Thoroughly updated to reflect CompTIA's Network+ N10-005 exam, Networking Essentials, Third Edition, is a practical, up-to-date, and hands-on guide to the basics of networking. Written from the viewpoint of a working network administrator, it requires absolutely no experience with either network concepts or day-to-day network management.

Networking Essentials, Third Edition, includes expanded coverage of cabling, a new introduction to IPv6, and new chapters on basic switch configuration and troubleshooting. Its wireless and security chapters now focus strictly on introductory material, and you will also find up-to-date introductions to twisted-pair and fiber optic cabling, TCP/IP protocols, Internet and LAN interconnections, and basic network problem identification and resolution. Clear goals are outlined for each chapter, and every concept is introduced in easy to understand language that explains how and why networking technologies are used. Each chapter is packed with real-world examples and practical exercises that reinforce all concepts and guide you through using them to configure, analyze, and fix networks.

Key Pedagogical Features

• NET-CHALLENGE SIMULATION SOFTWARE provides hands-on experience with entering router and switch commands, setting up functions, and configuring interfaces and protocols
• WIRESHARK NETWORK PROTOCOL ANALYZER presents techniques and examples of data traffic analysis throughout
• PROVEN TOOLS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE LEARNING & NETWORK+ PREP, including chapter outlines, summaries, and Network+ objectives
• WORKING EXAMPLES IN EVERY CHAPTER to reinforce key concepts and promote mastery
• KEY TERM DEFINITIONS, LISTINGS & EXTENSIVE GLOSSARY to help you master the language of networking
• QUESTIONS, PROBLEMS, AND CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS to help you deepen your understanding

Jeff Beasley is a professor and department head in the Engineering Technology program and Communications Technology program at New Mexico State University, where he teaches computer networking and many related topics. He is coauthor of Modern Electronic Communication, Ninth Edition and author of Networking, Second Edition

Piyasat Nilkaew is a network manager at New Mexico State University with more than fifteen years of experience in network management and consulting. He has extensive expertise in deploying and integrating multi-protocol and multi-vendor data, voice, and video network solutions.

Introduction xxii

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computer Networks 2

1-1 INTRODUCTION 5

1-2 NETWORK TOPOLOGIES 7

Section 1-2 Review 11

Test Your Knowledge 12

1-3 THE OSI MODEL 12

Section 1-3 Review 14

Test Your Knowledge 15

1-4 THE ETHERNET LAN 15

IP Addressing 19

Section 1-4 Review 21

Test Your Knowledge 22

1-5 HOME NETWORKING 22

Securing the Home Network 34

IP Addressing in the Home Network 36

Section 1-5 Review 37

Test Your Knowledge 38

1-6 ASSEMBLING AN OFFICE LAN 38

Section 1-6 Review 43

Test Your Knowledge 44

1-7 TESTING AND TROUBLESHOOTING A LAN 44

Section 1-7 Review 46

Test Your Knowledge 47

Summary 48

Questions and Problems 48

Section 1-1 48

Section 1-2 49

Section 1-3 50

Section 1-4 51

Section 1-5 52

Section 1-6 54

Section 1-7 55

Certification Questions 55

Chapter 2 Physical Layer Cabling: Twisted Pair 58

2-1 INTRODUCTION 61

2-2 STRUCTURED CABLING 62

Horizontal Cabling 65

Section 2-2 Review 68

Test Your Knowledge 69

2-3 UNSHIELDED TWISTED-PAIR CABLE 69

Shielded Twisted-pair Cable 72

Section 2-3 Review 72

Test Your Knowledge 72

2-4 TERMINATING CAT6/5E/5 UTP CABLES 73

Computer Communication 74

Straight-through and Crossover Patch Cables 76

Section 2-4 Review 85

Test Your Knowledge 85

2-5 CABLE TESTING AND CERTIFICATION 86

Section 2-5 Review 90

Test Your Knowledge 90

2-6 10 Gigabit Ethernet over Copper 90

Overview 91

Alien Crosstalk 91

Signal Transmission 93

Section 2-6 Review 94

Test Your Knowledge 94

2-7 TROUBLESHOOTING CABLING SYSTEMS 94

Installation 94

Cable Stretching 95

Cable Failing to Meet Manufacturer

Specifications 95

CAT5e Cable Test Examples 96

Section 2-7 Review 103

Test Your Knowledge 104

Summary 105

Questions and Problems 105

Section 2-1 105

Section 2-3 106

Section 2-4 107

Section 2-5 109

Section 2-6 109

Certification Questions 112

Chapter 3 Physical Layer Cabling: Fiber Optics 114

3-1 INTRODUCTION 117

3-2 THE NATURE OF LIGHT 119

Graded-Index Fiber 123

Single-Mode Fibers 124

Section 3-2 Review 125

Test Your Knowledge 125

3-3 FIBER ATTENUATION AND DISPERSION 126

Attenuation 126

Dispersion 127

Dispersion Compensation 129

Section 3-3 Review 130

Test Your Knowledge 130

3-4 OPTICAL COMPONENTS 130

Intermediate Components 132

Detectors 132

Fiber Connectorization 134

Section 3-4 Review 135

Test Your Knowledge 135

3-5 OPTICAL NETWORKING 136

Defining Optical Networking 136

Building Distribution 138

Campus Distribution 141

Section 3-5 Review 144

Test Your Knowledge 145

3-6 SAFETY 145

Section 3-6 Review 146

Test Your Knowledge 146

Summary 147

Questions and Problems 147

Section 3-1 147

Section 3-2 147

Section 3-3 148

Section 3-4 148

Section 3-5 149

Section 3-6 149

Certification Questions 150

Chapter 4 Wireless Networking 152

4-1 INTRODUCTION 154

4-2 THE IEEE 802.11 WIRELESS LAN STANDARD 155

Section 4-2 Review 162

Test Your Knowledge 162

4-3 802.11 WIRELESS NETWORKING 163

Section 4-3 Review 171

Test Your Knowledge 172

4-4 Bluetooth, WiMAX, and RFID 172

Bluetooth 172

WiMAX 174

Radio Frequency Identification 175

Section 4-4 Review 179

Test Your Knowledge 179

4-5 SECURING WIRELESS LANS 179

Section 4-5 Review 182

Test Your Knowledge 182

4-6 CONFIGURING A POINT-TO-MULTIPOINT

WIRELESS LAN: A CASE STUDY 183

1. Antenna Site Survey 183

2. Establishing a Point-to-Point Wireless Link to the Home Network 184

3-4. Configuring the Multipoint Distribution/Conducting an RF Site Survey 185

5. Configuring the Remote Installations 187

Section 4-6 Review 187

Test Your Knowledge 188

Summary 189

Questions and Problems 189

Section 4-2 189

Section 4-3 190

Section 4-4 191

Section 4-5 192

Section 4-6 193

Critical Thinking 193

Certification Questions 194

Chapter 5 Interconnecting the LANs 196

5-1 INTRODUCTION 198

5-2 THE NETWORK BRIDGE 199

Section 5-2 Review 203

Test Your Knowledge 204

5-3 THE NETWORK SWITCH 204

Hub-Switch Comparison 206

Managed Switches 209

Multilayer Switches 214

Section 5-3 Review 214

Test Your Knowledge 215

5-4 THE ROUTER 215

The Router Interface: Cisco 2800 Series 216

The Router Interface-Cisco 2600 Series 217

The Router Interface-Cisco 2500 Series 218

Section 5-4 Review 220

Test Your Knowledge 220

5-5 INTERCONN…