Delivery: Online | Est. Length: 16 Seat Hours | Price: $535.00
Course Overview
The NCTI Introduction to Networking course is the “101” guide to the connected world. Designed for students with basic computer literacy, this course explains exactly how data moves from one device to another—transforming standalone PCs into a functional network.
The curriculum starts small, teaching students how to build and operate a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network typical of a customer’s home or small office. From there, it expands to the global scale, introducing Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and Metro Ethernet. A major focus is placed on the OSI Model, the universal language of networking, helping students visualize how hardware, software, and protocols interact to deliver data reliably.
Who Should Attend:
- Aspiring Network Technicians
- Dispatchers and Customer Care Agents
- IT Help Desk Support
- Technicians preparing for Master Dispatcher certification
What You Will Learn
Upon completion, students will be able to identify networking hardware, explain the flow of data through the OSI layers, and troubleshoot common communication failures in a home network.
Core Competencies:
- Hardware & Software: Identify internal components (CPU, Memory, NICs) and the operating systems that drive network communications.
- The OSI Model: Explain how data travels through the 7 layers of the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) protocol, from the physical cable to the application on the screen.
- Network Topologies: Differentiate between physical and logical topologies (Star, Bus, Ring) and review structured wiring systems.
- LAN/WAN Technologies: Distinguish between Local Area Networks (LANs) (Ethernet, Token Ring, Wi-Fi) and Wide Area Networks (WANs) (Metro Ethernet, WiMAX, Cellular).
- Hardware Functionality: Explain the specific purpose of Repeaters, Hubs, Bridges, Switches, Routers, and Gateways.
- Practical Application: Build a small peer-to-peer network, configure remote connectivity, and isolate common problems that stop communication.
Certification and Benefits
Build a Foundation for IT Success
This course illustrates how the same key principles apply to everything from a two-computer home setup to the global Internet.
Additional Benefits:
- Certification Path: Credits apply toward the NCTI Master Dispatcher certification.
- Industry Recognition: Receive the NCTI Certificate of Graduation.
- Vocabulary: Master networking acronyms and terminology used by engineers and architects.
Course Outline
Module 1: Computers and Topologies
- Hardware: CPUs, I/O hardware, and Network Interface Cards (NIC).
- Signals: Carrier signals, cable types, and structured wiring.
- Topologies: Physical and logical network layouts.
Module 2: Protocols and The OSI Model
- Protocols: Services and communicating across a network.
- OSI Deep Dive: Detailed analysis of the Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application layers.
Module 3: LANs, WANs, and Components
- LAN: Ethernet, FDDI, Wireless LANs, and Client/Server architecture.
- Components: Hubs, Bridges, Switches, Routers, and Gateways.
- WAN: Point-to-Point and Switched services.
Module 4: Integrating the Course Elements
- Building and expanding a small Peer-to-Peer network.
- Troubleshooting connectivity issues.