From N10-008 to N10-009: What's New And Also Spanning Tree Protocols

Ready to ace the new CompTIA Network Plus exam, N10-009? Discover the game-changing updates and crucial differences from the N10-008, and learn how to sharpen your skills on modern tech like SD-WAN, 5G, and cloud architecture. We'll guide you through the exam's enhanced focus on practical troubleshooting and real-world scenarios. Plus, get insider tips and recommended resources to ensure you’re studying smart with the most current materials and hands-on experience. We're also celebrating our students' recent successes with their Security Plus exams, offering motivation to keep you driven and determined.

In another exciting segment, we reflect on our popular Spanish-language episode that resonated with a younger audience, promising future episodes in English to widen our reach. By revisiting key topics like the new network exam and rapid spanning tree protocols, we ensure that all our listeners can benefit from the insights shared. Join us for an engaging and informative discussion designed to keep you ahead in the fast-evolving world of networking and certification. This episode is packed with valuable content you won't want to miss!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:28

Thank you and welcome to technology tap. I'm professor j rod. In this episode we'll talk about the new comptia network plus exam and also we'll talk a little bit about spanning tree protocols. Let's it all right. Welcome back, guys. Hope you're having a beautiful summer. Summer already started schools out officially here on the east coast, so the high schoolers are out, though I did see some in my local high school. Uh, teachers parking lot was packed so I guess they're still working anyway. Uh, let's talk about the new network plus exam, uh, which is called the 10, officially called n10-009. It's the latest version of CompTIA's Network Plus certification and it's replacing the 008 exam.

Speaker 1: 1:47

Both exams cover fundamental networking skills but they are different in content, emphasis, structure and updates to reflect current industry practices and technologies. Let's compare the two. So for the Network Plus 9, nine, network fundamentals makes up 24%. Network implementation is 19. Network operations, 16. Security, 19. Troubleshooting, 22. We're in the 008. Network fundamentals cover 20% Implementations, 25. Operations, 20. Security, 20. Troubleshooting is 15%. So more emphasis on troubleshooting and fundamentals than anything else. That has gone up. Implementation has gone down 6%. Operations has gone down 4%. Even security, which I'm a little surprised, went down 1%. So what are the updated context, new technologies, trends and the Network Plus exam.

Speaker 1: 2:48

Number nine includes updated content on emerging technologies such as SD-WAN, 5g and advanced network security techniques. Cloud and virtualization both exams cover a cloud concept, but nine has more emphasis on modern cloud architecture and virtualizations techniques. Security while both cover network security, nine includes updated content on security practices such as zero trust models and newer security protocols. Network implementations focus on more practical implementations, including configuring and managing network devices and understanding wireless networks. Eight had a broader focus on theoretical aspects and basic configurations, network troubleshooting, greater emphasis on the practical troubleshooting skills using contemporary tools and method troubleshooting skills using contemporary tools and method, while eight included uh foundational troubleshooting, but with less focus on hands-on real world scenarios compared to number nine. So I see that as a good thing if they're gonna uh have more real life scenarios in the exam, because that's what you know employers are looking for that and even the students they. You know employers are looking for that and even the students you know they want to, you know be able to study that so that way they can, you know, use it in real life and on the exam. So that's pretty good.

Speaker 1: 4:14

Exam format and difficulty Both exams have a similar format, including multiple choice questions, drag and drop activities and performance-based simulations, or the pbqs as we call it. However, nine may have updated. May have updated scenarios and simulations to reflect current industry environments, industry standards and protocols. Nine reflects the latest industry standards and best practice, ensuring that certified individuals are up to date with the current network technologies and protocol. While aid is still relevant, some standards and practice cover might be slightly outdated compared to number nine.

Speaker 1: 4:54

Preparing for the exam If you are deciding which exam to take or preparing for one, consider the following and remember I think this one came out Juneune. The number nine came out june 20th, 2024, but they'll both run parallel for six months. So if you're studying for the eight, you can still take it. Um, you know, I think you have until maybe december, uh, to take it. November, november, december, I'll find out the exact date, but you can still take it. So if you're studying for eight, continue studying it for as long as you're going to take the exam soon. Right, don't wait too long, uh, you know to uh to take the exam. So, uh, study resources. Use up-to-date study materials specifically designed for 9, books, online courses, practice exams and hands-on labs can help focus on the new content. Pay particular attention to the new technologies and trends covered in 9, practical experience gain hands-on experience with networking equipment and configurations, as practical knowledge is critical for both exams, but it's more emphasized in Network Plus 9. By understanding these differences and focusing on the updated content, you can better prepare for your Network Plus exam, and that best aligns with current industry standards and practice. So if you're planning on taking the Network Plus exam, good luck.

Speaker 1: 6:30

You know, I found it a little bit more difficult, honestly, than Security Plus. Back when I took it, I just felt that Security Plus was more memorization than anything else. If you knew the definitions of a lot of stuff, you could answer the questions Right, but you really had to know the definitions. If you didn't know the definitions, then you were out of luck, but if you knew the definitions you can. Yeah, you can figure it out.

Speaker 1: 7:02

So, um, all right, before we continue with Wrapping Tree, I just want to give a shout out to. I have five of my students take their Security Plus exam. A couple of weeks back and they all um A plus course emailed me and told me that they passed the A plus. So shout out to them. They know who they are. I don't know if they're listening, but shout out to them. So again, listen, this is we're making real changes. Right, that's my goal is, you know, making real changes, helping students, uh, you know, being able to help them with this process. It's not easy and then, hopefully, now they, they're able to get jobs, good paying jobs, um, that way, you know, we can you together. Right, I get a free dinner, I think, if they get a job. So that's part for the course, as they know.

