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​Computer Networking Fundamentals

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How does the Internet really work? For many technical jobs it is important to understand computer networking. We just posted a massive 12-hour course that will give you a deep dive into computer networking. Here are the sections covered in this compr… 

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How does the Internet really work?

For many technical jobs it is important to understand computer networking. We just posted a massive 12-hour course that will give you a deep dive into computer networking.

Here are the sections covered in this comprehensive course:

Course Overview & Methodology

  • Fundamental Concepts and Networking Stack

  • Orientation: Curriculum and Prerequisite (DSA)

  • Introduction to the Instructor: Shrathir Sharma

  • Course Access (YouTube/Udemy) and Target Audience

  • Teaching Methodology: Raw Pen & Paper Style

  • Core Modules: IPv4, Error Control, and Flow Control

  • Core Modules: Transport, Media Access, and Routing

  • Bonus Module: Cybersecurity

Networking Basics

  • Defining a Computer Network

  • Why Networks Interact: Resource Sharing

  • 5 Components of Data Communication

  • 4 Metrics for Network Effectiveness

  • Transmission Modes: Simplex, Half-Duplex, Full-Duplex

  • Types of Connections: Point-to-Point vs. Multi-Point

Topology & Architecture

  • Introduction to Topology Layouts

  • Mesh Topology and Link Calculations

  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Topologies

  • Star, Bus, and Ring Topology Details

  • The OSI Model Framework

  • Layered Architecture and Peer-to-Peer Protocols

Binary & IP Addressing Foundations

  • Review of Lecture Zero

  • Binary Number Representation & Conversion

  • Binary Weights and Octet Conversions

  • Introduction to IPv4 Logical Addressing

  • Network ID vs. Host ID and IANA Authority

Classful vs. Classless Addressing

  • Telephone Network Analogy for IP Classes

  • Class A, B, and C Breakdown

  • Classful Wastage and the Need for Classless (CIDR)

  • Implementation: Fixing Bits for Classes A-E

  • IP Address Space Distribution

  • Hexadecimal and Decimal IP Representations

IPv4 Addressing Deep Dive

  • Class A Details: Reserved Addresses & 127.0.0.1 Loopback

  • Calculating Valid Hosts and Reserved All-Zeros/All-Ones

  • Loopback Testing & Troubleshooting Connectivity

  • Class B Details: Network Ranges & Host Capacity

  • Class C Details: Network/Host Ratios

  • Class D (Multicasting) and Class E (Experimental)

  • IP Conversion Practice: Hexadecimal to Decimal

  • Common Pitfalls: “Addresses” vs. “Valid Hosts”

Subnetting & VLSM

  • Introduction to Subnetting: Why We Divide Networks

  • Disadvantages of Subnetting: Wastage and Cost

  • How to Subnet: Borrowing Bits from Host ID

  • Subnet Identification: Calculating Subnet IDs and DBAs

  • Working with Weights: Identifying Specific Subnets

  • Subnet Masks vs. Network Masks

  • Designing a Subnet Mask for Specific Requirements

  • Variable Length Subnet Masking (VLSM) Strategy

  • Determining Subnet IDs using Bitwise AND Operations

  • Routing Tables: Matching Destination IPs to Interfaces

  • CIDR: Classless Inter-Domain Routing & Slash Notation

  • Rules for Valid CIDR Blocks

  • Supernetting: Merging Multiple Blocks

Error Control & Detection

  • Introduction to Error Control: Noise vs. Security

  • Single Bit Error vs. Burst Errors

  • Redundant Bits and Block Coding Logic

  • Hamming Distance: Calculating Difference Between Strings

  • Minimum Hamming Distance for Detection and Correction

  • Simple Parity: Even vs. Odd Parity Methods

  • 2D Parity: Detecting and Correcting Single Bit Errors

  • Limitations of 2D Parity for Multi-Bit Errors

  • Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC): Divisor & Remainder Logic

  • Checksum: One’s Complement Summation Method

Flow Control & Layered Architecture

  • Network Delays: Transmission vs. Propagation

  • Queuing and Processing Delays

  • Data Encapsulation: Headers and Trailers

  • The Need for Flow Control: Avoiding Receiver Overwhelm

  • Stop and Wait Protocol: Core Mechanism

  • Using Timers and Sequence Numbers

  • Calculating Efficiency and Round Trip Time (RTT)

  • Throughput: Effective Bandwidth Relationship

  • Sliding Window Concept: Improving Efficiency

  • Go-Back-N (GBN) Protocol: Sender/Receiver Windows

  • Selective Repeat (SR) Protocol: Out-of-Order Handling

  • Cumulative vs. Independent Acknowledgments

Network Layer: IP Header & Routing

  • IPv4 Header Format Overview

  • Type of Services (TOS): Priority and DTRC Bits

  • Time to Live (TTL): Preventing Infinite Loops

  • Protocol Field and Header Checksum

  • IP Options: Strict vs. Loose Source Routing

  • TCP Header Structure: Ports, Sequence, and Ack

  • Wrap Around Time and Segment Lifetime

  • Advertisement Window (Flow Control)

  • TCP Control Flags: URG, ACK, PSH, RST, SYN, FIN

  • SYN Flooding Attack (DDoS)

  • Congestion Control Policy: Slow Start & Avoidance

  • TCP Timers: Time-Wait, Keep-Alive, Persistent

  • UDP Header and Best-Effort Delivery

  • Comparison: TCP vs. UDP

Media Access & Application Support

  • Multiple Access: Random vs. Controlled Access

  • Pure Aloha vs. Slotted Aloha Throughput

  • CSMA (Carrier Sense): Persistent Methods

  • Polling, Reservation, and Token Passing

  • Routing: Flooding vs. Dynamic Routing

  • Distance Vector (Bellman-Ford) vs. Link State (Dijkstra)

  • Circuit Switching vs. Packet Switching

  • Email Protocols: SMTP, POP3, IMAP4

  • Domain Name System (DNS) Hierarchy & Queries

  • FTP (File Transfer) and HTTP (Web Services)

  • Support Protocols: ARP and ICMP Error Reporting

  • Final Summary: OSI Model Layers 1-7

Watch the full course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel (12-hour watch).