Course Description:
The CompTIA A+ 220-1201 is part of the globally recognized CompTIA A+ certification, which is designed for entry-level IT professionals. This course focuses on the 220-1201 exam objectives, covering essential topics such as hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualization, and cloud computing.
Why We Need It:
In today’s technology-driven world, IT professionals need a strong foundation in computer hardware, software, and troubleshooting. The CompTIA A+ certification validates that students have the skills necessary to support modern IT environments. It is widely recognized by employers, making it a valuable credential for launching an IT career.
How It Is Useful:
- Equips students with hands-on skills to troubleshoot and maintain computers, networks, and mobile devices.
- Prepares students for real-world IT support roles, including help desk technician, technical support specialist, and IT support administrator.
- Serves as a stepping stone to more advanced certifications, such as CompTIA Network+ or Security+.
Course Benefits:
- Understanding the latest hardware and software technologies.
- Learning effective troubleshooting techniques.
- Gaining practical knowledge on networking, security, and cloud concepts.
- Enhancing employability in IT support and technical roles.
Certification Validity & Renewal:
- The CompTIA A+ certification is valid for three years from the date of passing.
- Renewal can be done through Continuing Education (CE) activities, such as taking higher-level certifications, earning CompTIA-approved credits, or participating in professional development.
Summary:
The CompTIA A+ 220-1201 course is essential for anyone starting a career in IT support. It provides foundational knowledge and practical skills to troubleshoot devices, manage networks, and adapt to evolving technology trends, all while preparing students to pass the official certification exam.
Exam Objectives (Version 3.0)
1.0 Mobile Devices (13%)
1.1 Given a scenario, monitor mobile device hardware and use appropriate replacement
techniques.
- Battery
- Keyboard/keys
- RAM
- HDD/SSD
- Wireless cards
- Physical privacy and security components
- Wi-Fi antenna connector/placement
- Camera/webcam
- Microphone
1.2 Compare and contrast accessories and connectivity options for mobile devices.
- Connection methods
- Docking stations
- Port replicators
- Trackpad/drawing pad/track points
- Accessories
1.3 Given a scenario, configure basic mobile device network connectivity and provide
application support.
Location services
− Global positioning system (GPS) services
− Cellular location services
Mobile device management (MDM)
− Device configurations
◦ Corporate
◦ Bring your own device (BYOD)
− Policy enforcement
− Corporate applications
Mobile device synchronization
− Recognizing data caps
− Calendar
− Contacts
− Business applications
◦ Mail
◦ Cloud storage
2.0 Networking (23%)
2.1 Compare and contrast Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol
(UDP) ports, protocols, and their purposes.
- Ports and protocols
− 20-21 – File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
− 22 – Secure Shell (SSH)
− 23 – Telnet
− 25 – Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol (SMTP)
− 53 – Domain Name System (DNS)
− 67/68 – Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
− 80 – Hypertext Transfer
Protocol (HTTP)
− 110 – Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)
− 143 – Internet Mail Access
Protocol (IMAP)
− 137-139 Network Basic Input/
Output System (NetBIOS)/
NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT)
− 389 – Lightweight Directory
Access Protocol (LDAP)
− 443 – Hypertext Transfer
Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
− 445 – Server Message Block (SMB)/
Common Internet File System (CIFS)
− 3389 – Remote Desktop
Protocol (RDP) - TCP vs. UDP
2.2 Explain wireless networking technologies.
- Frequencies
− 2.4GHz
− 5GHz
− 6GHz - Channels
− Regulations
− Channel selection
◦ Widths
◦ Frequencies
◦ Bands - Bluetooth
- 802.11 standards
- NFC
- Radio-frequency
identification (RFID)
