The CompTIA Network+ certification is the sign of a qualified networking professional.

Exam Code : N10-005

The exam covers network technologies, installation and configuration, media and topologies, management, and security. Candidate job roles include network administrator, network technician, network installer, help desk technician and IT cable installer.

Companies such as Dell, HP, Ricoh, Sharp and Xerox recommend or require CompTIA Network+ for their networking technicians. It is a technical prerequisite option for IT technicians seeking to join the Apple Consultants Network, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The current version of CompTIA Network+, exam code N10-005, was released Dec. 1, 2011. The revised objectives address virtual networking and give increased attention to network security and coverage of the seven-layer OSI (Open System Interconnection) model.

• Topic 1A: Networking Terminology
• Topic 1B: Network Building Blocks
• Topic 1C: Standard Network Models
• Topic 1D: Network Topologies
• Topic 1E: Network Categories

• Topic 2A: Transmission Methods
• Topic 2B: Media Access Methods
• Topic 2C: Signaling Methods

• Topic 3A: Data Addressing and Delivery
• Topic 3B: Network Connection Mechanisms
• Topic 3C: Reliable Delivery Techniques

• Topic 4A: Bounded Network Media
• Topic 4B: Unbounded Network Media
• Topic 4C: Noise Control
• Topic 4D: Network Connectivity Devices

• Topic 5A: The OSI Model
• Topic 5B: Client Network Resource Access
• Topic 5C: Ethernet Networks
• Topic 5D: Token Ring Networks
• Topic 5E: Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) Networks
• Topic 5F: Wireless Technologies and Standards

• Topic 6A: Families of Protocols
• Topic 6B: The TCP/IP Protocol
• Topic 6C: Default IP Addresses
• Topic 6D: Custom IP Addresses
• Topic 6E: The TCP/IP Protocol Suite

• Topic 7A: IP Address Assignment Methods
• Topic 7B: Host Name Resolution
• Topic 7C: NetBIOS Name Resolution
• Topic 7D: TCP/IP Utilities
• Topic 7E: TCP/IP Upper-layer Services
• Topic 7F: TCP/IP Interoperability Services

• Topic 8A: The NetBEUI Protocol
• Topic 8B: The IPX/SPX Protocol
• Topic 8C: The AppleTalk Protocol
• Topic 8D: The IP Version 6 (IPv6) Protocol

• Topic 9A: Bridges and Switches
• Topic 9B: IP Routing Topology
• Topic 9C: Static IP Routing
• Topic 9D: Dynamic IP Routing
• Topic 9E: Controlling Data Movement with Filters and VLANs

• Topic 10A: WAN Switching Technologies
• Topic 10B: WAN Transmission Technologies
• Topic 10C: WAN Connectivity Methods
• Topic 10D: Voice Over Data Systems

• Topic 11A: Network Threats
• Topic 11B: Virus Protection
• Topic 11C: Local Security
• Topic 11D: Network Authentication Methods
• Topic 11E: Data Encryption
• Topic 11F: Internet Security

• Topic 12A: Remote Network Architectures
• Topic 12B: Terminal Services Implementations
• Topic 12C: Remote Access Networking Implementations
• Topic 12D: Virtual Private Networking (VPN)

• Topic 13A: Planning for Disaster Recovery
• Topic 13B: Data Backup
• Topic 13C: Fault Tolerance Methods

• Topic 14A: Enterprise Data Storage Techniques
• Topic 14B: Clustering
• Topic 14C: Network Attached Storage (NAS)
• Topic 14D: Storage Area Network (SAN) Implementations

• Topic 15A: Microsoft Operating Systems
• Topic 15B: Novell NetWare
• Topic 15C: UNIX and Linux Operating Systems
• Topic 15D: Macintosh Networking

• Topic 16A: Troubleshooting Models
• Topic 16B: TCP/IP Troubleshooting Utilities
• Topic 16C: Hardware Troubleshooting Tools
• Topic 16D: System Monitoring Tools
• Topic 16E: Network Baselining