Welcome to my Network+ N10-009 Study Series — a structured, chapter-by-chapter breakdown of everything covered in the CompTIA Network+ exam. As a cybersecurity, I built this repository to document my learning journey, reinforce core networking concepts, and create a reference guide for anyone else preparing for this certification.
Whether you're just starting out or need a quick refresh, this series is designed to be clear, practical, and exam-focused.
💡 "Networking is the foundation of cybersecurity. Master the network, master the defense."
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | N10-009 |
| Certification | CompTIA Network+ |
| Number of Questions | Maximum of 90 |
| Question Types | Multiple choice, performance-based |
| Passing Score | 720 (on a scale of 100–900) |
| Exam Duration | 90 minutes |
| Recommended Experience | CompTIA A+ certified or equivalent knowledge, 9–12 months of networking experience |
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ N10-009 Exam Domains │
├─────────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────┤
│ Domain 1: Networking Concepts │ ████████████████████ 23% │
│ Domain 2: Network Impl. │ ████████████████████ 19% │
│ Domain 3: Network Operations │ ████████████████████ 19% │
│ Domain 4: Network Security │ ████████████████████ 19% │
│ Domain 5: Network Troublesh. │ ████████████████████ 20% │
└─────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────┘
The backbone of all networking communication
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a conceptual framework that standardizes how different network systems communicate. This chapter covers all 7 layers, their functions, associated protocols, and how data encapsulation/de-encapsulation works as it travels through the stack.
Key Topics:
- The 7 layers: Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, Application
- PDUs (Protocol Data Units) at each layer
- Encapsulation and de-encapsulation
- Real-world protocols mapped to OSI layers
- Troubleshooting using the OSI model
- TCP/IP model vs. OSI model comparison
📄 View Chapter 1 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
The hardware and software that make networks run
This chapter dives into the physical and virtual devices that form the infrastructure of modern networks — from switches and routers to firewalls and load balancers. Understanding their roles is critical for both implementation and troubleshooting.
Key Topics:
- Hubs, Switches, Routers, and Bridges
- Firewalls (stateful vs. stateless)
- Load Balancers and Proxy Servers
- IDS/IPS (Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems)
- VPN Concentrators
- Access Points and Controllers
- Content filters and UTM (Unified Threat Management)
📄 View Chapter 2 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
Networking in the age of the cloud
Cloud computing has fundamentally changed how networks are designed and managed. This chapter explores cloud service models, deployment types, connectivity methods, and how traditional networking principles apply in virtualized environments.
Key Topics:
- IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and XaaS service models
- Public, Private, Hybrid, and Community cloud deployments
- Cloud connectivity options (Direct Connect, VPN, SD-WAN)
- Virtualization concepts: VMs, hypervisors, containers
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
- Cloud security responsibilities (shared responsibility model)
- Multi-cloud and cloud migration strategies
📄 View Chapter 3 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
The language of the internet
Ports and protocols are how devices identify and communicate with specific services. This chapter is a deep dive into the most critical protocols you need to know for the exam and for real-world network administration.
Key Topics:
- Well-known ports (0–1023), registered ports (1024–49151)
- TCP vs. UDP — when and why
- Essential protocols: HTTP/S, FTP/SFTP, SSH, Telnet, DNS, DHCP, SMTP, IMAP, POP3, SNMP, NTP, RDP, LDAP, Kerberos
- Protocol suites and layered communication
- ICMP and its role in diagnostics (ping, traceroute)
- Common port numbers table (exam must-know)
📄 View Chapter 4 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
The physical layer — where bits become signals
Before data can travel across a network, it must be transmitted over a physical medium. This chapter covers the types of cables, connectors, and optical transceivers used in modern networks, along with their characteristics and use cases.
Key Topics:
- Copper cabling: UTP, STP, coaxial — Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, Cat8
- Fiber optic cabling: single-mode vs. multi-mode
- Connectors: RJ-45, RJ-11, LC, SC, ST, MPO
- Transceivers: SFP, SFP+, QSFP, GBIC
- Ethernet standards and speeds (1G, 10G, 25G, 40G, 100G)
- Plenum vs. non-plenum rated cables
- Cable management and installation best practices
- Signal degradation: attenuation, interference, crosstalk
📄 View Chapter 5 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
How networks are designed and structured
A network's topology defines how devices are physically and logically connected. Understanding different architectures helps in designing scalable, resilient, and efficient networks — and in identifying failure points.
