Networking Fundamentals

Master networking fundamentals, from core concepts to advanced server, cloud, and security administration, for robust certification exam preparation.

(NETWRK-FUND.AE1) / ISBN : 979-8-90059-128-5
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About This Course

This comprehensive Networking Fundamentals certification training course equips you with the practical skills needed to design, implement, and manage modern network infrastructures. You'll delve into essential topics like TCP/IP, routing, switching, and IP addressing, understanding their real-world implications and common failure points. Explore server architecture, virtualization, cloud computing with Azure and AWS, and critical cybersecurity frameworks. Learn to configure Windows and Linux servers, manage network assets, and implement robust disaster recovery plans. With 58 chapters, 15 quizzes, and 58 exercises, this course provides the authoritative knowledge required to confidently tackle the certification exam and excel in network administration.

Skills You’ll Get

  • Network Infrastructure Design & Implementation: Master the principles of network topology, protocols (OSI, TCP/IP), and hardware selection (switches, routers, cabling) to build resilient and efficient local and wide area networks, understanding trade-offs in scalability versus cost.
  • Server, Virtualization & Cloud Management: Gain proficiency in configuring Windows and Linux servers, deploying virtualization solutions (Hyper-V, VMware), and managing cloud resources (Azure, AWS), recognizing the limitations of each platform for specific workloads.
  • Cybersecurity & Network Administration: Develop expertise in implementing cybersecurity frameworks, managing firewalls, user accounts, and group policies, and crafting incident response and disaster recovery plans, acknowledging that perfect security is an illusion.
  • Network Troubleshooting & Optimization: Learn to diagnose and resolve common network issues using TCP/IP tools, interpret error messages, and apply best practices for network asset management and performance optimization, understanding that some problems require deep, iterative investigation.

Get the support you need. Enroll in our Instructor-Led Course.

Download Course Outline

1

Introduction

  • About This Course
  • Assumptions
  • Icons Used in This Course
  • Where to Go from Here
2

Welcome to Networking

  • Defining a Network
  • Delving into Network Lingo
  • Seeing What You Can Do with a Network
  • Getting Acquainted with Servers and Clients
  • Weighing Your Options: Dedicated Servers versus Peer-to-Peer Networks
  • Understanding What Makes a Network Tick
  • Putting the Pieces Together
  • Considering Network Size
  • Recognizing That Your Personal Computer Isn’t Personal When It’s on a Network
  • Assigning a Network Administrator
3

Network Infrastructure

  • Introducing Infrastructure
  • Understanding Network Protocols and Standards
  • Recognizing Network Topology
  • Considering Cable
  • Perusing Ports, Interfaces, and MAC Addresses
  • Pondering Packets
  • Contemplating Collisions
  • Dealing with Broadcast Packets
  • Examining Wireless Networks
4

Switches, Routers, and VLANs

  • Understanding Switches
  • Learning
  • Forwarding
  • Flooding
  • Looking Deeper into Switches
  • Collision domains
  • Bridging
  • SFP ports and uplinks
  • Broadcast domains
  • Managed and unmanaged switches
  • Understanding Routers
  • Network address translation
  • Virtual private networks
  • Understanding VLANs
5

Cybersecurity

  • But We’re a Small Business — Do We Need Security?
  • The Two Pillars of Cybersecurity
  • Cybersecurity Frameworks
  • The NIST Cybersecurity Framework
6

Servers and Virtualization

  • Understanding Network Operating Systems
  • Knowing What’s Important in a Server
  • Identifying the Components of a Server Computer
  • Considering Server Form Factors
  • Understanding Virtualization
7

Cloud Computing

  • Introducing Cloud Computing
  • Looking at the Benefits of Cloud Computing
  • Detailing the Drawbacks of Cloud Computing
  • Examining Three Basic Kinds of Cloud Services
  • Public Clouds versus Private Clouds
  • Introducing Some of the Major Cloud Providers
  • Getting into the Cloud
8

Network Protocols and Standards

  • Understanding Protocols
  • Understanding Standards
  • Seeing the Seven Layers of the OSI Reference Model
  • Following a Packet through the Layers
  • The Ethernet Protocol
  • The TCP/IP Protocol Suite
  • Other Protocols Worth Knowing About
9

