 1 of the Network Plus exam, which focuses on networking fundamentals. It explains that this domain lays the groundwork for nearly every other topic you will encounter, covering the core models, architectures, and technologies that make networks function.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explores the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, a seven-layer framework that standardizes how networks operate and communicate. Each layer is introduced with its role, from the physical transmission of bits to the application-level interfaces users interact with.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode examines the first two layers of the OSI model: the Physical Layer and the Data Link Layer. The Physical Layer is introduced as the foundation, responsible for transmitting raw bits across cables, fiber, or wireless signals.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode focuses on the Network Layer of the OSI model, where logical addressing and routing decisions occur. It explains how Internet Protocol (IP) operates at this layer, enabling data to move between networks rather than just between directly connected devices.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode examines the Transport Layer, which manages reliable communication between devices through segmentation, error checking, and flow control.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explores the upper layers of the OSI model: Session, Presentation, and Application. These layers manage sessions between devices, format and translate data, and provide interfaces that allow end users and applications to interact with the network.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode examines the structure of a network packet, focusing on how headers and payloads define communication. It explains that headers contain addressing and control information, while payloads carry the actual data being transmitted.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the role of Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) and how packet fragmentation occurs when data exceeds size limits.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the major types of network topologies, including bus, star, ring, mesh, and hybrid. It explains how each topology defines the physical or logical arrangement of devices and how these designs affect performance, fault tolerance, and scalability.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the difference between peer-to-peer and client-server network architectures. In a peer-to-peer model, devices communicate directly, sharing resources without centralized control.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the three primary categories of network scope: Local Area Networks (LANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), and Wide Area Networks (WANs).…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains specialized network types beyond the traditional LAN and WAN categories.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode focuses on storage networking and virtual networking, two areas that reflect modern infrastructure trends. Storage networking includes technologies like Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Storage Area Networks (SANs), which allow centralized management of data resources.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces two important WAN technologies: Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and multipoint Generic Routing Encapsulation (mGRE).…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode covers network entry points, specifically the concepts of demarcation points and smartjacks.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explores virtual network interfaces and components, which allow logical networking functions to operate independently of physical hardware.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces Network Function Virtualization (NFV), which replaces traditional hardware-based appliances like routers, load balancers, and firewalls with software-based equivalents.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the variety of network provider links that organizations use to connect geographically dispersed sites. It introduces technologies such as satellite communications, microwave, DSL, cable, leased lines, and metro optical services.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces transmission media, focusing on copper cabling as one of the most widely used network media types. It explains how copper cables transmit electrical signals and introduces the basic categories of twisted pair cabling.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode examines twisted pair cabling standards, including Category 5, 5e, 6, 6a, and higher classifications. Each standard is defined by its maximum transmission speed, frequency, and distance limitations.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode covers coaxial and twinaxial cables, two copper-based media types that still appear in both exam questions and some practical environments.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the TIA/EIA-568A and TIA/EIA-568B cabling standards, which define how twisted pair cables are terminated for reliable network communication.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces fiber optic cabling, which transmits data as pulses of light rather than electrical signals.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the differences between single-mode and multimode fiber, two types of optical cabling defined by how light travels through the core. Single-mode fiber, with its narrow core, supports long-distance, high-speed communication using laser light sources.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode focuses on the various connector types used with fiber and copper cabling. For fiber, common connectors include ST, SC, LC, and MTP/MPO, each with specific use cases and physical characteristics.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces transceiver modules, which enable switches, routers, and other network devices to interface with fiber or copper cabling. Standards such as SFP, SFP+, QSFP, and GBIC are explained, including their roles in supporting different speeds and media types.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains media converters, devices that enable communication between different types of physical cabling, such as copper to fiber or single-mode to multimode fiber.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode highlights the importance of proper cable management, distribution panels, and punchdown blocks in maintaining organized, functional networks.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the Ethernet standards that operate over copper cabling, from early Fast Ethernet to Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces Ethernet standards over fiber optic cabling, which enable high-speed communication across longer distances than copper. Standards such as 1000BASE-LX, 10GBASE-SR, and 40GBASE-LR are explained in terms of wavelength, range, and use case.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the fundamentals of IP addressing and subnetting, two of the most critical skills for the Network Plus exam. It explains how IP addresses identify hosts on a network and how subnetting divides larger address spaces into smaller, manageable segments.