CompTIA Network+ Module 12: Performance and Recovery

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Questions and Answers

What device is designed to ensure that a critical server remains powered without interruption?

Surge protector

UPS (correct)

PDU

Generator

Which of the following is NOT a method to ensure business continuity during power outages?

Using power strips (correct)

Establishing a disaster recovery plan

Implementing regular data backups

Installing a UPS

Which component is essential for incident response in the context of disaster recovery?

Advanced threat detection systems

Regular hardware upgrades

Comprehensive user training (correct)

Data encryption protocols

In disaster recovery planning, what is the primary purpose of a PDU?

To distribute electrical power to multiple devices Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario best illustrates a valid disaster recovery contingency?

Having an alternative location for operations Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary function of a UPS in a network?

To prevent power interruptions and voltage fluctuations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a surge?

A momentary increase in voltage Signup and view all the answers

What defines a brownout in power management terminology?

A temporary decrease in voltage Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of an online UPS?

It provides continuous power through its battery while charging Signup and view all the answers

How does electrical noise affect network equipment?

It causes fluctuations in voltage levels Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a PDU in power management?

It connects equipment to a power source Signup and view all the answers

What can cause serious damage to sensitive computer equipment?

Power fluctuations and surges Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a power flaw that can harm equipment?

Overcurrent Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary goal of network management?

Preventing costly downtime and loss Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an environmental factor that should be monitored for effective network management?

Employee productivity Signup and view all the answers

What does QoS stand for in the context of network management?

Quality of Service Signup and view all the answers

Which practice is crucial for disaster recovery planning?

Maintaining records of network assets Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an incident response plan?

A guide for identifying and mitigating network incidents Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of monitoring power supply levels in network management?

To avoid data loss and maintain uninterrupted service Signup and view all the answers

What environmental condition can be monitored to help prevent physical damage to network equipment?

Liquid detection Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to determine the best time of day for network upgrades?

To minimize disruptions and enhance performance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

CompTIA Network+ Module 12: Performance and Recovery

This module covers performance and recovery strategies for networks
Module objectives include using appropriate tools to collect network data, identifying methods to optimize network performance, and identifying best practices for incident response and disaster recovery.
Network management involves assessing, monitoring, and maintaining all network aspects. This includes controlling user access, checking for hardware faults, ensuring quality of service (QoS) for critical applications, maintaining records of network assets, identifying the optimal time for upgrades, and preventing costly downtime.
Environmental monitoring is crucial for network performance. Factors to monitor include device/rack/room temperature, humidity, dew point, barometric pressure, flooding, smoke/fire, airflow, vibration, motion (e.g., security cameras), room lighting, rack/room door status, and power (main, UPS, voltage, battery levels, outages, power consumption). Network monitors collect data from sensors to dashboards and alerts/notifications.
Traffic monitoring tools aid in analyzing network traffic. These tools include network monitors (continuously monitor network traffic), protocol analyzers (monitor traffic at specific interfaces or throughout a network), wireless monitoring (monitoring software on a networked computer), port mirroring (copying all traffic sent to a switch port), in-line monitoring (using a device to inspect traffic), and reporting (devices reporting traffic and other statistics).
Network monitors can perform functions like setting the network interface card (NIC) to promiscuous mode for monitoring all traffic, monitoring network traffic on a segment, capturing network data, capturing frames from specific nodes, replicating network conditions, and creating reports on network activity.
Analyzers can pinpoint issues like runts, giants, jabber, ghosts, packet loss, discarded packets, and interface resets. Alerts can be sent via email, text message, or automated support ticket generation.
Event viewers, applications that log events on Windows-based systems for monitoring, and syslog utilities for collecting, storing, and processing event messages on Linux/UNIX systems are used.
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is used with network management systems (NMS) to monitor managed devices. This system involves a network management system (NMS), managed devices, network management agents, and MIBs (Management Information Bases).
Most SNMP agents employ the TCP/IP suite with SNMPv1 (rarely used), SNMPv2 (improved performance and security), and SNMPv3 (provides authentication and encryption). SNMP conversations are often initiated by the NMS server, except for SNMP Trap messages, sent by a managed device.
NetFlow is a proprietary protocol for monitoring and collecting IP traffic on Cisco devices.
Performance baselines assess regular operation, usually including network backbone utilization, number of users logged on, number of protocols in use, error statistics, runts/jabbers/giants occurrence, application usage frequency, and bandwidth usage. Baselines serve as a reference for assessing future network performance changes.
Bandwidth management uses strategies for optimizing network traffic volume such as flow control, congestion control, and QoS.
Flow control techniques (e.g., stop-and-wait, go-back-n sliding window, selective repeat sliding window) are used to improve the rate of data transmission and avoid overwhelming the receiver.
Congestion control techniques handle network congestion. These include retransmission policy, window policy, acknowledgement policy, and discarding policy.
QoS (Quality of Service) techniques adjust network priority levels. This allows for prioritizing delay-sensitive traffic (e.g., voice, video) by using strategies like traffic shaping, buffering, and traffic policing. Different characteristics like protocol, IP address, user group, VLAN tag, and service type can be used to set priorities. DiffServ is a technique that prioritizes traffic at Layer 3, using DSCP for prioritization in Layer 4 packets for different traffic types. CoS (Class of Service) is another technique for prioritizing traffic at Layer 2.
Incident response plans define how to deal with various events that directly affect network availability or resources. This process has a six-step process beginning in the planning phase continuing with detection/identification, containment, remediation, recovery, and review.
Disaster recovery planning addresses the processes for restoring critical network functions and data. Disasters are extreme events. This includes planning for backups, contact information for emergencies, details on backing up data and servers, methods for recovering backed-up data, network topology, redundant systems, agreements with service providers and carriers, and procedures for managing the crisis. Disaster contingencies consist of cold sites, warm sites, and hot sites. DRaaS (disaster recovery as a service) can be used for scalable and inexpensive disaster recovery in the cloud.
Power management involves power sources and their associated issues and risks (e.g., outages, fluctuation). Components like Power Distribution Units (PDUs) and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs) are in use to safeguard against disturbances. Surge protectors, generators, and backup power sources like diesel, propane gas, natural gas, or steam are employed to mitigate issues like surges, noise, brownouts, and blackouts.
Backup systems and strategies include backing up data and program files regularly, selecting methods (including cloud backups), deciding on frequency, creating a schedule, and regularly verifying backups. Key considerations for backup strategy include the 3-2-1-1 rule (three copies, two media types, one copy stored offsite, and one offline). Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) must be factored into the backup plan.

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Description

Explore strategies for optimizing network performance and implementing effective recovery methods. This module includes tools for data collection, best practices for incident response, and critical environmental monitoring techniques necessary for maintaining network quality. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance their network management skills.