Common Protocols
Ports & Services
Device Configuration
Network Services
Network Security & Troubleshooting
100

The protocol used for secure web browsing (port 443)

What is HTTPs?

100

The standard port # for HTTP

What is Port 80?

100

The command to view interface configuration in Cisco IOS (privileged exec)

“What is show running-config?”  (show run)

100

The service that assigns IP addresses dynamically

What is DHCP?

100

A network device that filters traffic based on rules and can block specific ports or IP addresses.

What is a Firewall?

200

The protocol used for sending email

What is SMTP?

200

The port # for DNS (UDP)

What is port 53?

200

The protocol used to remotely configure network devices securely.

What is SSH?

200

The translation of private IPs to public IPs

What is "NAT"

200

A basic troubleshooting tool that tests connectivity by sending ICMP echo requests.

What is Ping?

300

DNS is primarily what kind of protocol (stateful/stateless)?

What is Stateless? ( Meaning a device self-assigns an address )

300

The port # for FTP data transfer (active mode)

What is port 20?

300

Mode required to commit changes in a Cisco switch (global config)

“What is global configuration mode?”

300

The management protocol that polls device statistics

What is "SNMP"? (Simple Network Management Protocol"

300

If devices on the same switch can’t communicate because they’re assigned to different VLANs, what’s likely misconfigured?

“What is the VLAN configuration?”

400

The protocol used to transfer files securely over SSH

"What is SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)?”

400

Port number for SMTP

What is port 25?

400

The command to assign an IP address to an interface using the CLI

interface GigabitEthernet0/1; ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0 (or any made up useable address with a subnet mask )

400

The tunneling protocol often used for site-to-site VPNs  

What is "IPsec"?

400

Two common authentication protocols used in secure network access, often in Wi-Fi or enterprise environments.

“What are RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) and TACACS+?” (Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System )

500

The application-layer protocol used when you browse web pages (not secure)

What is HTTP?

500

Port # used for IMAP over SSL / TLS

(SSL - Secure Sockets Layer  - Encrypted connection)

 (TLS - Transport Layer Security - Successor to SSL)

What is port 993? (Secure encrypted email access)

500

The protocol that is insecure or unencrypted); AND why it’s insecure

Telnet (unencrypted, "clear text", easy to sniff)

500

How SNMP v3 improves security over v1/v2c

What is with (authentication and encryption vs community string)

500

Software or appliances like Wireshark or SolarWinds used to capture or analyze network traffic.

“What are network monitoring or packet analysis tools?”