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Networking Fundamentals
Networking Fundamentals

Networking Fundamentals: Develop the networking skills required to pass the Microsoft MTA Networking Fundamentals Exam 98-366

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Networking Fundamentals

Differentiating between Internets, Intranets, and Extranets

As technology moves more and more toward providing us with a completely interconnected world, there is an ever-increasing demand for IT professionals who are skilled in networking to plan, implement, and maintain these networks. The world of networking is vast and ever-evolving, meaning that IT professionals need to keep their skill set up to date. By understanding the fundamentals of networking, you will be forming a solid foundation that you can build your skills upon and will be in a better position to support your infrastructure.

This chapter focuses on identifying the key characteristics of internets, intranets, and extranets, allowing you to differentiate between each of them. It will also serve as an introduction to security mechanisms such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN), security zones, and firewalls.

The following...

Technical requirements

To complete the exercises in this chapter, you will need a PC or virtual machine running Windows 7 or above (preferably Windows 10) with a working network connection.

Understanding a network

Before we dive into this subject in detail, I think it is important to actually define what actually constitutes a network. Network is one of those terms that is used often but when you ask someone to describe it, they can't without being vague.

For the purpose of this book, I will define a network as a set of two or more endpoint devices that communicate with each other through a shared medium. You will notice that I refer to endpoint devices and avoid the use of the terms computer and servers. While it would not truly be incorrect to describe them as such, these terms tend to narrow down an individual's train of thought. We'll look at this in the following activity.

Activity 1: Make a list of all the devices you can think of that are networked in some way.

I would envisage that your list included at least PCs, servers, and laptops. At one...

Introduction to basic security features

With all of this interconnectivity, it is important that we protect our networks and the data held within them. At this stage, I would like to introduce you to some of the following basic security technologies that we can utilize to protect our networks:

  • Firewalls
  • DMZ
  • VPN

Firewalls

Firewalls are arguably one of the best methods of protecting your computer, yet very few people understand them. I would suggest the reason for this is because Microsoft does a pretty good job of implementing firewalls within their Windows operating systems (OSes). Windows Firewall has been part of the OS since its introduction in Windows XP Service Pack 2, and over time, its functionality has increased...

Microsoft security zones

Despite its name, the Internet Options settings within the Windows OS also applies to the intranet. These options are accessible through the control panels of all the recent versions of Windows:

Figure 1.19: Internet Options in Windows 10

Alternatively, we can access them through the settings of the Internet Explorer browser, as shown in the following screenshot. Oddly, its successor, Microsoft Edge, doesn't have the same functionality. Regardless of the version of Windows being used, the options we will discuss are the same:

Figure 1.20: Internet Options via Internet Explorer
Exam tip: Be familiar with both methods of accessing these options. Any questions around this topic may have either or both in the answer set.

The Internet Options settings allow you to configure security levels separately for each of the four zones: Internet, Local intranet...

Summary

In this chapter, we discussed the minimal requirements that are needed to form a network. We highlighted how networks had grown away from the traditional idea of connecting personal computers together and moved toward the interconnectivity of a whole range of items. We introduced the concept of internets, intranets, and extranets while highlighting the subtle difference between internets and the Internet. Then, we went on to describe some of the basic security concepts involved in a network. Firewalls were discussed as a means of regulating traffic in and out of our network. Then, we covered demilitarized zones, or perimeter networks, and their use of providing public access to a subset of an organization's infrastructure. Next, VPNs and their implementation were introduced. Finally, we listed the security zones that are available in Windows operating systems and...

Questions

1. Which of these refers to the connectivity between different external networks?

(A) VPN
(B) Intranet
(C) Internet
(D) DMZ

2. Which of these does not allow us to identify a device on the network?

(A) Virtual port number
(B) IP address
(C) MAC address
(D) Hostname

3. Replace the underlined word in the following statement with the correct word(s). If you believe the statement is already correct, then select No change is required:
A DMZ allows or denies network traffic based on a set of rules.

