Beginners Guide to Networking (1 day)

This is an essential overview for both technical and non-technical professionals new to the networking environment. It covers the core networking concepts and components and introduces common hardware and software standards.

The course is a highly efficient way of gaining networking awareness and vocabulary. Equally, it provides the technical specialist with the grounding necessary to do further work in the networking field, and is commonly used as a starter course before moving on to other networking courses.

Audience

Computer professionals with little previous network experience wishing to understand and use network technologies. Delegates needing to understand the general principles associated with WANs and communications technology should attend Introduction to Data Communications course instead.

Skills Gained

Upon completion of this course, delegates will be able to:

• explain the uses and advantages of a network, having had hands-on experience
• describe the common characteristics of a network operating system
• use a network client to connect to a server and use resources
• explain the mechanism of redirection and key networking terminology
• appreciate the issues involved in day-to-day network management

Prerequisites

Delegates must have a working knowledge of MS-DOS 6 or later, Windows and PC applications, which can be gained from attending PC Fundamentals course. Delegates skills should include the ability to use the Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 4. x user interface; experience of configuring Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT systems and a good knowledge of PC architecture.!

Course Outline

Network Concepts

• What is a network and why use one?
• Components of a network
• Difference between LANs and WANs
• How network data is transmitted
• Looking at network layers

Network Hardware

• Network cabling and topologies
• Network adapter cards
• IEEE standards
• Media Access Control
• Principles of CSMA/CD
• Principles of token passing
• Ethernet networks
• Token-Ring networks
• FDDI
• ATM
• Bridged networks
• Switched networks

Network Software

• Communications protocols
• Routers
• Network operating system software
• Gateways
• Network applications

Network Administration and Control

• Security
• Logging in
• Using network resources
• Access control
• Securing the network
• Fault-tolerance
• Resource management
• Network monitoring