Introduction to Networks

Week 1 & 2 — Introduction to Networks

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

Week 3 — Topologies & Networking Devices

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

Week 4 — Network Cabling

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

Week 5 — The OSI Model & IPv4

📡 OSI layers, encapsulation, IPv4 addressing & binary math

Week 6 — IPv4 Addressing & Subnetting

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

Week 8 — IPv6 Fundamentals

📡 IPv6 addressing, simplification, transmission types, NDP & SLAAC

Week 9 — IPv6 Subnetting

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

Week 11 — Assigning IP Addresses & DNS

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

Packet Tracer Tutorial & Setup

📺 YouTube Video Guide (5 mins)

Practical 1 — Wired Network Topologies

🛠️ Packet Tracer: mesh, star & hybrid topologies

Practical 2 — Basic Home LAN

🛠️ Packet Tracer: wired & wireless home network

Practical 3 — Enterprise Cabling, Fiber Backbones & OSI PDU Analysis

🛠️ Packet Tracer: copper/fiber cabling, SFP module expansion & OSI PDU encapsulation

Practical 4 — Static IP Addresses

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

Practical 5 — Subnetting

🛠️ Packet Tracer: Class B Subnetting

Week 8 Practical — Campus Subnetting with DHCP

🛠️ Packet Tracer: Subnetting 172.20.0.0/16, Router-on-a-Stick & Multi-VLAN DHCP

Week 9 Practical — Class A Subnetting & IPv6 Dual-Stack

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