Understanding Networking Fundamentals

• Basics of layered network protocols and compare the two primary reference models: OSI and TCP/IP
• Inspect a structured cabling system, including the proper use and installation of UTP and fiber optic cables
• Configure a workstation to connect to a network
• Ethernet operations and the use of VLANs by examining the configuration and operation of switches on a network
• Spanning Tree operation as a method of eliminating broadcast storms on a switched network
• Configure a Wi-Fi router for operation on a SOHO network, including security, SSID, and Wi-Fi channel
• Various IP addressing considerations, including binary to decimal conversion, dotted decimal notation, classful vs. classless addressing, private vs. public addresses, and the use of network masking
• Create a subnet for a small network, selecting the correct masks for various situations to accommodate the current number of hosts in each subnet and to also allow for future growth
• Operation of various TCP/IP protocols on a network, including connectionless and connection-oriented communications using UDP and TCP, translation between private and public addresses using NAT, and support protocols such as ARP, DNS, and DHCP
• Router configurations to determine the function of various routing protocols, including RIP, IGRP, and OSPF, within and between networks
• Various WAN technologies, including circuit switched solutions such as leased lines and packet switched solutions such as Carrier Ethernet, and determine the best WAN connectivity solution for a given corporate network
• Use a protocol analyzer to capture and view network traffic, including e-mail, instant message exchanges, and web transactions
• Basic network security implementations by testing the impact a router that has been configured as a firewall has on the flow of traffic through a network
• Research the suitability of popular anti-malware suites for mitigating network security threats
• Research Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to support BYOD deployments

You will gain an understanding of basic network functions, standards, and protocols, to prepare you to tackle advanced networking skills.

Learn more about this topic. View the recorded webinar BGP – What is it and why should I care?

Learn more about this topic. View the recorded webinar Networking Foundations.