9/13/24, 10:50 C172- Studyguide - Study guide for c172
PM WGU
C172 Study Guide – Updated 2/8/21****
Insights from my experience of taking the OA twice:
● The details about the specs of cables are not essential: if you know the basics of which
cable is most likely to be used, you are in a good place. (T1, T3, Coaxial, UTP, Fiber
Optic)
● The specific details about 802.11 standards (frequency, ODFM vs DSSS, etc) were never
asked on either OA I took.
● Knowing the names of specific attack names was helpful on a few of the questions
(smurf attack, teardrop, ping of death, bluejacking, etc.)—I would review these before
the test.
● Feel comfortable with the CIA triad and the AAA—there are about three question for each topic.
● Know your OSI model—what physical components make up each layer, what protocols are
used in each layer, and what each layer actually does.
● Know your networks: PAN, LAN, MAN, WAN, WLAN, VLAN, etc.
● There are roughly three questions about network commands (ipconfig, ping, etc.) and what they
do.
● Understand Firewalls and their uses.
● Know the difference between switches, repeaters, hubs, routers, and modems
When in doubt, use the process of elimination—if you know what an option means, and it doesn’t
make sense in the context, don’t consider it. Most questions I wasn’t sure about, I could wean
down to two viable options because the other options didn’t even make sense. For example, for
some OSI questions, a couple of the options weren’t actual layers on the OSI model.
*** Update 2: A reddit user created a flash card set and quiz that I think is beneficial so I’m adding
the link here. https://quizlet.com/401533092/c172-wgu-complete-v3-flash-cards/
****Update 3 (FunAdministration334) I’ve formatted this to be shorter, for printing purposes. I’ve
edited typos and misinformation, to the best of my ability. Notes are a very personal thing, so
please make a copy and alter it in a way that suits your own learning needs. 1/21/2021
*****Update 4 (8 Feb 2021 geek-girls-r-fun) Updated study guide with info from the cohorts
and updates about the OA from other Redditors. Studied this guide with an experienced IT friend
for 12 hours, updated the study guide for an additional 6 hours and passed the first time. I
used this quizlet: OA&PA Study Guide by kamerasheree. I used the Match feature of quizlet to make the
learning more interesting. I did not read the text aside from Unit 2 for details on Basic Network commands
but I did work on a helpdesk about 25 years ago so I have an idea of how networking & security work.
Watched videos by Messer on OSI & Firewalls (links in guide below). I tried the quizzes recommended in the
Course Tips and found OSI Layers, Command-Line Utilities & Networking Attacks to be relevant. I took the
PA twice, once right before the OA. NOTE: Immediately after taking the OA, I revised this study guide to
REMOVE anything that I didn’t see on the test. Yellow highlights are things I remember being on the
OA.
-1-
about:blan 1/20
k
,9/13/24, 10:50 C172- Studyguide - Study guide for c172
PM WGU
Introduction to Networking Concepts (38% of assessment)
Network Devices
Recommended Video: Understanding the OSI Model - CompTIA Network+ N10-007 - 1.2 - Professor
Messer IT Certification Training Courses
Objectives
:
●
Identify wired networking devices based on function.
●
Identify wireless networking devices based on function.
●
Identify security networking devices based on function.
Examples
a.The NIC functions at the data link by using a unique MAC address.
b.The router is a network device that is used to connect two or more network
segments by performing OSI layer 3 functions like packet-forwarding.
c. The router is responsible for implementing NAT (network address translation)
d. The file server is used as a shared storage for all member nodes of a LAN.
Notes: There were at least 4 straightforward questions about various OSI Layers. I memorized this
table and wrote it down on my whiteboard before starting the OA.
All People Seem to Need Data Processing. Messer video on OSI.
OSI Layer Unit Physical Component & Function Protocols
7 Application Application software, network HTTP, FTP, SMIP, IMAP, SMTP
applications. Anything you can see
with your eyeballs like web browsers
and email. SSL, ASCII, JPEG, MIDI, MPEG,
6 Presentation Data conversion utilities. GIF, MP3, MP4
Protocol Conversion, data
translation. Data NFS, SQL, PPTP, NetBIOS, PAP, SCP
encryption/decryption. (tunneling)
5 Session Network Operating System. TCP (segments so no missing
Establishes, manages &
terminates sessions
4 Transport segments
Network Operating System. Ensures
Error
packets), UDP (datagrams for
Free Packets
streaming like games), SCTP
3 Network Packets Router, Layer 3 switches. Provides IP, IPX, IPSec, RIP, IPv4, IPv6,
routing ICMP
decisions. NAT, PAT
2 Data Link Frames Switches, NIC, Token Ring, Frame MAC addresses, ARP, PPP,
Relay, HDLC,
Bridge. Provides for flow of data. NIC LLC
FUNCTIONS at this layer. Bits pass over Communication at MAC-
physical layer between devices on a address
LAN (collision domain). level - forwards packets on
Layer 2 devices, like a
bridge.
1 Physical Bits 802.11, Repeater, Modem, Bluetooth, DSL, ISDN, physical NICs,
twisted
Ethernet, hubs, Network Cabling, Wi-Fi. pair cable, fiber. Questions
Signals & Media. about
“medium” refer to cabling.
