After completing this course, students will know how to:

• Discuss basic networking concepts, including network types, network operating systems, server types, topologies, and planning in network design.
• Explain the significance of the OSI Model, label the seven layers of the OSI Model, and describe the services provided by each layer of the OSI Model.
• Discuss network adapter configuration, NDIS and ODI models, and troubleshoot network adapter problems.
• Discuss the concept of protocols and channel access methods, and discuss transport, remote access, and security protocols.
• Illustrate the basic properties, purpose, and functionality of network cabling, identify the characteristics and appropriate implementation techniques for various types of cables and connectors, and discuss Ethernet, Token Ring, and other devices.
• Discuss internetworking, describe and contrast the functions of bridges, switches, and routers, and discuss routing protocols.
• Describe the properties, benefits, and potential issues involved with POTS, ISDN, cable modem, xDSL, satellite, and wireless remote access methods, configure Windows XP/Server 2003 with a modem, establish a dial-up network connection by using Windows XP/Server2003, discuss Remote Access Service (RAS) and remote access clients, and discuss WAN connectivity.
• Discuss the environmental factors that affect computer networks, define physical and logical indicators of network trouble, identify the function of common network tools, and discuss the science of troubleshooting.
• Discuss the evolution of TCP/IP and the fundamentals of TCP/IP.
• Identify each networked system as a host under TCP/IP, determine the IP address class and default subnet mask, and configure TCP/IP on a Windows XP/Server2003 computer.
• Discuss the role of the HOSTS file, DNS, NETBIOS, LMHOSTS file, and WINS.
• Discuss the purpose of firewalls and the functionality of a proxy server.
• Identify the TCP/IP troubleshooting tools, discuss the Telnet utility, its functions, the functions the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) utility, and diagnose a problem and choose the appropriate troubleshooting tools.
• Identify Network Operating Systems (NOS) features and discuss the features of Microsoft Windows, Novell NetWare, UNIX, Linux, Mac OS X Server and AppleShare IP.
• Describe the network clients that are available to connect DOS-, Windows-, and Macintosh-based clients to a network. Introduction xiii
• Describe Windows security models, discuss directory services planning and implementation, describe Active Directory and the new features of Active Directory in Windows Server 2003, describe the Windows NT domain model, and explain the purpose of Novell Directory Services/eDirectory and the significance of NDS/eDirectory objects and bindery emulation.
• Discuss user management and group management, identify the NTFS file system and file system security, explain shared folders and discuss Windows 2000/Server 2003 printing concepts.
• Discuss Windows 2000/Server 2003 system monitoring using Task Manager, discuss troubleshooting using Event Viewer, and describe System Monitor and Performance Logs and Alerts.
• Discuss user and group management in NetWare, describe file system security and rights and trustee assignments, discuss user account restrictions, explain NDS/eDirectory context, discuss NetWare log files, and use MONITOR.NLM, NetWare Remote Manager, as well as other utilities to monitor and manage a NetWare server and file system.
• Discuss disk configuration, Windows-based replication, and NDS partitions and replicas, backup, and UPS.
• Discuss the necessity of applying software patches and fixes, and describe viruses and anti-virus strategies.
• Describe methods to help prioritize network problems, list the basic troubleshooting steps to be followed when working on a problem, and troubleshoot various problems that might occur on the network.