Each host that has an IP address assigned to it can also have a descriptive name. This makes it easier for human users to identify and access it on the network and for application services to be configured with an addressing scheme that allows for changes in the underlying network. Almost all networks depend on this name resolution functionality to operate smoothly and securely, so it is important to understand how it works. In this topic, you will identify methods for host name resolution for TCP/IP networks.
Text Lessons:
6.5.1 Host Names and Domain Names
6.5.2 DNS Hierarchy
6.5.3 Name Resolution Using DNS
6.5.4 Resource Record Types
6.5.5 Host Address and Canonical Name Records
6.5.6 Mail Exchange, Service, and Text Records
6.5.7 Pointer Records
6.5.9 Internal vs External DNS
Text and Video Lessons:
6.5.8 DNS Server Configuration (11:37 minutes)
6.5.10 DNS Security (4:24 minutes)
6.5.16 Configuring DNS Caching on Linux Demo (4:24 minutes)
Lab/Activity:
6.5.11 Lab: Configure DNS Addresses
6.5.12 Lab: Create Standard DNS Zones
6.5.13 Lab: Create Host Records
6.5.14 Lab: Create CNAME Records
6.5.15 Lab: Troubleshoot DNS Records
Quiz/Assessment:
6.5.17 Lesson Review (15 questions)
Topics Discussed:
How do Domain Name Service (DNS) queries resolve host names and domains to IP addresses?
What is the role of the root servers in the DNS hierarchy?
In DNS, what is the difference between a zone and a domain?
What is the difference between a forward lookup zone and a reverse lookup zone?
What functions do different record types have, such as A records and PTR records?
What methods can be used to ensure the security of name queries?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Lesson 6.5: Domain Name System and complete the 6.5.11 Lab: Configure DNS Addresses, 6.5.12 Lab: Create Standard DNS Zones, 6.5.13 Lab: Create Host Records, 6.5.14 Lab: Create CNAME Records, 6.5.15 Lab: Troubleshoot DNS Records, and the 15 question 6.5.17 Lesson Review Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: May 6th, 2025 Teacher Pacing Due Date: May 8th, 2025
Automatic addressing is a critical service for most types of networks. Where a SOHO network might have a single DHCP server for a single subnet, enterprises must support multiple subnets. This lesson will help you to implement and troubleshoot DHCP services in complex network environments.
What is the purpose of an IP helper? How does it differ from a DHCP relay agent?
What issues arise when using DHCP services, and how can they be resolved?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Lesson 6.4: DHCP Relay and Troubleshooting and complete the 6.4.4 Lab: Configure a DHCP Relay Agent, 6.4.5 Lab: Add a DHCP Server on Another Subnet, 6.4.6 Lab: Troubleshoot Address Pool Exhaustion, 6.4.7 Lab: Explore DHCP Troubleshooting, 6.4.8 Lab: Troubleshoot IP Configuration 1, 6.4.9 Lab: Troubleshoot IP Configuration 2, 6.4.10 Lab: Troubleshoot IP Configuration 3, and the 5 question 6.4.11 Lesson Review Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: April 30th, 2025 Teacher Pacing Due Date: May 5th, 2025
Not all networks have DHCP servers. Also, the DHCP process can sometimes fail to work properly. There are various methods for hosts to perform autoconfiguration when DHCP is not available. You should also understand how IPv6 networks use autoconfiguration and appreciate differences in the way DHCPv6 functions, compared to DHCPv4.
Text Lessons:
6.3.1 Automatic Private IP Addressing
6.3.3 DHCPv6 Server Configuration
Text and Video Lessons:
6.3.2 IPv6 Interface Autoconfiguration and Testing (1:34 minutes)
6.3.6 Set Up Alternate Addressing Demo (3:33 minutes)
Lab/Activity:
6.3.4 Lab: Explore APIPA Addressing
6.3.5 Lab: Explore APIPA Addressing in Network Modeler
Quiz/Assessment:
6.3.7 Lesson Review (5 questions)
Topics Discussed:
What is the purpose of Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)?
How do you know if a host is using an APIPA address?
Which IP configuration parameters are set when APIPA is used? Which parameters are not set?
How does address autoconfiguration work on IPv6 networks?
What configuration parameters can be supplied using DHCPv6?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Lesson 6.3: APIPA and SLAAC and complete the 6.3.4 Lab: Explore APIPA Addressing, the 6.3.5 Lab: Explore APIPA Addressing in Network Modeler, and the 5 question 6.3.7 Lesson Review Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: April 21st, 2025 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 23rd, 2025
Every host interface needs an IP configuration to communicate on a TCP/IP network. An administrator can manually assign these IP addresses, or the assignment can be done automatically. By understanding the different methods available to you for assigning IP addresses, you can choose the method that best suits different networks and hosts.
