Introduction to Networks

Week 1 — Introduction to Networks

📡 Network types, OSI & TCP/IP models, addressing, Ethernet

Week 2 — Topologies & Networking Devices

📡 Physical/logical topologies, hubs, switches, routers, firewalls, DHCP

Week 3 — Network Cabling

📡 Coaxial, twisted pair, fiber optic, wiring standards, plenum cabling

Week 4 — The OSI Model & IPv4

📡 OSI layers, encapsulation, IPv4 addressing & binary math

Week 5 — IPv4 Addressing & Subnetting

📡 IP classes, CIDR, public/private IPs, subnetting & subnet masks

Week 6 — IPv6 Fundamentals

📡 IPv6 addressing, simplification, transmission types, NDP & subnetting review

Week 8 — IPv6 Subnetting

📡 IPv6 subnetting with /48, /56 prefixes, Subnet ID, nibble boundaries & practice exercises

Week 9 — Assigning IP Addresses & DNS

📡 Static vs. dynamic assignment, DHCP DORA process, relay agents, APIPA & DNS fundamentals

Week 11 — Understanding Switches

📡 Switches vs hubs, MAC learning, collision & broadcast domains, VLANs, trunking & Layer 3 switching

Week 13 — Understanding Routers

📡 Routing process, static vs dynamic routing, RIP / OSPF / EIGRP / BGP, routing tables, AD & default routes

Practical 1 — Wired Network Topologies

🛠️ Packet Tracer: mesh, star & hybrid topologies

Practical 2 — Basic Home LAN

🛠️ Packet Tracer: wired & wireless home network

Practical 3 — Network Cabling

🛠️ Packet Tracer: cabling, router modules, star networks, wireless config & tracert

Practical 4 — Static IP Addresses

🛠️ Packet Tracer: assign IPs, verify with ipconfig & ping

Practical 5 — Subnetting

🛠️ Packet Tracer: Class B Subnetting

Practical 6 — Class A Subnetting & IPv6

🛠️ Packet Tracer: Subnet 10.0.0.0/8 into 1024 networks • Dual-stack IPv6

Practical 7 — VLAN Configuration & IPv6 Subnetting

🛠️ Packet Tracer: 4-department VLANs, trunk, inter-VLAN routing • Dual-stack IPv6

Practical 8 — DHCP & FTP

🛠️ Packet Tracer: configure DHCP server, DHCP relay agent & FTP file transfer (3 sessions)

Practical 10 — Two Departmental VLANs

🛠️ Packet Tracer: configure VLANs, trunk ports & inter-VLAN routing for two departments

Practical 11 — Broken Office Network Rescue

🛠️ Packet Tracer: diagnose & fix a multi-fault office network using sub-interfaces, VLANs & static routing

Practical 12 — Routed Two-Branch Network

🛠️ Packet Tracer: serial links, static routes, default routes & break-and-fix fault diagnosis (3 sessions)

Practical 13 — Multi-Branch Company Network (Capstone)

🛠️ Packet Tracer: configure VLANs, trunking, Router-on-a-Stick sub-interfaces, DHCP, DNS, static WAN routing & 7 fault scenarios (3 sessions)