220-901 A+ Exam Syllabus

A+ PDF, 220-901 Dumps, 220-901 PDF, A+ VCE, 220-901 Questions PDF, CompTIA 220-901 VCE, CompTIA A Plus 901 Dumps, CompTIA A Plus 901 PDFUse this quick start guide to collect all the information about CompTIA A+ (220-901) certification exam. This study guide provides a list of objectives and resources that will help you prepare for items on the 220-901 A+ exam. The Sample Questions will help you identify the type and difficulty level of the questions and the Practice Exams will make you familiar with the format and environment of an exam. You should refer this guide carefully before attempting your actual CompTIA A Plus 901 certification exam.

The CompTIA A+ certification is mainly targeted to those candidates who want to build their career in IT Infrastructure domain. The CompTIA A+ exam verifies that the candidate possesses the fundamental knowledge and proven skills in the area of CompTIA A Plus 901.

CompTIA A+ Exam Summary:

Exam Name CompTIA A+
Exam Code 220-901
Exam Price $219 (USD)
Duration 90 mins
Number of Questions 90
Passing Score 675 / 900
Schedule Exam CompTIA Marketplace
Sample Questions CompTIA A+ Sample Questions
Practice Exam CompTIA 220-901 Certification Practice Exam

CompTIA 220-901 Exam Syllabus Topics:

Topic Details
Hardware 34%
Given a scenario, configure settings and use BIOS/UEFI tools on a PC. 1. Firmware upgrades/flash BIOS
2. BIOS component information
  1. RAM
  2. Hard drive
  3. Optical drive
  4. CPU

3. BIOS configurations

  1. Boot sequence
  2. Enabling and disabling devices
  3. Date/time
  4. Clock speeds
  5. Virtualization support
  6. BIOS security (passwords, drive encryption: TPM, LoJack, secure boot)

4. Built-in diagnostics
5. Monitoring

  1. Temperature monitoring
  2. Fan speeds
  3. Intrusion detection/notification
  4. Voltage
  5. Clock
  6. Bus speed
Explain the importance of motherboard
components, their purpose and properties.
 1. Sizes
  1. ATX
  2. Micro-ATX
  3. Mini-ITX
  4. ITX

2. Expansion slots

  1. PCI
  2. PCI-X
  3. PCIe
  4. miniPCI

3. RAM slots
4. CPU sockets
5. Chipsets

  1. Northbridge
  2. Southbridge

6. CMOS battery
7. Power connections and types
8. Fan connectors
9. Front/top panel connectors

  1. USB
  2. Audio
  3. Power button
  4. Power light
  5. Drive activity lights

10. Bus speeds
11. Reset button
Compare and contrast various RAM types and their features. 1. Types
  1. DDR
  2. DDR2
  3. DDR3
  4. SODIMM
  5. DIMM
  6. Parity vs. non-parity
  7. ECC vs. non-ECC
  8. RAM configurations

a) Single channel vs. dual channel vs. triple channel

  1. Single sided vs. double sided
  2. Buffered vs. unbuffered

2. RAM compatibility
Install and configure PC expansion cards. 1. Sound cards
2. Video cards
3. Network cards
4. USB cards
5. Firewire cards
6. Thunderbolt cards
7. Storage cards
8. Modem cards
9. Wireless/cellular cards
10. TV tuner cards
11. Video capture cards
12. Riser cards
Install and configure storage devices and use appropriate media. 1. Optical drives
  1. CD-ROM/CD-RW
  2. DVD-ROM/DVD-RW/DVD-RW DL
  3. Blu-ray
  4. BD-R
  5. BD-RE

2. Magnetic hard disk drives

  1. 5400 rpm
  2. 7200 rpm
  3. 10,000 rpm

3. Hot swappable drives
4. Solid state/flash drives

  1. Compact flash
  2. SD
  3. MicroSD
  4. MiniSD
  5. xD
  6. SSD
  7. Hybrid
  8. eMMC

5. RAID types

  1. 0
  2. 1
  3. 5
  4. 10

6. Tape drive
7. Media capacity

  1. CD
  2. CD-RW
  3. DVD-RW
  4. DVD
  5. Blu-ray
  6. Tape
  7. DVD DL
Install various types of CPUs and apply the appropriate cooling methods.

