Introduction to networking for complete beginners
Networking Basics: What is a Network? A network is a collection of devices (computers, routers, switches) connected together to share resources and information. Types of Networks: LAN (Local Area Network): Limited geographic area like a home, office, or school. WAN (Wide Area Network): Spans larger distances, often using the Internet as the backbone. Network Components: Devices: Computers, servers, routers, switches, access points, etc. Media: Cables (Ethernet, fiber optics) or wireless connections (Wi-Fi). IP Addresses: An IP address is a unique identifier for devices on a network. IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1). IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). Subnetting: Dividing a network into smaller sub-networks for better organization and management. Subnets are identified by a subnet mask or prefix length. Routers and Switches: Router: Connects different networks, directing traffic between them. Switch: Connects devices wi