Topics:

Concept of networking

Why use a network

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the components of a local area network.

Describe the advantages of networking.

Topics:

Peer-to-peer, server-based, and combination networks

Server hardware considerations

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify a peer-to-peer network.

Identify a server-based network.

Identify server functions and assign servers as needed.

Determine which type of network would be appropriate for your site.

Topics:

Designing the network layout

Standard topologies and variations

Hubs

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the three standard topologies and their variations.

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each topology.

Determine an appropriate topology for a given network plan.

Topics:

Primary cable types

Signal transmission

IBMÆ Cabling System

Skills and Knowledge:

Define terms related to cabling, including shielding, crosstalk, attenuation, and plenum.

Identify the primary types of network cabling.

Distinguish between baseband and broadband transmissions, and identify appropriate uses for each.

Determine which type of cabling and connection hardware would be appropriate for a particular network environment.

Topics:

Wireless environment, including capabilities and uses

Types of wireless networks

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the three types of wireless networks and the uses of each.

Describe the four transmission techniques used in local area networking.

Describe the three types of signal transmission used in mobile computing.

Topics:

Role of the network adapter card

Configuration options and settings, compatibility

How the network adapter card affects network performance

Specialized cards

Skills and Knowledge:

Describe the role of the network adapter card in a network, including preparing, sending, and controlling data.

Describe the configurable options for network adapter cards.

List the primary considerations for selecting a network adapter card.

Describe at least two enhancements to network adapter cards that will improve network performance.

Topics:

Open systems interconnect (OSI) model

802 Project model

Skills and Knowledge:

Describe the primary function of each OSI layer.

Identify the OSI layer at which a particular network activity takes place.

Identify the OSI layer at which a particular network component functions.

Describe the Project 802 enhancements to the OSI model.

Topics:

Role of drivers in the network environment

Implementation

Skills and Knowledge:

Describe the role of drivers in a network environment, including their place in the OSI model.

Identify sources for different drivers.

Describe how to select and implement drivers given a networking situation.

Install, update, and remove drivers.

Topics:

Identifying packets

Frame types

Recognizing basic packet components

Identifying the basic data transmission functions

Identifying packet-switching concepts, technology, and components

Distinguishing between packets and cells

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the basic components of a generic LAN packet.

Use this knowledge in LAN planning, designing, and troubleshooting.

Topics:

Function of protocols and how they work in a layered architecture

Common protocols

Implementing and removing protocols

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the function of protocols and protocol stacks.

Describe the network processes that use protocols and how they use them.

Map particular protocols to the appropriate OSI levels.

Topic:

Major access methods, Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD), token passing, and demand priority, and their features and function

Skills and Knowledge:

Define access method.

Describe a primary feature of each of the major access methods.

Topics:

Ethernet features and performance considerations

10 Mbps Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard

100 Mbps IEEE standard

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the standard Ethernet components.

Describe the features of each IEEE Ethernet standard topology.

Identify the cabling for a given IEEE Ethernet standard topology.

Determine which Ethernet topology would be appropriate for a given site.

Topics:

Token-Ring features and functions

Hardware components including hubs, cabling, and network adapter cards

Skills and Knowledge:

Describe the features of a Token-Ring network.

Identify the major components of a Token-Ring network.

Determine the components needed to implement a Token-Ring network at a given site.

Topics:

Overview of the AppleTalk environment including LocalTalk and AppleShare

Overview of the ArcNet environment including how it functions and hardware requirements

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the components and features of AppleTalk.

Identify the components and features of ArcNet.

Topics:

Functions of the network operating system including multitasking

Software components

Installing the Microsoft Windows NT Server network operating system

Network services

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify essential network operating system components.

Define preemptive and nonpreemptive multitasking.

Describe the elements of client software.

Describe the elements of server software.

Define network services.

Identify the major considerations in a network operating system installation.

Install Windows NT Server.

Topics:

Network printing process including sharing a printer and connecting to a printer

Managing a shared printer

Sharing fax modems

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the steps for installing and using a shared printer.

List the tasks included in managing a shared printer.

Determine whether a sharing fax service would be appropriate for a given site.

Topics:

Electronic mail

Scheduling

Workgroup applications

Shared network applications, such as databases

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the features and uses of e-mail.

Identify the features and uses of scheduling.

Describe the purpose of each of the four primary e-mail and messaging standards.

