CCN Lab Interview Questions
CCN Lab Interview Questions
CCN Lab Interview Questions
Routing is the process of finding a path on which data can pass from source to destination.
Routing is done by a device called routers, which are network layer devices.
2) What is the purpose of the Data Link?
The job of the Data Link layer is to check messages are sent to the right device. Another
function of this layer is framing.
3) What is the key advantage of using switches?
When a switch receives a signal, it creates a frame out of the bits that was extracted from
that signal. With this process, it gains access and reads the destination address, after which
it forwards that frame to the appropriate port. This is a very efficient means of data
transmission, instead of broadcasting it on all ports.
4) When does network congestion occur?
Network congestion occurs when too many users are trying to use the same bandwidth.
This is especially true in big networks that do not resort to network segmentation.
5) What is a Window in networking terms?
A Window refers to the number of segments that is allowed to be sent from source to
destination before an acknowledgement is sent back.
6) Does a bridge divide a network into smaller segments?
Not really. What a bridge actually does is to take the large network and filter it, without
changing the size of the network.
7) Which LAN switching method is used in CISCO Catalyst 5000?
This model uses the Store-and-forward switching method. It stores the entire frame to its
buffers and performs a crc check before deciding whether or not to forward that data frame.
8 ) What is the role of the LLC sublayer?
The LLC sublayer, short for Logical Link Control, can provide optional services to an
application developer. One option is to provide flow control to the Network layer by using
stop/start codes. The LLC can also provide error correction.
9) How does RIP differ from IGRP?
RIP relies on the number of hops in order to determine the best route to a network. On the
other hand, IGRP takes consideration many factors before it decides the best route to take,
such as bandwidth, reliability, MTU and hop count.
10) What are the different memories used in a CISCO router?
NVRAM stores the startup configuration file
DRAM stores the configuration file that is being executed
Flash Memory stores the Cisco IOS.
11) What is BootP?
BootP is a protocol that is used to boot diskless workstations that are connected to the
network. It is short for Boot Program. Diskless workstations also use BootP in order to
determine its own IP address as well as the IP address of the server PC.
12) What is the function of the Application Layer in networking?
The Application Layer supports the communication components of an application and
provides network services to application processes that span beyond the OSI reference
model specifications. It also synchonizes applications on the server and client.
13) Differentiate User Mode from Privileged Mode
User Mode is used for regular task when using a CISCO router, such as to view system
information, connecting to remote devices, and checking the status of the router. On the
other hand, privileged mode includes all options that are available for User Mode, plus
more. You can use this mode in order to make configurations on the router, including
making tests and debugging.
14) What is 100BaseFX?
This is Ethernet that makes use of fiber optic cable as the main transmission medium. The
100 stands for 100Mbps, which is the data speed.
There are two access lists: Standard and Extended. Standard Access List can only filter the
source or destination IP address. An Extended Access List uses the source and destination
IP addresses, port, socket and protocol when filtering a network.
23) Explain the benefits of VLANs.
VLANs allow the creation of collision domains by groups other than just physical location.
Using VLANs, it is possible to establish networks by different means, such as by function,
type of hardware, protocol, among others. This is a big advantage when compared to
conventional LANs wherein collision domains are always tied to physical location.
24) What is subnetting?
Subnetting is the process of creating smaller networks from a big parent network. Being a
part of a network, each subnet is assigned some additional parameters or identifier to
indicate its subnet number.
25) What are the advantages of a layered model in the networking
industry?
A layered network offers many advantages. It allows administrators to make changes in one
layer without the need to make changes in the other layers. Specialization is encouraged,
allowing the network industry to make progress faster. A layered model also lets
administrators troubleshoot problems more efficiently.
26) Why is UDP lease favored when compared to TCP?
Its because UDP is unreliable and unsequenced. It is not capable of establishing virtual
circuits and acknowledgements.
27) What are some standards supported by the Presentation layer?
Presentation layer supports many standards, which ensures that data is presented correctly.
These include PICT, TIFF and JPEG for graphics, MIDI, MPEG and QuickTime for
Video/Audio.
28) Whats the simplest way to remotely configure a router?
In cases when you need to configure a router remotely, the most convenient is to use the
Cisco AutoInstall Procedure. However, the router must be connected to the WAN or LAN
through one of the interfaces.
