Networking, Introduction to

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Lesson 1
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.

Lesson 2
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!

Lesson 3
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.

Lesson 4
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!

Lesson 5
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.

Lesson 6
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!

Lesson 7
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.

Lesson 8
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.

Lesson 9
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.

Lesson 10
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.

Lesson 11
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.

Lesson 12
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!