Instructor-led 4-days
Course Description
This 4-day instructor-led course prepares participants for the CompTIA Network+ certification exam by providing a thorough understanding of essential networking concepts, protocols, hardware, and troubleshooting practices. The course is designed to cover all objectives of the certification and focuses on building real-world, hands-on skills needed to support and manage modern wired and wireless networks. Through structured instruction and detailed labs, participants will gain practical experience configuring, securing, and maintaining networks of all sizes.
Prerequisites
Participants should have:
- Basic understanding of computer systems and operating environments
- At least 9 to 12 months of experience working in IT support or help desk role is recommended
- No prior networking certification is required, but completion of CompTIA A+ is beneficial
Key Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify and describe network components, functions, and protocols
- Configure IP addressing schemes including IPv4 and IPv6
- Build and secure wired and wireless networks
- Troubleshoot common network issues using structured methodologies
- Understand virtualization, cloud networking, and remote access technologies
- Prepare confidently for the CompTIA Network+ certification exam
Course Takeaways
- Comprehensive knowledge aligned with CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) exam domains
- Lab experience with network configuration, tools, and diagnostics
- Printable reference guides, configuration templates, and practice questions
- Access to a simulated test environment for exam readiness
- Certificate of completion
Module 1: Network Fundamentals and Concepts
Topics Covered
- OSI and TCP/IP models
- Network topologies and physical media
- Common networking hardware (switches, routers, hubs, bridges)
- Ethernet standards and data transmission concepts
- Bandwidth, throughput, and latency
Hands-On Labs
- Lab 1: Identify cables and connectors (RJ-45, fiber, coax)
- Lab 2: Construct a simple LAN topology using switches and routers
- Lab 3: Use Wireshark to inspect Ethernet and ARP frames
Module 2: IP Addressing and Network Infrastructure
Topics Covered
- IPv4 and IPv6 addressing schemes
- Subnetting and CIDR
- DHCP and DNS fundamentals
- Routing concepts and protocols (static, RIP, OSPF)
- WAN technologies and connectivity (DSL, MPLS, Metro-E)
- Network services and ports
Hands-On Labs
- Lab 4: Configure static and dynamic IP addresses on clients and routers
- Lab 5: Practice subnetting using real-world address assignments
- Lab 6: Set up a DHCP and DNS server in a test network
- Lab 7: Implement a basic routing table and test inter-subnet connectivity
Module 3: Network Security, Wireless, and Virtualization
Topics Covered
- Network threats and vulnerabilities
- Common security protocols (TLS, IPSec, HTTPS, SSH)
- Firewalls, VPNs, and network segmentation
- Wireless standards and encryption (WPA2, WPA3, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
- Virtualization basics and cloud models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
- Network policies and device hardening
Hands-On Labs
- Lab 8: Configure VLANs and access control lists (ACLs)
- Lab 9: Secure a wireless access point with WPA3 and MAC filtering
- Lab 10: Set up a basic IPsec VPN tunnel
- Lab 11: Deploy a virtualized network environment using VirtualBox or Hyper-V
Module 4: Network Troubleshooting, Monitoring, and Exam Prep
Topics Covered
- Troubleshooting methodology and documentation
- Network tools (ping, traceroute, netstat, nslookup, ipconfig)
- Performance monitoring and log analysis
- Troubleshooting hardware, software, and connectivity issues
- Best practices for exam preparation
- Review of exam domains and question formats
Hands-On Labs
- Lab 12: Troubleshoot connectivity issues using command-line tools
- Lab 13: Analyze logs and resolve DHCP/DNS errors
- Lab 14: Identify and fix network misconfigurations in a sandbox
- Lab 15: Complete a timed practice exam simulation