Chapter 16
Network Fundamentals
This chapter covers the following topics:
Network Reference Models: This section covers
the two most popular networking reference models:
the OSI model and the TCP/IP model.
Switching Concepts: This section introduces Layer
2 switching concepts such as Ethernet, MAC
addresses, and VLANs.
Routing Concepts: This section delves into Layer 3
routing concepts and introduces IP addressing.
This chapter covers network fundamentals. It starts
with a short introduction to what networking is and
how it has evolved over the years. It also takes an in-
depth look at the two most popular networking
reference models: the OSI model and the TCP/IP
model. This chapter also explores critical Layer 2
technologies, including Ethernet, which has become
the de facto protocol for local-area networks (LANs),
MAC addresses, virtual local-area network (VLANs),
switching, and switching tables. Internet Protocol (IP)
is the Layer 3 protocol that the Internet is built on.
This chapter explores both IP version 4 and version 6,
as well as what routing is, how routing tables are built,
and how data packets are forwarded over networks.“DO I KNOW THIS ALREADY?” QUIZ
The “Do I Know This Already?” quiz allows you to assess
whether you should read this entire chapter thoroughly