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the difference between public and private IP addresses and why the distinction is important for both exam and real-world environments.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces Network Address Translation (NAT), a process that allows multiple internal devices to share a single public IP address.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode focuses on Port Address Translation (PAT), often called overload NAT, which extends NAT by allowing multiple devices to share one public IP using different port numbers.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) and EUI-64 addressing. APIPA is a fallback mechanism in IPv4 where devices assign themselves an address in the 169.254.0.0/16 range when DHCP is unavailable.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode compares IPv4 and IPv6, highlighting their structural differences and why both remain important on the exam and in practice. IPv4 uses 32-bit addressing, expressed in dotted decimal notation, and supports about 4.3 billion addresses.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the different types of IPv6 addresses, which define how communication occurs within an IPv6-enabled network.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the role of the default gateway, which directs traffic from a local network to destinations outside its subnet. Without a properly configured gateway, devices can communicate internally but cannot reach external networks or the Internet.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode reviews classful IPv4 addressing, a historical system that divided addresses into five classes: A, B, C, D, and E. Each class had predefined ranges and default subnet masks, such as Class A with 255.0.0.0 and Class C with 255.255.255.0.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces classless addressing and Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM), which replaced the limitations of classful addressing. Classless addressing allows networks to use subnet masks of any length, providing more efficient allocation of address space.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) notation, the shorthand system used to represent IP address ranges with a suffix indicating the subnet mask.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode walks through the process of IPv4 subnetting, a skill that requires practice and speed for the exam. It explains how to take a given network address and divide it into smaller subnets by borrowing bits from the host portion.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode covers IPv6 subnetting, which operates differently from IPv4 due to its larger 128-bit address space. Instead of conserving addresses, IPv6 subnetting focuses on structured planning and organization.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces IPv6 transition technologies, which allow networks to support both IPv4 and IPv6 during the migration period. Methods such as dual-stack, tunneling, and translation are explained, each with unique advantages and limitations.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the concepts of virtual IPs and subinterfaces, which extend logical addressing capabilities. A virtual IP is an address shared among devices, often used for redundancy and load balancing.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the protocols commonly used for transferring files across networks. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is explained as a traditional method operating over TCP, often requiring additional security measures.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode covers remote access protocols, which enable administrators to manage systems from a distance. Telnet, one of the oldest methods, is introduced as insecure due to its plaintext transmission of credentials and data.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the protocols that enable email delivery and retrieval. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is used to send messages, while Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3) and Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) allow users to retrieve and manage emails.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode covers web and directory service protocols, which form the backbone of modern communication and identity management. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) provides the foundation for web traffic, while HTTPS secures that traffic using SSL/TLS encryption.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces four essential network services: Domain Name System (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Network Time Protocol (NTP), and Syslog.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces file and print services, focusing on the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol and the role of SQL-based services in network environments.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode covers Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), which enables administrators to monitor and manage network devices. SNMP uses a manager–agent model, where agents on devices report statistics such as interface status or CPU usage to a central manager.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and other Voice over IP (VoIP) protocols that support modern telephony systems. SIP establishes, manages, and terminates calls, while protocols such as RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) handle the actual media streams.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode examines the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), which communicates error messages and diagnostic information between devices.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode focuses on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP), the two primary protocols at the transport layer. TCP is connection-oriented, ensuring reliable delivery with acknowledgments, retransmissions, and sequencing.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces two important tunneling and transport technologies: Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) and Internet Protocol Security (IPsec). GRE provides a simple way to encapsulate packets within other packets, allowing them to traverse incompatible networks.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the difference between connection-oriented and connectionless communication, two fundamental transport styles. Connection-oriented communication, as seen with TCP, establishes a session, ensures data arrives in order, and retransmits lost packets.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explores Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which automatically assigns IP addresses and related configuration details to devices. Concepts such as DHCP scopes, reservations, and relay agents are introduced.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode examines the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates hostnames into IP addresses. It introduces common record types such as A, AAAA, MX, and CNAME, as well as the process of recursive and iterative resolution.