Introduction to Networking

Introduction to Networking provides you with a comprehensive overview of the technologies and standards that make the modern connected world a reality. Requiring no previous knowledge of computer networking, this textbook takes you on a tour of the building blocks of modern-day networks. Major concepts, such as OSI and TCP/IP models, network media specifications and functions, LAN/WAN protocols, topologies, and capabilities, are covered in detail. Industry standards and a brief historical development of major networking technologies are surveyed in conjunction with basic awareness of software and hardware components used in typical networking and internetworking environments.

Expert instructor and best-selling author Wendell Odom provides you with a solid foundation of how computer networks function. He then shows you how to build both local-area networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN) for transmission of data over short and long distances. You also learn how TCP/IP uses these LANs and WANs to create corporate networks and the worldwide Internet. The book concludes by showing you how networking connects applications you use on a daily basis with resources that reside on the global Internet.

Full of real-world practical examples, Introduction to Networking provides you with the foundation knowledge and skills you need to start a career in networking.

Powerful features make learning about networking easier!

--  Clear introductions describe the big ideas and show how they fit with what you’ve already learned

--  Specific chapter objectives tell you exactly what you need to learn

--  Key Terms lists help you identify important terms, and a complete Glossary helps you understand them

--  Author’s Notes point out important transitions, key connections to other topics, and items that might otherwise be lost in the detail

--  The On the Side feature points out related items from pop culture, history, and the real world as it relates to networking

--  Chapter Review questions, tools, and activities help you make sure you’ve learned the material

--  Numeric Reference Tables provide common information about numbers used in networking, including a conversion table for 8-bit binary to decimal

Exclusive Mind Mapping activities!

--  Organize networking ideas visually, in your mind, in your words

--  Learn more, remember more

--  Understand how different ideas fit together

Coverage includes

--  Computer data fundamentals

--  Computer networking basics

--  TCP/IP networks

--  Transmitting bits

--  Ethernet LANs

--  Wireless LANs

--  Wide-area networks (WAN)

--  The Internet protocol (IP)

--  Connecting to the Internet

--  TCP/IP transport

Wendell Odom  has helped teach a generation of networkers about LAN switching and IP routing. In addition to writing textbooks, Wendell has long been a widely respected author of Cisco certification books for the Cisco CCENT, CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE certifications. He has also created video learning and simulation software products for those exams. He has worked as a network engineer, consultant, instructor, course developer, and book author. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and he has achieved expert-level certification from Cisco Systems (CCIE No. 1624). Wendell connects with readers through blogs, Facebook, and a website, all of which can be found on his company’s website (www.certskills.com).