10+ NOC Network Engineer L1 Interview Questions and Answers

Routing involves forwarding data packets between networks, while switching involves forwarding data packets within a network.

• Routing is done between different networks, while switching is done within the same network.

• Routing uses IP addresses to make decisions on where to send data packets, while switching uses MAC addresses.

• Routers are used for routing, while switches are used for switching.

• Routing is more complex and involves making decisions based on network protocols, whi...read more

To troubleshoot STP configuration, check for incorrect VLAN assignments, port configurations, and STP settings.

• Verify that the correct VLANs are assigned to the correct ports.

• Check that the root bridge is properly configured and that all switches are using the correct root bridge.

• Ensure that portfast is not enabled on ports that connect to other switches.

• Check for any blocked ports and investigate the reason for the blocking.

• Use show commands such as show spanning-tree and sh...read more

VLAN stands for Virtual Local Area Network, used to logically segment a network for better performance, security, and management.

• VLANs divide a single physical network into multiple virtual networks, improving network efficiency.

• They enhance security by isolating traffic within specific VLANs, preventing unauthorized access.

• VLANs simplify network management by allowing administrators to group devices based on function or department.

• Example: VLAN 10 for finance department, VLA...read more

STP stands for Spanning Tree Protocol, a network protocol that ensures a loop-free topology in Ethernet networks.

• STP prevents loops in Ethernet networks by blocking redundant paths

• It elects a root bridge to serve as the central point for the network

• STP calculates the shortest path to the root bridge for each switch

• Common variants include RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) and MSTP (Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol)

Etherchannel is used to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy by bundling multiple physical links into a single logical link.

• Increases bandwidth by combining multiple links into one logical link

• Provides redundancy in case of link failure

• Improves network performance and load balancing

• Supported by various network devices such as switches and routers

Load balancers distribute network traffic across multiple servers to improve performance and availability.

• Load balancers help distribute traffic to multiple servers to prevent overloading and improve performance.

• They can also improve availability by redirecting traffic to healthy servers in case of failures.

• Load balancers can be hardware or software-based, and can use different algorithms to distribute traffic.

• Examples of load balancers include F5, Citrix NetScaler, and HAPro...read more

VTP (VLAN Trunking Protocol) is a Cisco proprietary protocol that manages VLAN configurations across a network.

• VTP allows for centralized management of VLANs and reduces the need for manual VLAN configuration on each switch.

• VTP operates in three modes: server, client, and transparent.

• In server mode, a switch can create, modify, and delete VLANs and propagate the changes to other switches in the same VTP domain.

• In client mode, a switch can only receive and store VLAN informati...read more

A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) segments a physical network into multiple logical networks for improved management and security.

• VLANs allow devices on different physical networks to communicate as if they are on the same network.

• They enhance security by isolating sensitive data traffic from the rest of the network.

• Example: VLAN 10 for HR department, VLAN 20 for IT department, keeping their traffic separate.

• VLANs can be configured using switches that support IEEE 802.1Q st...read more

IP (Internet Protocol) is a set of rules governing the format of data sent over the internet or local network.

• IP addresses are unique identifiers for devices on a network, e.g., 192.168.1.1.

• There are two main versions: IPv4 (32-bit) and IPv6 (128-bit).

• IPv4 addresses are running out, leading to the adoption of IPv6.

• IP is responsible for routing packets of data between devices.

• It works in conjunction with other protocols like TCP (Transmission Control Protocol).