Fundamentals of Networking

📋 Course Outline

1. Network Types
2. TCP/IP Layers
3. Application Layer Protocols
4. Transport Layer Protocols
5. Internet Layer Protocols
6. Link Layer Functions
7. Networking Devices
8. Network Topologies
9. Network Protocols
10. Network Security
11. Real-World Applications

📖 1. Network Types

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• LAN (Local Area Network): A network that connects devices within a limited geographical area such as a home, office, or school, typically using Ethernet or Wi-Fi. It offers high data transfer speeds and low latency.
• WAN (Wide Area Network): A network that spans large geographical areas, often connecting multiple LANs. The Internet is the largest example of a WAN, utilizing various transmission media and routing protocols.
• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): A network that covers a city or large campus, serving as an intermediary between LANs and WANs, often used by service providers for regional connectivity.
• PAN (Personal Area Network): A small-scale network for personal devices within a few meters, such as Bluetooth-connected gadgets, smartphones, and wearables.
• Network Topology: The physical or logical arrangement of devices in a network (e.g., star, bus, ring, mesh), influencing performance, scalability, and fault tolerance.