The Essentials of Computer Networking, Second Edition

From the first cable to a secure network across the world.

The Essentials of Computer Networking takes you from a single copper pair all the way to a secure, working network—one clear step at a time. No prior experience required. This fully revised Second Edition is now completely illustrated, with 80+ detailed diagrams that make every concept visible: cable cutaways, the OSI stack, subnetting worked out on the page, packet exchanges, and network topologies.

Whether you're starting an IT career, preparing for a certification, or finally connecting the dots on how networks really work, this is the foundation to build on.

What you'll learn

• Choose and install the right cabling—and read a network by sight
• Reason through the OSI and TCP/IP layers like a professional
• Tell hubs, switches, and bridges apart, and know when to use each
• Master IP addressing and subnetting with fully worked examples
• Understand the protocols that make it all work: ARP, DNS, DHCP, and TCP
• Set up a WireGuard VPN for secure remote access, step by step
• Design and secure wireless networks, and defend against real attacks

Practical from cover to cover

• A quick-reference for configuring a router, building a network, and troubleshooting
• A subnetting practice set—24 problems with full, worked solutions
• A command reference: ping, traceroute, ipconfig, arp, nslookup, and more
• A ports-and-protocols guide and a complete glossary of every term

Perfect for beginners, students, career-changers, help-desk and IT support staff, and anyone preparing for a networking certification.

Learn the basics. Build your career. Start reading today.