Computer Networking: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide with Top 5 Books to kick start your Journey Table of Contents: Introduction: What is Computer Networking? Types of Network LAN WAN MAN Wireless Network  WiFi Network Topology Bus Topology Star Topology Mesh Topology OSI Model Common Protocols Internet Protocol HTTP/HTTPS FTP SMTP Network Devices Router Switch Hub Access Points Network Cables Ethernet Fiber optic cable Co-axial cable Important Concepts to Know IP Address DNS Ping Bandwidth Network Security Firewall VPN Web Security Application Security Anti virus and anti malware Email Security Network Security Threat Malware and Viruses Phishing Attacks DDos Attacks How to master Computer Networking Why Networking Skills are Crucial for Cybersecurity: CompTIA Network+ Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Top 5 Book Recommendation to help you learn more about Networking Test Your Knowledge: Take the Networking Basic Quiz! Conclusion Introduction: In today’s fast based tech savvy world, computer Networking becomes the back bone of this digital age. Computer Networking has become a very important aspect of our day to day life as its used to connect our home devices, its also important because it enables communication across continents within a short span of time. In short, computer networking is involved in everything we do online. In today’s day and age its important to master the concepts of computer networking, whether you are a beginner trying to understand about networks or a professional trying to advance your career in the field of networking. In this article we will learn the basics of computer networking. So, lets get started! What is Computer Networking? The first question that must have popped in your mind is “what is computer networking”. The simplest explanation would be that it’s the interconnection of devices that communicate and share data, resources and information between themselves. The interconnected devices could include computers, servers, laptop, smart phones, printers and other devices connected by wires or wireless connections. Whereas, networks allow the Transfer of data, internet access and enables sharing of resources across multiple devices. Computer Networking is a very important aspect today, from a small home network with a few devices to a vast web of connections that extents to the internet, computer networking is a significant part of modern communication. Understanding how these Devices and the network work is very crucial in today’s digital world. A great understanding of the computer networking can reward you with a successful career in IT, cybersecurity or network administration. Types of Network In computer networking, networks can vary based on size, shape and usage. Some of the most common types of network are as follows: LAN Lan is also known as Local area network. As the name suggests its helps in connecting network devices in a small geographical area like an office, home, school or a campus. Lan is the most commonly used type of Network as its privately owned. WAN Wan is also called as Wide area network. Basically it provides network connections between different geographical locations. With WAN, a VPN or a virtual private network is used to manage the connections between different LAN’s. WAN is used to connect a Head office of a Company with its branch office at another geographical location. MAN Also known as Metropolitan Area Network, it provides networking Possibilities between different locations within a city. For a Secure MAN it needs a secure connection between each and every LAN in the network that is connected to the MAN. Wireless Network Wireless Network : A wireless network allows devices to connect without physical cables. Usually they use radio waves, hence eliminating the need for cables. Wireless networks are widely used is businesses , Home and telecommunications networks.  WiFi is the most common as well as a very popular wireless networking technology, that provides internet access through radio signals. Wifi is also called as Wireless Fidelity.  Each WiFi network has a unique SSID (Service Set Identifier), which acts as its name. SSID’s are Unique to each network. Which allows easy connectivity to the right device. Network Topology Network Topology is the way in which all the physical devices are connected in a network. Basically it defines how Devices like computer , printer, servers, and other devices are connected in a network. Now, lets have a look at the most common network topologies used in computer networking. Bus Topology In a  bus topology, a single network cable is used to connect the network devices. It’s the simplest type of Network topology but it does have a few limitation. As its connected to a single cable there is a higher chance of a signal drop out. Star Topology Each and every network device is connected to a centralized hub  or a switch. Star Topology is the most commonly used Network topology. Mesh Topology As the name suggests, the Devices are connected to each other in the form of a mesh. While it could be a physical mesh or a logical mesh. When each network device connects to every other network device on the network, its called as a physical mesh. OSI Model OSI Model is also called as the Open systems Interconnection Model. Basically this is a model that tells us how Networking protocols of networks and the technologies communicate with each other in a effective way. The OSI Layer standardizes the computing system into seven layers. All the Seven layers have a specific purpose and communicates with the layers present above and below it. The Above image shows the 7 Layers of the OSI Model and compares it with the Layers of the TCP/IP Model Common Protocols The word Protocol means ‘a set of rules’. Its nothing but a set of rules that defines how a data gets transmitted and received between different devices on a network. We will go through some basic protocols. Internet Protocol It is also called as IP, the main function of Internet protocol is routing a packet of data in a network so that it