Introduction to Networking
Introduction
to Networking explains computer networking basics in terms that you can
easily understand, using concepts common to everyday, non-computing
experience. A brief introduction to networking history provides context,
explaining how networks have become so important to businesses and
individuals. The course emphasizes networking fundamentals, explaining the
software and hardware that makes networking possible. The course stresses
understanding how and why networks work, rather than focusing on
memorization of terms or numbers.
Upon completion of the course, you will be capable of performing basic
computer networking tasks, such as DSL connectivity or configuring
connections to an Internet Service Provider. This course will give you the
foundation you need to begin training for CCNA Certification or employment
in a computer networking career.
This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be David Iseminger.
David Iseminger
is a computer and networking expert and an experienced teacher of networking
topics. As a student first and expert second, Iseminger knows which teaching
approaches are most effective. Iseminger has worked at Microsoft Corporation
as a telecommunications specialist, networking performance analyst, and lead
programming writer for cutting-edge network disciplines, including emerging
wireless technologies. Iseminger has published 12 computer books with
various publishers, including John Wiley & Sons, Macmillan, Microsoft Press,
and one ...for Dummies book. His formal education is from the
University of Washington where he earned degrees in English and Comparative
Literature with a minor in writing. Iseminger earned his MCSE certification
in under a month.
To enroll in this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader). and a computer equipped with Microsoft Windows 95 or newer.
Syllabus:
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end.
Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course.
You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must
complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each
month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to
space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
| Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
| Have you ever wondered how networks started?
We're surrounded by networks, whether they're computer networks,
networks of roads, or the network of telephones that allow us to
communicate every day. In our first lesson, you'll learn how
networks have evolved over the last hundred years. You'll also find
out why every additional device that connects to a network greatly
increases the value of the network. By the time you've completed
this lesson, you'll have a framework of knowledge that will take you
through the rest of the course. |
| Friday - Lesson 02 |
| In today's lesson, you'll jump right into
networks and networking, and learn how they work. We'll use examples
from our everyday experience. You'll learn how to tell the
difference between a network and networking, and realize that
computer networks are a lot like freeway networks. You'll never look
at an interstate the same way again! You'll also find out why
shipping your data from one computer to the next is a lot like
sending your distant uncle a new coffee mug for his birthday.
Believe it or not, freeways and shipped gifts have a direct
correlation to how networks and networking operate! |
| Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
| Have you ever heard someone refer to a computer
as a server? Maybe you've heard someone talk about connecting
computers in a peer-to-peer environment. Understanding the
difference between client/server and peer-to-peer networks really
helps you learn about computers and networking. So in today's
lesson, you'll learn how to tell the difference between
client/server and peer-to-peer networks, and when to use one instead
of the other. |
| Friday - Lesson 04 |
| Many people have heard of Ethernet, but what does
that mean exactly? In this lesson, you'll learn all about Ethernet,
and a whole lot more. Here you'll find out the difference between a
star topology and a bus topology, and the advantages of each. Is
Ethernet or Token Ring the best modern network technology, and why?
In this lesson, you'll get those answers and many more! |
| Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
| In today's lesson, we'll explore how routers
operate, and you'll see why routers operate a lot like how a
receptionist in a growing company handles telephone calls. In this
lesson, we'll build on information you learned in previous lessons,
then you'll find out how a single interconnected network (the
Internet) can actually span the entire globe. A global network is an
amazing feat, accomplished by interconnecting network segments and
routing data! When you've completed this lesson, you'll understand
how routing helps our data to cross the city, state, or an entire
ocean. |
| Friday - Lesson 06 |
| When people communicate, they speak a
language—such as English—to exchange information. Computers
communicate similarly over a network, but instead of speaking a
language, they use something called a protocol. Protocols are
similar to languages, and in this lesson, you'll learn about the
protocols used in networking. You'll also learn which protocol has
emerged as the dominant computer protocol, and why! |
| Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
| In today's lesson, you'll learn how the
networking protocol TCP/IP operates. TCP/IP is a collection of
protocols, and today you'll learn how TCP/IP divides its tasks.
We'll go over how TCP/IP uses addresses to direct data to its
rightful owner—it's similar to how we use street addresses. |
| Friday - Lesson 08 |
| Have you ever wondered how your computer converts
a World Wide Web address into a Web site that appears on your
screen? In this lesson, you'll learn how the Domain Name System
(DNS) translates names into numeric addresses, and how all that
allows your favorite Web site, e-mail, or file to appear on your
computer screen. You'll also learn how the entire computer industry
comes to a consensus about how the Internet should work. |
| Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
| Today, we'll take a look at Wide Area Networks
(WANs) and how they compare to Local Area Networks (LANs). You'll
learn all about how data gets sent over long distances, and how the
Internet changed expensive, long-distance network connections.
You'll also learn how Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
secures those Internet connections from prying eyes. |
| Friday - Lesson 10 |
| If you connect to the Internet, you use remote
access. In today's lesson, we'll explore the traditional means of
connecting to remote LANs, and talk about exactly how dial-up
Internet access works. Then we'll discuss modern means by which many
people connect to the Internet, including DSL and cable modems. |
| Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
| In this lesson, you'll apply many of the concepts
you've learned so far in this course. We'll walk through the process
of making an Internet connection, and you'll see the step-by-step
process of creating a dial-up connection. Each step of the way,
you'll come to understand what's going on behind the scenes. From
there, we'll jump to connecting to the Internet using broadband
connections, such as DSL or cable modems. |
| Friday - Lesson 12 |
| In our final lesson, we'll tie all the previous
lessons together, clarifying how new information about networks and
networking can be quickly understood. You'll learn three categories
into which networking knowledge can be placed, and see examples to
apply your newfound network categories. By the end of this lesson,
your understanding of networking will be solid as a rock, and you'll
be well-prepared for a lifetime of continued learning about
networking! |
To enroll in this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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