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains Network Time Protocol (NTP), which synchronizes clocks across devices to ensure accurate timestamps and coordinated operations. Accurate timekeeping is essential for authentication, logging, and troubleshooting, making NTP an important exam subject.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the three-tiered network architecture model, which organizes devices into core, distribution, and access layers.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains Software-Defined Networking (SDN), which separates the control plane from the data plane to provide centralized management and programmability.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explores how SDN operates in practice, focusing on the management plane. The management plane is where administrators define network policies, monitor performance, and control behavior through the SDN controller.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces spine-and-leaf architecture, a design commonly used in modern data centers. In this model, all leaf switches connect to every spine switch, creating a consistent and predictable path between devices.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains the concepts of north–south and east–west traffic flow in networks.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces network location models, focusing on branch office, on-premises, and colocation deployments. A branch office model connects smaller remote offices back to a central corporate network, often through VPNs or leased lines.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains Storage Area Networks (SANs), specialized networks that provide high-speed access to consolidated storage resources.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the four main cloud deployment models: public, private, hybrid, and community.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode covers cloud service models, which define how computing resources are delivered.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces Infrastructure as Code (IaC), the practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure through machine-readable configuration files rather than manual processes.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explains how organizations connect securely to cloud environments using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and private links. VPNs extend encrypted tunnels over the Internet, providing secure access to cloud resources.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode introduces the concept of multitenancy, where multiple customers share the same cloud infrastructure while maintaining logical separation. Hypervisors, containers, and virtual networks enforce isolation between tenants, ensuring data and resources remain secure.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode explores elasticity and scalability, two defining characteristics of cloud computing. Elasticity refers to the ability to automatically expand or contract resources based on demand, while scalability describes the capacity to grow workloads efficiently over time.…
Domain 1 · Networking Concepts
This episode addresses the security implications of cloud computing, focusing on how responsibilities are shared between provider and customer. Topics include data protection, identity and access management, and securing APIs used for cloud integration.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces Domain 2 of the Network Plus exam, which covers network implementations. While Domain 1 focused on fundamentals, Domain 2 builds on that knowledge by examining how devices, architectures, and configurations are deployed in practice.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces Layer 2 switches, which operate at the Data Link Layer and make forwarding decisions based on MAC addresses.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode explains Layer 3 switches, which combine the high-speed switching of Layer 2 with the routing capabilities of Layer 3. These devices can forward packets based on IP addresses, supporting inter-VLAN routing and more advanced network segmentation.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode focuses on routers, devices that operate at the Network Layer and make path decisions based on logical addressing. Routers examine destination IP addresses, consult routing tables, and forward packets toward their destination.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces hubs and bridges, legacy devices that laid the foundation for modern switching. Hubs operate at Layer 1, repeating signals to all ports without intelligence, which creates collision domains and inefficient traffic flow.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode explains the role of wireless access points (APs) and wireless LAN controllers (WLCs). Access points provide wireless connectivity to client devices, bridging them into wired networks.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces load balancers, devices or software that distribute network or application traffic across multiple servers. By balancing requests, they prevent single systems from becoming overloaded and improve availability and performance.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode explains the role of proxies and VPN gateways in securing and managing remote access. Proxies act as intermediaries between clients and external servers, often providing content filtering, caching, or anonymization.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode covers modems, media converters, and repeaters, three devices that operate primarily at the physical layer.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces voice gateways, devices that translate between traditional telephony systems and modern Voice over IP (VoIP).…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode explains Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), which monitor network traffic for signs of malicious activity. IDS devices detect and alert administrators to suspicious patterns, while IPS devices actively block or drop harmful traffic.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces firewalls, which enforce security policies by controlling traffic entering or leaving a network. It explains the difference between packet-filtering, stateful inspection, and next-generation firewalls.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode explores networked devices beyond standard workstations and servers. VoIP phones, network printers, and control systems are introduced as endpoints that rely on network connectivity for proper function.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode examines Internet of Things (IoT) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. IoT devices include sensors, cameras, and smart appliances that connect to networks, often with minimal security.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces routing, the process of directing packets between networks based on destination IP addresses. Routers use routing tables to determine the best path, ensuring data reaches the correct subnet or external destination.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode focuses on static routing, where administrators manually configure routes, and the concept of administrative distance, which determines the trustworthiness of routes when multiple options exist.