Networking Fundamentals and Protocols

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. In this comprehensive course, you’ll dive deep into the core concepts of networking and protocols, gaining the foundational knowledge required for a career in IT and network management. By the end of this course, you'll have the confidence to understand and apply networking principles, from basic concepts to advanced networking protocols. The course begins with an introduction to network types, guiding you through various network classifications such as LANs, WANs, and PANs. It explores key differences between physical and logical topologies, helping you design and build robust networks. You will also learn about enterprise and data center network design, understanding their scalability and traffic management requirements. Next, you’ll explore the seven layers of the OSI model and get introduced to network protocols like IP, TCP, and UDP. You’ll understand how they manage data routing and transfer, including learning how TCP’s 3-way handshake ensures reliable communication. Furthermore, you’ll dive into Application layer protocols like HTTP and FTP, examining how they support various network services. The course then focuses on networking hardware components such as Ethernet clients, switches, routers, security appliances, and more. You'll also gain insight into advanced network topics such as VPNs, QoS, and cloud technologies. Ideal for aspiring network engineers or anyone pursuing the CompTIA Network+ certification, this course ensures a solid foundation in network management and design.