Speaker 1: 8:19

But listen, you can do it. If you're listening to this and you're studying for the A+, network+, security+, any exam, you can do it. You just got to concentrate, just concentrate and you can do it. Have faith in yourself. And, as I always said, you know the one thing, especially A plus, the one thing that you have to remember is if you're waiting to get 100% ready, you might never get there. So sometimes it's just worth a shot, just the gamble, to go and take it. I know it's easier said than done because the exams are expensive, but sometimes you got to take a chance. You got to be take a chance on yourself, be confident in yourself that, okay, I got it, I got it. So that's my advice to you all right?

Speaker 1: 9:12

Spanning tree protocol. So spanning tree protocol is designed to prevent network loops and ethernet networks by creating loop free logical topology. It achieves this by dynamically identifying and disabling redundant paths and networks. So how does it work? There's a root bridge election. All switches or routers in the network participate in the election of a root bridge, the central reference point of the spanning tree. The switch with the lowest bridge ID it's a combination of priority and MAC address becomes the root bridge. So how do they? Path cost calculation Each switch calculates the shortest path to the root bridge based on path cost, which considers factors like bandwidth. The election of the root bridge in the spanning tree protocol is a fundamental process to determine the central reference point for the spanning tree topology. Here's how the election works Bridge ID Each switch in the network has a unique bridge ID which is used to determine the root bridge. The bridge ID consists of two parts Bridge priority, a configurable value with a default of 32768. Lower values have higher priority. Then we have the mac address, the unique hardware address of the switch. Those are the two bridge id parts. So then initialization Initially, each switch assumes itself to be the root bridge and sends out bridge protocol data units, or BPDUs, with its own bridge ID.

Speaker 1: 10:59

Switches exchange BTUs to compare bridge ID. Each BPDU contains the bridge ID of the switch it originated from, along with information about the best path to the current assumed root bridge. When a switch receives a BPDU with a lower bridge ID than its own, it updates its own BPDU to reflect the lower bridge ID and forwards this updated BPDU to its neighbors bridge id and forwards this updated bpdu to its neighbors. This process continues until all switch agree on the switch with the lowest bridge id, which then becomes the root bridge. So, for example, if you have three switches a, b and c and you know I'm just gonna make up some numbers here, so if one it's a long, it's a long number, so I'll just give you like the last four digits. So bridge ID is a switch a, the bridge ID is 3344, switch B bridge ID is 5566 and bridge C bridge ID is 7788. So if switch A, b and C start sending BPDUs, they will compare their bridge IDs. Switch A will see that has the lowest bridge ID and consider itself the root bridge. Switch B and switch C will receive switch A BPDU and recognize that switch A has a lower bridge ID than theirs, they will stop considering themselves as the root bridge and forward switch A's BPDU. Switch A with the lowest bridge ID is elected as the root bridge. All switches in the network will now recognize switch A as a root bridge and adjust their paths accordingly.

Speaker 1: 12:52

By using the bridge ID to elect the root bridge, stp ensures a deterministic and consistent method for establishing the root of a spanning tree, thereby maintaining a loop free and efficient network topology. So that's how we determine what the root bridge is, right, uh, and it's always been. There's a video on youtube, but the guy I forgot his name, I'll look it up but the guy perfectly explains how the root bridge works and he uses animation for it, right, which is a lot of ways. Uh, makes it a lot easier because you, you know you visually, you see it. Um, but yeah, so that's how it works.

Speaker 1: 13:33

Port roles ports are assigned roles based on their position relative to the root bridge. Root port the port with the lowest cost. Path to the root bridge. You have your designated port, a port that forwards traffic towards a specific network segment. Block port, a port that does not forward frames to prevent loops, right, and then that's where you, that's what helps your network. Bpdu exchange switches, exchange bridge protocol data units to share information about path calls and bridge IDs. Bpdus help maintain and update the spanning tree topology and then topology changes.

Speaker 1: 14:17

Stp can adapt to changes in the network by recalculating the spanning tree to ensure loop-free connectivity. As variants of STP, you have rapid spanning tree protocol and improvement over STP, providing faster convergence time. Multiple spanning tree protocol allows multiple spanning trees to exist within a single network, enabling low balance and more efficient use of network resources. Benefits of using STP in router loop prevention ensures a loop-free network topology, preventing broadcast storms and other issues caused by loops. Redundancy allows for redundant links and paths, enhancing network resistance and fault tolerance. Dynamic adapt adapt uh adaption automatically adjusts to changes in network topology, maintaining optical paths for data transmission. By using STP and its variants, routers can effectively manage complex network topologies, ensuring efficient and reliable data transmissions while preventing potential network failures due to loops.

Speaker 1: 15:32

And loops will kill you, will kill your network. So we don't want that. All right, we're going to continue on our next episode. We're going to continue the summer series episode. We're going to continue the summer series on the student summer series on hacking. We got a good one by a bunch of students that did a really good one and that one's going to be in English.

Speaker 1: 15:57

The other one, the first one that we did, was in Spanish, very popular, but you know, I understand that most people, at least a lot of people here don't speak spanish, maybe, or don't understand spanish, so you didn't listen to it, but it was very popular. Like I guess it went um, the kids sent it out to their friends and and, uh, you know it was, it was. It was very good, but the next one will be in english, don't worry, and then you can listen to that exciting summer series. All right, that's going to put a bowl on this today. I want to thank everybody for listening and I hope you learned something about the new network exam and rapid spanning tree. Until next time, thank you.