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces dynamic routing protocols, focusing on distance vector protocols such as Routing Information Protocol (RIP). Distance vector protocols determine the best path based on hop count, periodically sharing routing tables with neighbors.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode examines link-state and hybrid routing protocols, including Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode explores bandwidth management techniques, including traffic shaping and prioritization. Shaping controls the flow of traffic to match available bandwidth, while prioritization ensures critical applications such as voice or video receive preference.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), which logically segment networks into separate broadcast domains on the same physical infrastructure. VLANs improve security, performance, and manageability by separating traffic such as user data and voice communications.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), which logically segment networks into separate broadcast domains on the same physical infrastructure. VLANs improve security, performance, and manageability by separating traffic such as user data and voice communications.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode explains port tagging and the IEEE 802.1Q standard, which enables VLAN traffic to travel across trunk links between switches. Tagging adds a VLAN identifier to frames so multiple VLANs can share the same physical connection while remaining logically separated.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
This episode introduces port aggregation, which combines multiple physical links into a single logical connection to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Switch ports are the front line of network configuration and monitoring, and this episode walks through the most essential port settings. You'll learn how to assign ports to VLANs, configure speed and duplex, enable or disable ports, and label interfaces for better documentation.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Port security helps prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to your network by enforcing MAC address restrictions at the switch port level.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Optimizing data transmission isn’t just about bandwidth—it also involves tuning frame size and port behavior. This episode explores jumbo frames, which are Ethernet frames larger than the standard 1500 bytes.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Switches rely on MAC address tables to decide where to forward frames, and this episode walks you through exactly how these tables are built and maintained. You'll learn how switches learn the source MAC address of each incoming frame and associate it with the port that received it.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Power over Ethernet (PoE) allows devices like access points, VoIP phones, and security cameras to receive power and data over a single Ethernet cable.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is critical for preventing Layer 2 loops that can crash entire networks. In this episode, we explain how STP operates by detecting redundant paths and placing specific ports in a blocking state.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Legacy and modern protocols alike underpin communication within local networks, and this episode brings together three foundational ones: CSMA/CD, ARP, and Neighbor Discovery.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Wireless networking continues to evolve rapidly, and understanding the 802.11 family of standards is essential for modern network support. In this episode, we walk through the progression from 802.11a and 802.11b all the way to today’s high-speed 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6).…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Wireless networks are built on radio frequencies, and how you manage those frequencies has a massive impact on performance and reliability.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Wireless networks can be built in several topologies, and choosing the right one affects everything from coverage to scalability.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Wireless networks require more than just a strong signal—they also demand strong security. In this episode, we explore the evolution of wireless encryption, from outdated protocols like WEP to modern standards like WPA2 and WPA3.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Cellular networks offer wide-area coverage and are vital for connecting mobile devices and remote locations to the internet. In this episode, we walk through the evolution of cellular technology from 3G to 4G LTE and the newest 5G deployments.…
Domain 2 · Network Implementation
Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) is one of the most powerful features in modern wireless communication, dramatically increasing speed and efficiency.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
In Domain 3, we shift focus from implementation to operation, diving into what it takes to maintain, monitor, and document a functional network.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Monitoring network health begins with knowing what to measure—and how. In this episode, we cover the essential performance metrics that indicate how well a network is functioning, including bandwidth usage, latency, jitter, packet loss, and error rates.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Logs are a goldmine of operational insight—and in this episode, we explain how to access, interpret, and act on the information they provide.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Interface errors can be the first signs of deeper problems, and in this episode, we cover the most common indicators that a link is failing. You’ll learn how to recognize and interpret error messages such as input/output drops, late collisions, CRC errors, and alignment problems.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
A baseline is a snapshot of normal network behavior, and it’s one of the most powerful tools for detecting anomalies. This episode explores how to create, maintain, and use network baselines effectively.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Change is inevitable—but unplanned change can break your network. This episode walks you through the change management process, including how to propose, review, approve, and document network changes.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
When the worst happens, a well-prepared team can make all the difference. In this episode, we examine the roles of incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Standard Operating Procedures are the rulebooks of a stable network environment. In this episode, we explain why SOPs matter, how they are developed, and what elements make them effective.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Security begins with hardening the network against misuse and unauthorized access. In this episode, we review core hardening policies that every network should implement, starting with password standards, login lockouts, and multi-factor authentication.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
