What is ping? Why you use ping?

PING Stands for Packet InterNet Gopher. PING is used for connectivity checking of any network or any
host or device of any or other networks.

Routers work at which OSI layers?

Router works at network layer for providing routing services between or among several networks.

A gateway works in which layer?

Transport layer of OSI model.

How can you check the connectivity of any network?

By using ping command.

What is a gateway?

A gateway acts a door for the packet to reach the ‘outside’ of the internal network.

What are the differences among router, switch, bridge and hub?

Router, switch, bridge and hub are network devices. Yet there are some differences among them. The
main differences are:

• Router: A layer 3 device, can work on physical, data and network layer.
• Switch: A layer 2 device, can work on data link layer • Bridge: A layer 2 device, can work on
data link layer.
• Hub: A layer 1device, just a multi-port repeater and works on physical layer

What is the range of class A address?

0-127 is the range of class A address.

Tell an IP which has class C range. Also tell why that IP is an class C address?

• IP of Class C: 193.1.1.1
• Why this is a class C address: Class C addresses have the range of 192 - 223
Name a device which can operate at physical layer of OSI model?

Hub.
Note: Remember, hub is the device that can work only into the physical layer of OSI model. But switch,
router can also be used instead of a hub. So, all the answers hub, switch or router are all correct.

What is the major differences between a router and a switch?

A router can divide the broadcast domain and collision domain. But a switch can only divide the collision
domain. Router can communicate among different networks where as the switch can not communicate
different networks.

Hub operates at which layers of OSI model? Is it wise to use a hub for huge networks? Why or why not?

• Hub operates at only physical layer of OSI model.

• No, it's not so wise to use hub for a huge network.
• Hubs can't divide the broadcast domain or the collision domain. So, if we use hubs then

there creates huge broadcast domain. When there are huge broadcast, the network gets problem time to
time. So, it's not wise to use hubs to support a huge network.

How many layers are in OSI model? Name them!

There are seven layers of OSI model. The layers are:

1. Application layer
2. Presentation layer
3. Session layer
4. Transport layer
5. Network layer
6. Data link layer
7. Physical layer

Note: You can remember the seven layer model by a simple sentence. Please Do Not Touch Steven's Pet
Alligator. See, the starting of each word forms the layer.
Why do you need to use a router?

Router can easily divide the broadcast domain and collision domain. So, to communicate among several
networks, routers are used.

What is OSI model?

OSI revers for Open System Interconnection Reference Model. It is an abstract model for layered
communications and computer network protocol design. There are seven layers of OSI model which, from
top to bottom, are the Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data-Link, and Physical
Layers.
OSI model also referred as OSI layered model, OIS layered technology, 7 layer model, OSI seven layer
model, OSI reference model.
What is the data unit of Data Link layer?
Frame

What are the difference between TCP and UDP?

• TCP: Connection oriented protocol, acknowledged one, Point to point communication.

• UDP: Connection less protocol, unreliable, less traffic

What is the port no of DNS and Telnet?

• DNS port no: 53

• Telnet port no: 23

What is the port no of SMTP and POP3?

• SMPT port no: 25

• POP3 port no: 110

What is the functionality of network layer? Name the data unit of network layer?

• Functionality of network layer: Path determination and logical addressing

• Data unit of network layer: Packet
Which three layers of OSI model are treated as "Media Layers"?

Physical layer, data link layer and network layer are treated as "Media Layers".

What is deadlock?

Deadlock is a situation when two or more processes are waiting indefinitely for an event that can be
caused by only one of the waiting processes. The implementation of a semaphore with a waiting queue
may result in this situation.

Mention the advantages and disadvantages of a router !

Advantages:

• Router can limit the collision domain and broadcast domain

• Router can function both on LAN & WAN.
• Different media & architectures can be connected among themselves through router. • Router can
determine best path/route for data to reach
• the destination.
• Router can filter the broadcasts.
• For communicating different networks, routers must be used.

Disadvantage:

• Router is more expensive than any other networking devices like Hub, Bridge & Switch.
• Router only work with routable protocols.
• Routing updates consume some bandwidth.
• Increase latency due to greater degree of packet • filtering.
• Routers function as software based and so it's slower compared to switch.

Mention the private IP address range of class B and C.

• For Class B: 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255

• For Class C: 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255

What is the IP range of class C IP address?

240.0.0.0 255.255.255.255
What is the default subnet mask of class C IP address?

255.255.255.0

Why do you need subnet mask?

Subnet mask is required to divide a large network into several small networks.

Tell the full name: DNS, FTP?

• DNS: Domain Name System

• FTP: File Transfer Protocol

What is the functionality or ARP?

ARP refers to Address Resolution Protocol. ARP is a computer networking protocol for determining a
network host's link layer or hardware address when only its Internet Layer (IP) or Network Layer address
is known.

Which one is reliable: TCP or UDP?

TCP is reliable and UDP is an unreliable service.

How DHCP works?

DHCP works by four-steps: (1) IP request, (2) IP offer (3) IP selection and (d) Acknowledgement.

What is POP3? Why you require POP3?

POP stands for Post Office Protocol. This is used to describe how e-mail clients interact with mail servers.
The POP3 Server is a type of mail server used for incoming mail. POP is only used to receive messages.

What is the difference between Layer 2 Switch and Layer 3 Switch?

Layer 2 switch is based on MAC addresses, which operates on Data Link Layer of OSI mode. And Layer
3 switching is based on network topology table populated and works on Network layer.
 Cisco Network interview questions and answers

What is the access list range for extended IP Access list?

