CompTIA - Convergence Technologies Professional (CTP+)

Curriculum

You'll learn the following, to ensure you pass the CTP+exam at the end of the course:

Data Networking Domain

Industry Standards and Protocols Objectives

• Layers of the OSI reference model
• Functions of each layer of the OSI reference model
• Protocols and Services of each OSI layer
• Data encapsulation (including but not limited to: data, segment, packet, frame) in relation to frame assembly

LAN/WAN Infrastructure Objectives

• LAN topologies (including but not limited to: ring, bus, star)
• WAN topologies (including but not limited to: full mesh, partial mesh, point-to-point)
• Routers, switches and hubs in relation to data networking hardware
• Modem and CSU/DSU in relation to data networking hardware
• Standards, protocols and their characteristics (including but not limited to: 802.2, 802.3, 802.5, PPP, frame relay, ATM, SONET/SDH)
• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
• DTE and DCE
• Cabling (including but not limited to: CAT3, CAT5, shielded twisted pair [STP], V.35, thinnet, RG58, fiber optic [single-mode, multi-mode])
• Cable terminators
• VLANs
• MAC address

IP Protocols Objectives

• IPv4 and IPv6 addresses
• Network classes (A, B, C, D)
• Network, host and broadcast addresses
• Private network numbers
• Subnet masking
• Host addresses in a subnet
• Host address and subnet mask
• Subnet mask by both the bit count and dotted decimal notation
• Routed and routing protocols
• Dynamic, static and default routes
• DNS features and functions
• DHCP features and functions
• NAT features and functions
• Connection-oriented and connectionless transport in relation to TCP/UDP
• Well-known, registered and random/dynamic ports in relation to TCP/UDP
• Common ports (including but not limited to: Telnet, HTTP, FTP, TFTP, SMTP, POP3, SNMP, DNS) in relation to TCP/UDP

Troubleshooting Objectives

• ICMP (tracert, ping and error messages) in relation to troubleshooting tools
• Other available troubleshooting tools for cabling, hardware, and configuration of devices (software and hardware)
• Straight-through vs. crossover cable
• Common configuration errors in IP devices

Telephony Networking Domain

Industry Standards and Protocols Objectives

• Standard reference nomenclature (including but not limited to: X.nnn, Q.nnn, I.nnn, E.nnn)

Basic Telephony Concepts Objectives

• Call-processing steps (call setup, call connection, call completion)
• Analog trunks and station lines
• Electrical characteristics of ground-start and loop-start analog trunks (not including local voltage specifications)
• Various types of E&M trunks (2W/4W audio) in relation to analog trunks
• DSH technologies (including but not limited to: DS0, DS1, DS3, OC3, OC12, OC48, OC192)
• Analog ringing (electrical specs) vs. digital alerting (A&B bits) in relation to signaling types
• Analog transmission impairments involved in a phone call (including but not limited to: loss, echo, noise, cross-talk, delay)
• Echo cancellation in 2-wire to 4-wire hybrids
• Pulse code modulation in telephony
• A-Law and Mu-Law in relation to digitising voice
• Functions of class 4 (tandem) and class 5 (end-office) switches in relation to PSTN/GSTN
• Various numbering plans (including but not limited to: global, NANP, private)
• Digital Signal Hierarchy (DSH) terminology (STRATUM)
• FXO and FXS interfaces

Infrastructure Objectives

• Safety procedures (including but not limited to: cabling, power, grounding, ESD, NEBS)
• Proper cabling procedures in specific environments (PVC vs. plenum)
• Troubleshooting tools (including but not limited to: 4-pair tester, inductor/buzzer/toner, linesman test set (butt set), volt meter, laptop)
• Symptoms of improper clocking configuration
• Various cable terminations (including but not limited to: USOC/RJ-nn standards, ITU/V.nnn standards)

Signaling Objectives

• Signaling of ground-start and loop-start analog trunks (not including line voltages)
• In-band vs. out-of-band in relation to signaling types
• Signaling functions of ISDN (e.g., ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI, ISDN 23 and ISDN 30) and SS7/C7
• E&M, ground start, loop start and OPX in relation to signaling types (A, B, C and D bits)
• Analog dialing (DTMF) vs. digital addressing (set-up messages) in relation to signaling types

Convergence Technologies Domain

Industry Standards and Protocols Objectives

• Major industry standards (including but not limited to: 802.x, RFCxxxx, E.nnn, G.nnn, H.nnn, Q.nnn, X.nnn) relevant to convergence
• Major standards bodies (including but not limited to: IEEE, ITU, IETF, EIA, TIA, ANSI, Bell) relevant to convergence

Voice-over Convergence Objectives

• Latency, jitter and wander, and their impact on real-time communications
• Importance of a jitter buffer
• Impact of large data frames on real-time communications
• Quality of Service (QoS) in converged networks
• Quality of Service (QoS) technologies (including but not limited to: RSVP, DiffServ, IntServ, 802.1P/Q) for converged networks
• Common codecs (G.7xx) and their bandwidth requirements in a converged environment
• Compressing voice
• T1, E1 and J1 for data and voice
• Bandwidth of packetized voice
• Transporting modem and fax through a converged solution

Topology Convergence Objectives

• Signalling protocols for converged networks (including but not limited to: H.245, H.320, H.323, H.450, SIP, MGCP, NCS)
• Function of a gatekeeper
• Call flows between convergent-based and circuit-based calls
• Function of gateways
• Characteristics of circuit-switched and packet-switched technologies