In this sample chapter from Exam Ref 70-697 Configuring Windows Devices, 2nd Edition, explore the main networking components of Windows 10 and how to configure each of them. Show
It is important to understand the fundamentals of networking in Windows 10 to pass the 70-697, Configuring Windows Devices exam. Network connectivity is an almost universal assumption in typical Windows 10 operation, so understanding how Windows networking works will help you in many areas of the exam. This chapter will cover the basics of main networking components of Windows 10, along with how to configure each of them. Skills in this chapter:
Skill 4.1: Configure IP settingsThe IP address is the most widely used point of contact for a Windows 10 computer that is connected to the network. A computer’s IP address uniquely identifies it on the local network segment, and it serves as the functional component for most of the ways that computers communicate on a network, including name resolution and file transfer. Connect to a networkNetworks are groups of computers and other resources. When connected, each resource that is connected (computer, network printer, server, or other host) must acquire, or have previously been assigned an exclusive address that will define it on that network. These addresses are unique, and you can’t have two hosts on the same network with the same address. This makes addressing a very important part of configuring and connecting to networks. Understanding IP address requirementsEach host on a network must have a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. This address, when it’s configured as an IPv4 address, is a 32-bit number that is styled as four sets of decimal numbers. For example: 192.168.4.20. Each host is also assigned a subnet mask, which determines which part of the IP address defines the network and which part defines the host. Together, the IP address and the subnet mask define the network within which a host can communicate. If the host requires communication outside of the local network segment, a gateway must be specified, which typically represents a network router that can provide network paths to other networks and the Internet. The IP address, subnet mask and default gateway together provide the full definition of IP connectivity for a network host. There are two ways to get an address to a resource: You can define it manually, or it can be assigned by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. When an address can’t be assigned this way, Windows will assign its own IP address using a technology called Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA). APIPA addresses fall in the 169.254.x.x address range. Understanding network terminologyMake sure that you are familiar with the following terms before continuing:
Configuring IP settingsYou can configure IP settings on a Windows 10 computer by accessing the Properties page for the network adapter. To open the Properties page, perform the following steps:
Connecting to a networkThe first time you connect to a local network, you are prompted to choose from one of these options:
These two options do not appear when you connect to an Active Directory Domain Services domain. However, when they do appear and when you choose an option, settings are configured automatically for network discovery, file and printer sharing, the state of the firewall, apps that can accept incoming connections, and so on. (Computers configured as Private or Domain have network discovery enabled; Public networks do not.) Resolving connectivity issuesWhen a host can’t reach a network, that host has connectivity issues. The issue might be isolated to only that device; perhaps the computer’s Ethernet cable has come unplugged or the computer’s wireless features have been disabled. Maybe there is an IP address conflict on the network and the user’s IP address needs to be released and renewed. Often, using the troubleshooting tools in the Network And Sharing Center can expose the problem and offer a solution. If the issue isn’t isolated though, you have larger problems. A network server, gateway, or other necessary resource might be down, a network segment or physical backbone might be damaged, or there could be an issue that is caused by the Internet service provider (ISP), cloud services, or other technologies that are out of your control. NETWORK AND SHARING CENTERThe Network And Sharing Center enables you to view the status of your active networks. If there’s a problem, you can click Troubleshoot Problems to see if the Network And Sharing Center can resolve it. It can be resolved by releasing and renewing the IP address, resetting adapter settings, or uncovering a simple problem such as a disconnected Ethernet cable (which you can then reconnect). If a problem exists, but can’t be resolved automatically, you can choose from a list of troubleshooting options that include: solving problems connecting to websites, accessing shared folders, finding computers or files in a homegroup, finding and fixing problems with wireless adapters, and troubleshooting incoming connections. When you select any option and start the troubleshooter, it generally finds the problem and performs the repair or prompts you to authorize the repair. It might also require you to do something first, like insert an ethernet cable into the ethernet port on the computer. COMMAND-LINE TOOLSWhen the Network And Sharing Center and the Action Center can’t help resolve a connectivity problem, it’s likely a more complex issue. Perhaps a domain’s (or network segment’s) gateway is offline or a router failed. Perhaps the DNS server isn’t available or has been incorrectly configured on the host, or the unique, corporate, IP address of the computer has been changed to an APIPA address because of a currently unresolved network issue. When these kinds of problems exist, you can use command-line tools to resolve them. Here are some of the tools you can use:
Configure name resolutionComputers are represented by their unique IP address, and you can communicate with them using that address if you like. One way to communicate with an IP address is to do so at a command line. For instance, you can type something like ping 192.168.4.5 to troubleshoot connectivity to another host on a local area network segment. Communicating this way however, is cumbersome. DNS enables users to type names instead of numbers; this process is called name resolution. DNS servers store information about the names and addresses of Internet computers, and the lists they maintain are distributed among thousands of DNS servers available on the Internet, which are placed all over the world. The name resolution request is forwarded to one of these servers. If the name can’t be resolved server, it’s passed to another server and another, until it is resolved. In many cases, your DHCP server will provide DNS server addresses for your client computers to use for name resolution. This occurs if Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically is selected. You can also manually configure a host to use a specific DNS server in the connection’s Properties dialog box (shown in Figure 4-3). On a domain with a unique DNS server that the host is required to use, this is necessary. It might also be necessary in a virtual private network (VPN) or in a virtual machine. Depending on the configuration, Windows 10 resolves host names by performing the following actions:
Troubleshooting name resolutionThe primary tools for troubleshooting host name resolution are IPConfig and NSLookup, and their Windows PowerShell equivalents Get-NetIPAddress, Get-NetIPv4Protocol, and Resolve-dnsname. If you cannot connect to a remote host, and if you suspect a name resolution problem, you can troubleshoot name resolution by using the following procedure:
Configure network locationsThe first time that you connect a computer to a network, you must select whether you trust the network. This sets appropriate firewall and security settings automatically. When you connect to networks in different locations, you can ensure that your computer is set to an appropriate security level at all times by choosing a network location. Windows 10 uses network location awareness to uniquely identify networks to which a computer is connected. Network location awareness collects information from networks, including IP address and media access control (MAC) address data from important network components, like routers and gateways, to identify a specific network. There are three network location types:
The Public networks location blocks certain programs and services from running, which protects a computer from unauthorized access. If you connect to a Public network and Windows Firewall is on, some programs or services might ask you to allow them to communicate through the firewall so that they can work properly. To make changes to the network location, if that location is a homegroup, you can run the Homegroup Troubleshooter. This might never happen in a homegroup, but it’s worth noting that the Homegroup Troubleshooter is an option. If the location is a local network in a workgroup, you can make changes in the Settings app as follows:
Which Windows 10 service controls the flow of network traffic in Windows 10?remote computer. —This service controls the flow of network traffic in Windows 10. Service (QoS). much data can be sent and the format of the data as it crosses the network.
Which location type is used when a computer is connected as part of a peerThe domain network category is used when the computer is connected as part of a peer-to-peer network in a trusted location.
When Windows 10 can communicate with a domain controller the network connection is automatically placed in which location category?When Windows 10 can communicate with a domain controller, the network connection is automatically placed in the domain network location category.
How do I change my network settings in Windows 10?Select Start , then select Settings > Network & Internet . Do one of the following: For a Wi-Fi network, select Wi-Fi > Manage known networks. Choose the network you want to change the settings for, then select Properties.
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