Networking Course for Beginners and IT Engineers

About This Class

Who is this class for?
This class is designed for beginners, college students, fresh graduates, working IT professionals, and anyone who wants to build a career in networking, telecom, or infrastructure. It is also a good fit for software testers, developers, and support engineers who want to understand how the networks behind their applications actually work. No prior networking experience is needed. If you are curious about how data travels across the internet and how high-capacity optical systems carry it across cities and continents, this class is for you.

What will students learn in this class?
Students will start with the fundamentals: network types, topologies, and the OSI and TCP/IP models. They will then learn Ethernet, MAC addressing, IPv4 and IPv6, subnetting, routing, VLANs, and key protocols such as TCP, UDP, HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, and DHCP. The class also covers essential network security, including firewalls, VPNs, and SSL/TLS.

The second part introduces optical networking. Students will learn how light travels through fiber, what causes signal loss and dispersion, and how DWDM combines many wavelengths on a single fiber using multiplexers, transponders, EDFA amplifiers, and ROADMs. They will also get an overview of SONET/SDH and OTN, and how optical and IP layers work together. Through hands-on practice with ping, traceroute, nslookup, and Wireshark, students will learn to troubleshoot real connectivity problems.

What do students need to bring?
Students should bring a laptop (Windows, Mac, or Linux) with a stable internet connection, a notebook or digital notes for diagrams and subnetting practice, and a willingness to ask questions. Free tools such as Wireshark and a network simulator will be installed together during the first session.

Are there any prerequisites?
There are no strict prerequisites. Basic computer skills, such as using a browser, installing software, and managing files, are enough. Familiarity with basic math (binary numbers) is helpful but will be explained in class.