The Most Commonly Asked Networking Interview Questions and Answers

Getting a networking job requires a specific skill set and background.

The most important qualification for every interview is networking knowledge. Frequently, these networking interview questions seem to be simple, but when answered, they prove to be perplexing. This article will teach you some of the most significant Networking Interview Questions and Answers. The question that still repeating itself is what is networking?

Networking is a career that entails connecting computer devices to one another. A network administrator ensures that computers can connect safely and effectively in order to share information. They will not only build up the network but will also keep an eye on it to ensure that it remains operational. Businesses in a variety of sectors rely on networking to keep their operations functioning.

Keep in mind that these networking interview questions and answers have been hand-picked by experienced hiring managers with years of experience in the sector. Every interview question and response in this article is aiming to make a favorable impression on the interviewer.

Networking Interview Questions and Answers In 2023

Before we dive deep into the most often asked networking interview questions and answers, it’s worth noting that doing additional research wouldn’t hurt. Let’s get the ball rolling.

What is a link?

Answer: A link is essentially the connecting of two or more computers or devices. It can be anything depending on whether it is a physical or wireless connection. Physical links include cables, hubs, switches, and so on, whereas wireless links include access points, routers, and so on.

What do you mean by a Node?

Answer: A Node is a point of intersection in a network. Within a network, nodes can send and receive data/information. For example, if two computers have a connection to form a network, the network has two nodes. In the same way, if there are computers, there will be three nodes, and so forth. A node does not have to be a computer; it may be any communication device, such as a printer, servers, modems, and so on.

What is a Backbone network?

Answer: The backbone network is the most important component in any system since it supports all other components. Similarly, a Backbone Network in networking is a network that links various sections of the network to which it belongs and has a high capacity connectivity infrastructure.

Explain what is LAN?

Answer: A LAN, or Local Area Network, is a network that connects devices that are physically close together. It has the option of being wifi or wired. The following criteria distinguish one LAN from another: Learn more about LAN here.

• The topology of a network refers to the arrangement of nodes inside it.
• Protocol: Refers to the regulations for data transport.
• Media: These devices can be linked together using optic fibers, twisted-pair cables, and so on.

Give a brief description of the TCP/ IP Model.

Answer: The TCP/ IP Model is a compressed version of the OSI Model. This Model contains 4 layers unlike the OSI Model which are:

• Process(Application Layer)
• Host-to-Host(Transport Layer)
• Internet Layer (Network Layer)
• Network Access(Combination of Physical and Data Link Layer)

What is TCP?

Answer: TCP, or Transmission Control Protocol, is a connection-oriented protocol that creates and maintains a connection between two communicating devices until both have finished sending messages. It also delivers and receives packets to and from the network layer and manages flow control, among other things.

Briefly explain what is tunnel mode?

Answer: Tunnel mode encrypts the whole IP packet, including the headers and content. A Site-to-Site VPN is primarily utilized to encrypt communications between security gateways, firewalls, and other devices.

What do you mean by IPv6?

Answer: IPv6 is the newest version of the Internet Protocol and stands for Internet Protocol version 6. The length of an IP address is 128 bits, which tackles the issue of possible scarcity of network addresses.

What is an encoder?

Answer: A decoder is a software, circuit, or device that transforms encoded data to its original format. Decoders are devices that transform digital signals into analog signals.

Tell me something about VPN (Virtual Private Network).

Answer: VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a private internet-based WAN (Wide Area Network). It enables the establishment of a secure tunnel (protected network) between two networks through the internet (public network). A customer can connect to the organization’s network remotely by utilizing the VPN. The figure below depicts an enterprise WAN network established utilizing VPN across Australia.

How are Network types classified?

Answer: The distribution area of the network may be used to classify and divide network types. The graphic below can assist you in comprehending the situation:

What are the different types of VPN?

Answer: This is one of the most asked Networking interview questions of all time. Basically, there are different types of VPN including the following:

• Access VPN: Access VPN is a type of virtual private network that allows remote mobile users and telecommuters to connect. It can be used as a substitute for dial-up or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) connections. It’s a low-cost option with a wide range of connectivity options.
• Site-to-Site VPN: A Site-to-Site VPN, also known as a Router-to-Router VPN, is often used in big enterprises with many sites to link the networks of one office to another. As listed below, there are two sub-categories:
• Intranet VPN: Intranet VPNs are effective for linking distant offices in various geographical areas with common infrastructure (internet connectivity and servers) and the same access controls as a private WAN (wide area network).
• Extranet VPN: Extranet VPN links intranet, suppliers, customers, partners, and other groups via dedicated connections using shared infrastructure.

What is the network topology?

Answer: The topology of a network is its physical architecture, including links connecting the various nodes. It shows how computers, gadgets, cables, and other equipment are connected.

Explain IPv4 address? What are the different classes of IPv4?

Answer: An IP address is a network node’s 32-bit dynamic address. An IPv4 address is made up of four 8-bit octets, each having a value between 0 and 255.

IPv4 classes are classified according to the number of hosts they can support on a network. The first octet of IP addresses is classed as Class A, B, C, D, or E, and there are five sorts of IPv4 classes.

What are Private and Special IP addresses?

Answer:

Private Address: There are particular IPs for each class that is kept solely for private usage. Because this IP address is non-routable, it cannot be used for Internet devices.

Special Address: The network testing addresses, commonly known as loopback addresses, are in the IP range 127.0.0.1 to 127.255.255.255.

Describe the OSI Reference Model.

Answer: The Open System Interconnections (OSI) model is an ISO-based network architectural paradigm. The OSI model is named by the fact that it is concerned with linking systems that are open to communication with other systems.

There are seven levels in the OSI model. The principles that led to the creation of the seven levels can be described as follows:

• Create a new layer if a different abstraction is needed.
• Each layer should have a well-defined function.
• The function of each layer is chosen based on internationally standardized protocols.

What are the HTTP and the HTTPS protocol?

Answer: The HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a set of rules and standards that govern how information may be exchanged over the Internet (WWW). It facilitates communication between web browsers and web servers. It’s a stateless protocol,’ meaning that each instruction is unrelated to the one before it. TCP provides the foundation for HTTP, which is an application layer protocol. By default, it utilizes port 80.

The HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure, sometimes known as Secure HTTP, is a secure version of the HyperText Transfer Protocol. It’s a more sophisticated and secure version of HTTP. The SSL/TLS protocol is used to add security on top of HTTP. It facilitates safe transactions by encrypting communication and also assists in the secure identification of network hosts. By default, port 443 is used.

What is the DNS?

Answer: The Domain Name System (DNS) is an acronym for Domain Name System. It is regarded as the Internet’s device/services directory. It’s a hierarchical and decentralized naming system for Internet-connected objects and services. It converts domain names to IP addresses and vice versa. For example, send an email to 172.217.166.36 with the subject interviewbit.com. By default, it utilizes port 53.

By this point, you should have realized that networking interview questions are not as difficult as they seem, and that good preparation is all that is needed. Since preparation is the most important aspect of getting a job, it’s worth mentioning Huru. Huru is an AI-powered job interview app that is designed to assist job seekers to prepare for job interviews through a set of features including over 20K mock interviews, answer tips, instant feedback, voice analysis, personalized job interviews, and much more features.
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