🧠 CCST Networking Study Guide

1. 🌐 Networking Basics

Key Concepts

• Network: Devices connected to share data

• Internet vs Intranet

• LAN / WAN / WLAN

• Bandwidth vs Latency

Common Devices

• Router – connects networks (internet access)

• Switch – connects devices within a LAN

• Access Point – provides Wi-Fi

• Modem – connects to ISP

2. 📡 OSI & TCP/IP Models

OSI Model (7 Layers)

1. Physical

2. Data Link

3. Network

4. Transport

5. Session

6. Presentation

7. Application

👉 Memory trick: Please Do Not Throw Sausage Pizza Away

TCP/IP Model (4 Layers)

• Network Access

• Internet

• Transport

• Application

3. 🔢 IP Addressing

IPv4

• 32-bit address (e.g., 192.168.1.1)

• Classes (basic knowledge):

  • Class A: 1–126

  • Class B: 128–191

  • Class C: 192–223

Subnetting (Important!)

• Split networks into smaller parts

• Know:

  • Subnet mask (e.g., 255.255.255.0)

  • CIDR notation (e.g., /24)

👉 Example:

• /24 = 255.255.255.0 = 256 addresses

4. 📦 Protocols & Ports

Common Protocols

• HTTP (Web)

• HTTPS (Secure web)

• FTP (File transfer)

• DNS (Name → IP)

• DHCP (Auto IP assignment)

• SMTP/POP3/IMAP (Email)

Common Ports

• HTTP → 80

• HTTPS → 443

• FTP → 21

• DNS → 53

• SSH → 22

5. 🔄 Network Services

• DHCP: Assigns IP automatically

• DNS: Translates domain names

• NAT: Private → Public IP translation

6. 📶 Wireless Networking

• Wi-Fi standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)

• Frequencies:

  • 2.4 GHz (longer range)

  • 5 GHz (faster, shorter range)

Security Types

• WEP (weak ❌)

• WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 (secure ✅)

7. 🔐 Network Security Basics

• Firewall – filters traffic

• VPN – secure remote connection

• Antivirus / Anti-malware

Threats

• Phishing

• Malware

• DDoS attacks

8. 🛠️ Troubleshooting

Basic Steps

1. Identify the problem

2. Establish theory

3. Test theory

4. Fix issue

5. Verify

6. Document

Tools

• ping – tests connectivity

• ipconfig / ifconfig – IP info

• tracert – path to destination

9. 🔌 Network Cables

• Ethernet (Cat5e, Cat6)

• Fiber optic

• Coaxial

10. 🧩 Cloud & Virtualization Basics

• Cloud types:

  • Public

  • Private

  • Hybrid

• Virtual machines (VMs)

📘 Study Tips

• Practice subnetting daily

• Memorize ports & protocols

• Understand (not just memorize) OSI layers

• Use flashcards for quick recall

• Take practice tests (you mentioned 75-question sets — great idea)