NodeConnect

I Passed the Network+ Exam! Here's My Journey I can't believe it. After months and years of practice, patience, and frustration, I am Network+ certified. Even thinking about it gets me excited. The journey here was not easy. Many people have their stories on how they passed, such as what study resources they used, the amount of time spent, sacrifices, or even field experience. I am going to throw my hat in the ring and share my experience, from what I remember, to get here. I'll even include some tips and the resources I used to pass this exam. Discovering Networking Through A+ It started with going into the A+ certification. The hardware sections were overwhelming at first, but I especially enjoyed the parts about cloud computing, virtualization, and networking. Consistently, networking stood out as my best-performing domain. At first, I just needed an introduction to networking, but as time went on—and with the opportunity of getting an internship—the need for the ...

A reservation means nothing if you get the wrong size for your guests, or a party crasher, intended or not, is there first. Similarly, if DHCP is not secure, your device runs the risk of not getting the right network configuration—or any at all. What threats does DHCP face, and how can we protect both devices and the server from such attacks? Let's secure those answers. For a refresher on DHCP, check out this post . DHCP Attacks Rogue DHCP Server On picnic day, you go to the park office to claim your pavilion, but another staff member—different from the one you arranged the event with—has no note of your reservation and gives you another pavilion. What does that mean for your guests? They already have the original location. Things just got complicated. Similarly, a rogue DHCP server is an unauthorized or misconfigured device that disrupts the operations of an authorized server within a network. This can result from manually assigning conflicting IP address ranges or some...

Lab time! Want to build a DHCP server?  In this lab, I will show you how to build your own DHCP server on a router using Cisco Packet Tracer, as shown above. By the end of this post, you will be able to create your own DHCP server with a Cisco 2911 router, perhaps in a home lab setting, and prepare you to build your own on other hardware.  Why a Router?  A DHCP server is a centralized, automated service that assigns important network configuration details to devices on a network, such as IP addresses. Without it, we would have to create manual entries for our entire network, which can be time-consuming and lead to errors. Traditionally, there are dedicated servers to handle these functions. There are many ways to implement a DHCP server in your topology, including a dedicated physical server, a virtual machine, cloud-based gateways, and firewalls. However, there are specific benefits to using a router as your DHCP server: Reduced infrastructur...

It’s party time! You decide to throw a party at a park with a bunch of pavilions. But you can’t just walk up and claim a pavilion. Instead, you have to go through the park’s reservation service. You tell them the date and time of your event, and they check their list to see what’s available. Great news! A pavilion is open, and they assign it to you for a set time. The day arrives, and as planned, you host your party until it’s time to leave. What a great gathering! This is a lot like how DHCP works in a network. When a device — like your phone or laptop — joins a network, it can’t just start communicating. It needs an IP address first, just like you needed a reserved pavilion. Then, what is the "reservation" process of getting an IP address? Let's take a dive into the automated world of DHCP. What is DHCP? The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol simplifies network provisioning by automatically assigning important network parameters. These include: IP addresses : Just as ...

When I was first introduced to subnetting, it was difficult to understand the math and the process behind it. I watched videos but it did not click. I focused more on how to calculate it than on the reasoning behind it. Why do we subnet? I remember seeing forward slashes followed by numbers, classes, letters, network and broadcast addresses - important terms that was overshadowed by just trying to grasp why certain numbers were used.  Years later, I hear the word "subnetting" in one of my courses, and it reminded me of my struggles. Yet, I was excited. It was a time for redemption. Example after example, I started to get them right but also got to understand how to create a subnet with sufficient space for devices. Because of this, I have grown to love subnetting.  For me, it took time - a break that lasted about two years followed by a curriculum that focused on the topic for a few weeks. If you find yourself struggling with subnetting, do not worry. It takes time. If someth...

Whether it is a to-do list or a big project, organization is key. We have busy lives. The task in itself can have several parts or may require some sort of collaboration with a partner or a team. A project may call to meet deadlines, which means keeping up with those crucial dates and having a system of order. Similarly, our networks are busy, transferring a great deal of data across links and nodes. The amount of traffic generated can lead to bottlenecks, packet loss, and delays. A network’s design can vary in complexity, depending on the environment or needs of a customer. Just as we find a manageable way to handle heavy workloads, our networks have a way of efficiently handling network traffic by creating "mini-networks" within our network. This process is called subnetting.   Why We Subnet To reduce congestion. Just as traffic in cities cause slowdowns and delays, too much traffic can lead to bottlenecks, packet loss, and delays. Subnetting breaks the netwo...