A well-documented network is easier to maintain, troubleshoot, and scale. In this episode, we explore the different types of network documentation, including physical topology diagrams, logical flowcharts, and wiring schematics.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Networks don’t operate in a vacuum—they’re governed by agreements that define responsibilities, expectations, and legal protections.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
High-availability and performance optimization often rely on distributing traffic across multiple paths or interfaces. This episode breaks down three related technologies: load balancing, multipathing, and NIC teaming.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Hardware failures are inevitable—but outages are not, if redundancy is properly built into your network. In this episode, we focus on how to create fault-tolerant infrastructure through redundant routers, switches, and physical links.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Disaster recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all—different organizations require different levels of readiness.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Redundancy isn’t just about hardware—it’s also about network paths. In this episode, we explore how having multiple physical and logical paths ensures internet and WAN availability.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Routers are essential gateways, and if one fails, the network can grind to a halt—unless redundancy is in place.…
Domain 3 · Network Operations
Configuration data is as critical as hardware—and losing it can lead to hours of downtime. In this episode, we walk through backup and restore procedures for routers, switches, firewalls, and other network appliances.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Domain 4 marks a transition from availability and performance into security—protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the network.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Every security strategy begins with the CIA Triad—Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. In this episode, we explore how these three principles guide all security policies and how various threats can undermine each one.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
This episode dives into the foundational security concepts of vulnerabilities, exploits, and exposures—terms that appear throughout the Network Plus exam and underpin much of what cybersecurity involves.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Security in networking isn’t just about blocking attacks—it’s about minimizing exposure by limiting what users and systems can access.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Zero Trust networking flips the traditional perimeter-based security model on its head. In this episode, we unpack the Zero Trust principle of “never trust, always verify,” and explore how it applies to network design.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Beyond basic firewalls and access controls, advanced security mechanisms offer deeper visibility and proactive defense. In this episode, we explore Network Access Control (NAC), a system that evaluates a device’s health and compliance status before granting access to the network.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Centralized authentication simplifies user management while enhancing security. In this episode, we compare two core protocols—TACACS+ and RADIUS—and explain their roles in authenticating access to network infrastructure devices.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
802.1X is the gatekeeper of modern enterprise networks, ensuring only authenticated users and devices can connect. This episode explains how 802.1X works as a port-based network access control mechanism, acting as the foundation for many secure wireless and wired deployments.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Every security decision is about balancing risk, and in this episode, we dive into how organizations identify, measure, and manage those risks. You’ll learn the components of a risk management framework, including risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and ongoing monitoring.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Denial-of-Service attacks aim to disrupt services by overwhelming a system’s resources—and understanding how they work is key to protecting against them. This episode covers the types of DoS attacks, including protocol, volumetric, and application-layer variants.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
On-path attacks, formerly known as man-in-the-middle attacks, are some of the most dangerous network threats. In this episode, we explain how attackers insert themselves into the communication path between devices to intercept, modify, or impersonate data.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
VLANs offer segmentation—but they’re not invulnerable. In this episode, we look at how attackers can bypass VLAN boundaries using VLAN hopping techniques like double-tagging and switch spoofing.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
When devices pretend to be something they’re not, serious security problems can follow. This episode focuses on spoofing attacks—specifically ARP spoofing and MAC address spoofing—that allow attackers to intercept or redirect traffic within a local network.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Malicious software remains one of the most common and destructive threats to networks and users alike. In this episode, we examine different types of malware, focusing on ransomware, spyware, and trojans—each with unique goals and attack vectors.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Some of the most dangerous network threats don’t rely on malware—they rely on deception. In this episode, we explore IP spoofing, a method where attackers forge source IP addresses to disguise their origin or impersonate trusted devices.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Security doesn’t stop at the firewall—physical access and social manipulation play a major role in network compromise. In this episode, we explore phishing in its many forms, including spear phishing, whaling, and smishing (SMS-based phishing).…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Hardening your network means reducing its attack surface and securing its services. In this episode, we look at three high-priority hardening practices: securing SNMP, managing router advertisements, and implementing port security.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Advanced network protection mechanisms focus on securing internal traffic and device behavior. This episode introduces three such features: Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI), DHCP Snooping, and Control Plane Policing (CoPP).…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Securing the network starts with securing its devices. In this episode, we focus on hardening best practices for routers, switches, and firewalls. This includes disabling unused interfaces, enforcing strong password policies, and limiting access with ACLs and administrative timeouts.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Firewalls and access control lists are the gatekeepers of your network, and understanding how to configure them correctly is essential.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Wireless networks require layered security controls to keep unauthorized users out and ensure a clean client experience. In this episode, we cover advanced wireless protections including MAC filtering, client isolation, and captive portals.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
