Book Image

Networking Fundamentals

By : Gordon Davies
Book Image

Networking Fundamentals

By: Gordon Davies

Overview of this book

A network is a collection of computers, servers, mobile devices, or other computing devices connected for sharing data. This book will help you become well versed in basic networking concepts and prepare to pass Microsoft's MTA Networking Fundamentals Exam 98-366. Following Microsoft's official syllabus, the book starts by covering network infrastructures to help you differentiate intranets, internets, and extranets, and learn about network topologies. You’ll then get up to date with common network hardware devices such as routers and switches and the media types used to connect them together. As you advance, the book will take you through different protocols and services and the requirements to follow a standardized approach to networking. You’ll get to grips with the OSI and TCP/IP models as well as IPv4 and IPv6. The book also shows you how to recall IP addresses through name resolution. Finally, you’ll be able to practice everything you’ve learned and take the exam confidently with the help of mock tests. By the end of this networking book, you’ll have developed a strong foundation in the essential networking concepts needed to pass Exam 98-366.
Table of Contents (23 chapters)
Free Chapter
1
Section 1: Network Infrastructure
7
Section 2: Network Hardware
11
Section 3: Protocols and Services
18
Section 4: Mock Exams
19
Mock Exam 1
20
Mock Exam 2

Understanding IPv4

An important part of any network communication is addressing. Addressing is a means of identifying a device on a network. Previously, we discussed identifying devices on a network through the use of hostnames, IP addresses, and MAC addresses. Without addressing, how would the data know who it was intended for? And how could it be routed to the destination?

In this chapter, we will discuss IPv4 addresses. Although these are slowly being replaced by IPv6 addresses, this process is being carried out at a glacial pace. IPv4 will still be around for a long time to come. Understanding IPv4 addressing is one of the most important aspects of any networking role, and it is imperative that you are comfortable with it.

The following topics will be covered in this chapter:

  • Overview of IPv4
  • Understanding classful networks
  • Understanding subnet masks
  • Understanding Classless...