Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Common TCP and UDP Ports - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 2.4


TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
  • Connection-oriented
  • Reliable delivery
  • Can manage out of order messages or retransmissions
  • Loads and unloads the moving truck
    • Checks for out of order or missing cargo
UDP- User Datagram Protocol 

  • Connectionless
  • Unreliable
  • No reordering of data or retransmissions
  • Loads and unloads the moving truck
    • Doesn't care about out of order cargo or missing cargo
Ports in a storm of protocols
  • IPv4 with TCP/UDP
    • Server IP address, server application port number
    • Client IP address, client port number
  • Non-ephemeral ports- permanent port numbers
    • Usually on a server or service
  • Ephemeral ports- temporary port numbers
    • Determined in real-time by the client workstation 
About port numbers...
  • TCP and UDP ports can be any number between 0 and 65,535
  • Most servers (services) use non-ephemeral port numbers
    • This isn't always the case
    • It's just a number
  • Port numbers are for communication, not security
  • Service port numbers need to be "well known"
  • TCP port numbers aren't the same as UDP port numbers
A network connection

TCP ports
  • FTP- File Transfer Protocol- tcp/20 (data), tcp/21 (control)
  • Telnet- tcp/23
  • SMTP- Simple Mail Transfer Protocol- tcp/25
  • DNS- Domain Name Services- tcp/53 (zone transfers)
  • HTTP- Hypertext Transfer Protocol- tcp/80
  • POP3- Post Office Protocol version 3- tcp/110
  • IMAP- Internet Message Access Protocol v4- tcp/143
  • HTTPS- Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure- tcp/443
  • RDP- Remote Desktop Protocol- tcp/3389
UDP ports
  • DNS- Domain Name Services
    • udp/5 (queries)

TCP/IP Addressing - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 2.3


The ingredients for addressing
  • IP Address, e.g., 192.168.1.165
    • Every device needs a unique IP address
  • Subnet mask, e.g., 255.255.255.0
    • Used by the local workstation to determine what subnet it's on
    • The subnet mask isn't (usually) transmitted across the network
    • You'll ask for the subnet mask all the time
      • What's the subnet mask of this network?
  • Default gateway, e.g., 192.168.1.1
    • The router that allows you to communicate outside of your local subnet
    • The default gateway must be an IP address o the local subnet
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

  • IP address configuration used to be manual
    • IP address, subnet mask, gateway
    • DNS servers, NTP servers ect.
  •  October 1993- The bootstrap protocol
    • BOOTP
  • BOOTP didn't automate everything
    • Some manual configurations ere still required
    • BOOTP also didn't know when an IP address might be available again
  • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
    • Initially released in 1997
    • Updated through the years

An Overview of IPv4 and IPv6 - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 2.3




IPv4 addresses
  • Internet Protocol version 4
    • OSI Layer 3 address
    • Since one byte is 8 bits, the maximum decimal value for each byte is 255
IPv6 addresses

  • Internet Protocol v6
    • OSI Layer 3 address
  • Groups of zeros can be abbreviated with a double colon ::
    • Only one of these abbreviations allowed per address
  • Leading zeros are optional
  • Your DNS will become very important
IPv6 address shortcut
Public addresses vs. private addresses
  • RFC 1918



Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)
  • A link-local address
    • No forwarding by routers
  • IETF has reserved 169.254.1.0 through 169.254.254.255
    • Those last 256 addresses are reserve
    • IPv6 reserves fe80::/10 (assigned as fe80::/64)
  • Automatically assigned
    • Uses ARP to confirm the address isn't currently in use
  • Check your IP address 
    • Is it an APIPA address?

Friday, February 13, 2015

TCP/IP Subnets - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 2.3


Why subnet the network?
The secret behind the IP address
  • The IP adress isn't really a single address
  • An IP address is a combination of a network ID and a host ID
    • The subnet mask determines what part of the IP address is the network and which part is the host
    • The subnet mask is just as important as your IP address!
Classful subnetting
  • Very specific subnetting architecture
    • Not used since 1993
    • But still referenced in casual conversation
Subnet classes


Classless subnetting

  • CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing)
    • Created around 1993
    • Removed the restrictions created by classful subnet masks
    • "Cider" block notation
 CIDR notation
  • 192.168.1.1/24
    • Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0
    • 192.168.1.0 through 192.168.1.255 (254 hosts per subnet)
  • 10.1.0.1/16
    • Subnet mask of 255.255.0.0
    • 10.1.0.0 through 10.1.255.255 (65,534 addresses per subnet)
  • 10.1.0.1/26
    • Subnet mask of 255.255.255.192
    • 10.1.0.0 through 10.1.0.63 (62 addresses per subnet)
CIDR in action

Network Cabling - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 2.2


The importance of cable
  • Fundamental to network communication
    • Incredibly important foundation
  • Usually only get one good opportunity at architecting your cabling infrastructure
    • Make it good!
  • The vast majority of wireless communication uses cables
    • Unless you're an amateur radio operator!
Fiber communications
  • Transmission by light
    • The visible spectrum
  • No RF signal
    • Very difficult to monitor or tap
  • Signal slow to degrade
    • Transmission over long distances
  • Immune to radio interference
    • There's no RF
 Multimode fiber
  • Short-range communication
    • Up to 2 km
  • Inexpensive light source
    • i.e., LED
Single-mode fiber
  • Long-range communication
    • Up to 100km without processing
  • Expensive light source
    • Laser beams
Twisted pair copper cabling
  • Balanced pair operation
    • Two wires with equal and opposite signals
      • Transmit+. Transmit- / Receive+, Receive-
  • The twist is the secret!
    • Keeps a single wire constantly moving away from the interference
    • The opposite signals are compared on the other end
  • Pairs in the same cable have different twist rates

