CompTIA Network+ Practice Test (N10-009)

Choosing a directional antenna for a point-to-point setup is ideal because it focuses the signal between two specific points, which enhances the signal strength and reduces interference compared to an omnidirectional antenna which spreads the signal in all directions. Omnidirectional antennas, despite their usability in different scenarios, are not optimal for long, specific links as they do not focus the signal. High-gain antennas without specifying directional or omnidirectional criteria might seem suitable, but the key is the directionality which maximizes the strength and focus of the signal. Finally, an autonomous access point is a solution for network management and flexibility but does not inherently address the directional strength needed in a point-to-point connection.

Configuration drift occurs when the actual configuration state of a device or system deviates from the desired or documented state-often because of manual, out-of-band, or incomplete changes. This divergence can introduce inconsistencies, reduce reliability, and create security or compliance risks. Effective IaC and automation practices continuously detect and remediate drift to keep infrastructure aligned with its intended configuration.

SNMP is used for collecting information about managed devices on IP networks and for modifying that information to change device behavior. It facilitates monitoring and management of network devices such as routers, switches, servers, printers, and other devices capable of network connectivity.

A firewall operates inline at the network perimeter and enforces rule-based filtering, blocking any packet that does not comply with the defined policy. An intrusion detection system (IDS) only monitors traffic and raises alerts; it cannot actively stop packets. A proxy primarily intermediates application-layer requests and may provide caching or content filtering but does not serve as the main packet-filtering gatekeeper for all protocols. A load balancer spreads connections across multiple servers to improve performance and availability rather than providing security enforcement.

An IDS is typically positioned out of band to passively monitor network traffic. It analyzes traffic copies and sends alerts when suspicious activity is detected but does not actively block packets. An IPS, by contrast, is placed inline and can automatically take preventive actions-such as dropping or rejecting malicious packets-to stop the threat in real time. Therefore, the only statement that correctly distinguishes these roles is the option describing an IDS as passive (alert-only) and an IPS as active (blocking).

The correct reason why the port would go into an 'error disabled' state in this scenario is usually due to a violation of port security settings, such as exceeding the maximum allowed MAC addresses. Port security limits the number of valid MAC addresses allowed on a port to prevent unauthorized access. If this number is exceeded, the default action for many switches is to disable the port to prevent possible security breaches. Incorrect cable types or DHCP exhaustion typically do not directly cause ports to be error disabled, and temperature anomalies are more related to hardware malfunctions rather than configurations that trigger port security.

The term 'Integrity' is part of the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) triad and specifically refers to the assurance that data is not altered or tampered with in an unauthorized manner. It ensures that information is trustworthy and accurate. 'Confidentiality' focuses on limiting access to information to authorized persons. 'Availability' pertains to ensuring that authorized users have reliable access to information when needed. Although 'Authentication' is critical for security, it primarily deals with verifying the identity of a user or device.

Before implementing a network-wide change such as deploying a new application with specific network requirements, it is vital to update the Production configuration. This serves as the reference point for all operational settings within the network, ensuring any new changes are accurately reflected across the system. Updating the Production configuration ensures consistency and helps in troubleshooting or reverting changes if needed. Updating the Asset inventory, while important for tracking resources, does not directly influence network settings. A Rack diagram is useful for physical arrangements but not for network settings. A Service-level agreement (SLA) outlines the expected quality of service between two parties and is also not directly used for implementing network setting changes.

A tabletop exercise is a discussion-based walkthrough that validates roles, communication paths, and documented procedures. Because no production systems are taken offline and no resources are actually failed over, it carries minimal risk and cost. In contrast, hot-site failover tests, full-scale simulations, and active-passive switchover drills all require some level of live system recovery or redirection of services.

Encrypting data in transit converts readable plaintext into ciphertext. Anyone who captures the traffic will see only encrypted data, which is unintelligible without the correct decryption key. Thus, encryption safeguards the confidentiality of the information. By itself, encryption does not guarantee availability, non-repudiation, or full integrity-additional mechanisms such as MACs or digital signatures are required for those properties.

Anycast addresses are used by routers to enable requests from clients to be sent to the nearest server using the same IP address. This is particularly useful for load balancing and optimizing response times in networks. The other options describe either different IP addressing types or incorrect interpretations of Anycast.

Questioning users is often the most effective initial step in gathering information for troubleshooting. It allows the troubleshooter to obtain first-hand accounts of the issue, understand the context, and gather clues about what might be causing the problem. While checking logs, reviewing recent changes, and duplicating the issue are important, they typically follow preliminary inputs from the users experiencing the issue.

Fine-tuning the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) threshold can significantly enhance the roaming experience by determining the sensitivity of when a device should switch to a stronger signal access point, thus maintaining steadier connectivity. Adjusting transmit power primarily affects the range and strength of the signal emitted by access points but does not directly optimize how devices roam between them. Although SCTP optimization might appear related to performance, it mainly deals with transport protocols for session initiation tasks rather than wireless roaming. Lastly, tweaking QoS settings is generally geared towards prioritizing traffic types over the network and would not specifically resolve roaming transitions.

Configuring a dedicated voice VLAN allows the switch to separate and apply Quality of Service (QoS) policies to voice traffic, reducing latency and jitter that can degrade call quality. While 802.1Q tagging identifies frames that belong to different VLANs, it does not by itself ensure that voice traffic receives higher priority. Link aggregation increases bandwidth and redundancy, and speed/duplex settings affect physical-layer performance, but neither directly provides the traffic prioritization required by real-time voice communications.

The most likely cause of the signal degradation during peak usage hours is congestion/contention, which leads to increased packet loss and delays as multiple devices attempt to use the same network resources simultaneously. Interference, while a common cause of signal issues, typically relates to wireless signals and environmental factors, not tied directly to network usage patterns. Insufficient wireless coverage usually presents as a consistently poor signal, not one that worsens specifically during high traffic periods. Incorrect cable type would not typically result in a degradation that varies with time; issues would be constant.