Beginner Computer Network Course

Lesson 1 • The TCP/IP Model

Maps TCP/IP's four layers to OSI equivalents and explains why it dominates modern networking. Students connect theory to practical protocol stacks.

Lesson 2 • Network Topologies Explained

Covers bus, star, ring, mesh, and hybrid layouts. Students evaluate trade-offs in fault tolerance and cost for each topology.

Lesson 3 • What Is a Computer Network

Defines networks, their purpose, and real-world examples. Anchors the chapter by giving students a concrete mental model before technical detail.

Lesson 4 • Types of Networks by Scale

Distinguishes LAN, MAN, WAN, and PAN by geographic scope and ownership. Students map network types to real environments they will encounter.

Lesson 1 • Network Interface Cards and Ports

Explains how NICs connect devices to a network at the hardware level. Students identify NIC types and port standards used in modern equipment.

Lesson 2 • Routers and Gateways

Introduces Layer 3 routing and the role of default gateways. Students trace a packet's path from source to destination across networks.

Lesson 3 • Wireless Access Points and Modems

Covers APs, modems, and their roles in extending network reach. Students distinguish modem functions from router functions in home setups.

Lesson 4 • Cables and Connectors

Covers twisted-pair, coaxial, and fiber-optic cables along with their connectors. Students match cable categories to bandwidth and distance requirements.

Lesson 1 • Public, Private, and Special Addresses

Identifies RFC-defined private ranges, loopback, and APIPA addresses. Students recognize which addresses are routable on the public internet.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to IPv6

Presents IPv6 address format, types, and the motivation for the transition from IPv4. Students write and abbreviate valid IPv6 addresses.

Lesson 3 • Subnetting a Network

Applies subnetting math to divide a single network into multiple subnets. Students design address plans that meet host-count requirements.

Lesson 4 • Subnet Masks and CIDR Notation

Explains how subnet masks divide address space and introduces CIDR slash notation. Students determine network and broadcast addresses from a given prefix.

Lesson 1 • HTTP, FTP, and Email Protocols

Surveys application-layer protocols used for web, file transfer, and email. Students map each protocol to its port number and transport layer dependency.

Lesson 2 • TCP vs. UDP

Contrasts connection-oriented TCP with connectionless UDP using real application examples. Students select the appropriate transport protocol for a given use case.

Lesson 3 • DNS: Domain Name System

Traces a DNS query from client to authoritative server and back. Students explain record types and troubleshoot name resolution failures.

Lesson 4 • IP and ICMP Operations

Explains IP packet structure and ICMP's role in diagnostics and error reporting. Students interpret ping and traceroute output using ICMP knowledge.

Lesson 1 • VLANs and Trunking

Introduces VLANs as logical network segments and 802.1Q trunking for inter-switch VLAN transport. Students assign ports to VLANs and configure trunk links.

Lesson 2 • Spanning Tree Protocol Basics

Explains how STP prevents Layer 2 loops by electing a root bridge and blocking redundant paths. Students identify STP port states and their transitions.

Lesson 3 • MAC Addresses and Frames

Explains Ethernet frame structure and how MAC addresses direct local delivery. Students decode a frame header and identify source and destination fields.

Lesson 4 • Switch Operation and MAC Tables

Details how switches learn, age, and use MAC address tables to forward frames. Students predict switch behavior for known and unknown destinations.

Lesson 1 • RIP and OSPF Fundamentals

Introduces RIP's hop-count metric and OSPF's cost-based SPF algorithm. Students compare their scalability and convergence characteristics.

Lesson 2 • Static Routing Configuration

Covers manual route entry syntax and use cases for static routes. Students add static routes and a default route to a simple multi-router topology.

Lesson 3 • How Routers Forward Packets

Explains routing table lookup, longest-prefix matching, and next-hop selection. Students trace a packet through multiple routers using a routing table.

Lesson 4 • Dynamic Routing Protocol Overview

Compares distance-vector and link-state routing approaches at a conceptual level. Students explain why dynamic protocols scale better than static routing.

Lesson 1 • Radio Frequency and Signal Basics

Introduces frequency bands, wavelength, and signal propagation factors. Students predict how walls, interference, and distance affect wireless performance.

Lesson 2 • Wi-Fi Standards and Speeds

Surveys IEEE 802.11 generations from 802.11b through Wi-Fi 6. Students match standards to throughput, frequency, and deployment scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Wireless Troubleshooting Techniques

Applies a structured approach to diagnosing connectivity, speed, and interference issues. Students use site survey tools and channel analysis to resolve problems.

Lesson 4 • Wireless Network Architecture

Distinguishes infrastructure mode from ad-hoc and mesh topologies. Students design a small office wireless layout with appropriate AP placement.

Lesson 1 • Network Monitoring and Logging

Introduces SNMP, syslog, and NetFlow for visibility into network behavior. Students configure basic logging and interpret alert output for anomaly detection.

Lesson 2 • Common Network Threats

Catalogs attacks including DoS, man-in-the-middle, spoofing, and phishing. Students classify threats by attack vector and targeted OSI layer.

Lesson 3 • Firewalls and Packet Filtering

Explains stateless and stateful firewall operation and rule evaluation order. Students write basic firewall rules to permit or deny specific traffic.

Lesson 4 • Access Control Lists

Introduces standard and extended ACLs for filtering traffic on routers. Students apply ACLs to interfaces and verify their effect on packet flow.