This blog discusses differences between the N10-004 and N10-005 exams.

Check out this blog for differences between the N10-005 and N10-006 exams.

If you’re studying for the CompTIA Network+ exam, you might be wondering about N10-004 and N10-005 differences . The N10-004 exam came out in 2009 and was available until August 31, 2012. The current version (N10-005) has been available since December 2011. A common question whenever a new exam comes out, is what are the differences so I’ve tried to address some of the differences here. Also, many people ask if they can use a book on the older objectives to study for the current exam. In general, this isn’t a good idea but if you want to do so, use this blog to identify the new topics.

Networking is a challenging topic. If you’re looking for a good book to introduce networking topics and lay a solid foundation, check out this book: Microsoft Windows Networking Essentials. It’s a good read with plenty of full-color graphics. Many people buy it with one of Todd Lammle’s Network+ books: CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-004 or CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-005.

Network+ N10-007 Study Package

Pass the Network+ Exam (N10-007) The First Time You Take It

At  $319, this exam is expensive. Make sure you’re ready before exam day!

Full bank of over 200 realistic practice test questions with in-depth explanations to help you pass the Network+ exam the first time you take it. Here’s what you get.

Network+ Study Materials	60 Day Package
Full bank of more than 200 N10-007 Network+ multiple choice practice test questions. All questions include explanations so you’ll know why the correct answers are correct, and why the incorrect answers are incorrect. See a demo here. This demo includes one sample performance-based question and four sample multiple choice questions.
Performance-based Questions At least 10 performance-based questions. See a demo here. This demo includes one sample performance-based question and four sample multiple choice questions.
Bonus #1 Over 250 online flashcards organized by domain. See a demo here. This demo includes flashcards in random order.
Bonus #2 Subnetting mini-tutorial that will help you answer two key question types. Identify how many hosts a subnet supports and identify valid IP addresses within a subnet.
Bonus #3 Extended access. Access the study materials for a total of 60 days because sometimes life happens.
Bonus #4 10% off Voucher. Access to a coupon code that will give you 10% off your exam voucher. At the current price of $319 USD for the Network+ voucher, this can save you $31.90.
Packages are available online shortly after making your payment, as long as you enter your email address correctly.	Only $49.99

Get the Network+ Study Materials Here

All questions include explanations so you’ll know why the correct answers are correct, and why the incorrect answers are incorrect. This way no matter how CompTIA words the questions, you’ll be able to answer them correctly. Multiple quiz formats to let you use these questions based on the way you learn.

• Learn mode. Learn mode allows you to keep selecting answers until you select the correct answer. Once you select the correct answer, you’ll see the explanation.
• Test mode. In test mode, you can only see the correct answers and explanations after you complete the test.

This package allows you to go through the practice test questions in multiple ways based on how you learn best.

• Domains 1 through 5* using Learn Mode
• Domains 1 through 5* using Test Mode (Randomized)
• Special Test Your Readiness Quiz (75 random questions from the full bank)

Test your readiness with these quality questions. Understand the important concepts using the explanations.

If you’re like most people, you’ve already spent money on one or more Network+ books or courses. Now you need to ensure you understand the concepts and how they are tested. You can pay $100 or more for practice test questions, but you don’t need to.

The set of practice test questions will give you a view of typical questions you can expect to see on the live exam.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get quality practice test questions.

Get the Network+ Study Materials Here

N10-004 and N10-005 Differences in Domains

The following table shows a comparison of the domains in the two exams. The first thing that stands out is that N10-005 has one less domain. The Network Tools domain was rolled into the Network Management domain. What’s not apparent from the table is that many of the objectives have been moved around. For example, the OSI model was in the Network Management domain previously, but it is in the Network Concepts domain now.

Daily Network+ and Security+ Tips on Twitter.

1.0 Network Concepts

The first domain of the N10-005 exam is Network Concepts. A primary focus here is with the seven layer OSI model. While the OSI model was in the N10-004 exam, there are a couple of differences. First, it adds in the TCP/IP model. Also, it includes the following objective: Classify how applications, devices, and protocols relate to the OSI model layers. You’ll need to be able to look at an application, device, or protocol and identify which layer it operates on.

Many of the protocols and ports are similar. However, the new exam digs into Domain Name System (DNS) a little more. You’ll need to know the different types of records and what dynamic DNS is. Troubleshooting methodologies are added but these are largely the same as they were in Domain 4 in the previous exam.

A completely new topic 1.9 Identify virtual network components. Virtualization is widely used and important to understand. Interestingly, they indirectly added a reference to cloud computing with Network as a Service (NaaS).

Free Network+ Practice Test Questions

2.0 Network Installation and Configuration

This topic includes many of the objectives from the Network Devices domain in the previous domain. However, it does expand on some topics such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Many people commonly remember that DHCP provides IP addresses, but it does much more and the objectives identify topics such as reservations, scopes, leases, and options.

This topic also adds in troubleshooting topics for wireless networks and common router and switch problems. Most of these topics were in the Network Management domain previously.

Network+ N10-007 Study Package

Pass the Network+ Exam (N10-007) The First Time You Take It

At  $319, this exam is expensive. Make sure you’re ready before exam day!

