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).

Understanding Network Fundamentals (Second Edition)
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.

Understanding Network Fundamentals (Second Edition)
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/IP—the 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