You have seen how IP provides addressing and delivery at layer 3 of the OSI model. At layer 4, the TCP/IP protocol suite also defines how different applications on separate hosts establish connections and track communications. Understanding how application protocols use ports to establish connections is critical to being able to configure and support network services.
Text Lessons:
6.1.1 Transport Layer Ports and Connections
6.1.2 Transmission Control Protocol
6.1.3 TCP Handshake and Teardown
6.1.4 User Datagram Protocol
6.1.5 netstat
6.1.6 Common TCP and UDP Ports
Text and Video Lessons:
6.1.5 Netstat (8:17 minutes)
Lab/Activity:
6.1.7 Lab: Explore Three-way Handshake in Wireshark
6.1.8 Lab: View Open Ports with netstat
Quiz/Assessment:
6.1.9 Lesson Review (15 questions)
Topics Discussed:
What is the function of a Transport layer port?
What is the difference between connectionless and connection-oriented services?
How does TCP differ from UDP?
What tools can be used to investigate Transport layer connections?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Lesson 6.1: Transport and Application Layer Protocols and complete the 6.1.7 Lab: Explore Three-way Handshake in Wireshark , 6.1.8 Lab: View Open Ports with netstat, and the 15 question 6.1.9 Lesson Review Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: April 17th, 2025 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 21st, 2025
Troubleshooting issues with routing and VLANs can be a daunting challenge, so it is important to understand the basic principles of how hosts and routers apply route selection logic to forward packets. You should also be able to use diagnostic tests methodically to establish the scope and likely cause of an issue.
Text Lessons:
5.7.1 Routing Table Issues
5.7.2 Default Route and Routing Loop Issues
Text and Video Lesson:
5.7.3 VLAN Assignment Issues (7:09 minutes)
Quiz/Assessment:
5.7.4 Lesson Review (10 questions)
Topics Discussed:
How do I apply route selection logic with information in routing tables to diagnose the cause of forwarding problems?
How can VLAN assignment cause network communication problems?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Lesson 5.7: Routing and VLAN Troubleshooting, and complete the 10 question 5.7.4 Lesson Review Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: April 14th, 2025 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 15th, 2025
Most networks make use of virtual LANs (VLANs), both to improve network security and network performance, so they are an important concept for you to understand. In this topic, you will identify the benefits of network segmentation and the characteristics and functions of VLANs.
Text Lessons:
5.6.4 Tagged and Untagged Ports
5.6.5 Voice VLANs
5.6.6 Default VLAN and Native VLAN
5.6.7 VLAN Routing
Text and Video Lessons:
5.6.1 Virtual LANs and Subnets (2:51 minutes)
5.6.2 Virtual LAN IDs and Membership (12:09 minutes)
Ethernet, switching, and IP routing are the principal technologies used to implement cabled local networks. There are many types and sizes of network, however, and many different ways of designing cabling and forwarding to suit the requirements of large and small organizations and budgets. While you might not be responsible for network design at this stage of your career, it is important that you be able to identify the components and advantages of the tiered network hierarchies used to implement complex local networks.
Text Lessons:
5.5.1 Hybrid Topology
5.5.2 Three-Tiered Network Hierarchy
Lab/Activity:
5.5.3 Compare Three-tier Hierarchical Model
5.5.4 Lab: Create a Three-tier Network
Quiz/Assessment:
5.5.5 Lesson Review (5 questions)
Topics Discussed:
What is a corporate datacenter?
What does the core switch do?
How do the distribution and access layer switches work?
What is the access layer switch?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Lesson 5.5: Enterprise Network Topologies, and complete the 4 question 5.5.3 Compare Three-tier Hierarchical Model Activity, the 5.5.4 Lab: Create a Three-tier Network and the 5 question 5.5.5 Lesson Review Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: April 9th, 2025 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 10th, 2025
When a private network is connected to public ones, traffic between the private and public zones needs to be subject to rules. This filtering role is performed by a firewall. Firewalls apply access controls to ensure authorized use of the network. They perform a filtering function to analyze the properties of connection requests and then allow, deny, and/or log them as appropriate. While you may not be installing and configuring these devices at this stage in your career, it is important that you understand their use on the network edge.
Text Lessons:
5.4.1 Firewall Uses and Types
Text and Video Lessons:
5.4.2 Firewall Selection and Placement (7:50 minutes)
Quiz/Assessment:
5.4.3 Lesson Review (5 questions)
Topics Discussed:
How is a packet filtering firewall different from a circuit-level gateway?
Why is a packet filtering firewall a stateless device?
What devices and software can implement firewall functionality?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Lesson 5.4: Firewalls , and complete the 5 question 5.4.3 Lesson Review Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: April 7th, 2025 Teacher Pacing Due Date: April 9th, 2025