TCP/IP and the Internet

  • What Is the Internet?
  • A Little Internet History
  • TCP/IP Standards and RFCs
  • The TCP/IP Protocol Framework
10

IP Addresses

  • Understanding Binary
  • Introducing IP Addresses
  • Classifying IP Addresses
  • Subnetting
  • Pondering Ports
  • Understanding Network Address Translation
11

Routing

  • Considering the Usefulness of Routers
  • Understanding Routing Tables
12

DHCP

  • Understanding DHCP
  • Understanding Scopes
  • Working with a DHCP Server
  • How to Configure a Windows DHCP Client
13

DNS

  • Understanding DNS Names
  • Top-Level Domains
  • The Hosts File
  • Understanding DNS Servers and Zones
  • Understanding DNS Queries
  • Zone Files and Resource Records
  • Reverse Lookup Zones
  • Working with the Windows DNS Server
  • How to Configure a Windows DNS Client
14

TCP/IP Tools and Commands

  • Using the arp Command
  • Using the hostname Command
  • Using the ipconfig Command
  • Using the nbtstat Command
  • Using the netstat Command
  • Using the nslookup Command
  • Using the pathping Command
  • Using the ping Command
  • Using the route Command
  • Using the tracert Command
15

Local Area Networks

  • Making a Network Plan
  • Being Purposeful
  • Taking Stock
  • Considering Cable
  • Surmising Switches
  • Planning the Network Topology
  • Planning the TCP/IP Implementation
  • Drawing Diagrams
  • More Questions Your Network Plan Should Address
16

Wide Area Networks

  • Connecting to the Internet
  • Choosing a Router
  • Securing Your Connection with a Firewall
  • Providing Redundancy for Your Internet Connection
  • Securing Connections to Remote Locations and Remote Users
  • Connecting Remote Offices with an Ethernet Private Line
17

Server Architecture

  • Deciding How Many Servers You Need
  • Deciding Which Servers You Need
  • Connecting Your Servers
18

Virtualization Architecture

  • Understanding Virtualization
  • Understanding Hypervisors
  • Understanding Virtual Disks
  • Understanding Network Virtualization
  • Considering the Benefits of Virtualization
  • Choosing Virtualization Hosts
  • Understanding Windows Server 2025 Licensing
19

Storage Architecture

  • Planning Disk Capacity
  • Considering Disk Drive Types
  • Considering Drive Interfaces
  • Considering RAID
  • Considering Attachment Types
20

Backup Architecture

  • Backup Basics
  • Considering Three Basic Types of Backup
  • Where to Back Up Your Data
  • Backing Up to Tape
  • Backing Up to NAS
  • Using a Backup Appliance
  • Understanding File-Based Backup
  • Understanding Image-Based Backups and Virtualization
  • Backup Security
21

Hyperconverged Infrastructure

  • Considering the Headaches of Traditional IT Architecture
  • Defining Hyperconverged Infrastructure
  • Discerning Deduplication
  • Understanding How Deduplication Works
  • Considering Backup
  • Digging into HCI Clusters
  • Incorporating HCI Into Your Plan
22

Network Hardware

  • Working with Cable
  • Installing Switches
23

Wireless Networks

  • Installing a Wireless Access Point
  • Configuring a Wireless Access Point
  • Connecting to a Wireless Network
  • Paying Attention to Wireless Network Security
24

Windows Clients

  • Configuring Network Connections
  • Joining a Domain
25

Mac Networking

  • Basic Mac Network Settings
  • Joining a Domain
  • Connecting to a Share
26

Network Printers

  • Configuring Network Printers
27

Virtual Private Networks

  • Understanding VPN
  • Looking at VPN Security
  • Understanding VPN Servers and Clients
28

Hyper-V

  • Understanding the Hyper-V Hypervisor
  • Understanding Hyper-V Virtual Disks
  • Enabling Hyper-V
  • Getting Familiar with Hyper-V
  • Creating a Virtual Switch
  • Creating a Virtual Disk
  • Creating a Virtual Machine
  • Installing an Operating System
29

VMware

  • Looking at vSphere
  • Getting Started with VMware Workstation Pro
  • Creating a Virtual Machine
  • Installing VMware Tools
30

Azure

  • Looking at Azure Services
  • Creating an Azure Account
  • Examining the Azure Portal
  • Creating a Windows Virtual Machine
  • Managing an Azure Virtual Machine
  • Connecting to an Azure Virtual Machine
31

