This document provides an overview of basic computer networking concepts including types of networks like LANs, WANs, and WLANs. It describes common networking components such as routers, switches, firewalls, and servers. It also covers networking addressing schemes including IP addresses, MAC addresses, and the TCP/IP communication protocol. The document is intended to educate clients on fundamental networking topics.

1. We Fix Computers Presents
Computer Networking 101

2. What is Simple Networking?
• The simplest kind of network contains exactly
two computers. You can use this kind of
network to share files, a printer or another
peripheral device, and even an Internet
connection.

3. Types of Networks
• LAN - Local Area Network
– A LAN connects network devices over a relatively
short distance. A networked office
building, school, or home usually contains a single
LAN, though sometimes one building will contain
a few small LANs (perhaps one per office).
– In TCP/IP networking, a LAN is often implemented
as a single IP subnet.

4. Types of Networks
• WAN - Wide Area Network
– As the term implies, a WAN spans a large physical
distance. The Internet, for example, is the largest
WAN, spanning the Earth.
– A WAN is a geographically-dispersed collection of
LANs. A network device called a router connects
LANs to a WAN. In IP networking, the router
maintains both a LAN address and a WAN address.

5. Types of Networks
• WLAN - Wireless Local Area Network
– A LAN based on WiFi wireless network technology
– Offices who employ laptops predominantly use
this type of network.
– Smartphones, tablets, and iPads also primarily
communicate via this type of network.

6. Networking Components
• Network Router
– A network router is a small electronic device that allows
you to build a simple network . The router serves as the
core or "centerpiece" of the network to which
computers, printers and other devices can be connected.
Networking with a router helps you to (for example):
• share files between computers
• share an Internet connection between computers
• share a printer
• connect your gaming console or other home
entertainment equipment to the Internet

7. Networking Components
• Network Switch
– A network switch is a small hardware device that joins
multiple computers together within one local area network
(LAN).
– Most consumer-grade network switches provide either
four or eight connections for Ethernet devices. Switches
can be connected to each other, a so-called daisy chaining
method to add a progressively larger number of devices to
a LAN.
– These are generally used to expand the amount of devices
you can connect to you LAN when the 4 ports your Router
comes with is not sufficient.
– Think of it as a splitter of sorts.

8. Networking Components
• Network Firewall
– A network firewall protects a computer network from
unauthorized access. Network firewalls may be
hardware devices, software programs, or a
combination of the two.
– Network firewalls guard an internal computer
network (home, school, business) against malicious
access from the outside. Network firewalls may also
be configured to limit access to the outside from
internal users. (ie. Facebook, instant messaging,
Limewire, etc..)

9. Networking Components
• Server
– A network server is a powerful computer designed to
process requests and deliver data to other (client)
computers over a LAN or the Internet.
– Network servers typically are configured with
additional processing, memory and storage capacity
to handle the heavy load of continually servicing client
computers.
– Must EVERY network have a server?
– FALSE. A server is best fit for business that need a
collective store for their corporate data and/or need
stringent security policies.

10. Network Addressing
• IP Address
– An IP address serves as a unique identifier for a computer
on a network. When set up correctly, computers can
determine the addresses of other computers on the
network and use these addresses to send messages to
each other.
– IP addresses are unique to each device on a LAN. 2
devices can NEVER share the same IP address or a conflict
will occur.
– EVERY device on a LAN must share a common addressing
scheme (ie. 192.168.1.x)
– Think of an IP address as a sort of home address each
device has so the other devices know where to find it.

11. Network Addressing
• MAC Address
– Media Access Control (MAC) addressing provides unique
identification and access control for computers on a network.
• The MAC address is commonly written as a sequence of 12
hexadecimal digits (ie. 48-3F-0A-91-00-BC).
• MAC addresses are uniquely set by the network adapter
manufacturer and are sometimes called physical addresses.
The first six digits of the address correspond to a
manufacturer's unique identifier, while the last six digits
correspond to the device's serial number.
• These are also unique and 2 network devices will NEVER
have the same MAC address.

12. Networking Language
• TCP/IP
– Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet
Protocol (IP).
– This is the language of the LAN and internet. Just
about EVERY device mentioned talks to each other
via this communication medium.
– The average person on the Internet works in a
predominately TCP/IP environment. Web
browsers, for example, use TCP/IP to
communicate with Web servers.

13. So what sets me apart ?
• Educating the Client
– Computer maintenance How-To
– Security consulting
– And more…
• Honesty
– Build the relationship and trust, NOT the bill.
– Comprehensive troubleshooting
– And more…