Shielded and unshielded cable
  • STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)
    • Additional shielding protects against interference
    • Requires the use of an electrical ground
    • Max distance follows the Ethernet standard
 
  • UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
    •  No additional shielding
    • The most common twister pair cabling
    • Max distance follows the Ethernet standard
No plenum
Plenum

Plenum-rated cable
  • Cable jacket
    • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or fluorinated ethylene polymer (FEP)
  • Plenum-rated cable may not be flexible
    • May not have the same bend radius
  • Worst-case planning
    • Important concerns for any structure
  • The riser
    • Between-floor connections use riser cable
    • Riser cable fire requirements aren't as strict as plenum cable
Coaxial cables
  • Two or more forms share a common axis
  • Used in older Ethernet networks
    • 10BASES "Thicknet" RG-8/U (500m), 10BASE2 "Thinnet" RG-58 (185m)
  • Used in television/digital cable
    • Broadband internet
    • RG-56
  • Short distance video
    • RG-59

Network Connector Types - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 2.1


ST connector
  • Straight Tip
    • Bayonet connector
SC connector
  • Subscriber Connector
  • Standard Connector
  • Square Connector
LC connector
  • Lucent Connector
  • Local Connector
  • Little Connector
RJ11 connector
  • 6 position, 2 conductor (6P2C)
    • RJ14 uses 6P4C for dual-line use
  • Telephone connection
RJ45 connector
  • 8 position, 8 conductor (8P8C)
    • Modular connector
Wiring standards
RJ11 RJ45 LAN Ethernet/ Network/ Port Cable Tester
  • Cables can foul up a perfectly good plan
    • Test your cables prior to implementation
  • Many connectors look alike
    • Do you have a good cable mapping device?
  • Get a good cable person
    • It's an art
T568A and T568B termination
  • Pin assignments from EIA/TIA-568-B standard
    • Eight conductor 100-ohm balanced twisted-pair cabling
  • T568A and T568B are different pin assignments for 8P8C connectors
    • Assigns the T568A pin-out to horizontal cabling
  • Many organizations traditionally use 568B
    • Difficult to change in mid-stream
  • You can't terminate one side of the cable with 568A and the other with 568B
    • It won't work.
BNC connector
  • Bayonet Neill-Concelman
    • Paul Neil (Bell Labs) and Carl Concelman (Amphenol)
  • Coaxial cable connector
    • RG-58 used in 10BASE2
  • Rigid and bulky
    • Would often pull loose or disconnect

F-connector
  • Cable television
  • RG-6/U cable



An Overview of PC Output Devices - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 1.12


Printers
Speakers
Monitors

An Overview of Multimedia Devices - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 1.12


Digital cameras
Microphones
  • Commonly integrated into a laptop or mobile device
  • USB connected
Webcam
  • USB connected
    • Some may be 802.11 wireless
  • Live video
    • Real-time communication
  • Record for later
    • Video blogs
  • Integrated into new laptops
    • Take it everywhere
Camcorder

  • Storage
    • Hard drives
    • Flash memory (CompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), Internal memory
  • Connectivity
    • IEEE 1394/ Firewire/i.Link
    • HDMI
    • USB
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
  • Musical Instrument Digital Interface
    • Industry standard since 1983
  • New connections use USB or Ethernet


An Overview of PC Input Devices - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 1.12



Mouse

  • Like the keyboard uses USB if wired
    • Or an adapter for the PS/2
    • Old mice used the serial port
  • New optical mice have few moving parts
    • May need the right surface
    • Glass may cause a problem
Keyboard



 
  •  Newer keyboards are connected via USB
    • Or an adapter for PS/2
  • Additional features may require additional drives and/ or software 
 Touch screen

 Scanner 


  • All-in-one
  • Flatbed
Barcode reader

  • USB connectors
    • And perhaps PS/2
  • Laser scanners can be seen
  • A separate reader may be required for testing
KVM (Keyboard, Video and Mouse)
  • Use many computers with a single keyboard, video display, and mouse
Microphone
  • Integrated into most new laptops and multimedia devices
  • Analog or Digital (USB) connection
Biometric device
Gaming input



 Digitizer

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Device Connectors and Cables - CompTIA A+ 220-801: 1.11

SCSI interfaces
PS/2 connector

  • 6-pin mini DIN
    • Mouse and keyboard
    • PC System Design Guide standard colors
  • Named after the IBM PS/2
    • Circa 1987
  • Replaced by USB
    • 25 years of legacy devices
Parallel Connector
  • Used mostly by legacy printers
    • But can be used by other devices
  • DB-25 port
    • 25 pins, wide interface
  • Centronics connector
    • 36 pins, locking mechanism
  • Legacy use
    •  Most devices today are USB-based
Serial connector
  • Seen mostly in legacy hardware
    • Modem, mouse
    • Used in management of infrastructure devices
  • 9-pin and 25-pin connectors are common
    • 25-pin was old school
  • Size is similar to a VGA port
    • DE-9 instead of DE-15
  • Pins are male on the computer interface
    • Parallel and video is female
RJ-45 
  • RJ-45 (Registered Jack)
    • Usually Ethernet connection
  • 8P8C
    • 8 position, 8 conductor
  • Technically not RJ-45
    • RJ refers to the wiring and not just the physical connection
    • Almost universally called the wrong thing
RJ-11
  • RJ-11 (Registered Jack)
    • Usually telephone connection
  • 6P2C
    • 6 position, 2 conductor
  • Some RJ standards use the same physical interface
    • but different wiring
    • 6P4C, 6P6C, ect
Audio Ports

  • 3.5mm (1/8") TRS plugs
    • Tip/Ring/Sleeve
  • Color standard not always followed
  • Check your connection when working in tight quarters