1. Socket types

  1. Intel: 775, 1155, 1156, 1366, 1150, 2011
  2. AMD: AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, FM2+
2. Characteristics
  1. Speeds
  2. Cores
  3. Cache size/type
  4. Hyperthreading
  5. Virtualization support
  6. Architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit)
  7. Integrated GPU
  8. Disable execute bit
3. Cooling
  1. Heat sink
  2. Fans
  3. Thermal paste
  4. Liquid-based
  5. Fanless/passive
Compare and contrast various PC connection interfaces,
their characteristics and purpose.
 1. Physical connections
  1. USB 1.1 vs. 2.0 vs. 3.0
  2. Connector types: A, B, mini, micro
  3. Firewire 400 vs. Firewire 800
  4. SATA1 vs. SATA2 vs. SATA3, eSATA
  5. Other connector types
  6. VGA
  7. HDMI
  8. DVI
  9. Audio
  10. Analog
  11. Digital (Optical connector)
  12. RJ-45
  13. RJ-11
  14. Thunderbolt
2. Wireless connections
  1. Bluetooth
  2. RF
  3. IR
  4. NFC

3. Characteristics

  1. Analog
  2. Digital
  3. Distance limitations
  4. Data transfer speeds
  5. Quality
  6. Frequencies
Install a power supply based on given specifications. 1. Connector types and their voltages
  1. SATA
  2. Molex
  3. 4/8-pin 12v
  4. PCIe 6/8-pin
  5. 20-pin
  6. 24-pin
2. Specifications
  1. Wattage
  2. Dual rail
  3. Size
  4. Number of connectors
  5. ATX
  6. MicroATX
  7. Dual voltage options
Given a scenario, select the appropriate components for a custom PC configuration to meet customer specifications or needs.
 1. Graphic/CAD/CAM design workstation
  1. Multicore processor
  2. High-end video
  3. Maximum RAM

2. Audio/video editing workstation

  1. Specialized audio and video card
  2. Large fast hard drive
  3. Dual monitors

3. Virtualization workstation

  1. Maximum RAM and CPU cores

4. Gaming PC

  1. Multicore processor
  2. High-end video/specialized GPU
  3. High-definition sound card
  4. High-end cooling

5. Home theater PC

  1. Surround sound audio
  2. HDMI output
  3. HTPC compact form factor
  4. TV tuner

6. Standard thick client

  1. Desktop applications
  2. Meets recommended requirements for selected OS
7. Thin client
  1. Basic applications
  2. Meets minimum requirements for selected OS
  3. Network connectivity
8. Home server PC
  1. Media streaming
  2. File sharing
  3. Print sharing
  4. Gigabit NIC
  5. RAID array
Compare and contrast types of display devices and their features.

1. Types

  1. LCD
  2. TN vs. IPS
  3. Fluorescent vs. LED backlighting
  4. Plasma
  5. Projector
  6. OLED

2. Refresh/frame rates
3. Resolution
4. Native resolution
5. Brightness/lumens
6. Analog vs. digital
7. Privacy/antiglare filters
8. Multiple displays
9. Aspect ratios

  1. 16:9
  2. 16:10
  3. 4:3
Identify common PC connector types and associated cables. 1. Display connector types
  1. DVI-D
  2. DVI-I
  3. DVI-A
  4. DisplayPort
  5. RCA
  6. HD15 (i.e., DE15 or DB15)
  7. BNC
  8. miniHDMI
  9. miniDin-6

2. Display cable types

  1. HDMI
  2. DVI
  3. VGA
  4. Component
  5. Composite
  6. Coaxial

3. Device cables and connectors

  1. SATA
  2. eSATA
  3. USB
  4. Firewire (IEEE1394)
  5. PS/2
  6. Audio

4. Adapters and convertors

  1. DVI to HDMI
  2. USB A to USB B
  3. USB to Ethernet
  4. DVI to VGA
  5. Thunderbolt to DVI
  6. PS/2 to USB
  7. HDMI to VGA
Install and configure common peripheral devices. 1. Input devices
  1. Mouse
  2. Keyboard
  3. Scanner
  4. Barcode reader
  5. Biometric devices
  6. Game pads
  7. Joysticks
  8. Digitizer
  9. Motion sensor
  10. Touch pads
  11. Smart card readers
  12. Digital cameras
  13. Microphone
  14. Webcam
  15. Camcorder

