IC3/Network Fundamentals

A computer network (or data network) is a telecommunications network that allows computers to exchange data.^[1]

This lesson introduces network fundamentals and helps learners prepare for the IC³ Living Online certification exam.

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the network fundamentals portion of IC³ certification include:

Objectives^[2]

• Identify network fundamentals and the benefits and risks of network computing

Skills^[3]

• Internet Connection: Speed, wired, wireless, security, network types and features, capabilities, publicly switched networks, DNS, addressing, LAN vs. WAN, VPN
• Network troubleshooting: Solve simple scenarios, identify common problems, define IP addressing

Readings

1. Read Wikipedia: Computer network.
2. Read Wikipedia: Domain Name System.
3. Read Wikipedia: IP address.

Multimedia

1. Watch YouTube: Introduction to Computer Networks Part 1 - Easy to understand basics.
2. Watch YouTube: Introduction to Computer Networks Part 2 - Easy to understand basics.
3. Watch YouTube: Introduction to Computer Networks Part 3 - Easy to understand basics.
4. Watch YouTube: Introduction to Networking.

Activities

1. Complete the tutorial Connecting to the Internet. Compare costs and speed of dial-up networking, cable, DSL, wireless, and satellite Internet providers in your area.
2. Review How to configure a connection to a virtual private network (VPN) in Windows XP. Configure your computer to connect to a private network, or configure your computer to host a private network connection.

See Also

• Introduction to Computers
• Introduction to Networking
• Computer Networks

References

Subject classification: this is an information technology resource .

Resource type: this resource is a lesson.

Completion status: this resource is ~30% complete.