Networking Fundamentals

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$389
AUD
35% off
$599 AUD
Quick Facts
  • Delivery Method Online
  • Professional Certificate
  • 24hrs Suggested Study Time
  • 3 Months Access
  • Tutor Support
  • Study On Any Device
  • 14195 Students

Learn the fundamentals of networking and prepare for a career in a new and fast-growing field.

Introduction to Networking explains computer networking basics in terms that you can easily understand, using concepts common to everyday, non-computing experience. A brief introduction to networking history provides context, explaining how networks have become so important to businesses and individuals. The course emphasises networking fundamentals, explaining the software and hardware that makes networking possible. The course stresses understanding how and why networks work, rather than focusing on memorization of terms or numbers.

Upon completion of the course, you will be capable of performing basic computer networking tasks, such as DSL connectivity or configuring connections to an Internet Service Provider. This course will give you the foundation you need to begin training for CCNA Certification or employment in a computer networking career.

Courses are delivered to you through expertly executed lessons, online instruction and interaction with like-minded students. Our courses are designed to deliver all of the benefits of studying in a classroom whilst giving you the flexibility to study at a time and place to suit your needs. You can access your classroom 24/7 from any device with an internet connection.

This course has a 3 month duration. You'll complete comprehensive lessons, quizzes and assignments before submitting your final exam at the end of the course to achieve your certificate. Courses must be completed within the 3 month access period.

Have you ever wondered how networks started? We're surrounded by networks, whether they're computer networks, networks of roads, or the network of telephones that allow us to communicate every day. In our first lesson, you'll learn how networks have evolved over the last hundred years. You'll also find out why every additional device that connects to a network greatly increases the value of the network. By the time you've completed this lesson, you'll have a framework of knowledge that will take you through the rest of the course.

In today's lesson, you'll jump right into networks and networking, and learn how they work. We'll use examples from our everyday experience. You'll learn how to tell the difference between a network and networking, and realize that computer networks are a lot like freeway networks. You'll never look at an interstate the same way again! You'll also find out why shipping your data from one computer to the next is a lot like sending your distant uncle a new coffee mug for his birthday. Believe it or not, freeways and shipped gifts have a direct correlation to how networks and networking operate!

Have you ever heard someone refer to a computer as a server? Maybe you've heard someone talk about connecting computers in a peer-to-peer environment. Understanding the difference between client/server and peer-to-peer networks really helps you learn about computers and networking. So in today's lesson, you'll learn how to tell the difference between client/server and peer-to-peer networks, and when to use one instead of the other.

Many people have heard of Ethernet, but what does that mean exactly? In this lesson, you'll learn all about Ethernet, and a whole lot more. Here you'll find out the difference between a star topology and a bus topology, and the advantages of each. Is Ethernet or Token Ring the best modern network technology, and why? In this lesson, you'll get those answers and many more!

In today's lesson, we'll explore how routers operate, and you'll see why routers operate a lot like how a receptionist in a growing company handles telephone calls. In this lesson, we'll build on information you learned in previous lessons, then you'll find out how a single interconnected network (the Internet) can actually span the entire globe. A global network is an amazing feat, accomplished by interconnecting network segments and routing data! When you've completed this lesson, you'll understand how routing helps our data to cross the city, state, or an entire ocean.

When people communicate, they speak a language—such as English—to exchange information. Computers communicate similarly over a network, but instead of speaking a language, they use something called a protocol. Protocols are similar to languages, and in this lesson, you'll learn about the protocols used in networking. You'll also learn which protocol has emerged as the dominant computer protocol, and why!

In today's lesson, you'll learn how the networking protocol TCP/IP operates. TCP/IP is a collection of protocols, and today you'll learn how TCP/IP divides its tasks. We'll go over how TCP/IP uses addresses to direct data to its rightful owner—it's similar to how we use street addresses.

Have you ever wondered how your computer converts a World Wide Web address into a Web site that appears on your screen? In this lesson, you'll learn how the Domain Name System (DNS) translates names into numeric addresses, and how all that allows your favorite Web site, e-mail, or file to appear on your computer screen. You'll also learn how the entire computer industry comes to a consensus about how the Internet should work.

Today, we'll take a look at Wide Area Networks (WANs) and how they compare to Local Area Networks (LANs). You'll learn all about how data gets sent over long distances, and how the Internet changed expensive, long-distance network connections. You'll also learn how Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) secures those Internet connections from prying eyes.

If you connect to the Internet, you use remote access. In today's lesson, we'll explore the traditional means of connecting to remote LANs, and talk about exactly how dial-up Internet access works. Then we'll discuss modern means by which many people connect to the Internet, including DSL and cable modems.

In this lesson, you'll apply many of the concepts you've learned so far in this course. We'll walk through the process of making an Internet connection, and you'll see the step-by-step process of creating a dial-up connection. Each step of the way, you'll come to understand what's going on behind the scenes. From there, we'll jump to connecting to the Internet using broadband connections, such as DSL or cable modems.

In our final lesson, we'll tie all the previous lessons together, clarifying how new information about networks and networking can be quickly understood. You'll learn three categories into which networking knowledge can be placed, and see examples to apply your newfound network categories. By the end of this lesson, your understanding of networking will be solid as a rock, and you'll be well-prepared for a lifetime of continued learning about networking!

David Iseminger

David Iseminger

David Iseminger is a computer and networking expert and an experienced teacher of networking topics. As a student first and expert second, Iseminger knows which teaching approaches are most effective. Iseminger has worked at Microsoft Corporation ... Read more

Read David Iseminger's Profile

Frequently Asked Questions

Once you've made the payment, we'll send you a confirmation email with a link to start your course. Feel free to get started whenever you're ready!

You'll have 3 months access to your course. In that time you are free to study at your own pace. The course duration is 24 hours.

Online learning is a flexible way to study that fits around your schedule, giving you the freedom to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. You'll have 3 months to complete the course and can take the multiple-choice questions and final exam whenever it suits you.

If you need help, you can contact us anytime. You can also join the discussion area where you can interact with other students. The discussion area for each lesson is open for the entire duration of the course.

Of course! We offer a 10-day money back guarantee. As long as you haven't completed the course, you can get a full refund within 10 days of enrolling.

We do not offer extensions or transfers for this self-paced course. However, you will have 3 months to complete the course, and if you need to cancel within the first 10 days of enrolment, we offer a money back guarantee.

The Learning Environment

From the moment that you enrol in the Networking Fundamentals you will become an integral part of our learning community. You'll find yourself with the freedom to learn at a speed that suits you, on any device, from anywhere in the world. Achieving your career goals no longer has to mean compromising family and work commitments.

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