2. Output devices

  1. Printers
  2. Speakers
  3. Display devices

3. Input & output devices

  1. Touch screen
  2. KVM
  3. Smart TV
  4. Set-top Box
  5. MIDI-enabled devices
Install SOHO multifunction device/printers and configure appropriate settings.
 1. Use appropriate drivers for a given operating system
  1. Configuration settings
  2. Duplex
  3. Collate
  4. Orientation
  5. Quality

2. Device sharing

  1. Wired
  2. USB
  3. Serial
  4. Ethernet
  5. Wireless
  6. Bluetooth
  7. 802.11 (a/b/g/n/ac)
  8. Infrastructure vs. ad hoc
  9. Integrated print server (hardware)
  10. Cloud printing/remote printing

3. Public/shared devices

  1. Sharing local/networked device via operating system settings
  2. TCP/Bonjour/AirPrint
  3. Data privacy
  4. User authentication on the device
  5. Hard drive caching
Compare and contrast differences between the various print technologies and the associated imaging process.
 1. Laser
  1. Imaging drum, fuser assembly, transfer belt, transfer roller, pickup rollers, separate pads, duplexing assembly
  2. Imaging process: processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing and cleaning

2. Inkjet

  1. Ink cartridge, print head, roller, feeder, duplexing assembly, carriage and belt
  2. Calibration

3. Thermal

  1. Feed assembly, heating element
  2. Special thermal paper

4. Impact

  1. Print head, ribbon, tractor feed
  2. Impact paper

5. Virtual

  1. Print to file
  2. Print to PDF
  3. Print to XPS
  4. Print to image
Given a scenario, perform appropriate printer maintenance. 1. Laser
  1. Replacing toner, applying maintenance kit, calibration, cleaning

2. Therma

  1. Replace paper, clean heating element, remove debris

3. Impact

  1. Replace ribbon, replace print head, replace paper

4. Inkjet

  1. Clean heads, replace cartridges, calibration, clear jams
Networking 21%
Identify the various types of network cables and connectors. 1. Fiber
  1. Connectors: SC, ST and LC

2. Twisted Pair

  1. Connectors: RJ-11, RJ-45
  2. Wiring standards: T568A, T568B

3. Coaxial

  1. Connectors: BNC, F-connector
Compare and contrast the characteristics of connectors and cabling. 1. Fiber
  1. Types (single-mode vs. multi-mode)
  2. Speed and transmission limitations

2. Twisted pair

  1. Types: STP, UTP, CAT3, CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6e, CAT7, plenum, PVC
  2. Speed and transmission limitations
  3. Splitters and effects on signal quality

3. Coaxial

  1. Types: RG-6, RG-59
  2. Speed and transmission limitations
  3. Splitters and effects on signal quality
Explain the properties and characteristics of TCP/IP. 1. IPv4 vs. IPv6
2. Public vs. private vs. APIPA/link local
3. Static vs. dynamic
4. Client-side DNS settings
5. Client-side DHCP
6. Subnet mask vs. CIDR
7. Gateway
Explain common TCP and UDP ports, protocols and their purpose. 1. Ports
  1. 21 – FTP
  2. 22 – SSH
  3. 23 – TELNET
  4. 25 – SMTP
  5. 53 – DNS
  6. 80 – HTTP
  7. 110 – POP3
  8. 143 – IMAP
  9. 443 – HTTPS
  10. 3389 – RDP
  11. 137-139 – NetBIOS/NetBT
  12. 445 – SMB/CIFS
  13. 427 – SLP
  14. 548 – AFP

