Networking Essentials, Sixth Edition

Thoroughly updated to reflect the CompTIA® Network+ N10-008 exam, Networking Essentials, Sixth Edition is a practical, up-to-date, and hands-on guide to the basics of networking. Written from the viewpoint of a working network administrator, it requires absolutely no experience with either network concepts or day-to-day network management.

Networking Essentials, Sixth Edition guides readers from an entry-level knowledge in computer networks to advanced concepts in Ethernet networks; router configuration; TCP/IP networks; routing protocols; local, campus, and wide area network configuration; network security; wireless networking; optical networks; Voice over IP; the network server; and Linux networking. This edition reflects the latest exam topics and objectives associated with network security and hardening, cloud networking, virtualization, 5G, and other recent advances in wireless technology, infrastructure management, and current hardware and devices. It also explains many new terms now addressed by CompTIA’s N10-008 exam.

Clear goals are outlined for each chapter, and every concept is introduced in easy-to-understand language that explains how and why networking technologies are used. Each chapter is packed with real-world examples and practical exercises that reinforce all concepts and guide you through using them to configure, analyze, and fix networks.


CHALLENGE SIMULATION SOFTWARE provides hands-on experience with entering router and switch commands, setting up functions, and configuring interfaces and protocols
WIRESHARK NETWORK PROTOCOL ANALYZER presents techniques and examples of data traffic analysis throughout 
PROVEN TOOLS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE LEARNING AND NETWORK+ PREP, including chapter outlines, summaries, and Network+ objectives
WORKING EXAMPLES IN EVERY CHAPTER to reinforce key concepts and promote mastery
KEY TERM DEFINITIONS, LISTINGS, AND EXTENSIVE GLOSSARY to help you master the language of networking
QUESTIONS, PROBLEMS, AND CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS to help you deepen your understanding

Jeff Beasley is a professor in the Information and Communications Technology program at New Mexico State University, where he teaches computer networking and many related topics. He is coauthor of Modern Electronic Communication, 9th edition, author of Networking, 2nd edition, and coauthor of Networking Essentials, 4th edition, and Practical Guide to Advanced Networking.

Piyasat Nilkaew is the director of Telecommunications and Networking at New Mexico State University. He has more than 20 years of experience in network management and consulting. He has extensive expertise in deploying and integrating multi-protocol and multi-vendor data, voice, and video network solutions. He is coauthor of Networking Essentials, 4th edition, and Practical Guide to Advanced Networking.

    Introduction xxiii
CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Computer Networks 2
    1-1 Introduction 4
    1-2 Network Topologies 6
    1-3 The OSI Model 12
    1-4 The Ethernet LAN 16
    1-5 Home Networking 24
    1-6 Assembling an Office LAN 38
    1-7 Testing and Troubleshooting a LAN 45
CHAPTER 2 Physical Layer Cabling: Twisted-Pair 62
    2-1 Introduction 65
    2-2 Structured Cabling 66
    2-3 Twisted-Pair Cable 74
    2-4 Terminating Twisted-Pair Cables 78
    2-5 Cable Testing and Certification 92
    2-6 10 Gigabit Ethernet over Copper 97
    2-7 Troubleshooting Cabling Systems 102
CHAPTER 3 Physical Layer Cabling: Fiber Optics 124
    3-1 Introduction 126
    3-2 The Nature of Light 129
    3-3 Fiber Attenuation and Dispersion 136
    3-4 Optical Components 141
    3-5 Optical Networking 147
    3-6 Safety 160
    3-7 Troubleshooting Fiber Optics: The OTDR 162
CHAPTER 4 Wireless Networking 172
    4-1 Introduction 174
    4-2 The IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN Standard 175
    4-3 802.11 Wireless Networking 185
    4-4 Bluetooth, WiMAX, RFID, and Mobile Communications 197
    4-5 Configuring a Point-to-Multipoint Wireless LAN: A Case Study 206
    4-6 Troubleshooting Wireless Networks 213
CHAPTER 5 Interconnecting the LANs 228
    5-1 Introduction 230
    5-2 The Network Bridge 232
    5-3 The Network Switch 237
    5-4 The Router 249
    5-5 The Console Port Connection 254
    5-6 Interconnecting LANs with the Router 262
    5-7 Interconnecting LANs and WANs 267
CHAPTER 6 TCP/IP 290
    6-1 Introduction 292
    6-2 The TCP/IP Layers 294
    6-3 Number Conversion 306
    6-4 IPv4 Addressing 312
    6-5 Subnet Masks: Subnetting and Supernetting 317
    6-6 Supernetting, CIDR Blocks, and VLSM 328
    6-7 IPv6 Addressing 333
CHAPTER 7 Introduction to Router Configuration 354
    7-1 Introduction 356
    7-2 Router Fundamentals 358
    7-3 The Router’s User EXEC Mode (Router>) 366
    7-4 The Router’s Privileged EXEC Mode (Router#) 373
    7-5 Configuring the Network Interface: Auto-negotiation 383
    7-6 Troubleshooting the Router Interface 387
CHAPTER 8 Introduction to Switch Configuration 404
    8-1 Introduction 406
    8-2 Introduction to VLANs 407
    8-3 Introduction to Switch Configuration 410
    8-4 Spanning Tree Protocol 422
    8-5 Power over Ethernet 425
    8-6 Troubleshooting the Switch Interface 429
CHAPTER 9 Routing Protocols 444
    9-1 Introduction 446
    9-2 Static Routing 447
    9-3 Dynamic Routing Protocols 460
    9-4 Distance Vector Protocols 463
    9-5 Configuring RIP and RIPv2 466
    9-6 Link State Protocols 476
    9-7 Configuring the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) Routing Protocol 481
    9-8 Advanced Distance Vector Protocol: Configuring Enhanced Interior
    9-9 Internet Routing with Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) 496
    9-10 IPv6 Routing 499
CHAPTER 10 Managing the Network Infrastructure 524
    10-1 Introduction 527
    10-2 Domain Name and IP Address Assignment 528
    10-3 IP Address Management with DHCP 531
    10-4 Scaling a Network with NAT and PAT 537
    10-5 Domain Name System (DNS) 539
    10-6 Network Management Protocols 546
    10-7 Analyzing Network Traffic 552
    10-8 Network Analyzer: Wireshark 560
    10-9 Analyzing Computer Networks: FTP Data Packets 566
    10-10 Troubleshooting IP Networks 568
CHAPTER 11 Network Security 590
    11-1 Introduction 592
    11-2 Intrusion: How Attackers Gain Control of a Network 594
    11-3 Denial-of-Service 606
    11-4 Security Software and Hardware 610
    11-5 Managing Network Access 623
    11-6 Router Security 626
    11-7 Switch Security 631
    11-8 Wireless Security 637
    11-9 Remote Access and VPN Technologies 642
    11-10 Physical Security 659
CHAPTER 12 Cloud Computing and Virtualization 676
    12-1 Introduction 678
    12-2 Virtualization 679
    12-3 Cloud Computing 692
    12-4 Enterprise Storage 698
CHAPTER 13 Codes and Standards 706
    13-1 Introduction 708
    13-2 Safety Standards and Codes 708
    13-3 Industry Regulatory Compliance 718
    13-4 Business Policies, Procedures, and Other Best Practices 723
    13-5 Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery 729
Glossary 742


Online Only Elements:
    Net-Challenge Software
    Wireshark Captures
    Network+ quizzes
9780137455928, TOC, 9/28/2021