Amazon Web Services

  • Looking at What Amazon Web Services Can Do
  • Creating an Amazon Web Services Account
  • Examining the Amazon Web Services Console
  • Creating a Windows Virtual Machine
  • Managing an Amazon Web Services Virtual Machine
  • Connecting to an Amazon Web Services Virtual Machine
32

Desktop Virtualization

  • Introducing Desktop Virtualization
  • Considering Two Approaches to Desktop Virtualization
  • Looking at VMware’s Horizon View
  • Looking at Citrix XenApp
33

Installing Windows Server 2025

  • Planning a Windows Server Installation
  • Before You Install
  • Running Setup
  • Considering Your Next Steps
  • Adding Server Roles and Features
34

Configuring Windows Server 2025

  • Using the Administrator Account
  • Using Remote Desktop Connection
  • Using Microsoft Management Console
  • Customizing MMC
35

Configuring Active Directory

  • What Active Directory Does
  • Understanding How Active Directory Is Structured
  • Creating a New Domain
  • Creating an Organizational Unit
36

Configuring User Accounts

  • Understanding Windows User Accounts
  • Creating a New User
  • Setting User Properties
  • Resetting User Passwords
  • Disabling and Enabling User Accounts
  • Deleting a User
  • Working with Groups
  • Working with User Profiles
  • Creating a Logon Script
37

Configuring a File Server

  • Understanding Permissions
  • Understanding Shares
  • Considering Best Practices for Setting Up Shares
  • Managing Your File Server
38

Using Group Policy

  • Understanding Group Policy
  • Enabling Group Policy Management on Windows Server 2025
  • Creating Group Policy Objects
  • Filtering Group Policy Objects
39

Comandeering Windows Commands

  • Using a Command Window
  • Special Command Tricks
  • The EventCreate Command
  • Net Commands
  • The RunAs Command
40

Using PowerShell

  • Using PowerShell
  • Understanding PowerShell Commands
  • Using Cmdlets
  • Using Parameters
  • Getting Help
  • Using Aliases
  • Using the Pipeline
  • Using Providers
  • Using Scripts
41

Getting Started with Microsoft 365 Administration

  • Introducing Microsoft 365
  • Considering Microsoft 365 Plans
  • Understanding Tenants
  • Creating a Microsoft 365 Tenant
  • Creating a New User
  • Resetting a User’s Password
  • Disabling a User
42

Configuring Exchange Online

  • Looking at Exchange Online Recipient Types
  • Examining the Exchange Admin Center
  • Managing Mailboxes
  • Creating a Shared Mailbox
43

Administering Teams

  • What Is Teams?
  • A Brief Look at How Teams Works
  • Using the Teams Admin Center
  • Managing Teams
44

Installing a Linux Server

  • Planning a Linux Server Installation
  • Installing Fedora Server
45

Linux Administration

  • On Again, Off Again
  • Wait, Where’s the Desktop?
  • Playing the Shell Game
  • Getting into Virtual Consoles
  • Using a Remote Console
  • Enabling the root User
  • Using the sudo Command
  • Using the RPM Package Manager
  • Editing Text Files with Vi
  • Using Cockpit
  • Managing User Accounts
46

Basic Linux Network Configuration

  • Using Cockpit to Configure Network Interfaces
  • Working with Network Configuration Files
  • Displaying Your Network Configuration with the ifconfig Command
47

Running DHCP and DNS

  • Running a DHCP Server
  • Running a DNS Server
48

Linux Commands

  • Command Shell Basics
  • Directory- and File-Handling Commands
  • Commands for Working with Packages and Services
  • Commands for Administering Users
  • Commands for Managing Ownership and Permissions
  • Networking Commands
49

Welcome to Network Administration

  • Knowing What Network Administrators Do
  • Choosing the Part-Time Administrator
  • Establishing Routine Chores
  • Managing Network Users
  • Patching Up Your Operating System and Software
  • Discovering Software Tools for Network Administrators
  • Building a Library
  • Getting Certified
  • Gurus Need Gurus, Too
  • Helpful Bluffs and Excuses
50