-2-
about:blan 2/20
k
, 9/13/24, 10:50 C172- Studyguide - Study guide for c172
PM WGU
about:blan 3/20
k
PM WGU
C172 Study Guide – Updated 2/8/21****
Insights from my experience of taking the OA twice:
● The details about the specs of cables are not essential: if you know the basics of which
cable is most likely to be used, you are in a good place. (T1, T3, Coaxial, UTP, Fiber
Optic)
● The specific details about 802.11 standards (frequency, ODFM vs DSSS, etc) were never
asked on either OA I took.
● Knowing the names of specific attack names was helpful on a few of the questions
(smurf attack, teardrop, ping of death, bluejacking, etc.)—I would review these before
the test.
● Feel comfortable with the CIA triad and the AAA—there are about three question for each topic.
● Know your OSI model—what physical components make up each layer, what protocols are
used in each layer, and what each layer actually does.
● Know your networks: PAN, LAN, MAN, WAN, WLAN, VLAN, etc.
● There are roughly three questions about network commands (ipconfig, ping, etc.) and what they
do.
● Understand Firewalls and their uses.
● Know the difference between switches, repeaters, hubs, routers, and modems
When in doubt, use the process of elimination—if you know what an option means, and it doesn’t
make sense in the context, don’t consider it. Most questions I wasn’t sure about, I could wean
down to two viable options because the other options didn’t even make sense. For example, for
some OSI questions, a couple of the options weren’t actual layers on the OSI model.
*** Update 2: A reddit user created a flash card set and quiz that I think is beneficial so I’m adding
the link here. https://quizlet.com/401533092/c172-wgu-complete-v3-flash-cards/
****Update 3 (FunAdministration334) I’ve formatted this to be shorter, for printing purposes. I’ve
edited typos and misinformation, to the best of my ability. Notes are a very personal thing, so
please make a copy and alter it in a way that suits your own learning needs. 1/21/2021
*****Update 4 (8 Feb 2021 geek-girls-r-fun) Updated study guide with info from the cohorts
and updates about the OA from other Redditors. Studied this guide with an experienced IT friend
for 12 hours, updated the study guide for an additional 6 hours and passed the first time. I
used this quizlet: OA&PA Study Guide by kamerasheree. I used the Match feature of quizlet to make the
learning more interesting. I did not read the text aside from Unit 2 for details on Basic Network commands
but I did work on a helpdesk about 25 years ago so I have an idea of how networking & security work.
Watched videos by Messer on OSI & Firewalls (links in guide below). I tried the quizzes recommended in the
Course Tips and found OSI Layers, Command-Line Utilities & Networking Attacks to be relevant. I took the
PA twice, once right before the OA. NOTE: Immediately after taking the OA, I revised this study guide to
REMOVE anything that I didn’t see on the test. Yellow highlights are things I remember being on the
OA.
-1-
about:blan 1/20
k
,9/13/24, 10:50 C172- Studyguide - Study guide for c172
PM WGU
Introduction to Networking Concepts (38% of assessment)
Network Devices
Recommended Video: Understanding the OSI Model - CompTIA Network+ N10-007 - 1.2 - Professor
Messer IT Certification Training Courses
Objectives
:
●
Identify wired networking devices based on function.
●
Identify wireless networking devices based on function.
●
Identify security networking devices based on function.
Examples
a.The NIC functions at the data link by using a unique MAC address.
b.The router is a network device that is used to connect two or more network
segments by performing OSI layer 3 functions like packet-forwarding.
c. The router is responsible for implementing NAT (network address translation)
d. The file server is used as a shared storage for all member nodes of a LAN.
Notes: There were at least 4 straightforward questions about various OSI Layers. I memorized this
table and wrote it down on my whiteboard before starting the OA.
All People Seem to Need Data Processing. Messer video on OSI.
OSI Layer Unit Physical Component & Function Protocols
7 Application Application software, network HTTP, FTP, SMIP, IMAP, SMTP
applications. Anything you can see
with your eyeballs like web browsers
and email. SSL, ASCII, JPEG, MIDI, MPEG,
6 Presentation Data conversion utilities. GIF, MP3, MP4
Protocol Conversion, data
translation. Data NFS, SQL, PPTP, NetBIOS, PAP, SCP
encryption/decryption. (tunneling)
5 Session Network Operating System. TCP (segments so no missing
Establishes, manages &
terminates sessions
4 Transport segments
Network Operating System. Ensures
Error
packets), UDP (datagrams for
Free Packets
streaming like games), SCTP
3 Network Packets Router, Layer 3 switches. Provides IP, IPX, IPSec, RIP, IPv4, IPv6,
routing ICMP
decisions. NAT, PAT
2 Data Link Frames Switches, NIC, Token Ring, Frame MAC addresses, ARP, PPP,
Relay, HDLC,
Bridge. Provides for flow of data. NIC LLC
FUNCTIONS at this layer. Bits pass over Communication at MAC-
physical layer between devices on a address
LAN (collision domain). level - forwards packets on
Layer 2 devices, like a
bridge.
1 Physical Bits 802.11, Repeater, Modem, Bluetooth, DSL, ISDN, physical NICs,
twisted
Ethernet, hubs, Network Cabling, Wi-Fi. pair cable, fiber. Questions
Signals & Media. about
“medium” refer to cabling.
-2-
about:blan 2/20
k
, 9/13/24, 10:50 C172- Studyguide - Study guide for c172
PM WGU
about:blan 3/20
k
