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.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Computer Networks

CHAPTER 2 Physical Layer Cabling: Twisted-Pair

CHAPTER 3 Physical Layer Cabling: Fiber Optics

CHAPTER 4 Wireless Networking

CHAPTER 5 Interconnecting the LANs

CHAPTER 6 TCP/ IP

CHAPTER 7 Introduction to Router Configuration

CHAPTER 8 Introduction to Switch Configuration

CHAPTER 9 Routing Protocols

CHAPTER 10 Managing the Network Infrastructure

CHAPTER 11 Network Security

CHAPTER 12 Cloud Computing and Virtualization

CHAPTER 13 Codes and Standards

About the Authors

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.