CompTIA Network+ – 11/11/2009

Today we discussed the variousu ways we have to connect to network devices.  Many times, for us, that will mean the patch cable in the back of our computers connecting to the wall (unshielded twisted pair), but many times, especially in the server room, this could mean serial cables as well.  In really old networks, this could mean coaxial cable as well.

Next, we took some time and constructed our own patch cables.  We looked at straight-through cables, crossover cables, and rollover  cables.

Homework:

• Chapter 6 Review Questi0ns.

CompTIA Network+ – 11/4/2009

Today’s class was all about network operating systems.  Of course, today, virtually all operating systems that are on the market are technically Network Operating Systems — meaning that they are operating systems with the ability to access a network.  Operating systems with this capability haven’t always been the norm, however, and we discussed the history of some of the more common NOSs.  We basically covered the ins and outs of Novell, Apple, Unix and Windows.

Homework:

• Chapter 5 Review Questions

CompTIA Network+ – 10/28/2009

Just the midterm exam today, hope you guys did well!

Homework:

• No homework this week, enjoy the time off!

CompTIA Network+ – 10/21/2009

Today we covered TCP/IP utilities, which basically meant we stayed inside command prompt and issued a bunch of commands that help us stay on top of our networks.  The commands we covered: ping, tracert, arp, netstat, nbtstat, ftp, ipconfig/winipcfg and nslookup.

We also discussed the plans for next week: I will not be here and so we will be having the midterm exam one week earlier than indicated on the syllabus.  Since I will not be here and only a test proctor will be present it is IMPERATIVE!!! that you arrive on time!!!   You will be responsible if you miss the proctor (and therefore the test) and will have to take a harder “retest” with a 10% missed attendance hit.  So PLEASE make sure you’re here on time!

Homework:

• Chapter Four: Review Questions
• Study for the Midterm – Chapters 01-04

CompTIA Network+ – 10/14/2009

Today, fresh off of the OSI model, we went forward into networking.  One of the things we discussed was how the OSI model, while useful and required knowledge for networking, isn’t directly used in the most often used networking protocol, TCP/IP.  Instead, we use the 4 layer Department of Defense model which is, you guessed it, derived from the OSI model.  We went over the four layers of the DoD model and showed how each layer lines up with the OSI model.  We then went over the concept of TCP ports and their importance to IT professionals.  In addition, proxy servers, a basic lesson in DNS and basic client TCP/IP settings were covered.

Homework:

• Chapter 3 Review Questions

CompTIA Network+ – 10/7/2009

Today’s class was all about the the OSI model, its importance to networking, and examples that we have in common networking that line up with it (and why even knowing it is so important!).  Devices/protocols can exist on more than one layer.

There are seven layers:

1. Physical – basically anything you can drop kick.  If it’s tangible, it exists on the physical network.
2. Data Link – devices that exist on this network take electric or light signals from the physical realm and convert them into the raw bits (1s and 0s) that computers use.
3. Network – devices here will direct where network traffic goes, subnet to subnet.  Typically, devices on this layer are routers.
4. Transport – the transport layer is responsible for either taking the data from big chunks and chopping it up into small chunks (or the other way around, depending on which way the data is flowing).
5. Session – this layer is responsible for maintaining a connection between two communicating devices.
6. Presentation – the presentation layer will ensure that content is consistent between two different computer systems.
7. Application – this layer represents the tools that computer software will use to communicate on the network.  Keep in mind, this layer is not the computer applications themselves (such as Firefox), but the protocols they use to communicate (HTTP, FTP, etc.).

Homework:

• Chapter Two Review Questions

CompTIA Network+ – 9/30/2009

Welcome to CompTIA Network+!

We began the class, after introductions, by diving straight into network fundamentals.  We discussed the differences between clients and servers, between a client/server setup and a peer-to-peer setup and when using each would be appropriate.  Also, we covered the differences between LANs, MANs and WANs, and went over the various networking topologies that exist — both physical and logical.

Homework:

• Chapter One Review Questions