The access list range is 100 – 199.

Name a x.25 addressing standard!

X.121 is a x.25 layer 3 add. Standard.

List three important properties of IGRP!

It is a composite metric. There are updates every 60 seconds and it is a poison reverse.

Where can the backup configuration file be found?

It is stored in the NVRAM.

Three features of IP Access lists!!

There are three different kinds of access lists. These are standard, extended and named.

How can a router be configured?

It can be configured by TFTP, Nvram or Console

Which mechanism takes place in a traffic light?

Flow control

What is Windowing?
It is a kind of flow control.

Which filters are used to control SAP Traffic?

Input sap filter and output sap filters can be used for the same.

Which hardware component is used to store buffers, tables, etc.?

RAM

Important features of UDP!!

It is the layer 4 transport protocol and has no handshaking.
What is the number range of IPX access list?
The range is 800-899

Name the OSI Layer which helps ensure packet delivery!!

Network layer.

How can you vary the routers boot sequence?

It can be done by boot system commands and config register.

Which hardware is necessary for broadcasts?

Switch, repeater and bridge.

Important characteristics of PPP PAP Authentication?

Username and password is sent in clear text and The authentication controls remote node.

Which switching method is used to examine the destination MAC Address?

Cut through is the switching method used to examine it.

An important feature of RARP?

The full form of RARP is Reverse Address Resolution Protocol. It is used to start remote O/S load
sequence.

Which protocol helps test the connectivity without configuration of layer 3 protocols?
CDP protocol

What is the use of IPX SAP?

It stands for Service Advertising Protocol and it is used to advertise services.

List the default values in IGRP metric!

The default values are bandwith and delay.

What is the default serial encapsulation?

HDLC is the default serial encapsulation.
 What is the use of ARP?
It is used to determine the MAC Address of a workstation.

Use of DLCI
It is used to identify the PVC in frame relay network.

Important features of OSI Layer 3 – network layer!!

Determines the path, multiplexing and management of sessions.

List the important characteristics of switches!!

The bandwidth is increased and collision domains are created. Also it helps forward traffic using mac
address.

Which OSI Layer is used for physical address and network topology?
The Data link layer serves this purpose.

Why do we have to disable CDP?

To save the bandwidth by reducing overhead and to connect to a non cisco router.

Important characteristics of ISDN!!

It transports both voice and data, and same as X.25

List the important characteristics of IGRP!!

Multiple unequal paths, autonomous system number, etc.

What is the range of extended IP access list?

The range is 100-199

Which hardware component is used to store backup configuration

NVRAM is used for this.

Which is the IPX Serial encapsulation by default?

HDLC
Important features of PPP CHAP Authentication?
Authentication messages and local router challenges

How many DNS Servers can be specified with one command?

6 DNS Servers can be specified with one command.

What is the use of Cisco IOS Exec command trace?

The “trace [protocol] [destination]” is used to discover routes that packets will travel to their destination
hosts. TTL (Time to Live) is used to report destination route information.

What is the use of “IP name-server 255.255.255.255?

It sets the domain name lookup to be a local broadcast.

Which format is useful for configuring the subnet mask for an IP Address?
Dotted decimal, hexadecimal and bit count formats can be used.

Which process is used to find an IP address from a MAC Address?

RARP Process

What is source Quench?

It is the condition when the router lacks any more buffer space.

ICMP Protocol!!
It is used to carry messages like destination unreachable, source quench, parameter problem, time
exceeded, timestamp, address reply and address request.

Name any two protocols which can exist in the protocol field of an IP Packet!!
These are TCP and UDP Protocols.

Which field in the IP Packet has network testing?

The network testing is found in IP Options field.
What is the use of DDR on Cisco Routers?
It is used for dial on demand routing. DDR provides routing for low volume and periodic traffic. Cisco
router has two types of access lists.
Standard and Extended

What do you know about the UDP Datagram format?

Source Port – 16 bits, Destination Port – 16 bits, Length – 16 Bits, Checksum – 16 bits, Data

When using access lists, what does a Cisco router check first?
The cisco routers checks whether the packet is routable or bridgeable

How many access lists are allowed per interface?

One Access list per port, per protocol is allowed.

What happens if we set a wildcard mask bit to 0 in cisco routers?

The router checks the corresponding bit value.

Which abbreviation is used to tell the router to check all numbers?

*host

Which service is used to get data from multiple sources and allocate bandwidth on one?
TDM or Time Domain Multiplexing

How can we convert the user data from DTE to WAN service form?
We can use the Modem, CSU/DSU and TA/NT1 for this.

Which are the different forms of WAN Services accessed by Cisco Routers?
These are Switched services, Using protocols connecting peer to peer devices and Interface front end to
IBM Enterprise Data center computers.
CISCO HDLC Protocol.
It contains the Flag, Address, Control, Proprietary, Data, FCS and Flag.

What is the Quality Protocol?

It monitors data dropped on a link.
What is magic number?
It helps avoid frame looping.

What is the use of Multilink Protocol MP?

It is used to provide load balancing across multiple links.

Which authentication method is preferred to set up a session?

CHAP

Which compression protocols are used for PPP?

Stac and Predictor

Name and explain the phases of PPP Session establishment!

These are link establishment phase, authentication phase and the network layer protocol phase.

Name the default IPX Ethernet encapsulation.

Novell-Ether is the default IPX Ethernet encapsulation