Key Topics:
- Physical topologies: Star, Bus, Ring, Mesh, Hybrid
- Logical topologies and how traffic flows
- WAN, LAN, MAN, PAN, CAN, SAN network types
- Three-tier architecture: Core, Distribution, Access
- Spine-leaf architecture (data center networking)
- Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
- SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) network design
- High availability and redundancy concepts
📄 View Chapter 6 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
The addressing system that routes data across the internet
Key Topics:
- IPv4 structure, classes, and CIDR notation
- Subnetting and VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking)
- Public vs. private IP ranges (RFC 1918)
- IPv6 addressing and transition mechanisms
- APIPA, loopback, and special-purpose addresses
- NAT/PAT and address conservation
- Subnetting shortcuts and exam tricks
📄 View Chapter 7 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
Directing traffic intelligently across networks
Key Topics:
- Static vs. dynamic routing
- Routing protocols: RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP
- VLANs, trunking, and 802.1Q tagging
- Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and variants
- Inter-VLAN routing
- Port security and MAC address filtering
- ARP and the role of switches at Layer 2
📄 View Chapter 8 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
Cutting the cable — standards, security, and signals
Key Topics:
- IEEE 802.11 standards: a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E)
- Wireless frequencies: 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz vs. 6 GHz
- Channels, channel bonding, and interference
- Wireless authentication: WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA3
- SSID, BSS, ESS, and roaming
- Wireless site surveys and heat maps
- Bluetooth and other short-range wireless technologies
📄 View Chapter 9 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
Defending networks from modern threats
Key Topics:
- Common attack types: DoS/DDoS, MITM, spoofing, VLAN hopping
- Network hardening techniques
- AAA framework: Authentication, Authorization, Accounting
- PKI, certificates, and encryption protocols (TLS/SSL)
- Zero Trust architecture
- Segmentation and DMZ design
- Monitoring and SIEM basics
📄 View Chapter 10 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
Diagnosing and resolving real-world network issues
Key Topics:
- CompTIA's troubleshooting methodology (7 steps)
- Common connectivity issues and how to resolve them
- Tools: ping, traceroute, nslookup, ipconfig/ifconfig, netstat, nmap, Wireshark
- Cable and hardware troubleshooting
- Wireless troubleshooting scenarios
- Performance and latency analysis
📄 View Chapter 11 Notes | 🧪 Practice Questions
📁 Network-Plus-N10-009-Study-Series/
│
├── 📄 README.md ← You are here
│
├── 📁 Chapter-01-OSI-Model/
│ ├── the-OSI-model-explained.pdf
│ ├── diagrams/
│ └── practice-questions.md
│
├── 📁 Chapter-02-Networking-Appliances/
│ ├── netorking-appliance-applications-and-functions.pdf
│ ├── diagrams/
│ └── practice-questions.md
│
├── 📁 Chapter-03-Cloud-Concepts/
│ ├── cloud-concepts.pdf
│ └── practice-questions.md
│
├── 📁 Chapter-04-Ports-Protocols-Services/
│ ├── ports-protocols-services.pdf
│ ├── port-number-cheat-sheet.md
│ └── practice-questions.md
│
├── 📁 Chapter-05-Media-Transceivers/
│ ├── transmission-media-transceivers.pdf
│ └── practice-questions.md
│
├── 📁 Chapter-06-Topologies-Architectures/
│ ├── network-topologies-architectuers-types.pdf
│ ├── diagrams/
│ └── practice-questions.md
│
├── 📁 Chapter-07-IP-Addressing/ ← Coming Soon
├── 📁 Chapter-08-Routing-Switching/ ← Coming Soon
├── 📁 Chapter-09-Wireless/ ← Coming Soon
├── 📁 Chapter-10-Network-Security/ ← Coming Soon
├── 📁 Chapter-11-Troubleshooting/ ← Coming Soon
│
├── 📁 Resources/
│ ├── port-number-cheat-sheet.md
│ ├── subnetting-cheat-sheet.md
│ ├── protocol-reference.md
│ └── exam-tips.md
│
└── 📁 Practice-Exams/
├── domain-1-questions.md
├── domain-2-questions.md
├── domain-3-questions.md
├── domain-4-questions.md
└── domain-5-questions.md
- Professor Messer's Network+ N10-009 (Free)
- Mike Meyers / Total Seminars on Udemy
- CBT Nuggets Network+
- ExamCompass (Free)
- Jason Dion Practice Tests (Udemy)
- MeasureUp (Official CompTIA Partner)
- Boson Network+ Practice Exams
| Port | Protocol | Service |
|---|---|---|
| 20/21 | TCP | FTP (Data/Control) |
| 22 | TCP | SSH / SFTP / SCP |
| 23 | TCP | Telnet |
| 25 | TCP | SMTP |
| 53 | TCP/UDP | DNS |
| 67/68 | UDP | DHCP (Server/Client) |
| 80 | TCP | HTTP |
| 110 | TCP | POP3 |
| 143 | TCP | IMAP |
| 161/162 | UDP | SNMP (Agent/Manager) |
| 389 | TCP/UDP | LDAP |
| 443 | TCP | HTTPS |
| 445 | TCP | SMB |
| 3389 | TCP | RDP |
| 514 | UDP | Syslog |
📌 Full port reference available in
/Resources/port-number-cheat-sheet.md
| Chapter | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | OSI Model | ✅ Complete |
| 02 | Networking Appliances, Applications & Functions | ✅ Complete |
| 03 | Cloud Concepts and Connectivity | ✅ Complete |
| 04 | Networking Ports, Protocols & Services | ✅ Complete |
| 05 | Media and Transceivers | ✅ Complete |
| 06 | Network Topologies, Architectures & Types | ✅ Complete |
| 07 | IP Addressing and Subnetting | 🔄 In Progress |
| 08 | Routing and Switching | 📅 Planned |
| 09 | Wireless Networking | 📅 Planned |
| 10 | Network Security | 📅 Planned |
| 11 | Network Troubleshooting | 📅 Planned |
This is an open learning resource. Contributions are welcome!
If you spot an error, want to improve a chapter, or would like to add practice questions:
- Fork this repository
- Create a branch (
git checkout -b fix/chapter-1-typo) - Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Fix: corrected OSI layer description') - Push to the branch (
git push origin fix/chapter-1-typo) - Open a Pull Request
⭐ If this repo helps your studies, please give it a star — it helps others find it!
I'm a cybersecurity apprentice documenting my journey into the field. Let's connect!
This project is licensed under the MIT License — see the LICENSE file for details.
All content is for educational purposes only. CompTIA® and Network+® are registered trademarks of CompTIA, Inc.
📡 Built with curiosity, discipline, and a lot of coffee ☕
Last Updated: 2026 | Network+ N10-009