2.3 Summarize services provided by networked hosts.
- Server roles
− DNS
− DHCP
− Fileshare
− Print servers
− Mail servers
− Syslog
− Web servers
− Authentication, Authorization,
and Accounting (AAA)
− Database servers
− Network Time Protocol (NTP) - Internet appliances
− Spam gateways
− Unified threat management (UTM)
− Load balancers
− Proxy servers - Legacy/embedded systems
− Supervisory control and data
acquisition (SCADA) - Internet of Things (IoT) devices
2.4 Explain common network configuration concepts
- DNS
− A
− AAAA
− Canonical Name (CNAME)
− Mail exchanger (MX)
− Text (TXT)
◦ Spam management
ը DomainKeys Identified
Mail (DKIM)
ը Sender Policy Framework (SPF)
ը Domain-based Message
Authentication, Reporting,
and Conformance (DMARC) - DHCP
− Leases
− Reservations
− Scope
− Exclusions - Virtual LAN local area network
- Virtual private network (VPN)
2.5 Compare and contrast common networking hardware devices.
- Routers
- Switches
- Cable modem
- Digital subscriber line (DSL)
- Optical network terminal (ONT)
- Network interface card (NIC)
− Physical media access control (MAC) address - Access points
- Patch panels
- Firewalls
- Power over Ethernet (PoE)
2.6 Given a scenario, configure basic wired/wireless small office/home office (SOHO) networks
2.7 Compare and contrast internet connection types, network types, and their
characteristics.
- Internet connections types
− Satellite
− Fiber
− Cable
− DSL
− Cellular
− Wireless internet service provider (WISP) - Network types
− LAN
− Wide area network (WAN)
−Personal area network (PAN)
− Metropolitan area network (MAN)
− Storage area network (SAN)
− Wireless local area network (WLAN)
2.8 Explain networking tools and their purposes
- Crimper
- Cable stripper
- Punchdown tool
- Cable tester
- Wi-Fi analyzer
- Loopback plug
- Toner probe
- Network tap
3.0 Hardware (25%)
3.1 Compare and contrast display components and attributes.
- Types
− Liquid crystal display (LCD)
◦ In-plane switching (IPS)
◦ Twisted nematic (TN)
◦ Vertical alignment (VA)
− Organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
− Mini light-emitting diode (Mini-LED) - Touchscreen/digitizer
- Inverter
- Attributes
− Refresh rates
− Screen resolution
− Color gamut
3.2 Summarize basic cable types and their connectors, features, and purposes.
- Network cables− Copper
◦ Categories
ը T568A/T568B standards
◦ Coaxial
◦ Shielded twisted pair
ը Direct burial
◦ Unshielded twisted pair
− Plenum-rated
− Optical
◦ Single-mode
◦ Multimode - Peripheral cables
− USB 2.0
− USB 3.0
− Serial
− Thunderbolt
- Video cables
− High-definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
− DisplayPort
− Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
− Video Graphics Array (VGA)
− USB-C - Hard drive cables
− Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)
− External SATA (eSATA) - Adapters
- Connector types
− RJ11
− RJ45
− F-type
− Straight tip (ST)
− Subscriber connector (SC)
− Lucent connector (LC)
− Punchdown block
− MicroUSB
− MiniUSB
− USB-C
− Molex
− Lightning
− DB9
3.3 Compare and contrast RAM characteristics.
- Form factors
−Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module (SODIMM)
− Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) - Double Data Rate (DDR) iterations
- Error-correcting code (ECC) vs. non-ECC RAM
- Channel configurations
3.4 Compare and contrast storage devices.
- Hard drives
− Spindle speeds
− Form factors
◦2.5-inch
◦ 3.5-inch - Solid-state drives
− Communications interfaces - Drive configurations
− Redundant Array of Independent
Disks (RAID) 0, 1, 5, 6, 10
− Flash drive
− Memory cards - Optical drives
3.5 Given a scenario, install and configure motherboards, central processing units (CPUs), and
add-on cards.
