Networking Overview

Fundamentals of a network

• Types of networks
• Hardware and software

Applying the OSI model to troubleshooting

• The 7-layer model
• Executing a troubleshooting methodology
• Employing fault isolation at each layer

Connecting the Physical Layer

Distinguishing media terminology

• Twisted pair
• Fibre
• Wireless
• EIA/TIA standards

Cabling and port configuration

• Strategies for successful configuration
• Validating wiremap with cable scanner
• MDI/MDI-X port configuration
• Specifying various fibre types

Building the Data Link Layer

Working with network adapters

• Designating Layer 2 MAC address
• Demystifying access methods: Collision Detection/Avoidance
• Displaying NIC configuration

Assessing LAN topologies

• Logical and physical topologies
• Star
• Hybrid
• Mesh

LAN and WAN standards at Layer 2

• 802 standards
• Wireless
• Fast and Gigabit Ethernet
• xDSL
• Cable modem
• Frame Relay
• ATM

Interfacing with the network

• Testing speed and duplex settings
• Authenticating using 802.1X and EAP

Switching at the Data Link Layer

Analysing protocols

• Differentiating between Ethernet and 802.3 frame formats
• Choosing a hardware or software analyser
• Capturing and filtering traffic with Wireshark

Solving network congestion

• Deploying switches
• Interpreting Layer 2 traffic
• Upgrading to a switch

Implementing VLANs

• Defining the VLAN
• Interconnecting VLANs across switches
• Port tagging with 802.1Q

Wireless Networking

Traversing the wireless topology

• Network types and standards
• Selecting infrastructure or ad hoc mode
• IBSS
• BSS
• ESS

Building the wireless network

• Setting up the access point
• Configuring the SSID on a client
• Securing the wireless traffic

Integrating the Network & Transport Layers

The role of TCP/IP

• The TCP/IP protocol suite
• OSI model vs. TCP/IP model

Configuring IP addresses

• Characterising NetID and HostID
• Public vs. private addresses
• Allocating addresses with DHCP
• Managing addresses with ifconfig/ipconfig
• Resolving address conflicts

Enabling the routing function

• Subnetting and the adjacency test
• Interpreting a routing table

Investigating protocol headers

• TCP
• UDP
• IP
• ARP
• ICMP
• Identifying common protocol issues

Troubleshooting the Application Layer

Managing OS functions

• File
• Print
• Messaging
• Database

Fine-tuning network services

• DNS
• Web services
• Debugging name resolution with nslookup

Managing Your Network

• Identifying network management components using SNMP
• Querying the MIB for device status