Describe the considerations for sharing applications on a network.

List steps the administrator needs to perform to share an application.

Determine appropriate policies and procedures for implementing and managing an e-mail system.

Topic:

Implementing multivendor solutions through both a client approach and a server approach

Skills and Knowledge:

Define a client solution and a server solution for interoperability.

Identify methods that vendors use to integrate their products with those from other vendors.

Determine which network operating systems and redirectors would be appropriate for a given site.

Topic:

Client/server model including client and server functions, architecture, and advantages over centralized computing

Skills and Knowledge:

Describe the differences between client/server and centralized computing.

List the six steps of the client/server process.

Identify client and server functions.

Determine if a client/server approach is appropriate for a given networking environment.

Topics:

Overview of network management

Creating user and group accounts

Disabling and deleting accounts

Skills and Knowledge:

Describe the process for creating a user account.

List and define the four types of group accounts.

Determine the appropriate types of accounts for a given network environment.

Create a user account and a group account.

Topics:

Identifying bottlenecks

Windows NT Performance Monitor

Simple network management protocol (SNMP)

Total system management using Microsoft Systems Management Server

Maintaining a network history

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify major sources of network problems.

List potential bottlenecks in network performance.

Describe SNMP.

Develop a network performance monitoring plan.

Create appropriate network documentation.

Topics:

Considerations for planning network security such as policies and training

Security models including password-protected shares and access permissions

Security enhancements such as auditing and data encryption

Skills and Knowledge:

List the basic security requirements for any network.

Describe the primary components to be considered for physical security.

Describe the features of password-protected shares.

Describe the features of access permissions.

Topics:

Tape backup

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

Fault-tolerant systems

Skills and Knowledge:

List the considerations for implementing a backup system.

Determine a backup approach appropriate for a given site including the method and schedule.

List the considerations for implementing UPS.

Describe each of the following types of fault-tolerant systems: disk striping, disk mirroring, and sector sparing.

Topics:

Overview of modem technology including functions, hardware, and standards

Asynchronous and synchronous modems

Carriers

Skills and Knowledge:

Define asynchronous and synchronous communications.

Identify modem standards.

Describe the two types of carriers for modem communications.

Determine which type of modem would be appropriate for a given site.

Topic:

Components for expanding networks: repeaters, bridges, routers, brouters, and gateways, including how they work and considerations for implementation

Skills and Knowledge:

Describe the function of a repeater, bridge, router, brouter, and gateway.

Determine when to expand a LAN.

Determine which components would be appropriate in a given network expansion situation.

Topics:

Analog and digital connectivity

Packet-switching networks

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the features of analog connectivity.

Identify the features of digital connectivity.

Identify the features of packet-switching networks.

Identify the major transmission components necessary for a simple, single-protocol wide area network.

Lesson 27: Advanced WAN Technologies

Topic:

Overview of the latest wide area network technologies including X.25 packet switching, frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), integrated services digital network (ISDN), and fiber distributed data interface (FDDI)

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify the primary features of each of the WAN technologies.

Determine which technologies would be appropriate for a given network site.

Topics:

Planning backups, security, standardization, upgrades, and documentation to avoid network problems

Windows NT Server Performance Monitor

Establishing a baseline

Skills and Knowledge:

List five strategies that are part of a network management plan for avoiding problems.

Describe how establishing a baseline aids in preventing problems.

Describe how documentation aids in troubleshooting.

Incorporate a preemptive troubleshooting approach into a network plan.

Topics:

Structured approach to troubleshooting

Special tools such as cable testers and protocol analyzers

Network support services such as Microsoft TechNet

How to approach common troubleshooting situations

Skills and Knowledge:

List the five steps that comprise a structured troubleshooting approach.

Describe how a terminator is used in troubleshooting.

Identify the capabilities of a protocol analyzer.

Identify sources of up-to-date networking and troubleshooting information.

Install Microsoft TechNet CD.

Access the Microsoft Download Library (MSDL).

Determine how to approach a given network problem in order to isolate and identify the cause.

Identify any special equipment that would make it easier to solve a given network problem.

Topics:

Overview of Internet services such as the Word Wide Web and FTP servers

MSNô, The Microsoft Network

How to make an Internet connection and locate resources

Skills and Knowledge:

Identify Internet services.

Access the MSN online service.

Access the Microsoft FTP site