Managing Remotely

  • Enabling Remote Desktop Connection
  • Connecting Remotely
  • Using Keyboard Shortcuts for Remote Desktop
  • Configuring Remote Desktop Options
  • Using Remote Assistance
  • Enabling Remote Assistance
  • Inviting Someone to Help You via a Remote Assistance Session
  • Responding to a Remote Assistance Invitation
51

Managing Network Assets

  • Introducing IT Asset Management
  • Why Bother?
  • Getting Organized
  • What to Track
  • Taking Pictures
  • Picking a Number
  • Making Labels
  • Tracking Software
  • Using Asset-Tracking Software
  • Other Sources of Asset-Tracking Information
52

Solving Network Problems

  • When Bad Things Happen to Good Computers
  • Fixing Dead Computers
  • Ways to Check a Network Connection
  • A Bunch of Error Messages Just Flew By!
  • Double-Checking Your Network Settings
  • Time to Experiment
  • Who’s on First?
  • Restarting a Client Computer
  • Booting in Safe Mode
  • Using System Restore
  • Restarting Network Services
  • Restarting a Network Server
  • Looking at Event Logs
  • Documenting Your Trials and Tribulations
53

Securing Your Users

  • Knowing the Difference between Authentication and Authorization
  • Following Password Best Practices
  • Securing the Administrator Account
  • Understanding Multifactor Authentication
  • Securing the Human Firewall
54

Managing Firewalls and Virus Protection

  • Firewalls
  • The Many Types of Firewalls
  • Firewall Best Practices
  • The Built-In Windows Firewall
  • Configuring Windows Defender Firewall with Group Policy
  • Virus Protection
55

Dealing with Spam

  • Defining Spam
  • Sampling the Many Flavors of Spam
  • Using Antispam Software
  • Understanding Spam Filters
  • Looking at Three Types of Antispam Software
  • Minimizing Spam
56

Managing Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning

  • Assessing Different Types of Disasters
  • Analyzing the Impact of a Disaster
  • Developing a Business Continuity Plan
  • Holding a Fire Drill
57

Planning for Cybersecurity Incident Response

  • Seeing the Importance of a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan
  • Preparing Your Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan
  • Assembling Your Response Team
  • Identifying and Reporting a Cybersecurity Incident
  • Triaging Reported Incidents
  • Containing a Cybersecurity Incident
  • Engaging the Eradication Phase
  • Restoring Lost Data and Systems
  • Considering Communication
  • Closing the Incident
58

Penetration Testing

  • Understanding Ethical Hacking
  • Introducing the Red Team
  • Seeing How Penetration Testing Works
  • Scoping a Penetration Test
  • Establishing Boundaries
  • Examining Tools for Penetration Testing
  • Knowing What to Expect from a Penetration Test

1

Welcome to Networking

  • Connecting Devices in a Peer-To-Peer Architecture
  • Configuring Basic Network Connectivity
2

Network Infrastructure

  • Creating a Bus Topology
  • Connecting Devices in a Mesh Topology
3

Switches, Routers, and VLANs

  • Configuring Basic Router Settings
  • Configuring a Basic Network Switch
  • Configuring Static NAT on a Router
  • Creating a VLAN
4

Cybersecurity

  • Performing a Basic NIST Cybersecurity Framework
5

Servers and Virtualization

  • Creating a Basic Active Directory User Account
6

Cloud Computing

  • Evaluating Cloud Computing for Business Growth
7

Network Protocols and Standards

  • Viewing Network Adapter Properties in Windows
  • Analyzing the Structure of TCP and UDP Segments
8

TCP/IP and the Internet

  • Analyzing Packet Flow Through the TCP/IP Stack Using Wireshark
9

IP Addresses

  • Performing AND, OR, and XOR Operations
  • Configuring Class A, B, and C IP Addresses in Windows
  • Configuring an IPv6 Address on a Windows Interface
10

Routing

  • Viewing and Analyzing Routing Tables
11

DHCP

  • Configuring a DHCP Server in Windows Server
  • Configuring a Windows System as a DHCP Client
12

DNS

  • Verifying and Configuring a DNS Zone
  • Configuring DNS Settings on a Windows Client
13

