Educating myself on Network Fundamentals for Computers?

Question

I'm an Information technology major. My concentration is in Administration, Networking, and Security. I'm a transfer junior, having received my associates degree form community college in a completely different major.

Anyway, I'm taking a beginners networking class and I'm struggling badly in it. I'm taking it online so there's a chance that perhaps I just don't have a great professor, but I'm doing my best. Anyway, I'm likely going to drop the class to take at a later time and I wanted to see if anyone could recommend a beginners book that would help me get started on learning about establishing networks, topologies, subnets, IP address, MAC addresses, etc.?

Answer 1

Teach Yourself TCP/IP in 14 Days :Second Edition

The book illustrates very clear the following topics;



1. Open Systems, Standards, and Protocols

2. TCP/IP and the Internet

3. The Internet Protocol (IP)

4. TCP and UDP

5. Gateway and Routing Protocols

6. Telnet and FTP

7. TCP/IP Configuration and Administration Basics

8. TCP/IP and Networks

9. Setting Up a Sample TCP/IP Network: Servers

10. Setting Up a Sample TCP/IP Network: DOS and Windows Clients

11. Domain Name Service

12. Network File System and Network Information Service

13. Managing and Troubleshooting TCP/IP

14. The Socket Programming Interface

Answer 2

Hi

I've just completed CCNA 1 Network Fundamentals.

I found it a lot to take in, not having worked in an IT related environment before. At the start of the course I was stressing a lot because I thought it was a bit too much to handle but I'm glad I stuck to it now, its going really well.



I assume its Cisco you are doing?

Everyone cheats with the online exams.



The method I used was to check what questions were going to be asked in the exam. Then read through the book and research what I need, and skim through the rest. The book we use is exactly the same as the course material on the Cisco site.



http://www.amazon.co.uk/CCNA-Exploration-Course-Booklet-Fundamentals/dp/1587132435/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1290539474&sr=8-3

The only problem with the book is that it doesn't have the diagrams to assist you and to be honest, I think it's written to sound clever. Being a moron, I found it difficult to study from it.



One book I bought before I started the course is called "Networking: A Beginner's Guide" by Bruce A. Hallberg. It's quite a good book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Networking-Beginners-Guide-Professionals-Library/dp/0071633553/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290539648&sr=1-1



Subnetting was difficult at first to grasp but once you know how to do it, its pretty easy.



You can also watch a video (really old but a lot is still relevant) called "Warriors of the net". That may help you to understand a little.

http://www.warriorsofthe.net/





Hope some of this has helped you. Good luck.

Answer 3

For a good educational background; primarily on security & technical aspects: entirely free, go to 'Security Now' podcasts with Steve Gibson & Leo Laporte.

These are 1+ hr. 'sit down' chats, that cover current issues, the how & why, with remedies for security issues, related to Internet, networking, etc.

Start with the early shows for computer functions & basics. Occasionally it gets a bit tekky (and very often an 'acronym tsunami'), but Steve & Leo do it in real easy to understand chat format, that makes it painless & interesting (if you like the tech stuff to start with).



College level education, free.

Find it here:

http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm



4.5 years worth of sessions.

Podcast or session transcript @ bottom page for printed output.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Networking for Dummies is a good place to start.