Networks and standards
LANs, WANs, PANs, MANs, internetworks. Standards bodies, OSI
7 layer reference model.
The physical layer
Transmission media, Copper, Fibre, wireless, UTP, Cat 5/5e/6..., RJ45, Coax, Fibre cable & connectors, radio spectrum, frequencies, ranges, noise and electrical distortion, repeaters, interfaces: V.24, X.21... Serial vs. parallel, A/synchronous. Hands on: Cabling, ping.
Bandwidth
Definition, Bits, bytes, speeds, simplex, half/full duplex, a/symmetrical, aggregation, latency.
The Data Link layer
Frames, classifications, standards, LAN layer 2 technologies, WAN layer 2 technologies (Pt to pt, virtual circuits), topologies: bus, star, ring.
Ethernet
802.3, choosing cables, topologies, CSMA/CD, hubs, NICs, MAC addresses, Ethernet frames. Hands on: Analysing Ethernet frames.
Wireless LANs
WiFi, 802.11b/a/g/n, antenna, interference, 802.11 frames, CSMA/CA, Wireless APs. Hands on: Ad hoc wireless network, APs.
Interconnecting LANS
Interconnection devices, repeaters, hubs, broadcast and collision domains, bridges, switches, STP, routers. Hands on: Hubs, building a switched network, switch configuration, STP.
WANS
WAN architecture, service providers, access equipment, DTE, DCE, choosing a WAN.
WAN access
Phone lines, leased lines, Layer 2: Dial up vs. Dedicated vs. packet switched. Modems, ISDN, BRI, PRI. 64k, N*64, E1, TDM, STDM, xDSL. Hands on: leased lines, HDLC, PPP.
WAN services
Packet switching, virtual circuits, Hub & spoke, partial & full mesh, Frame Relay, ATM, MPLS.
Service provider technologies
The transport plane, SDH, DWDM.
TCP/IP
Definition, protocols, services, internetworking, the Internet, intranets, IAB, RFCs, IP header, IP addressing, Hands on: IP configuration.
Routers
When to route, network addressing, default gateways, routing tables, routing protocols RIP, OSPF. Hands on: Router configuration, tracert.
Applications
Clients, servers, web, Email, resource sharing, news groups, IM, VoIP, Video over IP, terminal emulation, ftp, ssh, baselining. Hands on: .telnet
A hands on training course introducing the concepts of data communications, moving on to covering both LAN and WAN technology. Quizzes are used extensively to ensure material has sunk in and to maximise learning time. Hands on sessions ensure that by the end of the course delegates have made cables, built LANS and WANS, configured TCP/IP, switches and routers.