The way applications are developed today requires software engineers to have a firm understanding of client-server architecture and networking. If you’re planning to write web applications, or apps that communicate with a remote server, then networking is an essential skill. With this in mind, it’s clear that what you do as a software engineer will be deeply rooted in networking.

This course will teach you the fundamentals of networks, socket programming in Python, command-line tools and the main protocols of each layer. Additionally, you will get hands-on experience with not only socket programming, but with implementing network protocols that require distributed processing. Join us in a deep dive on everything network-related.

Course Content

1.Getting Started

Get familiar with computer networking fundamentals, practical skills, and essential Python tools.

• Course Learning Outcomes
• Learning Instruments

2.Getting to Know the Internet

Look at the Internet’s structure, history, standards, and communication protocols.

• What is the Internet?
• A Quick History of The Internet
• Internet Standards Documents
• Communication Over the Internet

3.Access Networks

Examine access networks, end systems, and various connection types, including DSL and fiber.

• The Edge of The Internet: End Systems
• What Are Access Networks?
• Types of Access Networks: DSL
• Types of Access Networks: Cable, FTTH, Dial-Up, and Satellite

4.Types of Computer Networks

Find out about various computer network types by medium, distance, and topology.

• Types by Physical Medium: Guided Physical Media
• Types by Physical Medium: Unguided Physical Media
• Types by Geographical Distance
• Types by Topology

5.Network Infrastructure: The OSI Model

Take a closer look at the OSI and TCP/IP models, layering and modularity in network infrastructures.

• Layered Architectures & Protocol Stacks
• The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model
• The TCP/IP Model

6.The Application Layer

Focus on the application layer’s role, network architectures, HTTP dynamics, email protocols, DNS operations, and BitTorrent functionality.

• What Is the Application Layer?
• Network Application Architectures
• P2P vs. Client-Server
• How Processes Communicate
• HTTP: The Basics
• HTTP: Request Messages
• Exercise: Looking at a Real HTTP Request
• HTTP: Response Messages
• Exercise: Looking at a Real HTTP Response
• Cookies
• Exercise: View and Manage Your Cookies
• Email: SMTP
• Exercise: Checking a Domain’s Mail Server with nslookup
• Email: POP & IMAP
• Email: Message Format
• DNS: Introduction
• Exercise: Finding Name Servers
• DNS: Records and Messages
• Exercise: Looking At DNS Response Messages and Resource Records
• BitTorrent

7.The Transport Layer

Master the transport layer’s protocols, reliable data transfer, congestion control, and efficient packet handling.

• What Is the Transport Layer?
• Multiplexing and Demultiplexing
• Multiplexing & Demultiplexing in UDP
• Introduction to Congestion Control
• More on Principles of Congestion Control
• Principles of Reliable Data Transfer
• Reliable Data Transfer: Sliding Window
• Reliable Data Transfer: Go-back-n
• The User Datagram Protocol
• UDP Checksum Calculation & Why UDP?
• Exercise: Capturing UDP Packets
• The Transmission Control Protocol
• Key Features of the Transmission Control Protocol
• TCP Segment Header
• TCP Header Flags
• TCP Headers: Window Size, Checksum & More
• TCP Connection Establishment: Three-way Handshake
• Other TCP Connection Establishment Methods
• When Connection Establishment Fails: Syn Floods & Retransmission
• TCP Connection Release
• Efficient data transmission with TCP
• TCP Window Scaling
• Exercise: Measuring RTT with Ping
• TCP Congestion Control: AIMD
• TCP Congestion Control: Slow Start

8.An Introduction to Socket Programming with Python

Step through Python socket programming, from creating UDP and TCP sockets to building chat applications.

• The Basics
• Setting up a UDP Socket
• Writing a UDP Server
• Writing a UDP Client Program
• Running The UDP Server & Client Together
• Improvements to UDP Programs: Avoiding Arbitrary Servers
• Project: Write a UDP Chat App!
• Solution: Write a UDP Chat App!
• A TCP Client-Server Program

9.Network Layer

Unpack the core of network layer functionality, IP protocols, and routing methodologies.

• What Is the Network Layer?
• Organization of the Network layer
• The Control Plane: Static & Dynamic Routing
• The Control Plane: Distance Vector – Routing Information Protocol
• Programming Challenge: Routing Information Protocol
• Solution Review: Routing Information Protocol
• The Control Plane: Link State Routing
• The Control Plane: Route Calculation – Dijkstra’s
• Programming Challenge: Implementing Dijkstra’s
• Solution Review: Implementing Dijkstra’s
• The Internet Protocol: Introduction to IPV4
• The Internet Protocol: IPV4 Address Allocation
• The Internet Protocol: IPV4 Packets
• The Internet Protocol: IPV4 Packet Fragmentation & Reassembly
• The Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)
• Exercise: Sending ICMP Messages With Ping & Traceroute
• Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
• Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
• IPv4 in Practice: The Life of a Packet
• Why IPv6?
• IPv6 Features
• Middleboxes: Firewalls
• Middleboxes: NATs
• Introduction to Routing in IP: Intradomain & Interdomain
• Intradomain Routing: OSPF
• Interdomain Routing: Border Gateway Protocol
• Border Gateway Protocol: Determining the Best Routes

10.Link Layer

Explore key aspects of the data link layer, including framing, error detection, MAC, and Ethernet.

• What is The Data Link Layer?
• Principles of The Data Link Layer: The Framing Problem
• Principles of The Data Link Layer: Error Detection
• Medium Access Control: Static Allocation
• Medium Access Control: Stochastic Methods – ALOHA
• Medium Access Control: Stochastic Methods – CSMA
• Medium Access Control: Stochastic Methods – CSMA/CD
• Medium Access Control: Stochastic Methods – Optimizing CSMA/CD
• Introduction to Ethernet
• Ethernet Frame Format
• Physical Layers for Ethernet
• Ethernet Switches
• Programming Challenge: Spanning Tree Protocol
• Solution Review: Spanning Tree Protocol
• Virtual LANs

11.Conclusion

Grasp the fundamentals of networking careers, roles, certifications, and course conclusion insights.

• Networks Career Paths
• Final Thoughts