Welcome to this comprehensive guide on Networking Basics! In this document, you’ll explore the essential concepts and skills necessary to configure and manage small office/home office (SOHO) networks or larger infrastructure. This guide also covers practical topics aligned with the NetPractice project from the 42 curriculum, helping you gain valuable hands-on experience. Whether you're a beginner or looking to deepen your understanding, this resource will guide you through core networking principles, tools, and techniques.

• Table of Contents

Who does mean by network?

“Network” Refers to a group of interconnected devices, such as computers, servers, routers, and other hardware, that communicate with each other to share resources, data, and information. These devices are linked by various types of communication protocols, allowing them to send and receive data efficiently.

Who Owns “The Internet”?

The internet is not owned by any individual or group. The internet is a worldwide collection of interconnected networks (internetwork or internet for short), cooperating with each other to exchange information using common standards. Through telephone wires, fiber-optic cables, wireless transmissions, and satellite links, internet users can exchange information in a variety of forms, as shown in the figure.

Network Components ?

The network infrastructure contains three categories of hardware components, as shown in the figure:

• End devices
• Intermediate devices
• Network media

ISP Services ?

An Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides the link between the home network and the internet. An ISP can be the local cable provider, a landline telephone service provider, the cellular network that provides your smartphone service, or an independent provider who leases bandwidth on the physical network infrastructure of another company.

Cable and DSL Connections ?

Most home network users do not connect to their service providers with fiber-optic cables. The figure illustrates common connection options for small office and home users. The two most common methods are as follows:

• Cable - Typically offered by cable television service providers, the internet data signal is carried on the same coaxial cable that delivers cable television. It provides a high bandwidth, always on, connection to the internet. A special cable modem separates the internet data signal from the other signals carried on the cable and provides an Ethernet connection to a host computer or LAN.
• DSL - Digital Subscriber Line provides a high bandwidth, always on, connection to the internet. It requires a special high-speed modem that separates the DSL signal from the telephone signal and provides an Ethernet connection to a host computer or LAN. DSL runs over a telephone line, with the line split into three channels. One channel is used for voice telephone calls. This channel allows an individual to receive phone calls without disconnecting from the internet. A second channel is a faster download channel, used to receive information from the internet. The third channel is used for sending or uploading information. This channel is usually slightly slower than the download channel. The quality and speed of the DSL connection depends mainly on the quality of the phone line and the distance from the central office of your phone company The farther you are from the central office, the slower the connection.

Network Topology ?