Overview

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This course aims to help learners discover computer networks through hands-on experience in the Open Networking Lab. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand and configure home networks, work with IP addresses, learn about switching and routing, set up configurations, control traffic, connect devices, and utilize command-line control. The teaching method involves a combination of theoretical sessions, practical exercises, quizzes, and real-world networking scenarios. This course is intended for individuals interested in gaining practical knowledge and skills in computer networking, including beginners and aspiring network professionals.

Syllabus

Introduction and guidance
Introduction and guidance
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Acknowledgements
Week1Week 1: Getting started: home networks and IP addresses
Introduction
Session 1: The home network
1.1 Devices on a home network
1.2 The home gateway and network settings
1.3 Packet Tracer Anywhere
1.4 Moving data around
1.5 Summary of Session 1
Session 2: IP addressing
2.1 Internet Protocol (IP) addressing
2.2 Checking the local network
2.3 Networks of networks
2.4 Public and private addresses
2.5 Fixing a host address, and two special addresses
2.6 Summary of Session 2
This week’s quiz
Summary of Week 1
Acknowledgements
Week2Week 2: Moving data: an introduction to switching and routing
Introduction
Session 3: An introduction to switching
3.1 Switches, routers and ports
3.2 Segmentation of data
3.3 Switching
3.4 Summary of Session 3
Session 4: An introduction to routing
4.1 Revision of IP addresses
4.2 Key routing terms
4.3 More on routing
4.4 Summary of Session 4
This week’s quiz
Summary of Week 2
Acknowledgements
Week3Week 3: Setting things up: configuration
Introduction
Session 5: Dynamic configuration
5.1 Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
5.2 Private addresses
5.3 Changing addresses
5.4 NAT in detail
5.5 NAT and ports
5.6 Implications of NAT
5.7 Summary of Session 5
Session 6: Configuring a home gateway
6.1 Switching
6.2 Remote configuration
6.3 DHCP
6.4 Wi-Fi
6.5 Routing
6.6 Domain Name System (DNS)
6.7 Review
6.8 Summary of Session 6
This week’s quiz
Summary of Week 3
Acknowledgements
Week4Week 4: Traffic control: destination addresses, route tracing and collision avoidance
Introduction
Session 7: Representation of network addresses
7.1 Base arithmetic
7.2 Converting between number bases
7.3 Representation of IP and MAC addresses
7.4 Subnet masks and CIDR
7.5 Summary of Session 7
Session 8: Route tracing, collision avoidance and scene setting
8.1 Tracing the route
8.2 Collision avoidance and multiple access in Wi-Fi
8.3 Looking ahead
8.4 Summary of Session 8
This week’s quiz
Summary of Week 4
Acknowledgements
Week5Week 5: Making it happen: connecting devices and command-line control
Introduction
Session 9: Real-world networking
9.1 Connecting devices
9.2 The role of a network professional
9.3 Summary of Session 9
Session 10: The command-line interface
10.1 Connecting to a Cisco device
10.2 Modes within the Cisco CLI
10.3 Configure a hostname
10.4 Configure an IP address
10.5 Summary of Session 10
This week’s quiz
Summary of Week 5
Acknowledgements
Week6Week 6: Understanding the network: underlying principles
Introduction
Session 11: Network principles
11.1 Data transmission
11.2 Routers and IP addresses
11.3 Configuring a network
11.4 Introduction to IPv6
11.5 Summary of Session 11
Session 12: More routing and switching
12.1 IP addresses, MAC addresses and the ARP process
12.2 How are routing decisions made?
12.3 How are switching decisions made?
12.4 Summary of Session 12
This week’s quiz
Summary of Week 6
Acknowledgements
Week7Week 7: How it works: more of the principles that underlie networks
Introduction
Session 13: Configuring network interfaces
13.1 The command line and operating system
13.2 IOS levels and Ethernet
13.3 Interfaces, up and down
13.4 Configuring devices
13.5 The virtual local area network (VLAN)
13.6 Summary of Session 13
Session 14: Routing protocols
14.1 Troubleshooting the routing process
14.2 Routing with default static routes
14.3 Routing with static routes
14.4 Putting in the final static routes to make it all work
14.5 Routing with dynamic routes
14.6 Summary of Session 14
This week’s quiz
Summary of Week 7
Acknowledgements
Week8Week 8: Final practical considerations: security and complex networks
Introduction
Session 15: Security
15.1 Securing the console
15.2 Remote access with Telnet
15.3 Secure shell access
15.4 Summary of Session 15
Session 16: Building a more complex network
16.1 Device connections
16.2 Adding hostnames and IP addresses
16.3 Adding a routing protocol
16.4 Testing the configuration
16.5 Saving the configuration
16.6 Summary of Session 16
This week’s quiz
Summary of Week 8
Tell us what you think
Acknowledgements