CISCO 100-490 Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices v3.0 Free Practice Test — 30 Questions
This practice bank covers essential networking fundamentals and Cisco IOS configuration commands relevant to the 100-490 exam. It tests understanding of OSI model layers (Transport, Network, Data Link, Presentation), TCP/IP protocols (DHCP, ARP, STP), subnetting, subnet masks, VLANs, and router/switch operations. Cisco IOS commands like show interfaces, show ip route, ip address, and vlan are practiced. The deck emphasizes applying concepts to troubleshooting scenarios and secure remote management (SSH). Mastery of these topics builds a solid foundation for supporting Cisco routing and switching devices.
What this 100-490 practice set measures
This is an analysis of the practice bank, not a claim about the vendor's live exam blueprint. Use it to identify the knowledge, judgment, and recall patterns exercised here, then verify your coverage against the current official exam guide.
OSI Model & TCP/IP Fundamentals
This practice bank repeatedly tests knowledge of OSI model layers and their functions. Questions cover the Transport layer (segmentation, end-to-end delivery), Network layer (routing, packet forwarding), Data Link layer (framing, MAC addressing), and Presentation layer (formatting, encryption). TCP/IP protocols like DHCP, ARP, and STP are also examined. Understanding these layers and protocols is crucial for troubleshooting and configuring network devices. The bank emphasizes the purpose of each layer and how they interact to deliver data across networks.
- Transport layer ensures reliable end-to-end data delivery with error correction.
- Network layer handles routing decisions and forwarding between networks.
- Data Link layer controls access to physical media and frames data for transmission.
- Presentation layer formats, encrypts, and compresses data for application compatibility.
IP Addressing and Subnetting
Multiple questions focus on IPv4 addressing concepts, particularly the role of the subnet mask in identifying the network portion of an IP address. The bank also tests the purpose of subnetting—conserving IP addresses and dividing large networks into smaller subnets. Understanding how to use a subnet mask to determine network vs. host bits is essential. ARP is covered as the protocol that resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses for local delivery. These concepts are foundational for configuring interfaces and ensuring proper communication.
- Subnet mask distinguishes network and host portions of an IP address.
- Subnetting conserves IP addresses and creates smaller, manageable networks.
- ARP maps IP addresses to MAC addresses for same-network communication.
Cisco IOS Configuration and Management
Several scenarios in this practice bank test Cisco IOS commands for router and switch configuration. Key commands include ip address (assign static IP to interface), show interfaces (verify interface status), show ip route (display routing table), and vlan (create VLANs). Secure remote access via SSH is emphasized over insecure protocols like Telnet. The configuration register setting is also covered, controlling boot mode (ROMMON vs. IOS). Practical knowledge of these commands is directly applicable to device setup and troubleshooting.
- Use 'ip address' in interface configuration mode to assign a static IP.
- 'show ip route' displays the routing table with directly connected and learned routes.
- 'show interfaces' provides status and configuration details of all interfaces.
- SSH provides encrypted remote management; avoid Telnet for security.
Switching and VLANs with STP
The practice bank includes questions on switching technologies: the role of switches (forwarding based on MAC addresses), VLANs (logical segmentation across switches), and Spanning Tree Protocol (loop prevention). VLANs can span multiple physical switches but require a router for inter-VLAN communication. STP ensures a loop-free topology by blocking redundant paths. Understanding these concepts is critical for designing and troubleshooting Ethernet networks. The bank tests the purpose of STP and the characteristic of VLANs.
- Switches filter and forward frames using MAC address tables.
- VLANs create logical broadcast domains that can extend across multiple switches.
- STP prevents loops by selectively blocking redundant paths.
- Creating a VLAN uses the 'vlan [id] name [name]' command.
Practice CISCO 100-490 Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices v3.0 with real flashcards
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Static practice bank
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Which of the following best describes the purpose of a subnet mask in TCP/IP networking?
Study workflow
Turn one 100-490 attempt into a study plan
- 1
Configure a Static IP on a Cisco Router Interface
Enter global configuration mode with 'configure terminal'. Then select the interface using 'interface [interface_name]' (e.g., GigabitEthernet0/0). Use the command 'ip address [IP] [subnet_mask]' to assign the address. Finally, issue 'no shutdown' to activate the interface and 'end' to exit.
- 2
Verify Interface Status on a Router
From privileged EXEC mode (enable), use 'show interfaces' or 'show ip interface brief' for a summary. Look for the line protocol status: 'up' means operational, 'down' indicates a problem. Check for errors, speed, and duplex settings to diagnose connectivity issues.
- 3
Create a VLAN on a Cisco Switch
Enter global configuration mode. Use 'vlan [vlan-id]' (e.g., vlan 20) to create the VLAN and enter VLAN configuration mode. Optionally assign a name with 'name [vlan-name]'. Exit with 'end'. Verify with 'show vlan brief'.
- 4
Use ARP to Discover a MAC Address
From a host or router, use 'arp -a' (on Windows) or 'show arp' (on Cisco) to view the ARP cache. If the IP is not resolved, ping the destination to trigger ARP. The router can also use 'debug arp' to monitor ARP activity for troubleshooting.
- 5
Enable Secure Remote Access (SSH) on a Router
Configure a hostname and domain name (ip domain-name). Generate RSA keys with 'crypto key generate rsa'. Create a local user and enable SSH with 'line vty 0 4' then 'transport input ssh' and 'login local'. Verify with 'show ip ssh'.
FAQ
Questions about this 100-490 practice page
Clear boundaries on what the bank covers, how to use it, and where official vendor information still matters.
What is the purpose of a subnet mask in the context of the 100-490 exam?+
A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that accompanies an IP address to separate the network and host portions. It is used by routers and hosts to determine whether a destination is on the same local network or requires forwarding to a different network. This concept is core to IP addressing and routing decisions.
How does Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) prevent loops?+
STP identifies redundant links and logically blocks all but one active path between switches. It uses a Root Bridge election and calculates the best path to the root, blocking ports that would cause loops. This prevents broadcast storms and ensures a loop-free topology in Ethernet networks.
Which Cisco IOS command shows the IP routing table, and what information does it provide?+
The 'show ip route' command displays the routing table, including directly connected routes, static routes, and routes learned from dynamic protocols (RIP, OSPF, EIGRP). It shows the network prefix, next-hop IP, metric, and administrative distance for each route.
Why is SSH recommended over Telnet for remote router management?+
SSH encrypts all data (including passwords) during transmission, while Telnet sends data in plaintext. Using SSH prevents unauthorized interception of sensitive information. In the 100-490 context, secure management is emphasized to protect network infrastructure.
How does ARP work on a local network?+
When a device needs to send data to another device on the same network, it broadcasts an ARP request asking for the MAC address associated with the destination IP. The target replies with its MAC address, which is cached for future use. ARP is essential for Layer 2 communication.
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