Can you explain the TCP/IP Model?
Network components and protocols are typically composed of several different layers. Each of these layers defines how the device or protocol moves the data across the network. It is important that you know the layers a device is broken into, how they interact with each other, and each layer's function. When defining these layers, start either at the bottom or the top and then move up or down, one layer at a time. It is also important to discuss how each layer relates to the adjacent one. Since Cisco is the dominant provider of network equipment, you will need to demonstrate your in-depth knowledge of network technologies throughout the interview. This is an example of the type of questions you can expect.
"The most widely used network protocol is TCP/IP. This stands for Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol. TCP/IP specifies how data should be packaged, transmitted, and routed between devices across the network. This protocol has four layers:
Application Layer - This is the top layer in the TCP/IP model. It includes processes used to transmit data to their destinations. There are different application layer protocols including HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and SNMP.
Transport Layer - It receives the data from the application layer and manages the transmission of the data. TCP and UDP are common transport layer protocols.
Network Layer - This layer sends data across the network in packets. Packets contain the source & destination IP addresses and the data being transmitted.
Network Interface Layer - It is the lowest layer of the TCP/IP model. It transfers the packets between different nodes on the network."
