Network Services
What this unit covers
The topics below follow the published Networking course framework for Unit 3. Networking publishes no per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to chase here.
Lessons in this unit
- DNS, DHCP, and Address Translation18 min · 3 objectivesExplain core network services · Apply the idea to evidence from a realistic technology scenario · Justify a decision using security, reliability, cost, and user impact
- Transport and Application Services18 min · 3 objectivesExplain TCP, UDP, ports, and application dependencies · Apply the idea to evidence from a realistic technology scenario · Justify a decision using security, reliability, cost, and user impact
- Cloud, Virtualization, and Service Resilience18 min · 3 objectivesExplain virtual networks, redundancy, and shared responsibility · Apply the idea to evidence from a realistic technology scenario · Justify a decision using security, reliability, cost, and user impact
What examiners penalize here
- For a scenario about **core network services**, identify the decisive evidence before naming a response. A defensible conclusion here is: Investigate DHCP and local connectivity before blaming name resolution.
- For a scenario about **TCP, UDP, ports, and application dependencies**, identify the decisive evidence before naming a response. A defensible conclusion here is: Different parts of one application can choose different transports based on their requirements.
- For a scenario about **virtual networks, redundancy, and shared responsibility**, identify the decisive evidence before naming a response. A defensible conclusion here is: Multiple front-end servers do not make the whole service resilient when a critical shared dependency is singular.
Practice Networking
Our practice bank is drawn from across the whole course rather than filtered to one unit, which is closer to how the exam asks anyway — it will not tell you which unit a question is testing.
Questions about this unit
How much of the AP Networking exam is Unit 3?
The Networking course framework does not publish a per-unit weighting, so there is no percentage to quote for Unit 3 and anyone who gives you one is guessing. Spread your time by where your own errors are instead.
What topics are covered in Networking Unit 3?
Network Services covers DNS, DHCP, Web services and Directory services.
How should I study Networking Unit 3?
Read the 3 lessons below first — about 55 minutes — then work practice questions on these topics. Finish with practice questions and read the explanation for every one you get right by elimination as well as the ones you miss.
All 5 units of AP Networking
Unit names, topics and exam weights follow the published College Board course framework for AP Networking. AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which does not endorse this site.