Edward Tetz

Topology refers in a general sense to layout; similarly, a network topology defines the layout of the network. The three basic network topologies are bus, star, and ring. Following is a discussion of the different network topologies and their characteristics. Bus A bus topology uses a main wire (or trunk) to connect all network devices so that they can communicate with one another.

One big change CompTIA made to the 900-series A+ Exam objectives is fairly heavy coverage of Linux. This makes sense because you'll encounter Linux quite a bit in business, especially in enterprise servers. Missing GRUB/LILO LILO and GRUB are the two main boot loader packages used in Linux. Nowadays GRUB is used almost exclusively.

When pursuing your compTIA A+ Certification, you need to know about device-related errors and what to do when you encounter them. It is unfortunate that the devices and their drivers that allow people to accomplish so much of their day-to-day work with computers are also one of the biggest factors in not being able to do work on their computers.

As an A+ Certified Professional, you will often need to diagnose problems based on error codes and messages from the OS. All operating systems are vulnerable to issues that can keep them from booting, and the current crop of Windows OSes, from Windows XP on, is no different.Officially, the CompTIA A+ Exam objectives list post-Windows XP OS versions — namely, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

If you're pursuing your compTIA A+ Certification, you need to know about the hardware devices involved in setting up a network. One of the devices that might appear on the exams is a router.A router, which is responsible for sending information from one network to another, is an important network device because most companies are connected to the Internet.

Be familiar with the network interface card (NIC) for the A+ Exams and understand its benefits. The network interface card (commonly referred to as a network card) is responsible for connecting the computer or device to the network. More importantly, the network card on the sending computer is responsible for converting digital data into an electrical signal for copper or optical signal for fiber that can be placed on the wire.

You will be tested on several different networking devices for the A+ Exams, including the repeater/extender. One way to increase the distance of a cable length is to use a repeater, which regenerates a signal so it can travel the extra distance.One major concern with cabling is the maximum usable length of the cable.

The following is a listing of some common troubleshooting tools you should be familiar with for the A+ Exams. One of the challenging parts of supporting networks today is knowing how to troubleshoot them. You find so many aspects of the network that it is difficult to know where to start your troubleshooting. Crimper: A cable crimper is used to create network cables by attaching the connectors to the ends of the cable and then using the crimper to squeeze the connectors in place.