Data Communications Networks - Theory and Practice Training Course

Introduction to networking and the OSI reference model

• Fundamentals of data networks
• Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs)
• Application types and their specific requirements
• Functions of the OSI Reference Model and the modular structure of data networks

Introduction to LAN technology and theEthernet protocols

• Ethernet protocol standards, including 10M/100M/1G/10Gbps Ethernet
• Ethernet media types, such as Twisted Pairs, cable categories (5/5e), fiber optical cables, and connectors
• The CSMA/CD algorithm
• Frame structures (802.3, Ethernet-2, Ethernet-SNAP)
• Common troubleshooting issues

LAN Switching – Functionality and Operation

• Characteristics and operation of LAN bridges
• Operational principles of LAN switches
• LAN switching technologies, including Half-Duplex/Full-Duplex and auto-negotiation
• Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) and VLAN tagging
• Spanning Tree protocols (STP/RSTP/MSTP)
• Link Aggregation Groups (LAG) and EtherChannel, along with LAN structures and topologies
• Data Center switching concepts

WAN Protocols and Services

• Public network structure, covering access transmission and switching
• Traditional Network architecture and protocols:
  • End-to-end services, including Frame Relay, ATM, and Leased lines
  • Transmission services, such as SDH and WDM/DWDM
  • Access services, including xDSL and Cable TV/DOCSIS
• Next-generation networks:
  • End-to-end services, such as Carrier Ethernet and MPLS/IP-Based services
  • Transmission networks using Carrier Ethernet
  • Access networks featuring advanced xDSL, DOCSIS, and Optical technologies

Wireless Network and Wi-Fi

Network architecture – elements and network topologies

The physical layer

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

The MAC layer - Contention Resolution

• CSMA/CA, Request to Send (RTS), Clear to Send (CTS), and Network Allocation Vector (NAV)
• IEEE 802.11 Frame Format and Addressing

Additional features

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

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

• Cellular Networks

Introduction

• Frequency spectrum re-use
• Call setup and management
• Key network servers, including MSC, BSC, BTS, and terminals
• Handovers and Channel management

Standards and evolution

3GPP, 3GPP2, and IMT-2000 standards

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

Introduction to TCP/IP

• The TCP/IP model and common protocols
• Protocol operations
• Relevant standard organizations

IPv4 – Protocol and Addressing

• IP characteristics
• ARP – Address Resolution Protocol
• IP frame structure
• IP addressing and address classes
• Private and public addresses
• Subnetting IP address spaces – 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 addresses and address categories
• The Auto-configuration process
• Migration strategies from IPv4

L4 Protocols – TCP and UDP

• Introduction to Layer 4 protocols and well-known ports
• UDP packet structure and operation
• TCP packet structure and operation
• TCP connectivity and reliability mechanisms
• TCP sliding window, slow-start, and congestion avoidance
• Sequence and acknowledgement numbers
• Calculating TCP maximum throughput (Window Size and Round-Trip Time)
• Go-back-N and Selective Repeat mechanisms
• TCP performance considerations

Routing and L3 Switching basics

• Principles of the routing process
• Routing domains and areas
• Static and dynamic routing
• Distance-vector and Link-state protocols
• Routing metrics
• RIP and OSPF protocols
• BGP – eBGP and iBGP
• Layer 3 Switching
• Static and Dynamic NAT
• HSRP and VRRP
• Quality of Service (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 techniques

Network Security Basics and Components

• Network security fundamentals, threats, and vulnerabilities
• Secured network architecture, including Firewalls, VPNs, NACs, and security devices
• Firewall operation – packet filtering and stateful inspection
• Security protocols – Encryption and Authentication
• Types and definitions of encryption:
  • Symmetric-key algorithms, including Block and Stream Ciphers
  • Public-key cryptography
  • Hash Functions
• Authentication basics:
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Tokens, Smart Card Encryption, and Wireless encryption protocols
  • One-Time Passwords (OTP)

Introduction to Data Networks Design

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