-
Introduction to TCP/IP
-
It’s important to understand IP addressing schemes and to see how TCP and IP work together to make the internet work.
-
-
Network IDs and Subnet Masks
-
The first step towards understanding IP addressing flexibility is to understand network IDs and how they interact with a subnet mask to get packets delivered to the right system.
-
-
Special IP Addresses
-
From loopback to private IP addresses, a good tech understands special reserved addresses as well as when and how to use them.
-
-
NAT
-
Network Address Translation, or NAT, provides some amazing benefits but also has some serious limitations.
-
-
Dynamic IP Addressing
-
To avoid the nightmare of manually entering IP addresses, smart techs use the Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) to automatically provide IP addressing to individual hosts.
-
-
IPv6
-
IPv6 adds several benefits over IPv4 and good techs know how to use it in our systems.
-
-
Port Numbers
-
It’s critical to understand how port numbers do their job and to memorize many special port numbers.
-
-
TCP, UDP and ICMP
-
User Datagram protocol (UDP) and Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) both serve important purposes and features that techs need to understand.
-
-
Working with Connections
-
A good tech knows how to use common utilities to observe connections and diagnose issues.
-
-
Understanding DNS
-
To make our lives easier, most TCP/IP networks (and certainly the Internet) use the Domain Naming System (DNS) to apply human-friendly names to systems.
-
-
Working with DNS
-
There are a few simple tools and procedures to diagnose and repair DNS problems.
-
-
Windows Naming
-
Microsoft introduced a series of naming protocols, some of which predate the internet.
-
-
Working with Workgroups
-
Workgroups are simple and provide no security, but they’re a part of every small Windows network.
-
-
Working with Active Directory
-
More advanced Windows networks use domains instead of workgroups, providing powerful services for larger networks.
-
-
Windows Sharing with Mac and Linux
-
Both Mac and Linux systems know how to use Windows naming functions; the trick is to understand how they do it and to configure them to work with an existing Windows network.
-
-
Net Command
-
The Windows net command, used for everything from querying the network to accessing shares, has so many features that it deserves its own episode.
-
-
Routers
-
The CompTIA A+ exams challenge test takers to perform many configurations of a typical home router, but what does a router do for a SOHO network?
-
-
Basic Router Configuration
-
All routers share some basic configuration steps every tech must know.
-
-
Firewall Configuration
-
Setting up a hardware firewall is an obvious first step to making sure your network is well-protected.
-
-
Windows Firewall
-
Unlike the firewall on your router, the Windows software firewall only protects a single system, and it’s important for techs to understand how to use it.
-
-
Port Forwarding
-
Port forwarding allows opening specific ports on your NAT-enabled router to provide access to servers behind it.
-
-
Advanced Router Configuration
-
Protocols such as Quality of Service, Universal Plug and Play and Simple Network Management Protocol give extra features to enhance the capabilities of your router.
-
-
VLANs
-
VLANs provide superb control of your LAN but have their own quirks that a good tech understands.
-
-
Network Troubleshooting
-
A good network tech knows how read symptoms and diagnose a network quickly to enable users to get back to work.
-
Syllabus
Syllabus
Course description
Dive deep into the details of Local Area Networking, or LAN, with this course covering the essential topics in this area. Take a look at network IDs and subnet masks, NAT, dynamic IP addressing, port numbers, working with Active Directory, firewall config


Meet the author
Mike Meyers, affectionately called the “Alpha Geek,” is the industry’s leading authority on CompTIA certifications. He is the president and co-founder of Total Seminars, LLC, a provider of PC and network repair seminars, books, videos and courseware for thousands of organizations throughout the world. Mike has been involved in the computer and network repair industry since 1987 as a technician, instructor, author, consultant and speaker. He has sold over a million IT and certification books, including the best-selling CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide and CompTIA Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide. He has personally taught thousands of students, including U.S. senators, U.S. Supreme Court Justices, members of the United Nation, every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, many branches of the Department of Justice, hundreds of corporate clients and academic students at every level.
Associated NICE Work Roles
All Infosec training maps directly to the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity to guide you from beginner to expert across 52 Work Roles.
- All-Source Analyst
- Mission Assessment Specialist
- Multi-Disciplined Language Analyst
You're in good company
We use Infosec Skills to provide continuous training to our technicians and to prepare them for various certifications. Infosec Skills allows us to create personalized training programs that focus on each of our technicians’ particular roles and see their progress as they take courses. We also, recommend it to clients to make their IT support teams better.
Caleb Yankus
This has been utilized to bridge the skills gap across our cyber team and to aid them as they prepare for their various certifications. It also has provided a nice learning foundation for our various cyber team members to utilize as we continue to find ways for cross-utilization with operations while minimizing the downtime needed to ensure everyone’s knowledge is the same.
Daniel Simpson
We use Infosec Skills to provide base level knowledge for employees. We also use the services to provide in depth learning for employees as they encounter new technologies. If an employee is is assigned to a new project, we can rely on Infosec Skills to provide a rapid concentrated learning environment. This rapid concentrated learning positions our employees for success.
Infosec Skills Teams client
Plans & pricing
-
Infosec Skills Personal
- 190+ role-guided learning paths (e.g., Ethical Hacking, Threat Hunting)
- 100s of hands-on labs in cloud-hosted cyber ranges
- Custom certification practice exams (e.g., CISSP, Security+)
- Skill assessments
- Infosec peer community support
-
Infosec Skills Teams
- Team administration and reporting
- Dedicated client success manager
-
Single sign-on (SSO)
Easily authenticate and manage your learners by connecting to any identity provider that supports the SAML 2.0 standard.
-
Integrations via API
Retrieve training performance and engagement metrics and integrate learner data into your existing LMS or HRS.
- 190+ role-guided learning paths and assessments (e.g., Incident Response)
- 100s of hands-on labs in cloud-hosted cyber ranges
- Create and assign custom learning paths
- Custom certification practice exams (e.g., CISSP, CISA)
- Optional upgrade: Guarantee team certification with live boot camps
Unlock 7 days of free training
- 1,400+ hands-on courses and labs
- Certification practice exams
- Skill assessments
Award-winning training that you can trust




