3 Tips to Learn Network Technology

Computer network course is an important basic course for majors such as computer, software engineering, information security, network engineering, Internet of Things engineering, sensor network technology, communication engineering and electronic information. Although it is only a basic course, we do not have a very thorough understanding of the content involved in computer network in our daily life, so it is still not very easy to learn. The content is messy, it involves complex communication technology, it is not well organized, and it is theoretical, which are the biggest obstacles to learning. Solving these problems will definitely be of great help to your study.

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1. Key points to pay attention to when learning computer networks

1. Understand the composition of computer networks

Computer network is the combination of computer and communication technology, software and hardware, communication subnet and resource subnet. Understanding it in this way can reduce the difficulty of learning network courses. This is also the origin of the basic knowledge of network protocol layering, that is, why the network should be divided into communication subnet and resource subnet, because computer network is the combination of communication and computer technology. After being divided into 2 subnets, the problem becomes simple. Further, the layering can be continued, and the communication subnet can be divided into 2 or 3 layers, namely the physical layer, link layer and network layer; and the resource subnet can be divided into 2 layers, namely the transport layer and the application layer.

It is also very important to understand the concept of the combination of network hardware and software. For example, the Internet is created by the combination of routers and IP protocols. Routers are its hardware, and IP protocols are its software.

It should also be noted that different types of networks have different composition methods, including local area networks, wide area networks and the Internet. Therefore, the composition of networks should be introduced separately, and the composition of computer networks cannot be discussed in general. Network applications also have similar situations. The application scope and mode of local area networks, wide area networks and the Internet are all different.

2. How to learn network protocols

Layered theory, layering protocols, can reduce the difficulty of analysis. Layering and modularization are important analysis methods in computer technology. Computer networks are first divided into two layers: communication subnet and resource subnet, and then the communication subnet and resource subnet are further layered. In fact, network devices are related to layers, such as hubs, Ethernet switches and routers are all network devices at different layers. TCP/IP is related to layers, such as IP layer, transport layer and application layer. Network security is related to layers, such as application layer, transport layer, network layer and link layer all have corresponding security protocols.

3. Understand the importance of network classification

It can help readers to sort out their thoughts better and avoid confusion in their minds. For example, by region, it includes local area network and wide area network; by media, it includes copper network, optical fiber network and wireless network; by application, it includes local area network application and Internet application.

4. Be sure to learn the TCP/IP protocol well

The bottom layer is the local area network, wide area network or wireless network, and then the IP layer, which is used to form a logical and complete network. The above completes the function of the communication subnet. TCP completes the communication between application processes, and the application layer completes the application. The essence of learning computer networks is to learn the TCP/IP protocol, because only the network that adopts the complete TCP/IP protocol can be called a real computer network. Therefore, if you learn the TCP/IP protocol well and understand the connotation of the TCP/IP protocol, you will truly understand and learn computer networks.

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2. Understand some common terms in computer network technology

1. Broadcasting method

Traditional LANs use broadcasting, so we can understand shared media access control, understand the collision domain of Ethernet, understand that hub networking has poor performance and is gradually being eliminated, and understand the importance of Ethernet switches to the development of LANs, because broadcasting belongs to traditional LANs, and switch networking belongs to switched LANs, which is a milestone and watershed in the development of Ethernet. In addition, broadcasting is often emphasized in the MAC layer or in the IP protocol, because broadcasting is simple and suitable for distributing information, such as multimedia broadcasting, conference video information distribution, etc.

2. Exchange

WAN uses switching. Packet switching is a very important technology in computer network technology, a core technology, and a representative technology. LANs began to use broadcasting, and later, switching, but it is different from the switching of WANs. WANs exchange packets at the network layer, while LANs exchange MAC frames at the MAC layer. In fact, the Internet also needs switching. Packets are forwarded between different ports of routers, which can also be regarded as switching, but people are accustomed to calling it packet storage and forwarding. It can be seen that the concept of switching is very important for computer networks, and computer network technology cannot be separated from switching.

3. Point-to-point and end-to-end

Point-to-point has two meanings. One is relative to broadcasting. Data transmission is only for the communication of a certain node. Wide area networks generally use point-to-point mode. After routing, a link is selected, and then the data is transmitted to the destination node indicated by the address (not to other nodes). The other is relative to end-to-end. Point-to-point here means that data transmission is transmitted point by point, while end-to-end means that data transmission generally does not pass through intermediate nodes (not point by point), or the intermediate nodes do not process. For example, data transmission at the transport layer is transmitted between applications in an end-to-end manner, because the intermediate nodes do not have a transport layer and cannot process it, and there is no need to process it. Data transmission at the network layer and link layer are all point-to-point transmission.