TCP/IP Tools and Commands

  • Using TCP/IP Commands for Network Troubleshooting
14

Local Area Networks

  • Using the Windows System Information Tool
15

Wide Area Networks

  • Enabling Basic Windows Firewall Protection
16

Server Architecture

  • Designing Server Infrastructure
17

Virtualization Architecture

  • Creating Virtual Networks and Virtual Switches in Hyper-V
18

Storage Architecture

  • Configuring RAID Using Storage Spaces in Windows
19

Backup Architecture

  • Performing an Incremental Backup Using Windows Server Backup
  • Performing a Full Backup Using Windows Server Backup
20

Network Hardware

  • Testing an RJ-45 Cable Using a Cable Tester
21

Wireless Networks

  • Configuring a WAP in Cisco Packet Tracer
  • Configuring Wireless Security Settings
  • Using a Wireless Router for MAC Address Filtering
22

Windows Clients

  • Configuring Network Connections and Joining a Windows 11 Computer to a Domain
23

Network Printers

  • Configuring a Network Printer
24

Virtual Private Networks

  • Configuring a VPN Connection in Windows
25

VMware

  • Creating and Configuring a Windows Server Virtual Machine in VMware Workstation Pro
26

Azure

  • Creating and Configuring a Virtual Machine in Microsoft Azure
27

Desktop Virtualization

  • Deploying a Virtual Desktop Environment Using VMware Workstation
28

Installing Windows Server 2025

  • Installing and Configuring Windows Server
29

Configuring Windows Server 2025

  • Adding an MMC Snap-in
30

Configuring Active Directory

  • Creating Organizational Units in Active Directory
31

Configuring User Accounts

  • Managing Domain User Accounts
32

Configuring a File Server

  • Managing File Shares and Permissions in Windows Server
33

Using Group Policy

  • Configuring and Managing Group Policy Objects in Windows Server 2025
34

Comandeering Windows Commands

  • Managing Windows Server with Net Commands and CMD Utilities
35

Using PowerShell

  • Performing Basic Administrative Tasks Using PowerShell
36

Getting Started with Microsoft 365 Administration

  • Managing Microsoft 365 User Accounts
37

Configuring Exchange Online

  • Managing Mailboxes and Shared Mailboxes in Exchange Admin Center
38

Administering Teams

  • Creating and Managing Teams, Channels, and Policies
39

Installing a Linux Server

  • Installing Fedora Server 40 on a Virtual Machine
40

Linux Administration

  • Performing Essential Linux Administration Tasks Using Fedora Server
41

Basic Linux Network Configuration

  • Viewing and Managing Linux Network Configuration Files
42

Running DHCP and DNS

  • Configuring DHCP and DNS Services on a Linux Server
43

Linux Commands

  • Performing Basic Linux Command Shell Operations
44

Welcome to Network Administration

  • Performing Basic Network Administration and Network Diagnostics
45

Managing Remotely

  • Enabling and Using Remote Desktop Connection
46

Managing Network Assets

  • Designing an IT Asset Management Strategy
47

Solving Network Problems

  • Diagnosing and Resolving Common Network Connectivity Issues
48

Securing Your Users

  • Implementing MFA on Mobile Devices
49

Managing Firewalls and Virus Protection

  • Using Windows Defender Firewall
50

Dealing with Spam

  • Implementing Antispam Protection
51

Managing Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning

  • Assessing Disaster Risks
52

Planning for Cybersecurity Incident Response

  • Responding to a Malware Infection Incident
53

Penetration Testing

  • Performing Network Reconnaissance Using Nmap

Any questions?
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Absolutely. This course starts with defining basic network concepts, lingo, and infrastructure, making no assumptions about prior knowledge. We build from the ground up, covering everything from network types to basic protocols.

You'll gain hands-on experience through 58 practice exercises, covering configuration of switches, routers, IP addresses, DHCP, DNS, Windows/Linux servers, and cloud platforms like Azure and AWS. Expect to apply theoretical knowledge directly.

Yes, this Networking Fundamentals certification training course is designed to provide comprehensive preparation for industry-recognized networking fundamentals exams, covering all critical domains from infrastructure to security and cloud.

We emphasize practical scenarios, common failure points, and the inherent trade-offs in network design and administration. You'll learn not just how things should work, but also why they don't sometimes, and how to troubleshoot effectively.

Dedicated servers offer centralized control, security, and scalability but come with higher cost and complexity. Peer-to-peer networks are simpler and cheaper for small environments but lack robust management and security. Your choice depends entirely on your specific organizational needs and budget constraints.

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