(A) VPN
(B) Internet
(C) Firewall
(D) No change is required

4. Which of these technologies allows you to securely connect to a private network over an insecure network?

(A) Extranet
(B) DMZ
(C) Firewall
(D) VPN

5. Which of the following devices would you most likely position within a DMZ?

(A) Domain controller
(B) DHCP server
(C) Print server
(D) Web server

6. What is the default security...

Further reading

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Description

A network is a collection of computers, servers, mobile devices, or other computing devices connected for sharing data. This book will help you become well versed in basic networking concepts and prepare to pass Microsoft's MTA Networking Fundamentals Exam 98-366. Following Microsoft's official syllabus, the book starts by covering network infrastructures to help you differentiate intranets, internets, and extranets, and learn about network topologies. You’ll then get up to date with common network hardware devices such as routers and switches and the media types used to connect them together. As you advance, the book will take you through different protocols and services and the requirements to follow a standardized approach to networking. You’ll get to grips with the OSI and TCP/IP models as well as IPv4 and IPv6. The book also shows you how to recall IP addresses through name resolution. Finally, you’ll be able to practice everything you’ve learned and take the exam confidently with the help of mock tests. By the end of this networking book, you’ll have developed a strong foundation in the essential networking concepts needed to pass Exam 98-366.

Who is this book for?

If you’re new to the IT industry or simply want to gain a thorough understanding of networking, this book is for you. A basic understanding of the Windows operating system and your network environment will be helpful.

What you will learn

  • Things you will learn:
  • Become well versed in networking topologies and concepts
  • Understand network infrastructures such as intranets, extranets, and more
  • Explore network switches, routers, and other network hardware devices
  • Get to grips with different network protocols and models such as OSI and TCP/IP
  • Work with a variety of network services such as DHCP, NAT, firewalls, and remote access
  • Apply networking concepts in different real-world scenarios

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Dec 17, 2019
Length: 510 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781838643508
Vendor :
Microsoft
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Product Details

Publication date : Dec 17, 2019
Length: 510 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781838643508
Vendor :
Microsoft
Languages :
Concepts :

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Table of Contents

22 Chapters
Section 1: Network Infrastructure Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Differentiating between Internets, Intranets, and Extranets Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding Local Area Networks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding Wide Area Networks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding Wireless Networking Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Network Topologies - Mapping It All Out Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Section 2: Network Hardware Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Switches and Switching - Forwarding Traffic on a Local Network Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Routers and Routing - Beyond a Single Network Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Media Types - Connecting Everything Together Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Section 3: Protocols and Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding the OSI Model Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding TCP/IP Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding IPv4 Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding IPv6 Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding Name Resolution Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Network Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Section 4: Mock Exams Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Mock Exam 1 Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Mock Exam 2 Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Assessments Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.2
(13 Ratings)
5 star 61.5%
4 star 15.4%
3 star 7.7%
2 star 7.7%
1 star 7.7%
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Dave Nov 27, 2020
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Still working through this bookA bit above my grade. Using internet searches to fill out gaps in my knowledge as I go on.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Angus Nov 30, 2020
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This book really helped me pass the MTA exam. This goes down into the nuts and bolt for your needs.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
AdaptableTerran Oct 04, 2020
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I work with databases but studied accounting in university. I wanted to read a book on networking to better understand the steps involved in sending data over the internet. "Networking Fundamentals" was exactly what I was looking for. Mr. Davies covers the subject at the right level of detail and provides helpful quiz questions at the end of each chapter for practice. I highly recommend "Networking Fundamentals" and I encourage university instructors to consider using it as their primary textbook for introduction to networking classes -- it’s practical, well-written, and reasonably priced, which your students will appreciate.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
bigrichprice Mar 02, 2020
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I've been looking for a good quality MTA network fundamentals book to recommend to my learners. This Network Fundamentals book covers everything you need to know about the MTA Network Fundamentals exam 98-366. It covers all of the main areas required. Network Infrastructure, Internet, Intranet, Extranet, LANs, WANs and wireless in the right level of detail.There are practical illustrations and a mixture of information which is both useful to know as well as step by step guides to configure these settings within on your own home network. It is generally easy to see what the author is illustrating and simple to follow along. Indeed large parts of the book would be useful to someone who wasn't studying for the exam and just wanted to make sure their home network was configured correctly and securely.I like the integration of theory and practical application which isn't just confined to labs sections as most of the books I've used in the past have been.Key terminology is explained well and for the layman so that it should be clear to the reader what particular technology is, and importantly see things in action. It includes mock tests for you to test your knowledge.It's written in a nice friendly style and isn't too dry, as a lot of books of this type tend to be, so it's definitely pitched towards learners who are pursuing the MTA Network Fundamentals exam, or interested home users. I'd recommend this book for learners, it's certainly one of the better books on the topic I've looked at over the years.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
srtwzx Jul 30, 2020
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Very good book, covers subject matter in easily understood detail, for beginners like myself .
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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