CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) Course Content
This domain provides the "mental map" of how data moves.
- OSI Reference Model: Deep understanding of all 7 layers and how protocols like HTTP (L7) and IP (L3) fit into them.
- Addressing & Subnetting: Calculating IPv4 subnets and understanding IPv6 prefix lengths.
- Modern Topologies: Spine-and-Leaf (data centers), Star, Mesh, and Hybrid architectures.
- Cloud Connectivity: Understanding VPC (Virtual Private Cloud), Network Security Groups, and Cloud Gateways.
This is the "hands-on" portion involving physical and virtual setup.
- Switching & Routing: Configuring VLANs, 802.1Q tagging, and routing protocols like OSPF, EIGRP, and BGP.
- Wireless Standards: Deploying Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), managing frequencies (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz), and antennas.
- Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Understanding SD-WAN, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) basics, and automation playbooks.
Focuses on keeping the lights on and the network healthy.
- Monitoring: Using SNMP (Traps/MIBs), Flow Data (NetFlow), and Log Aggregation (Syslog/SIEM).
- Documentation: Managing rack diagrams, cable maps, and IP Address Management (IPAM) systems.
- Disaster Recovery: High availability, MTTR/MTBF metrics, and recovery site types (Hot/Cold/Warm).
The first line of defense for the infrastructure.
- Device Hardening: Disabling unused ports, setting up MFA, and implementing 802.1X for port security.
- Zero Trust: Shifting from a "perimeter-based" security to a "never trust, always verify" architecture.
- Attack Mitigation: Identifying and stopping DDoS, ARP Poisoning, DNS Spoofing, and VLAN Hopping.
The most heavily weighted section. It requires using the standard 7-step troubleshooting methodology.
- Common Service Issues: Troubleshooting DNS failures, DHCP exhaustion, and gateway misconfigurations.
- Physical Troubleshooting: Using tools like TDRs (Time-Domain Reflectometers), tone generators, and loopback plugs to fix cabling.
- Wireless Problems: Identifying interference, signal attenuation, and roaming misconfigurations.
If you are studying now, pay special attention to these topics that were added or expanded in N10-009:
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Using automation for "Zero-Touch Provisioning."
- ZTA & SASE: Secure Access Service Edge and Zero Trust Architecture are now core requirements.
- Reduced Legacy Tech: Older standards like Cat5 and 10BaseT have been largely removed to make room for cloud networking.