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
