Chapter and Appendix Overview

This self-paced training course combines notes, exercises, multimedia presentations, and review questions to teach you the fundamentals of data networking you will need to prepare for the Network+ exam. The course is designed to be completed from beginning to end, but you can choose a customized track and complete only the sections that interest you. (See the next section, "Finding the Best Starting Point for You," for more information.) If you choose the customized track option, see the "Before You Begin" sections in the chapters.

The book is divided into the following chapters:

  • The section you are reading, "About This Book," contains a self-paced training overview and introduces the components of this training course. Read this section thoroughly to get the greatest educational value from this course and to plan which lessons you will complete.
  • Chapter 1, "Networking Basics," examines some of the basic networking vocabulary and architectural concepts that form the foundation for the rest of the book. The layers of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model and the protocols that run at the various layers are an essential part of understanding how a network functions.
  • Chapter 2, "Network Hardware," introduces the physical building blocks of a local area network (LAN), including the cables that connect the computers together, the network interface adapter that provides each computer with its interface to the network, and the hubs that connect the various network devices together.
  • Chapter 3, "Network Connections," explains how to combine relatively small LANs into large enterprise networks using more complex hardware devices, such as bridges, routers, and switches.
  • Chapter 4, "Networking Software," covers the networking capabilities of the operating systems, client software, and directory services that run on the computers connected to a LAN.
  • Chapter 5, "Data-Link Layer Protocols," discusses protocols like Ethernet, Token Ring, and Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), as well as wireless LAN protocols, which operate at the data-link layer of the OSI reference model and are responsible for the final packaging of application data before it's transmitted over the network.
  • Chapter 6, "Network Layer Protocols," examines the protocols at the third layer of the OSI reference model, such as Internet Protocol (IP), Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX), NetBEUI, and AppleTalk, which are responsible for addressing and routing network packets to their final destinations.
  • Chapter 7, "Transport Layer Protocols," covers protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which operate at the transport layer of the OSI model and provide additional services such as packet acknowledgment and segmentation.
  • Chapter 8, "TCP/IP Fundamentals," provides an overview of the various protocols in the TCP/IP suite and some of the fundamental principles of TCP/IP communications, such as IP addressing and subnet masking.
  • Chapter 9, "TCP/IP Routing," discusses the process by which TCP/IP packets are routed through complex internetworks (such as the Internet) to their destinations.
  • Chapter 10, "TCP/IP Applications," lists some of the important services used by TCP/IP networks and the utilities that network administrators can use to maintain them.
  • Chapter 11, "TCP/IP Configuration," examines the process of configuring a TCP/IP client to participate on a network, including the most common parameters found in all operating systems that support the protocols.
  • Chapter 12, "Remote Network Access," covers the mechanisms that enable users to access a network from a remote location, including direct connections, virtual private networks (VPNs), and wide area networks (WANs).
  • Chapter 13, "Network Security," discusses some of the basic security precautions used on most networks, such as password policies, firewalls, and security protocols.
  • Chapter 14, "Planning the Network," examines the network planning process that takes place before any hardware or software products are purchased or installed.
  • Chapter 15, "Installing a Network," provides the information you need to install both internal and external network cables and connect them to the computers, hubs, and other hardware components.
  • Chapter 16, "Network Maintenance," covers some of the most essential maintenance chores required by a professional network, such as the performance of regular backups, virus protection, and software upgrades.
  • Chapter 17, "Network Troubleshooting Procedures," explains how to identify and recognize the various components you might find on a network and examines the logical progressions that the troubleshooting process takes on the way to finding a solution to a problem.
  • Chapter 18, "Network Troubleshooting Tools," describes some of the indicators that network administrators use to know when a problem exists, some of the hardware and software tools you can use to troubleshoot network problems, and some of the resources where you can find additional networking information.
  • Chapter 19, "Network Troubleshooting Scenarios," contains a comprehensive account of an actual networking problem and the steps that a network support technician can take to isolate, diagnose, and resolve it.
  • Appendix A, "Questions and Answers," lists all of the exercise and review questions from the book, showing the page number where the question appears and the suggested answer.
  • The Glossary provides definitions of key networking terms used throughout the book.


Network+ Certification Training Kit
Self-Paced Training Kit Exam 70-642: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure
ISBN: 0735651604
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2001
Pages: 105

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