CCNA – NETWORK FUNDAMENTALS | COMPLETE PRACTICE QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS & STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
What is the number and name of the layers of the modern TCP/IP model? - ANS ✔✔There are 5 layers -
Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, and Application.
What is at Layer 1 of the TCP/IP model, the Physical layer? - ANS ✔✔Physical cables and connectors, and
anything related to light or electricity traveling over cables.
What is at Layer 2 of the TCP/IP model, the Data Link layer? - ANS ✔✔MAC addresses with data
structured into frames. The frames include the source and destination MAC addresses in the header.
What is at Layer 3 of the TCP/IP model, the Network layer? - ANS ✔✔Logical addressing, such as IPv4
and IPv6 addresses that are globally unique and sent through routers to reach their destinations.
What is at Layer 4 of the TCP/IP model, the Transport layer? - ANS ✔✔1) Transmission Control Protocol
(TCP). 2) User Datagram Protocol (UDP). 3) Port numbers from 1 to 65,535.
What ports are used by HTTP and TFTP? - ANS ✔✔Port 80 and UDP port 69, respectively.
What is at Layer 5 of the TCP/IP model, the Application layer? - ANS ✔✔1) How software communicates
with lower-level protocols, such as how a web browser uses HTTP to pull information from a web server.
What is data called at levels 2, 3, and 4 of the TCP/IP model? - ANS ✔✔At Layer 4, the Transport layer, it
is a segment. At layer 3, the Network layer, it is a packet. At layer 2, the Data Link layer, it is a frame.
How does the TCP/IP model Application layer compare to the OSI model Application layer? - ANS ✔✔In
the OSI model, the top 3 layers are the Session, Presentation, and Application layers. In the TCP/IP
model, all 3 of those layers are combined into the Application layer.
Name 4 things that are defined by Ethernet standards. - ANS ✔✔Protocols, Interfaces, Cabling types, and
Connectors.
In order to connect separate LAN's to each other, what do routers connect to? - ANS ✔✔WAN, or Wide
Area Networks, such as the Internet, leased lines, etc.
Do wireless access points, or AP's, perform routing functions? - ANS ✔✔True AP's that are just AP's will
not. However, many SOHO routers are an AP combined with a switch, a router, and various other
capabilities.
How are small wireless networks managed vs. large wireless networks? - ANS ✔✔Small networks can be
individually configured and monitored. Large wireless networks will include 10's or 100's of AP's, a
Wireless LAN Controller, or WLC, and the network is centrally managed and monitored.
, Name 5 functions or features of a Next Generation Firewall, or NGFW. - ANS ✔✔1) Unified Threat
Management, or UTM. 2) A standard firewall. 3) Web filtering. 4) Inline file scanning. 5) Intrusion
Prevention System, or IPS.
Name 3 reasons to use a Next Generation Firewall. - ANS ✔✔Prevent breaches, Identify compromised
machines, and Receive alerts.
What is Cisco's DNA center? - ANS ✔✔A single interface that can be used to manage a network, deploy
workflows on a network, and automate provisioning and change management throughout a network.
Describe a Tier 2 network design. - ANS ✔✔There are 2 layers of switches. Access switches that
aggregate user machines are close to the network endpoints. Access switches are in turn connected to
Distribution switches that aggregate the Access switch traffic.
What are Tier 2 networks sometimes called? - ANS ✔✔A Collapsed core design, referring to the
Distribution layer switches that are the core of the network.
Describe a Tier 3 network design. - ANS ✔✔There are 3 layers of switches. Access switches that
aggregate user machines are close to the network endpoints. Access switches are in turn connected to
Distribution switches that aggregate the Access switch traffic. Distribution switches are in turn connected
to Core switches that aggregate the Distribution switch traffic.
What is a Data center? - ANS ✔✔A dedicated space designed for computer and telecom equipment. It
includes redundant cooling, power, and telecom communications with providers.
What type of design is often seen in the Data center? - ANS ✔✔A spine and leaf design that has a high
capacity with multiple communication paths that allow for both redundancy and lower latency.
Name 4 ways that a point-to-point (PTP) WAN connection can be delivered from a provider. - ANS
✔✔Layer 2, Layer 3, PSTN lines such as T1 and DS3 (not standard Ethernet), and wireless connectivity.
What is Fiber to the Home, or FTTH? - ANS ✔✔Fiber Internet connectivity delivered via Gigabit Passive
Optical Networking, or GPON.
Does Gigabit Passive Optical Networking, or GPON, use Ethernet standards? - ANS ✔✔It does use
Ethernet frames, but not in the traditional sense. That fact is hidden from the end user.
Even with the popularity of cloud resources, what are 2 advantages to using On-Premises, or On-Prem,
resources? - ANS ✔✔Lower bandwidth over the WAN connection, and lower latency.
When looking at the name of Ethernet standards, such as 1000Base-T or 1000Base-LX, what do the T and
the L stand for? - ANS ✔✔T is usually going to be a copper LAN cable while an L will normally be fiber
optics.
What is an Auto Medium Dependent Interface Crossover, or MDI-X, interface? - ANS ✔✔It is an interface
that will detect if a crossover cable is required and then adjust as needed.
