Understanding Network Fundamentals (Second Edition)

Course specifications

Course number: 44-058

Course length: 1 day

Hardware/software requirements

None. The course is designed to be taught as a lecture with class participation. No hands-on tasks are involved.

Course description

Overview: Students will learn what computer networks are and how they are used by examining the various components and their functions.

Prerequisites: Introduction to Personal Computers or equivalent knowledge.

Delivery method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model.

Benefits: Students will learn the basics about computer networks and how they work.

Target student: Students enrolling in this course should understand the function of basic hardware components (PCs and printers for example).

Performance-based objectives

Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand what computer networks are and how they are used.
• Identify various network strategies and topologies.
• Identify various hardware components of a computer network and understand their functions.
• Understand how network software is used to communicate over a network and to use network services.
• Define standards and protocols and understand how they are used to communicate on a network.
• Understand how data is transmitted over a network.
• Identify the OSI model and understand how communication layers interact.
• Understand what the Internet is and how to use it.
• Identify the basic functions of network management.
• Identify future possibilities for computers and computer networks.

Course content

Lesson 1: Introduction to networking

• Introduction to networking
• Computer network history
• Benefits of using computer networks
• Network design considerations

Lesson 2: Network strategies and topologies

• Node connecting strategies
• Network computing strategies
• Network coverage
• Network topologies

Lesson 3: Network hardware

• Network hardware components
• Transmission media
• Interface devices
• Internetworking devices

Lesson 4: Network software

• Network operating systems
• Network applications

Lesson 5: Standards and protocols

• Network standards
• Network protocols
• Differences between standards, protocols, and protocol implementations

Lesson 6: Data transmission

• Data transmission
• Signaling
• Switching strategies
• Media access control (MAC)

Lesson 7: Introduction to the OSI model

• An overview of the OSI model
• How network layers communicate

Lesson 8: TCP/IP and the Internet

• TCP/IPthe Internet protocol suite
• The Internet

Lesson 9: Network management

• Functional areas of network management
• Daily network management responsibilities

Lesson 10: The future of networking

• The future of networking
• What next?

Appendix A: Cabling specifications

Appendix B: Suggested reading list