Computer Networking Fundamentals

Name: Computer Networking Fundamentals
Rating: 3.8 (341 reviews)

Learn all about the basics of computer networking fundamental concepts and network security concepts

Created byIT New Courses

Last updated 10/2021

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Understand what a Network is all about
Understand the OSI Model
Learn about various types of networks (LAN, WAN, etc.)
Understand the core concepts of TCP/IP protocol
Understand the basics of subnetting
Understand networking hardware and their purpose
Understand the basics of IP addressing
Understand captured network traffic
Configure IPv4 and IPv6

Course content

6 sections • 23 lectures • 4h 11m total length

Instructor Introduction1:54
Meet your instructor, a seasoned information technology professional with 10+ years in infrastructure and cybersecurity, who guides you through the course structure and the basic aspects of computer networking fundamentals.
About the course6:04
Explore the fundamentals of computer networking, including network types, hardware, IP addressing (IPv4 and IPv6), TCP/IP, DNS and DHCP, and course structure, prerequisites, and learning outcomes.

What is Networking5:57
Discover networking fundamentals, including IP, IPv4 vs IPv6, routers, switches, wireless access points, DNS and DHCP servers, ports and protocols, and various wireless technologies.
Common Networking Configuration Concepts25:37
Explore common networking configuration concepts, including IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, subnet masks, gateways, DNS, and DHCP, and learn how devices obtain and use IPs on local networks.
Networking Hardware Devices10:43
Explore common networking hardware from legacy hubs to intelligent switches, routers, layer 3 switches, wireless access points, modems, firewalls, NICs, bridges, patch panels, cloud controllers, ethernet over power and PoE.
Ports and Protocols17:18
Discover how TCP and UDP use ports to deliver data across networks, with common protocols like HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, SSH, SMTP, DNS, DHCP, and SMB, and compare their reliability and speed.
Types of Servers and Internet Appliances9:45
Discover how web, file, print, dhcp, dns, proxy, mail, and authentication servers, plus security appliances like utm, ids, and ips, enable enterprise networks.

Network Types7:21
Explore the hierarchy of network types, from personal area networks to wide area networks, including vlan and wireless mesh, and how they connect to the internet.
Internet Connection Types10:11
Explore various internet connection types from dial-up and ISDN to DSL, cable, and fiber, plus satellite and mobile tethering, highlighting speeds, distance effects, and line-of-sight requirements.
Wireless Networking Protocols19:52
Explore wireless networking protocols and Wi-Fi standards, including 802.11 variants, frequency bands, and MIMO, then compare Bluetooth, NFC, RFID, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and cellular generations 2G-5G.

The OSI Model7:49
Explore the OSI model’s seven layers, from physical cables to application services, and map common TCP/IP protocols—IP, TCP, UDP, port numbers, DNS, DHCP, ICMP, ARP—to each layer.
Port Numbers4:41
Learn how port numbers identify network services on a host using TCP or UDP, distinguish SMTP port 25 and HTTP port 80, and view connections with netstat.
Domain Name Service (DNS)16:48
Explore domain name service (dns) fundamentals, including forward and reverse lookups, dns records such as A, AAAA, PTR, CNAME, and MX, and practical dns management using Windows and command-line tools.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)11:30
Learn how the dynamic host configuration protocol enables centralized IP settings with scopes, leases, exclusions, and reservations, managed via Windows Server and home routers.
Internet Protocol (IP)16:41
Explore how IP routes packets, compare IPv4 and IPv6 headers, and identify fields like addresses, header length, fragmentation, ttl, protocol, and flow label, with a practical Wireshark demonstration.
TCP and UDP13:44
Compare TCP and UDP as transport layer protocols, highlighting TCP's reliable, connection-oriented three-way handshake and sequence numbers. Contrast UDP's unreliable, connectionless delivery and simple headers with port-based filtering.
ICMP and ARP5:12
Discover how ICMP reports host and network problems and powers tools like ping and traceroute, and learn how ARP resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses on local networks.

Configuring IPv419:10
Learn to configure IPv4 settings, including addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS servers, using GUI and command line on Windows and Linux, with basics of subnetting and binary concepts.
Configuring IPv614:09
Configures IPv6 on Windows and Linux, covering hex addresses, colon separators, a 64 prefix length, default gateway, DNS server entries, and IPv4‑compatible addresses with multicast and no broadcasts.
Subnetting9:39
Explore subnetting in IPv4 by breaking a /24 into three internal subnets behind a router, using CIDR notation and masks like 255.255.255.0, and allocating host bits to address subnets.
Supernetting3:22
Discover how supernetting compresses multiple continuous network addresses into a single routing table entry, reducing memory for border and edge routers and enabling route aggregation across internet service providers.

CND Layers8:08
explore the three computer network defense layers—technology, operations, and people—emphasizing defense in depth, proactive monitoring, and assume breach philosophy, with tools like firewalls, ids/ips, pki, siem, mfa, and security drills.
Secure Network Design5:44
Design networks from the start with defense in depth, perimeter controls, multifactor authentication, and diverse layered firewalls, then apply the CIA triad—confidentiality, integrity, availability—through encryption and centralized authentication.

Requirements

Familiarity of Windows operating system
Familiarity of Linux operating system

Description

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.

Computer networks are at the core of our everyday lives. While any wireless technology is often referred to as wireless, and most networked ones as simply a network, there are multiple different technologies, protocols, and configurations to be done to properly set up a network at home, or in an office.

Today's computing devices are always connected to a network. While increasing productivity, this also increases the risk of malicious activity.

In this course, you will learn foundational knowledge of networking services and concepts. Subsequently, you will learn about IPv4 and IPv6 addressing and protocols. Lastly, you will be introduced to the layers of computer network defense and secure network design. After finishing this course, you'll have an understanding of network hardware and software, and you'll be able to gain insights from captured network traffic.

This course is designed to get you started as quickly as possible. There are a variety of self-paced learning activities. You will get:

Video lectures on each topic explaining each concept thoroughly with examples (and Demonstrations where applicable)
Links to additional resources/blogs/videos for further documentation and more in depth details reading

Enroll now and start your IT career in Networking.

Who this course is for:

Anyone who wants to understand Computer Networking Fundamentals
Beginner level students who are new to the IT Networking field

Computer Networking Fundamentals

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 8min

Networking Hardware, Services, and Configuration Concepts5 lectures • 1hr 9min

Wireless and Internet Connection Types and Their Features3 lectures • 37min

The TCP-IP Protocol Suite7 lectures • 1hr 16min

Configuring IPv4 and IPv64 lectures • 46min

Applying Computer Network Defense2 lectures • 14min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: