Data Communications Networks - Theory and Practice Training Course

Networking Foundations and the OSI Reference Model

• Overview of data networks
• Differences between LANs and WANs
• Types of applications and their specific requirements
• OSI-RM functions and the modular design of data networks

LAN Technologies and Ethernet Protocols

• Ethernet protocol details and speeds (10M/100M/1G/10Gbps)
• Ethernet media options, including twisted pairs, cable categories (Cat 5/5e), fiber optics, and connectors
• The CSMA/CD algorithm
• Frame structures (802.3, Ethernet-2, Ethernet-SNAP)
• Common troubleshooting challenges

LAN Switching: Functionality and Operation

• Characteristics and operations of LAN bridges
• How LAN switches operate
• Switching technologies such as Half-Duplex/Full-Duplex (HD/FD) and auto-negotiation
• Virtual LANs (VLANs) and VLAN tagging
• Spanning Tree Protocols (STP/RSTP/MSTP)
• Link Aggregation Groups (LAG) and Etherchannel; LAN structure and topologies
• Data Center switching concepts

WAN Protocols and Services

• Public network structure, covering access, transmission, and switching
• Traditional network architectures and protocols
  • End-to-end services: Frame Relay (FR), ATM, and Leased lines
  • Transmission services: SDH and WDM/DWDM
  • Access services: xDSL and Cable TV/DOCSIS
• Next-generation networks
  • End-to-end services: Carrier Ethernet and MPLS IP-Based services
  • Transmission networks: Carrier Ethernet
  • Access networks: Advanced xDSL, DOCSIS, and Optical technologies

Wireless Networks and Wi-Fi

Network architecture, components, and topology

The Physical Layer

• 802.11a/b/g standards
• 802.11n, OFDM, and MIMO

The MAC Layer - Contention Resolution

• CSMA/CA, RTS, CTS, and NAV
• IEEE 802.11 Frame Format and Addressing

Advanced Features

• Wi-Fi security protocols: WEP, EAP, TLS, TTLS, and 802.11x

Wi-Fi QoS: Contention-Based Access (AIFS, Access Categories, Contention Windows) and Controlled Access (Polling, TXOPs). Managing Quality of Service via ADDTS, Traffic Streams, and TSPECs.

• Cellular Networks

Introduction

• Frequency spectrum reuse
• Call setup and management
• Key components: MSC, BSC, BTS, and user terminals
• Handover procedures and channel types

Standards and Evolution

3GPP, 3GPP2, and IMT-2000

Network evolution – from cdma1 to EVDO/DV and from GSM to HSPA and LTE

Introduction to TCP/IP

• The TCP/IP model and common associated protocols
• Protocol operations
• Standardizing organizations

IPv4: Protocol and Addressing

• Characteristics of IP
• ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)
• IP frame structure
• IP addressing and address classes
• Private versus public addresses
• Subnetting IP address spaces using VLSM and CIDR
• IP address design (Practical Exercise)
• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
• Multicast and IGMP

IPv6: Protocol and Addressing

• IPv6 characteristics and comparison with IPv4
• Packet structure and headers (overview)
• IPv6 addressing and address categories
• The auto-configuration process
• Migrating from IPv4 to IPv6

Layer 4 Protocols: TCP and UDP

• Overview of Layer 4 protocols and well-known ports
• UDP packet structure and behavior
• TCP packet structure and behavior
• TCP connectivity and reliability mechanisms
• TCP sliding window, slow-start, and congestion avoidance
• Sequence numbers and acknowledgments
• Calculating maximum TCP throughput (based on Window Size and RTT)
• Go-back-N and Selective Repeat mechanisms
• TCP performance challenges

Routing and Layer 3 Switching Fundamentals

• Principles of the routing process
• Routing domains and areas
• Static versus dynamic routing
• Distance-vector and Link-state protocols
• Routing metrics
• RIP and OSPF
• BGP (eBGP and iBGP)
• Layer 3 Switching
• Static and Dynamic NAT
• HSRP and VRRP
• QoS in IP Networks

QoS Parameters: Bandwidth, Delay, Jitter, and Packet Loss

• Application requirements and network behavior
• Classification, marking, policing, shaping, queuing, and RED/WRED

Network Security Fundamentals and Components

• Basics of network security, threats, and vulnerabilities
• Secure network architecture: Firewalls (FWs), VPNs, NACs, and other security devices
• Firewall operations: packet filtering and stateful inspection
• Security protocols: Encryption and Authentication
• Types of encryption and definitions
  • Symmetric-key algorithms, Block and Stream ciphers
  • Public-key cryptography
  • Hash Functions
• Authentication basics
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Tokens, Smart Card encryption, and Wireless encryption protocols
  • OTP (One-Time Passwords)

Introduction to Data Network Design

• Introduction to Network Engineering
  • Requirements analysis
  • Flow models
• High-Level Architecture Design
  • Component and Reference architecture
  • Architectural models
  • Systems and network architectures
  • Service and vendor architecture selection
• Low-Level Topology Design
  • Enterprise network design
  • LAN/WAN design
  • IP network design
  • Security and privacy design
  • Network management design
• Network operations design