ANSWERS & STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
What is the number and name of the layers of the modern TCP/IP model? - ANS ✔✔There are 5 layers -
Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, and Application.
What is at Layer 1 of the TCP/IP model, the Physical layer? - ANS ✔✔Physical cables and connectors, and
anything related to light or electricity traveling over cables.
What is at Layer 2 of the TCP/IP model, the Data Link layer? - ANS ✔✔MAC addresses with data
structured into frames. The frames include the source and destination MAC addresses in the header.
What is at Layer 3 of the TCP/IP model, the Network layer? - ANS ✔✔Logical addressing, such as IPv4
and IPv6 addresses that are globally unique and sent through routers to reach their destinations.
What is at Layer 4 of the TCP/IP model, the Transport layer? - ANS ✔✔1) Transmission Control Protocol
(TCP). 2) User Datagram Protocol (UDP). 3) Port numbers from 1 to 65,535.
What ports are used by HTTP and TFTP? - ANS ✔✔Port 80 and UDP port 69, respectively.
What is at Layer 5 of the TCP/IP model, the Application layer? - ANS ✔✔1) How software communicates
with lower-level protocols, such as how a web browser uses HTTP to pull information from a web server.
What is data called at levels 2, 3, and 4 of the TCP/IP model? - ANS ✔✔At Layer 4, the Transport layer, it
is a segment. At layer 3, the Network layer, it is a packet. At layer 2, the Data Link layer, it is a frame.
How does the TCP/IP model Application layer compare to the OSI model Application layer? - ANS ✔✔In
the OSI model, the top 3 layers are the Session, Presentation, and Application layers. In the TCP/IP
model, all 3 of those layers are combined into the Application layer.
Name 4 things that are defined by Ethernet standards. - ANS ✔✔Protocols, Interfaces, Cabling types, and
Connectors.
In order to connect separate LAN's to each other, what do routers connect to? - ANS ✔✔WAN, or Wide
Area Networks, such as the Internet, leased lines, etc.
Do wireless access points, or AP's, perform routing functions? - ANS ✔✔True AP's that are just AP's will
not. However, many SOHO routers are an AP combined with a switch, a router, and various other
capabilities.
How are small wireless networks managed vs. large wireless networks? - ANS ✔✔Small networks can be
individually configured and monitored. Large wireless networks will include 10's or 100's of AP's, a
Wireless LAN Controller, or WLC, and the network is centrally managed and monitored.
, Name 5 functions or features of a Next Generation Firewall, or NGFW. - ANS ✔✔1) Unified Threat
Management, or UTM. 2) A standard firewall. 3) Web filtering. 4) Inline file scanning. 5) Intrusion
Prevention System, or IPS.
Name 3 reasons to use a Next Generation Firewall. - ANS ✔✔Prevent breaches, Identify compromised
machines, and Receive alerts.
What is Cisco's DNA center? - ANS ✔✔A single interface that can be used to manage a network, deploy
workflows on a network, and automate provisioning and change management throughout a network.
Describe a Tier 2 network design. - ANS ✔✔There are 2 layers of switches. Access switches that
aggregate user machines are close to the network endpoints. Access switches are in turn connected to
Distribution switches that aggregate the Access switch traffic.
What are Tier 2 networks sometimes called? - ANS ✔✔A Collapsed core design, referring to the
Distribution layer switches that are the core of the network.
Describe a Tier 3 network design. - ANS ✔✔There are 3 layers of switches. Access switches that
aggregate user machines are close to the network endpoints. Access switches are in turn connected to
Distribution switches that aggregate the Access switch traffic. Distribution switches are in turn connected
to Core switches that aggregate the Distribution switch traffic.
What is a Data center? - ANS ✔✔A dedicated space designed for computer and telecom equipment. It
includes redundant cooling, power, and telecom communications with providers.
What type of design is often seen in the Data center? - ANS ✔✔A spine and leaf design that has a high
capacity with multiple communication paths that allow for both redundancy and lower latency.
Name 4 ways that a point-to-point (PTP) WAN connection can be delivered from a provider. - ANS
✔✔Layer 2, Layer 3, PSTN lines such as T1 and DS3 (not standard Ethernet), and wireless connectivity.
What is Fiber to the Home, or FTTH? - ANS ✔✔Fiber Internet connectivity delivered via Gigabit Passive
Optical Networking, or GPON.
Does Gigabit Passive Optical Networking, or GPON, use Ethernet standards? - ANS ✔✔It does use
Ethernet frames, but not in the traditional sense. That fact is hidden from the end user.
Even with the popularity of cloud resources, what are 2 advantages to using On-Premises, or On-Prem,
resources? - ANS ✔✔Lower bandwidth over the WAN connection, and lower latency.
When looking at the name of Ethernet standards, such as 1000Base-T or 1000Base-LX, what do the T and
the L stand for? - ANS ✔✔T is usually going to be a copper LAN cable while an L will normally be fiber
optics.
What is an Auto Medium Dependent Interface Crossover, or MDI-X, interface? - ANS ✔✔It is an interface
that will detect if a crossover cable is required and then adjust as needed.