Full bank of over 200 realistic practice test questions with in-depth explanations to help you pass the Network+ exam the first time you take it. Here’s what you get.

Network+ Study Materials	60 Day Package
Full bank of more than 200 N10-007 Network+ multiple choice practice test questions. All questions include explanations so you’ll know why the correct answers are correct, and why the incorrect answers are incorrect. See a demo here. This demo includes one sample performance-based question and four sample multiple choice questions.
Performance-based Questions At least 10 performance-based questions. See a demo here. This demo includes one sample performance-based question and four sample multiple choice questions.
Bonus #1 Over 250 online flashcards organized by domain. See a demo here. This demo includes flashcards in random order.
Bonus #2 Subnetting mini-tutorial that will help you answer two key question types. Identify how many hosts a subnet supports and identify valid IP addresses within a subnet.
Bonus #3 Extended access. Access the study materials for a total of 60 days because sometimes life happens.
Bonus #4 10% off Voucher. Access to a coupon code that will give you 10% off your exam voucher. At the current price of $319 USD for the Network+ voucher, this can save you $31.90.
Packages are available online shortly after making your payment, as long as you enter your email address correctly.	Only $49.99

Get the Network+ Study Materials Here

All questions include explanations so you’ll know why the correct answers are correct, and why the incorrect answers are incorrect. This way no matter how CompTIA words the questions, you’ll be able to answer them correctly. Multiple quiz formats to let you use these questions based on the way you learn.

• Learn mode. Learn mode allows you to keep selecting answers until you select the correct answer. Once you select the correct answer, you’ll see the explanation.
• Test mode. In test mode, you can only see the correct answers and explanations after you complete the test.

This package allows you to go through the practice test questions in multiple ways based on how you learn best.

• Domains 1 through 5* using Learn Mode
• Domains 1 through 5* using Test Mode (Randomized)
• Special Test Your Readiness Quiz (75 random questions from the full bank)

Test your readiness with these quality questions. Understand the important concepts using the explanations.

If you’re like most people, you’ve already spent money on one or more Network+ books or courses. Now you need to ensure you understand the concepts and how they are tested. You can pay $100 or more for practice test questions, but you don’t need to.

The set of practice test questions will give you a view of typical questions you can expect to see on the live exam.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get quality practice test questions.

Get the Network+ Study Materials Here

3.0 Network Media and Topologies

This domain includes many of the same topics as the Network Media and Topologies domain in the previous exam. However, there is an important difference. In the previous exam, the objective often included the word identify or categorize. However, in the new exam, these words have sometimes been replaced with describe, or compare and contrast. These imply additional depth for the topics.

For example, instead of just being able to identify common physical network topologies such as Star or Ring, you’re expected to be able to describe them. If you’re asked to point to a square peg or a round hole, that requires one level of knowledge. However, it is a little more difficult to describe a square peg or a round hole.

4.0 Network Management

While the previous exam had a domain labeled as Network Management, many of the objectives are not the same. That’s not to say that all of the objectives in the N10-005 Network Management domain are new. They aren’t. Instead, objectives have just been moved around. As mentioned earlier, the Network Tools domain was rolled into this domain. Additionally, some of the specialized network devices topics from the Network Devices domain were put into here. Some of the other objectives have been reworded with a different emphasis, but the core objectives are the same.

Pass the Security+ exam the first time you take it

CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-401 Study Guide

5.0 Network Security

The first thing to notice here is that security has become much more important. It was only 11 percent of the previous exam, but is 19 percent in current exam. Security is an important part of any network administrator’s job and this reflects the growing importance of security.

Wireless security topics have been added and placed right at the beginning, and again in objective 5.4. This makes a lot of sense since wireless networks are so common and people often implement them with weak security.

The objective related to firewalls has different wording. Instead of just expecting you to explain common features of a firewall, the new objectives expect you to be able to install and configure a basic firewall. You’ll still be expected to explain the common features, but you should have deeper knowledge of firewalls.

Summary

In summary, there are quite a few differences between the N10-004 and N10-005 exams. If you’re studying for Network+, ensure you are studying the relevant materials for the exam you plan on taking. Also, if you’re studying for the N10-004 exam, ensure you take it before the exam retires on August 31, 2012.

Good luck.

Get a solid foundation in networking.

Microsoft Windows Networking Essentials

Do you know the differences between N10-005 and N10-006 exams? Check out this blog.

Here are some links to more resources to help you pass the Network+ exam the first time you take it.

• About the Network+ Certification
• Network+ blogs organized by categories
• Network+ performance based questions
• Practice test questions for your mobile device
• CompTIA Network+ N10-005 Practice Test Questions (Get Certified Get Ahead)
• CompTIA Network+ Basic Networking Components (A Get Certified Get Ahead Kindle Short)
• CompTIA Network+ OSI Topics (A Get Certified Get Ahead Kindle Short)
• CompTIA Network+: Tools (A Get Certified Get Ahead Kindle Short)
• CompTIA Network+ Wireless Topics (A Get Certified Get Ahead Kindle Short)