Networking Today - Summary Notes

Networks are crucial for communication and connect us globally, supporting learning, communication, work, and play.

Hosts/End Devices: Computers on a network.
- Servers: Provide information (e.g., email, web, file servers).
- Clients: Request information from servers.
Peer-to-Peer Networks: Devices can be both clients and servers, suitable for small networks but less secure and scalable.
Intermediary Devices: Connect end devices (e.g., switches, routers, firewalls), regenerate signals, maintain pathway info and notify errors.
Network Media: Transmits messages (metal wires, fiber optic cables, wireless).

Network Diagrams (Topology Diagrams): Use symbols to represent network devices.
- NIC: Network Interface Card.
- Physical Port/Interface: Terms often used interchangeably.
Physical Topology Diagrams: Show physical locations of devices and cable installations.
Logical Topology Diagrams: Show devices, ports, and addressing schemes.

Small Home Networks: Connect a few computers to the Internet.
Small Office/Home Office (SOHO): Connects computers within a home or remote office to a corporate network.
Medium to Large Networks: Many interconnected computers across multiple locations.
World Wide Networks: Connects millions of computers globally (e.g., the Internet).
LAN (Local Area Network): Spans a small geographical area, high-speed bandwidth, single administration.
WAN (Wide Area Network): Spans a wide geographical area, connects LANs, slower speeds, multiple service providers.
Internet: Worldwide collection of interconnected LANs and WANs, not owned by any single entity.
Intranet: Private network within an organization, accessible only to authorized members.
Extranet: Provides secure access to an organization's network for external individuals.

Home/Small Office: Broadband cable, DSL, wireless WANs, mobile services.
Business: Business DSL, leased lines, Metro Ethernet.
Converged Networks: Carry multiple services (data, voice, video) over one link using the same rules and standards.

Network Architecture: Technologies supporting data movement across the network.
Four Basic Requirements:
- Fault Tolerance: Limits failure impact with multiple paths; uses packet switching.
- Scalability: Expands easily without impacting performance by following accepted standards/protocols.
- Quality of Service (QoS): Ensures reliable content delivery, manages data and voice traffic.
- Security: Protects infrastructure and data through confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Using personal devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) for work.
Online Collaboration: Tools like Cisco WebEx for instant connection and interaction.
Video Communications: Video calls and conferencing for effective collaboration.
Cloud Computing: Storing files and accessing applications over the internet, enabled by data centers.
- Public Clouds: Available to the general public.
- Private Clouds: For specific organizations.
- Hybrid Clouds: Combination of two or more cloud types.
- Custom Clouds: Meet specific industry needs.
Smart Home Technology: Integrates technology into everyday appliances for interconnection.
Powerline Networking: Connects devices to a LAN using electrical outlets.
Wireless Broadband: Connects homes/small businesses via cellular technology via Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP).

Security Threats: External (viruses, spyware, attacks) and internal (lost devices, misuse).
Security Solutions:
- Home/Small Office: Antivirus software, firewall filtering.
- Larger Networks: Dedicated firewall systems, Access Control Lists (ACL), Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

CCNA Certification: Demonstrates knowledge of foundational technologies.
Networking Jobs: Available through Cisco Networking Academy and Talent Bridge Matching Engine.