iii Networking Fundamentals was written for individuals wishing to pursue a career in information technology with a specifi c focus on networking and network admin- istration. Th e text provides specifi c content about infor- mation technology as well as career information that is needed for employment. It is an introductory text, so no previous networking experience is required. Th is text is aligned to the most recent CompTIA Network+ Certifi cation Exam objectives. By studying Net- working Fundamentals and using the ancillary study guide and lab manual, you can improve your chances of earning an industry-recognized certifi cation. Upon completing this course, you will able to: ■ recall the foundational concepts of networking, including topologies, classifi cations, and the OSI model ■ understand copper-core transmissions, categorize Ethernet cable, and terminate twisted-pair cable ■ describe fi ber-optic transmissions and characteristics ■ diff erentiate among wireless communication tech- nologies and wireless networks ■ provide examples of digital signals and encoding ■ explain the use of network operating systems and the evolution of networking protocols ■ identify and use various Microsoft operating systems ■ compare and contrast Unix/Linux-based software with Microsoft-based software ■ defi ne the function of a server and describe server types and services ■ diff erentiate between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, un- derstand DNS operation, and list TCP/IP utilities ■ understand the concept of subnetting a network ■ describe the mechanics of voice, audio, and video transmission ■ discuss the function of a web server and describe specifi c web services, such as NNTP and e-mail ■ compare and contrast remote networking technologies ■ assess the security of a network and mitigate breaches and vulnerabilities ■ perform regular maintenance of a network ■ apply the CompTIA network troubleshooting strategy and diagnose and treat common network problems ■ summarize the processes for designing and install- ing a new network ■ complete and pass a CompTIA Network+ practice exam and ■ analyze networking employment opportunities in the information technology industry. Information technology is an ever-changing land- scape. A successful career in the IT industry requires you to continually learn and stay current with new informa- tion about networking, as well as every facet of comput- ing. Earning certifi cations in IT and other specialty areas will help you stay current with hardware, software, and se- curity changes. More importantly, it will help you further your information technology career. About the Authors Richard M. Roberts has designed curriculum taught electricity, electronics, and computer technology and su- pervised technical teachers for 45 years. He is currently an adjunct instructor at South Florida Community College. His time is divided between consulting, teaching students and instructors, and writing instructional materials. He also authored the Computer Service and Repair textbook and coauthored the Electricity and Electronics textbook. Chuck Easttom has over 25 years of IT experience, holds two master degrees, has 42 industry certifi cations, and 13 computer science patents. In addition to his two master degrees, he is currently working on a third and a doctorate. He is also the author of 25 computer science books aside from Networking Fundamentals. Chuck is a frequent speaker at cybersecurity and computer science conferences. Preface