2. Protocols

  1. DHCP
  2. DNS
  3. LDAP
  4. SNMP
  5. SMB
  6. CIFS
  7. SSH
  8. AFP

3. TCP vs. UDP
Compare and contrast various WiFi networking standards and encryption types.
 1. Standards
  1. 802.11 (a/b/g/n/ac)
  2. Speeds, distances and frequencies

2. Encryption types

  1. WEP, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES
Given a scenario, install and configure SOHO wireless/ wired router and apply appropriate settings.
 1. Channels
2. Port forwarding, port triggering
3. DHCP (on/off)
4. DMZ
5. NAT/DNAT
6. Basic QoS
7. Firmware
8. UPnP
Compare and contrast Internet connection types, network types and their features.
 1. Internet connection types
  1. Cable
  2. DSL
  3. Dial-up
  4. Fiber
  5. Satellite
  6. ISDN
  7. Cellular
  8. Tethering
  9. Mobile hotspot
  10. Line-of-sight wireless Internet service

2. Network Types

  1. LAN
  2. WAN
  3. PAN
  4. MAN
Compare and contrast network architecture devices, their functions and features.
 1. Hub
2. Switch
3. Router
4. Access point
5. Bridge
6. Modem
7. Firewall
8. Patch panel
9. Repeaters/extenders
10. Ethernet over Power
11. Power over Ethernet injector
Given a scenario, use appropriate networking tools. 1. Crimper
2. Cable stripper
3. Multimeter
4. Tone generator and probe
5. Cable tester
6. Loopback plug
7. Punchdown tool
8. WiFi analyzer
Mobile Devices 17%
Install and configure laptop hardware and components. 1. Expansion options
  1. Expresscard /34
  2. Expresscard /54
  3. SODIMM
  4. Flash
  5. Ports/Adapters
  6. Thunderbolt
  7. DisplayPort
  8. USB to RJ-45 dongle
  9. USB to WiFi dongle
  10. USB to Bluetooth
  11. USB Optical Drive

2. Hardware/device replacement

  1. Keyboard
  2. Hard drive
  3. SSD vs. hybrid vs. magnetic disk
  4. 1.8in vs. 2.5in
  5. Memory
  6. Smart card reader
  7. Optical drive
  8. Wireless card
  9. Mini-PCIe
  10. Screen
  11. DC jack
  12. Battery
  13. Touchpad
  14. Plastics/frames
  15. Speaker
  16. System board
  17. CPU
Explain the function of components within the display of a laptop. 1. Types
  1. LCD
  2. TN vs. IPS
  3. Fluorescent vs. LED backlighting
  4. OLED

2. WiFi antenna connector/placement
3. Webcam
4. Microphone
5. Inverter
6. Digitizer
Given a scenario, use appropriate laptop features. 1. Special function keys
  1. Dual displays
  2. Wireless (on/off)
  3. Cellular (on/off)
  4. Volume settings
  5. Screen brightness
  6. Bluetooth (on/off)
  7. Keyboard backlight
  8. Touch pad (on/off)
  9. Screen orientation
  10. Media options (fast forward/rewind)
  11. GPS (on/off)

Airplane mode
2. Docking station
3. Physical laptop lock and cable lock
4. Rotating/removable screens
Explain the characteristics of various types of other mobile devices. 1. Tablets
2. Smartphones
3. Wearable technology devices
  1. Smart watches
  2. Fitness monitors
  3. Glasses and headsets

4. Phablets
5. e-Readers
6. Smart camera
7. GPS
Compare and contrast accessories and ports of other mobile devices. 1. Connection types
  1. NFC
  2. Proprietary vendor-specific ports (communication/power)
  3. MicroUSB/miniUSB
  4. Lightning
  5. Bluetooth
  6. IR
  7. Hotspot/tethering
2. Accessories
  1. Headsets
  2. Speakers
  3. Game pads
  4. Docking stations
  5. Extra battery packs/battery chargers
  6. Protective covers/water proofing
  7. Credit card readers
  8. Memory/MicroSD
Hardware and Network Troubleshooting 28%
Given a scenario, troubleshoot common problems related to motherboards, RAM, CPU and power with appropriate tools.
 1. Common symptoms
  1. Unexpected shutdowns
  2. System lockups
  3. POST code beeps
  4. Blank screen on bootup
  5. BIOS time and settings resets
  6. Attempts to boot to incorrect device
  7. Continuous reboots
  8. No power
  9. Overheating
  10. Loud noise
  11. Intermittent device failure
  12. Fans spin – no power to other devices
  13. Indicator lights
  14. Smoke
  15. Burning smell
  16. Proprietary crash screens (BSOD/pin wheel)

