Sams teach yourself networking in 24 hours

In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, learn how to use today’s key networking techniques and technologies to build, secure, and troubleshoot both wired and wireless networks. Using this book’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you master every skill you need—from working with Ethernet and Bluetooth to spam prevention to network troubleshooting. Each lesson builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!

Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common networking tasks.

Q&A sections at the end of each hour help you test your knowledge.

By the Way notes present interesting information related to the discussion.

Did You Know? tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.

Watch Out! cautions alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them.

Learn how to…

• Choose the right network hardware and software and use it to build efficient, reliable networks
• Implement secure, high-speed Internet connections
• Provide reliable remote access to your users
• Administer networks to support users of Microsoft, Linux, and UNIX environments
• Use low-cost Linux servers to provide file and print services to Windows PCs
• Protect your networks and data against today’s most dangerous threats
• Use virtualization to save money and improve business flexibility
• Utilize RAID technologies to provide flexible storage at lower cost
• Troubleshoot and fix network problems one step at a time
• Preview and prepare for the future of networking

Introduction     1

Hour 1: An Overview of Networking     3

Hour 2: The Benefits of Networking     19

Hour 3: Getting Data from Here to There: How Networking Works     29

Hour 4: Computer Concepts     49

Hour 5: Network Concepts     71

Hour 6: Extending LANs with Wide Area Networks (WANs)     95

Hour 7: Mobile Wireless Networking     117

Hour 8: Remote Networking     129

Hour 9: Planning for the Network     143

Hour 10: Designing a Network     155

Hour 11: Selecting Network Hardware and Software     179

Hour 12: Assembling a Network     199

Hour 13: Network Applications     211

Hour 14: Connecting to the Internet: Initial Operations     231

Hour 15: Connecting to the Internet: Key Supporting Operations     247

Hour 16: Microsoft Networking     271

Hour 17: UNIX and Linux Networking     289

Hour 18: Putting the Pieces Together     301

Hour 19: Role of the Network Administrator     309

Hour 20: Security     319

Hour 21: Managing a Network     339

Hour 22: Network Troubleshooting     355

Hour 23: A Day in the Life of a Network Administrator     373

Hour 24: Where Are Networks Going from Here?     383

Glossary     389

Index     397