CompTIA Network+

• Unit 01

  Network+ (N10-009)

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  3,214 questions · 39 topics

A few questions from this module, with the answer and a full explanation. The complete bank is available when you start practising.

1. Which network appliance is specifically designed to distribute incoming HTTP requests across multiple backend web servers?

   • A
     Firewall
   • B
     Proxy server
   • C
     Network access server
   • D
     Load balancer
     Correct answer
   Explanation

   A load balancer distributes incoming client requests across a pool of backend servers to prevent any single server from becoming overwhelmed. It can operate at Layer 4 (based on IP and port) or Layer 7 (based on HTTP headers and URLs). The governing principle is traffic distribution and high availability. Key takeaway: a load balancer is the go-to appliance for distributing HTTP (or any TCP/UDP) traffic across multiple servers.

2. An attacker intercepts and reads confidential emails without altering them. Which CIA triad component is compromised?

   • A
     Availability
   • B
     Accountability
   • C
     Confidentiality
     Correct answer
   • D
     Authenticity
   Explanation

   Confidentiality means data is accessible only to authorised parties. When an attacker reads emails without permission — even without changing them — they have violated Confidentiality. Integrity is violated only if data is modified; Availability is violated only if access is denied to authorised users. Key takeaway: any unauthorised disclosure of information is a Confidentiality violation.

3. A technician is troubleshooting a legacy network and finds that every device on a segment lost connectivity after a cable was accidentally cut. No switch or hub is involved; devices are connected directly to a shared cable. Which topology is in use, and why did all devices lose connectivity?

   • A
     Full mesh topology: a single cut eliminated all redundant paths between all nodes.
   • B
     Ring topology: the cable cut broke the loop, preventing the token from circulating.
   • C
     Bus topology: all devices share a single cable, so a break anywhere disrupts the entire segment.
     Correct answer
   • D
     Star topology: the cut cable disconnected the central switch from all downstream devices.
   Explanation

   The key clues are: (1) no switch or hub involved, (2) devices share a single cable, and (3) one cable cut took down all devices. This is the classic bus topology (as used in 10BASE2 and 10BASE5 Ethernet). All devices are tapped directly onto the same coaxial cable, so a physical break splits the bus and all communication fails. In a star, the central device handles connections; in a ring, data circulates in a loop. Key takeaway: bus topology's shared-medium design makes a single cable break catastrophic for all attached devices.