CCNA interview answers

1. What is the difference between switch and hub?

Switch:

Switches operate at Layer 2 Data Link layer

Address Learning

Forward / Filter decision using MAC address

Loop avoidance

Break up collision domains

Switches create separate collision domains but a single broadcast domain

Hub:

Hub operates at Layer 1 Physical layer

No filtering

No addressing

Hub creates single domain and single broadcast domain

Make forwarding to all the ports when signal is arrived

2. What is “PING utility”?

PING stands for Packet Internet Gopher.

It is a utility that is used to verify connections to one or more remote hosts. Using the ICMP echo request and echo reply packets, the ping command determines whether a particular IP system is functional on a network. Ping is commonly used for diagnosing router or IP network failures.

3. What is a VLAN? And what does VLAN provide?

VLAN stands for Virtual Local Area Network

It provides broadcast control; security and flexibility by logically grouping or segmenting a network connected to administratively defined ports on a switch.

4. What is subnetting and why is it used?

Subnetting is the breaking up of larger networks to become smaller, more easily managed subnetworks. Subnetting is used to reduce network traffic and optimize network performance as well as to simplify the management of the networks making it easier to identify issues with networks.

5. What is the difference between communication and transmission?

Transmission is the transfer of data from a source to a determined destination whereas communication is the sending and receiving of data by an externally connected data cable.

6. What is RAID?

RAID is a standardization method used to categorize fault tolerant disk systems. RAID provides a mix of performance, reliability and cost.

7. Name the two types of Transmission Technology

Broadcast and Point to point.

8. What are the possible methods of data exchange?

Simplex, half duplex and full duplex

9. What is passive topology?

Passive topology is when networked computers simply listen and receive signals without amplifying them in any way.

10. What is a “Mesh Network”?

A mesh network is a network that provides multiple paths for data to travel by means of multiple network links between the computers.