Free Network Systems Technician (NST) Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Network Systems Technician (NST) practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1What is a primary function of a computer network?

   1. A.Exchange data and share resources between devicesCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Process all application instructions in one central CPU
   3. C.Keep each device's data inaccessible to other devices
   4. D.Make every device's local storage an identical disk

   Explanation: IBM describes devices that "communicate and share resources with one another." Networks enable exchange and sharing; they do not require one CPU for every application, isolate every device, or automatically mirror all local disks.

   Reference: What Is Computer Networking? — What is computer networking?, opening definition

2. 2Which component loses its working data when a workstation is powered off?

   1. A.NAND flash SSD
   2. B.Magnetic hard drive
   3. C.DRAMCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Optane storage media

   Explanation: Intel states, "When the PC is powered off, the data in the DRAM disappears." DRAM is volatile working memory, unlike the nonvolatile storage choices.

   Reference: Can Intel Optane Memory Be Used as RAM? — Resolution > DRAM paragraph

3. 3How many bits are in an IPv6 address?

   1. A.32
   2. B.48
   3. C.64
   4. D.128Correct answer: D

   Explanation: Microsoft describes IPv6 as using a "128-bit address". The alternatives confuse IPv6 with IPv4, MAC addresses or the commonly used IPv6 interface-identifier length.

   Reference: TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Windows — Chapter 3 > IPv6 Address Syntax

4. 4Several Windows users need the same access to a shared folder. Which approach simplifies ongoing permission administration?

   1. A.Create a separate share for each user with identical contents
   2. B.Give every user the shared folder owner's password
   3. C.Grant permissions to a security group and manage its membershipCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Use an email-only distribution group in place of a security group

   Explanation: Microsoft recommends assigning permissions "to a security group instead of to individual users." Group membership then controls which users receive those permissions.

   Reference: Active Directory security groups — Security groups > Assign permissions to security groups for resources

5. 5Which Windows command can log specified performance counters to a CSV file for later network-performance analysis?

   1. A.cmdkey
   2. B.bcdedit
   3. C.typeperfCorrect answer: C
   4. D.diskpart

   Explanation: Microsoft states typeperf "writes performance data to the command window or to a log file." CSV is its default output-file format.

   Reference: typeperf — Overview and Options > -f

6. 6A disaster plan sets a maximum acceptable period for a server resource to remain unavailable. Which objective expresses this limit?

   1. A.Recovery point objective (RPO)
   2. B.Recovery time objective (RTO)Correct answer: B
   3. C.Mean time between failures (MTBF)
   4. D.Mean time to failure (MTTF)

   Explanation: "RTO defines the maximum amount of time that a system resource can remain unavailable" RTO addresses outage duration. RPO concerns recoverable data age; MTBF and MTTF concern reliability rather than the planned outage limit.

   Reference: Contingency Planning Guide for Federal Information Systems — Section 3.2.1, page 17

7. 7At which OSI layer does IP provide network addressing and packet delivery?

   1. A.Data Link, layer 2
   2. B.Network, layer 3Correct answer: B
   3. C.Transport, layer 4
   4. D.Session, layer 5

   Explanation: "Network layer 3: Apple® Talk DDP, IP, IPX" IP is associated with the network layer. Data-link framing, transport delivery, and session functions occupy different layers.

   Reference: Network Systems Technician (NST) Competency Requirements — Page 6, competency 7.1.1.5

8. 8In legacy ISDN Basic Rate Interface service, what does the D channel primarily carry?

   1. A.The combined payload from both bearer channels
   2. B.Signaling that controls the bearer channelsCorrect answer: B
   3. C.Only the video portion of a multimedia call
   4. D.A dedicated analog voice circuit for each user

   Explanation: Cisco calls the D channel a "16-kbps signaling channel". Its signaling tells the telephone network how to handle the B channels; bearer channels carry user traffic.

   Reference: Overview of Dial Interfaces, Controllers, and Lines — ISDN Service > ISDN BRI

9. 9Which storage design eliminates the spinning platters and moving actuator arms of a hard disk drive?

   1. A.NAND flash solid-state driveCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Higher-speed magnetic hard disk
   3. C.Mirrored pair of magnetic hard disks
   4. D.Hybrid disk with magnetic platters

   Explanation: Micron describes SSDs as having "no moving parts". The other choices retain mechanical disks even if their speed, redundancy or cache differs.

   Reference: What is a solid-state drive? — How do solid-state drives work? > Durability paragraph

10. 10A host has IPv4 address 192.0.2.130 and subnet mask 255.255.255.192. What is its subnet's network address?

    1. A.192.0.2.0
    2. B.192.0.2.64
    3. C.192.0.2.128Correct answer: C
    4. D.192.0.2.192

    Explanation: Microsoft directs administrators to "perform a bit-wise logical AND between the IPv4 address and its subnet mask." The last octet is 130 AND 192 = 128, yielding 192.0.2.128.

    Reference: TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Windows — Chapter 4 > Chapter Summary > Determining the subnet prefix