- Motherboard form factors
− Advanced Technology
Extended (ATX)
− microATX
− Information Technology
eXtended (ITX) - Motherboard connector types
− Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI)
− PCIe
− Power connectors
− SATA
− eSATA
− Headers
− M.2 - Motherboard compatibility
− CPU socket types
◦ Advanced Micro
Devices, Inc. (AMD)
◦ Intel
− Multisocket - BIOS/Unified Extensible Firmware
Interface (UEFI) settings
− Boot options
− USB permissions
− Trusted Platform Module
(TPM) security features
− Fan considerations
− Secure Boot
− Boot password
− BIOS password
− Temperature monitoring - Virtualization support
- Encryption
− TPM
− Hardware security module (HSM) - CPU architecture
− x86/x64
− Advanced RISC [Reduced
Instruction Set Computer]
Machine (ARM)
− Core configurations - Expansion cards
− Sound card
− Video card
− Capture card
− Network interface card - Cooling
− Fans
− Heat sink
− Thermal paste/pads
− Liquid
3.6 Given a scenario, install the appropriate power supply.
- Input 110–120 VAC vs. 220–240 VAC
- Output 3.3V vs. 5V vs. 12V
- 20+4 pin motherboard connector
- Redundant power supply
- Modular power supply
- Wattage rating
- Energy efficiency
3.7 Given a scenario, deploy and configure multifunction devices/printers and settings.
- Properly unbox device and consider set-up location
- Use appropriate drivers for a given operating system
− Printer Control Language (PCL) vs. postscript - Firmware
- Device connectivity
− USB
− Ethernet
− Wireless - Public/shared devices
− Printer share
− Print server - Configuration settings
− Duplex
− Orientation
− Tray settings
− Quality - Security
− User authentication
− Badging
− Audit logs
− Secured prints - Network scan services
− Email
− SMB
− Cloud services - Automatic document feeder (ADF)/flatbed scanner
3.8 Given a scenario, perform appropriate printer maintenance.
- Laser
− Maintenance: Replace toner, apply maintenance kit, calibrate, and clean - Inkjet
− Ink cartridge, printhead, roller, and feeder
− Maintenance: Clean printheads, replace cartridges, calibrate, and clear jams - Thermal
− Feed assembly
− Special thermal paper
− Maintenance: Replace paper, clean heating element, and remove debris - Impact
− Multipart paper
− Maintenance: Replace ribbon, printhead, and paper
4.0 Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%)
4.1 Explain virtualization concepts
- Purpose of virtual machines
− Sandbox
− Test development
− Application virtualization
◦ Legacy software/OS
◦ Cross-platform virtualization - HRequirements
− Security
− Network
− Storage - Containers
- Hypervisors
− Type 1
− Type 2 - Desktop virtualization
− Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) - Requirements
− Security
− Network
− Storage
4.2 Summarize cloud computing concepts
- Common cloud models
− Private cloud
− Public cloud
− Hybrid cloud
− Community cloud
− Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
− Software as a service (SaaS)
− Platform as a service (PaaS) - Cloud characteristics
− Shared resources vs.
dedicated resources
− Metered utilization
◦ Ingress/egress
− Elasticity
− Availability
− File synchronization
− Multitenancy
5.0 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%)
5.1 Given a scenario, troubleshoot motherboards, RAM, CPUs, and power.
5.2 Given a scenario, troubleshoot drive and RAID issues.
5.3 Given a scenario, troubleshoot video, projector, and display issues.
5.4 Given a scenario, troubleshoot common mobile device issues.
5.5 Given a scenario, troubleshoot network issues.
5.6 Given a scenario, troubleshoot printer issues.
- Lines down the printed pages
- Garbled print
- Paper jams
- Faded prints
- Paper not feeding
- Multipage misfeed
- Multiple prints pending in queue
- Speckling on printed pages
- Double/echo images on the print
- Grinding noise
- Finishing issues
− Staple jams
− Hole punch - Incorrect page orientation
- Tray not recognized
- Connectivity issues
- Frozen print queue
