CompTIA Network+ Practice Test (N10-009)

Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) is the correct answer because it is a popular form factor used in network transceivers for Ethernet protocols. SFP modules are designed to support speeds up to 1 Gbps or more, making them suitable for a variety of networking environments. The incorrect answers listed are either not relevant to Ethernet protocol support or do not exist as form factors in the context of network transceivers.

To efficiently connect multiple devices in a new office network while minimizing collision domains, the network administrator should implement a Star Topology using a switch. In this setup, each device is connected directly to a central switch, which provides dedicated communication paths and significantly reduces collisions, enhancing network performance. Star topology also offers easier troubleshooting and scalability, as new devices can be added without disrupting the network. In contrast, other topologies like bus, ring, and mesh have limitations such as higher collision rates, complexity, and cost, making star topology the ideal choice for modern Ethernet networks.

The statement is correct as elasticity specifically refers to the capability of a system, especially in cloud computing, to scale resources up or down automatically based on current demand. This dynamic adjustment of resources ensures that the system can handle varying loads efficiently without human intervention. It is a key feature of cloud services which allows for cost-effective and efficient resource utilization.

VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model and enable a network engineer to create multiple, isolated broadcast domains on a single physical network infrastructure without requiring additional hardware. This allows for improved network segmentation and traffic management. Subnetting operates at Layer 3 by dividing networks based on IP addresses. Routing and NAT (Network Address Translation) are also Layer 3 functions and do not provide Layer 2 segmentation capabilities.

Source control systems are integral for managing changes in code and configurations in a collaborative and trackable manner. They provide version control, which allows multiple team members to work on the same project without conflict by tracking revisions and changes. This prevents overwriting work and provides a history of changes, which is critical in complex network environments where auditing and rollback capabilities are vital.

Directional antennas focus the signal in a particular direction which enhances the range and strength of the wireless signal in that direction while reducing the area covered in other directions. This concentration reduces potential interference from other sources which are not located in the beam's path. Omnidirectional antennas, in contrast, distribute the signal equally across a 360-degree radius, which would not achieve the same focused range enhancement.

Band steering is the technology used to automatically move dual-band wireless devices to the typically less congested and faster 5GHz band. It improves overall network performance and is especially useful in environments with many competing networks, such as a university campus. Route selection and Service Set Identifier are not directly involved in the steering of devices between bands, whereas Band steering explicitly deals with this task. Beamforming focuses on improving the signal by directing it towards specific devices rather than handling frequency band assignment.

Disabling unused ports and services is the most effective step in this scenario, as it immediately reduces the number of avenues an attacker could exploit to gain unauthorized access or disrupt network services. Changing the SSID, while useful for concealing network identity, does not itself secure the network against determined attackers who can still detect and connect using advanced tools. Scheduling regular updates is important for security but relates more to maintaining the security posture over time rather than an immediate hardening step.

NTP (Network Time Protocol) is used to synchronize the clocks of computers to one another within a few milliseconds of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). It is essential for maintaining accurate timekeeping across all network devices, which is critical for activities depending on precise timing such as logging and transaction timestamping. PTP (Precision Time Protocol), while also used for time synchronization, is typically employed in industries requiring extremely high precision timekeeping, like telecommunications and finance, which might be overkill for standard network operations. NTS (Network Time Security) is actually a security protocol intended to provide authentication for NTP.

The correct answer is 'Electromagnetic interference from power cables'. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can cause signal degradation when data cables are run in close proximity to power cables without adequate shielding. This can lead to errors and slow network speeds due to the need for data retransmission. Other possible issues such as signal blocking by walls or signal absorption by materials do not typically apply to Ethernet cables, as these are more relevant to wireless networks.

Serial interfaces are commonly used for point-to-point connections between routers, especially in cases involving leased lines. Serial interfaces allow for direct, dedicated, and reliable communication between two devices. Ethernet, while versatile and popular for local area networks, is typically used for network with multiple devices and not exclusively for point-to-point configurations between two routers. Similarly, ISDN is an older technology more associated with integrated voice and data services rather than dedicated router-to-router links.

Setting the MTU to match the smallest allowed data packet size in the network minimizes fragmentation. In settings with a combination of higher and lower capacity links, selecting the MTU of the smaller links as the standard avoids fragmentation that could occur if packets allowed by larger capacity links are too big to be handled by the smaller links without breaking them up.

Packet loss percentage is the correct answer because it provides a direct indication of network quality and efficiency, crucial for establishing a performance baseline. High packet loss can significantly affect the quality of service, making it a vital metric for alarm thresholds and troubleshooting. Network uptime, while important, is more of a reliability or availability metric, not a baseline metric used for performance anomalies. The number of active connections can vary greatly and does not necessarily indicate performance issues. CPU usage is not directly related to network performance, and device temperatures, while important for hardware monitoring, do not reflect the performance of network traffic.

A wireless access point (AP) connects wired networks to wireless clients. An AP allows wireless devices to join the network by providing a bridge between the wired network infrastructure and wireless clients via radio frequency signals. Routers can provide similar functionality but are primarily designed to route traffic between different networks and typically include a built-in switch and AP. Controllers manage multiple APs but do not themselves broadcast Wi-Fi. NAS devices are focused on data storage.

In Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), the Root Port is the port on a non-root bridge with the lowest path cost to the root bridge. This port is used for forwarding traffic towards the root bridge. The Designated Port is assigned on a network segment and is used to forward packets on that segment. The Alternate Port provides an alternative path towards the root, similar to the root port, but is blocking to prevent loops until needed. The Backup Port provides redundancy to a designated port on the same segment. Thus, the best answer is the Root Port because it specifically serves as the primary forwarding path to the root bridge.