Distended capacitors

2. Tools
  1. Multimeter
  2. Power supply tester
  3. Loopback plugs
  4. POST card/USB
Given a scenario, troubleshoot hard drives and RAID arrays with appropriate tools.
 1. Common symptoms
  1. Read/write failure
  2. Slow performance
  3. Loud clicking noise
  4. Failure to boot
  5. Drive not recognized
  6. OS not found
  7. RAID not found
  8. RAID stops working
  9. Proprietary crash screens (BSOD/pin wheel)
  10. S.M.A.R.T. errors
2. Tools
  1. Screwdriver
  2. External enclosures
  3. CHKDSK
  4. FORMAT
  5. File recovery software
  6. Bootrec
  7. Diskpart
  8. Defragmentation tool
Given a scenario, troubleshoot common video, projector and display issues.
 1. Common symptoms
  1. VGA mode
  2. No image on screen
  3. Overheat shutdown
  4. Dead pixels
  5. Artifacts
  6. Color patterns incorrect
  7. Dim image
  8. Flickering image
  9. Distorted image
  10. Distorted geometry
  11. Burn-in
  12. Oversized images and icons
Given a scenario, troubleshoot wired and wireless networks with appropriate tools.
 1. Common symptoms
  1. No connectivity
  2. APIPA/link local address
  3. Limited connectivity
  4. Local connectivity
  5. Intermittent connectivity
  6. IP conflict
  7. Slow transfer speeds
  8. Low RF signal
  9. SSID not found

2. Hardware tools

  1. Cable tester
  2. Loopback plug
  3. Punchdown tools
  4. Tone generator and probe
  5. Wire strippers
  6. Crimper
  7. Wireless locator

3. Command line tools

  1. PING
  2. IPCONFIG/IFCONFIG
  3. TRACERT
  4. NETSTAT
  5. NBTSTAT
  6. NET
  7. NETDOM
  8. NSLOOKUP
Given a scenario, troubleshoot and repair common mobile device issues while adhering to the appropriate procedures.
 1. Common symptoms
  1. No display
  2. Dim display
  3. Flickering display
  4. Sticking keys
  5. Intermittent wireless
  6. Battery not charging
  7. Ghost cursor/pointer drift
  8. No power
  9. Num lock indicator lights
  10. No wireless connectivity
  11. No Bluetooth connectivity
  12. Cannot display to external monitor
  13. Touchscreen non-responsive
  14. Apps not loading
  15. Slow performance
  16. Unable to decrypt email
  17. Extremely short battery life
  18. Overheating
  19. Frozen system
  20. No sound from speakers
  21. GPS not functioning
  22. Swollen battery
2. Disassembling processes for proper re-assembly
  1. Document and label cable and screw locations
  2. Organize parts
  3. Refer to manufacturer resources
  4. Use appropriate hand tools
Given a scenario, troubleshoot printers with appropriate tools. 1. Common symptoms
  1. Streaks
  2. Faded prints
  3. Ghost images
  4. Toner not fused to the paper
  5. Creased paper
  6. Paper not feeding
  7. Paper jam
  8. No connectivity
  9. Garbled characters on paper
  10. Vertical lines on page
  11. Backed up print queue
  12. Low memory errors
  13. Access denied
  14. Printer will not print
  15. Color prints in wrong print color
  16. Unable to install printer
  17. Error codes
  18. Printing blank pages
  19. No image on printer display

2. Tools

  1. Maintenance kit
  2. Toner vacuum
  3. Compressed air
  4. Printer spooler

To ensure success in CompTIA A Plus 901 certification exam, we recommend authorized training course, practice test and hands-on experience to prepare for A+ (220-901) exam.

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