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The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking

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Overview

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Discover the fundamentals of modern networking technologies and protocols, including cloud computing, practical applications, and network troubleshooting. This comprehensive course prepares you with essential computer networking skills. This is the second course in the Google IT Support Certificate, a series designed to prepare you for an IT support role.

Syllabus

  • Introduction to Networking
    • Course Introduction
    • Earn a dual Google/CompTIA A+ credential
    • The TCP/IP Five-Layer Network Model
    • Learn About the OSI Networking Model
    • Practice Quiz: TCP/IP
    • Alex: Why networking is important
    • Cables
    • Hubs and Switches
    • Routers
    • Servers and Clients
    • Practice Quiz: Networking Devices
    • Sergio: Being a network engineer
    • Moving Bits Across the Wire
    • Twisted Pair Cabling and Duplexing
    • Supplemental Reading for Ethernet Over Twisted Pair Technologies
    • Supplemental Reading for Twisted Pair Ethernet: Crossover Cables
    • Network Ports and Patch Panels
    • Cabling Tools
    • Practice Quiz: The Physical Layer
    • Ethernet and MAC Addresses
    • Unicast, Multicast, and Broadcast
    • Dissecting an Ethernet Frame
    • Practice Quiz: The Data Link Layer
    • Victor: Practical experience in IT
    • Glossary terms from course 2, module 1
    • Practice Quiz: Layers in Networking Models
    • Graded Quiz: Module 1 challenge: Networking Basics
  • The Network Layer
    • Introduction to The Network Layer
    • The Network Layer
    • IPv4 Addresses
    • IPv4 Datagram and Encapsulation
    • IPv4 Address Classes
    • Address Resolution Protocol
    • Practice Quiz: The Network Layer
    • Sergio: My career path
    • Subnetting
    • Subnet Masks
    • Basic Binary Math
    • CIDR
    • Practice Quiz: Subnetting
    • Stay motivated in the program
    • Basic Routing Concepts
    • Routing Tables
    • Interior Gateway Protocols
    • Exterior Gateways, Autonomous Systems, and the IANA
    • Supplemental Reading for Routing Protocol Examples
    • Non-Routable Address Space
    • Supplemental Reading for RFCs and Standards
    • Practice Quiz: Routing
    • Alex: My success story
    • Glossary terms from course 2, module 2
    • Graded Quiz: Module 2 challenge: The Network Layer
  • The Transport and Application Layers
    • Introduction to the Transport and Application Layers
    • The Transport Layer
    • Dissection of a TCP Segment
    • TCP Control Flags and the Three-way Handshake
    • TCP Socket States
    • Connection-oriented and Connectionless Protocols
    • Supplemental Reading for System Ports versus Ephemeral Ports
    • Firewalls
    • Practice Quiz: The Transport Layer
    • The Application Layer
    • The Application Layer and the OSI Model
    • All the Layers Working in Unison
    • Learner Story: Daniel
    • Glossary terms from course 2, module 3
    • Practice Quiz: The Application Layer
    • Graded Quiz: Module 3 study guide: The Transport and Application Layer
    • Graded Quiz: Module 3 challenge: The Five-Layer Network Model
  • Networking Services
    • Introduction to Network Services
    • Why do we need DNS?
    • The Many Steps of Name Resolution
    • DNS and UDP
    • Practice Quiz: Name Resolution
    • Sergio: A journey to the IT field
    • Resource Record Types
    • Anatomy of a Domain Name
    • DNS Zones
    • Practice Quiz: Name Resolution in Practice
    • Overview of DHCP
    • DHCP in Action
    • Practice Quiz: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
    • Basics of NAT
    • NAT and the Transport Layer
    • Supplemental Reading for IPv4 Address Exhaustion
    • Practice Quiz: Network Address Translation
    • Virtual Private Networks
    • Proxy Services
    • Practice Quiz: VPNs & Proxies
    • Glossary terms from course 2, module 4
    • Practice Quiz: Networking Services Simulation
    • Graded Quiz: Module 4 challenge: Networking Services
  • Connecting to the Internet
    • Introduction to Connecting to the Internet
    • Dial-up and Modems
    • Practice Quiz: POTS and Dial-up
    • What is broadband?
    • T-Carrier Technologies
    • Digital Subscriber Lines
    • Cable Broadband
    • Fiber Connections
    • Supplemental Reading for Broadband Protocols
    • Practice Quiz: Broadband Internet
    • Wide Area Network Technologies
    • Supplemental Reading for WAN Protocols
    • Point-to-Point VPNs
    • Practice Quiz: WANs
    • Introduction to Wireless Networking Technologies
    • Wi-Fi 6
    • Supplemental Reading for Alphabet Soup
    • Supplemental Reading for IoT Data Transfer Protocols
    • Wireless Network Configurations
    • Wireless Channels
    • Wireless Security
    • Protocols & Encryption
    • Cellular Networking
    • Mobile Device Networks
    • Supplemental Reading for Mobile Device Networks
    • Practice Quiz: Wireless Networking
    • Glossary terms from course 2, module 5
    • Practice Quiz: Wireless Channels
    • Graded Quiz: Module 5 challenge: Limitations of the Internet
  • Troubleshooting and the Future of Networking
    • Introduction to Troubleshooting and the Future of Networking
    • Ping: Internet Control Message Protocol
    • Command Line Troubleshooting Tools
    • Traceroute
    • Testing Port Connectivity
    • Supplemental Reading for Testing Port Connectivity
    • Practice Quiz: Verifying Connectivity
    • Name Resolution Tools
    • Public DNS Servers
    • DNS Registration and Expiration
    • Hosts Files
    • Practice Quiz: Digging into DNS
    • What is The Cloud?
    • Everything as a Service
    • Cloud Storage
    • Practice Quiz: The Cloud
    • IPv6 Addressing and Subnetting
    • IPv6 Headers
    • IPv6 and IPv4 Harmony
    • Supplemental Reading for IPv6 and IPv4 Harmony
    • Interview Role Play: Networking
    • Graded Quiz: Module 6 challenge: Troubleshooting and the Future of Networking
    • Course Wrap Up
    • Alex: My career path
    • Glossary terms from course 2, module 6
    • Course 2 Glossary
    • Congratulations!
    • Course 2 resources and citations

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