About This Study Plan
This 7-day study plan breaks the NETPLUS (Network+) exam preparation into 7 focused study sessions with 28 actionable tasks. The plan covers all 5 exam domains — Networking Concepts, Network Implementation, Network Operations, Network Security, Network Troubleshooting — ensuring complete coverage. Intensive 7-day review for CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) covering networking concepts, implementation, operations, security, and troubleshooting.
Prerequisites
- A+ certification or equivalent networking knowledge
- 5–7 hours per day
Study Schedule
- OSI model layers and TCP/IP stack
- IP addressing: IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, IPv6 basics
- Ports and protocols (SSH, DNS, HTTP/S, SMTP, DHCP, SNMP)
- Network topologies: star, mesh, hybrid, and WAN technologies
- Routing concepts: static, dynamic (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP)
- Switching: VLANs, trunking, STP, and port configuration
- Wireless deployment: standards, channels, antenna types, site surveys
- Cable types, fiber optics, and connector identification
- Network monitoring: SNMP, syslog, NetFlow, packet capture
- Documentation: diagrams, baselines, policies, change management
- High availability: load balancing, NIC teaming, redundant paths
- DNS configuration, DHCP scopes, and NTP
- Security devices: firewalls, IDS/IPS, proxy servers, VPN concentrators
- Authentication: RADIUS, TACACS+, 802.1X, Kerberos, LDAP
- Wireless security: WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise, EAP types
- Attack types: MITM, DDoS, spoofing, VLAN hopping, DNS poisoning
- Troubleshooting methodology and common tools (ping, traceroute, nslookup)
- Wired issues: collisions, duplex mismatch, cable faults (TDR)
- Wireless issues: interference, channel overlap, signal degradation
- Practice: scenario-based troubleshooting PBQs
- Take a full timed practice exam (90 questions, 90 minutes)
- Review every incorrect answer
- Focus on subnetting speed and port identification
- Re-study weak areas from exam results
- Ports and protocols quick reference
- Subnetting practice problems
- Flashcards for weakest topics
- Rest before exam
Study Tips
Subnetting appears heavily — practice until you can solve in under 30 seconds.
Know your ports cold (well-known: 0–1023, registered: 1024–49151).
Understand OSPF vs EIGRP vs BGP at a conceptual level.
Recommended CompTIA Study Resources
Supplement this study plan with the official CompTIA CertMaster labs and practice tests. Download the free exam objectives PDF from CompTIA's website and use it as a checklist — cross off each objective as you master it. Professor Messer's free video series covers every CompTIA exam objective and is widely regarded as one of the best free resources available.
Ready to Practice?
Put your study plan into action with Network+ practice questions.