While cyber defenses are critical, physical security is just as important. In this episode, we explain how physical access controls protect infrastructure from unauthorized tampering, theft, or sabotage.…
Domain 4 · Network Security
Security tools can’t catch every threat—but informed users often can. This episode looks at the balance between technical detection methods and user-driven prevention. We start by examining detection tools like antivirus, IDS/IPS, SIEM platforms, and anomaly-based monitoring.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
In this final domain, we turn our focus to troubleshooting—a skill that ties together everything you’ve learned so far.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
The foundation of effective troubleshooting is a structured approach. In this episode, we introduce the CompTIA troubleshooting methodology, focusing on the first few steps: identifying the problem, establishing a theory of probable cause, and testing that theory.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Once you’ve confirmed the cause of a network issue, it's time to solve it. This episode covers the final stages of the troubleshooting methodology: establishing a plan of action, implementing the solution, verifying functionality, and documenting everything.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Cable problems can often look like application issues, but they require a different kind of troubleshooting. In this episode, we review cable specifications like length limits, signal loss, impedance, and interference resistance.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Even a well-designed network can experience hardware or cabling faults over time. This episode breaks down common problems such as broken connectors, bent pins, cable kinks, and worn insulation.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Link-level problems are easy to overlook but frequently cause intermittent issues. This episode explores duplex mismatches—where one device is set to full duplex and the other to half—leading to collisions, retransmissions, and degraded performance.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting starts with the right tools. In this episode, we walk through the essential cable testing and installation tools you’ll use on the job.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Fiber requires a different class of diagnostic tools due to its precision and sensitivity. In this episode, we cover devices like OTDRs (Optical Time Domain Reflectometers), power meters, and visual fault locators.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Wireless networks introduce a layer of complexity that often demands specialized tools for visibility. In this episode, we cover wireless troubleshooting utilities including site survey tools, spectrum analyzers, and signal heatmaps.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
To truly understand what’s happening on the network, you need to inspect the packets themselves. This episode introduces tools like Wireshark, tcpdump, and protocol analyzers that allow you to capture and analyze live traffic.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Network visibility starts with knowing what’s on your network. In this episode, we explain network discovery techniques using tools like ping sweeps, SNMP queries, and Nmap scans to identify devices, operating systems, and open services.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Some of the most essential network management tools are also the most overlooked.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Every device platform—whether Cisco, Juniper, or another—has its own diagnostic approach. In this episode, we explore common troubleshooting techniques across routers and switches, focusing on interface states, routing tables, and platform-specific commands.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Wireless technology is incredibly convenient—but also limited by physical and environmental factors.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Signal problems are among the most common wireless complaints—and many stem from poor antenna planning. This episode examines how antenna placement, orientation, and environment affect signal propagation.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Even if the signal is strong, configuration mistakes can block connectivity. This episode addresses common wireless configuration errors such as mismatched SSIDs, incorrect security settings, or outdated drivers on client devices.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Sometimes network issues stem from the basics: incorrect VLAN assignment, disabled interfaces, or outdated configurations. This episode walks through foundational network checks that resolve a surprising number of connectivity issues.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Routing issues can silently break connectivity—even if everything looks fine at Layer 2. In this episode, we diagnose common routing problems, including missing default routes, misconfigured static routes, and incorrectly advertised subnets.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Poor network segmentation can lead to serious Layer 2 and Layer 3 problems. In this episode, we explain how excessive collision domains on legacy hubs or poorly configured switches can slow performance and cause retransmissions.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Some network issues are subtle, involving advanced concepts like asymmetric routing, multicast flooding, and access control list (ACL) errors.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
DNS and NTP are often invisible—until they fail. This episode shows how to diagnose and fix issues with domain name resolution and time synchronization, both of which affect authentication, connectivity, and performance.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
This episode revisits advanced troubleshooting at the hardware and optical layer. We cover transceiver problems, dirty fiber connectors, power mismatches, and switch backplane limitations.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
Not every issue fits into neat categories. In this episode, we address edge-case problems like Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) compatibility, expired licenses on security appliances, and odd client behaviors that defy conventional logic.…
Domain 5 · Network Troubleshooting
To wrap up the series, this episode reviews the full troubleshooting methodology—from identifying the problem to documenting the fix. We walk through common scenarios, showing how the steps apply in real life and what tools are best suited for each phase.…
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