29) What does the show protocol display?
routed protocols that is configured on the router
the address assigned on each interface
the encapsulation method that was configured on each interface
30) How do you depict an IP address?
It can be done in three possible ways:
using Dotted-decimal. For example: 192.168.0.1
using Binary. For example: 10000010.00111011.01110010.01110011
using Hexadecimal. For example: 82 1E 10 A1
31) How do you go to privileged mode? How do you switch back to user
mode?
To access privileged mode, you enter the command enable on the prompt. In order to get
back to user mode, enter the command disable
32) What is HDLC?
HDLC is short for High Level Data Link Control protocol, and is a propriety protocol of
CISCO. It is the default encapsulation operated within CISCO routers.
33) How are internetworks created?
Internetworks are created when networks are connected using routers. Specifically, the
network administrator assigns a logical address to every network that connects to the router.
34) What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth refers to the transmission capacity of a medium. It is a measure of how much
volume a transmission channel can handle, and is measured in Kbps.
35) How does Hold-downs work?
Hold-downs prevent regular update messages from reinstating a downed link by removing
that link from update messages. It uses triggered updates to reset the hold-down timer.
36) What are packets?
Packets are the results of data encapsulation. These are data that has been wrapped under
the different protocols of the OSI layers. Packets are also referred to as datagrams.
37) What are segments?
Segments are sections of a data stream that comes from the upper OSI layers and ready for
transmission towards the network. Segments are the logic units at the Transport Layer.
38) Give some benefits of LAN switching.
allows full duplex data transmission and reception
media rate adaption
easy and efficient migration
39) What is Route Poisoning?
Route Poisoning is the process of inserting a table entry of 16 to a route, making it
unreachable. This technique is used in order to prevent problems caused by inconsistent
updates on a route.
40) How do you find valid hosts in a subnet?
The best way to go about this is to use the equation 256 minus the subnet mask. The hosts
that are considered valid are those that can be found between the subnets.
41) What is DLCI?
DLCI, or Data Link Connection Identifiers, are normally assigned by a frame relay service
provider in order to uniquely identify each virtual circuit that exists on the network.
42) Brielfly explain the conversion steps in data encapsulation.
From a data transmitters point of reference, data from the end user is converted to
segments. Segments are then passed on to the other layers and converted into packets or
datagrams. These packets are then converted into frames before passing on to the network
interface. Finally, frames are converted to bits prior to actual data transmission.
43) What are the different types of passwords used in securing a CISCO
router?
There are actually five types of passwords that can be used. These are enable secret,
enable, virtual terminal, console, and auxiliary.
44) Why is network segmentation a good idea when managing a large
network?
For a network administration, segmenting a network would help ease network traffic and
ensures that high bandwidth is made available at all times for all users. This translates to
better performance especially for a growing network.
45) What are the things that can be accessed in a CISCO routers
identifying information?
The hostname and the Interfaces. The hostname is the name of your router. The Interfaces
are fixed configurations that refer to the router ports.
46) Differentiate Logical Topology from Physical Topology
Logical Topology refers to the signal path through the physical topology. Physical Topology
is the actual layout of the network medium.
47) What causes a triggered update to reset the router hold-down
timer?
This may happen when the hold-down timer has already expired, or when the router
received a processing task that incidentally was proportional to the number of links in the
internetwork.
51) Mention what is the difference between the switch, hub, and
router?
Hub
Switch
Router
others.
packets. In short, data packets carry the information and routing configuration for your
transferred message.
58. Mention what are the ranges for the private IPS?
Ranges for private IPS are
Telnet (IP)
AUX (Telephone)
Console (Cable)
Bandwidth
Load
Delay
Reliability
MTU
63. Mention what command you must use if you want to delete or
remove the configuration data that is stored in the NVRAM?
Erase startup- coding is the command you must use if you want to delete the configuration
data that is stored in the NVRAM
TCP and UDP both are protocols for sending files across computer network
leakage
Layer Six (Data Link): Datagrams or packets are built into frames
69. What route entry will be assigned to dead or invalid route in case
of RIP?
In the case of RIP table entry 16 hops will be assigned to dead or invalid route making it
unreachable.