Networking Fundamentals: From Basics to Advanced Concepts

Posted on Jan 26, 2025 in Computer Engineering

Chapter 2: Elements of Network Communication

  • Elements of Communication
  • Segmentation and Multiplexing
  • Network Components: Devices (end and intermediary), facilities, and services
  • LAN, WAN, and Internet
  • Protocol Suite: Collection of protocols
  • Models Based on Protocol Layers: Advantages
  • Difference Between Model and Reference Model Protocol
  • OSI Model and TCP/IP: Layers, encapsulation, differences
  • PDU: Protocol Data Unit names for each layer
  • Routing Mechanisms: How messages are routed in each layer

Chapter 3: Application Layer Protocols

  • Role of the Application Layer
  • Process, Application, Service
  • Client-Server Model: Server applications, daemons
  • Difference Between Network and Peer-to-Peer Applications
  • DNS: Function, operation, DNS records
  • WWW: Definition, operation
  • FTP: Definition, operation
  • Email: Operation, actors (MUA, MDA, MTA), and protocols (SMTP, POP3, IMAP)
  • Telnet: Definition

Chapter 4: Transport Layer Functions

  • Functions of the Transport Layer
  • Features of Transport Protocols: Connection orientation, reliable delivery, in-order delivery, flow control
  • Ports: Port types, well-known service ports (WWW, FTP, email)
  • TCP and UDP: Differences, header examples, use cases
  • TCP: Connection establishment and termination, sliding window

Chapter 5: Network Layer Operations

  • Functions of the Network Layer
  • IPv4 Protocol: Features (connectionless, unreliable, media-independent)
  • IPv4 Header: Purpose of each field (no need to memorize the fields)
  • Problems of Large Networks: Advantages of network segmentation, criteria used
  • Broadcast Domains: How to achieve them effectively
  • Routing Process: Gateway operation
  • Routing Tables: Utility, fields, operation. Static vs. dynamic routing

Chapter 6: IPv4 Addressing Schemes

  • Types of IPv4 Addresses: Unicast, multicast, broadcast
  • Public and Private Addresses
  • IP Address Classes: A, B, C, D, E
  • Special Addresses: Loopback, broadcast, default route
  • Subnetting: Motivation. Router operation: How to determine the network address from an IP address and subnet mask

Chapter 7: Network Topologies

  • Logical vs. Physical Topology: Bus, ring
  • Half-Duplex vs. Full-Duplex Communication

Chapter 8: Physical Layer Media

  • Basic Media Types: Copper, fiber, wireless
  • Signaling vs. Encoding
  • Encoding Schemes: Manchester, NRZ
  • 4B/5B Encoding: Concept, motivation
  • Performance Metrics: Bandwidth, throughput, goodput
  • Interference: Problems with copper wire. Twisted pair (UTP)
  • Singlemode vs. Multimode Fiber
  • Straight-Through vs. Crossover Cables: Motivation, uses

Chapter 9: Data Link Layer Operations

  • Layer 2 Sublayers: MAC vs. LLC, motivation for two sublayers
  • Ethernet Frame Fields: Padding field motivation
  • Unicast, Multicast, and Broadcast Physical Addresses
  • CSMA vs. CSMA/CD vs. CSMA/CA: Latency, bit time, interframe spacing
  • Advantages of Using a Switch vs. a Hub
  • Switch Operation: Learning, updating, flooding, selective forwarding, filtering
  • ARP: Cache operation. Proxy ARP

Chapter 10: Network Cabling Standards

  • Cabling Vocabulary: Patch panel, telecommunications room, horizontal vs. vertical (backbone) cabling, patch cord vs. patch cable, workspace
  • Criteria for Wiring Design
  • DCE vs. DTE
  • Console Cable Utility