4. Network application model

The ultimate goal of the network is to provide applications, and applications cannot be separated from the two parties in network communication. So what is the relationship between the two parties in communication? How do they interact with each other? The TCP/IP protocol points out that their relationship is the client/server (C/S) model. The C/S model is used to describe the interaction between the two parties in communication. It is believed that the relationship between C and S is the relationship between the two parties in communication. In communication, the two parties cannot initiate communication at the same time. There is always one party that initiates communication first, and the other party responds to the communication. It is stipulated that the party that initiates communication is the client C, and after the communication is initiated, the party that responds to the communication is the server. As a result, the C/S model has also become a model for writing software involving communication. There is also a model called the B/S model, in which B is the browser and S is the WEB server. This model is the basic and commonly used model for software programming at present.

5. Bottom-up vs. top-down

Network protocols are layered. When analyzing layered protocols, you can use a bottom-up approach or a top-down approach. Bottom-up analysis starts from the physical layer and goes all the way to the application layer, while top-down analysis starts from the application layer and goes all the way to the physical layer. In the past, people often used the bottom-up approach, but nowadays the top-down approach is more common.

6. What is a real computer network?

Only networks that use the complete TCP/IP protocol can be called computer networks, such as the Internet, while local area networks, wide area networks, etc. are all computer communication networks, which are communication subnets and are used for data transmission, especially wide area networks, whose main function is to transmit data. The concept of local area networks can include communication subnets, and it is possible that a certain network application adopts the local area network mode. However, in this mode, the high-level networks currently also use the TCP/IP protocol, and if you want to go online, you must also use the TCP/IP protocol, which belongs to the Internet. Therefore, computer networks generally refer to Internet networks that use the TCP/IP protocol, such as the Internet.

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3. Understand the textbook structure and establish the overall concept of computer networks

1. Read the textbook thoroughly

When studying computer networks, remember not to pay too much attention to details. You should know and understand computer networks as a whole. To do this, you need to read the textbooks carefully to see how the textbooks are written, why they are written in this way, why the order of chapters is like this and not that, and what the author's purpose of writing is.

2. Read the catalog frequently

Understand the textbook as a whole, have clear learning goals, and read the catalog frequently to understand the content of the textbook, the knowledge system of the network course, the structure of the textbook, and the main content of the textbook, so as to have a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of computer network technology. Reading the catalog frequently can prevent readers from being trapped in some specific and partial content, and can help them jump out of the circle and look at the computer network course with a cold eye. The catalog reflects the author's thinking and purpose. Knowing what the author wants to tell readers can help readers have clear goals and clear ideas, so that they can better learn the computer network course.

3. Protocol Layers

General textbooks are basically written according to the protocol hierarchy, which can be understood as being written according to the TCP/IP protocol hierarchy. Local area networks, wireless networks and wide area networks are all bottom-level protocols, and the Internet is an application layer protocol. Chapter 5 discusses the IP layer protocol and the transport layer protocol in detail and specifically. Isn't this in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol hierarchy? But there are also classification factors, generally based on regional categories, namely local area networks, wide area networks and the Internet. Such classification by region can also be understood as classification by application, that is, classification by local area network applications, and classification by Internet applications.

4. How to write textbooks and learn online

The writing of textbooks and learning networks are two different things. You don't have to learn networks in the order of textbooks. First learn some computer network application knowledge to improve your perceptual understanding, and then learn network theory, the learning effect will be better.

• For example, the architecture is in Chapter 3, but it can be studied later.
• Although the LAN construction is relatively late, it can be put in front of the study, such as the network cable production. After learning how to make a network cable, you can practice connecting two computers through a cross-twisted pair cable, and then use the Ping command to test whether the network connection is smooth. If it is not smooth, it means that the network cable is not made well. Here you can learn how to build a simplest LAN, learn the concept of IP protocol, learn to use commands, and know the command prompt.
• The same goes for operating systems. They can be learned at the very beginning because students are more familiar with operating systems. At least they are very familiar with Windows XP and Windows 7. Based on this, they can easily learn Windows Server 2003.
• The same is true for the Internet, because students are very familiar with the Internet. They have generally been online, used QQ space, and been to campus in the past, and are familiar with the concept of websites. In this way, they will feel very familiar when learning about the Internet and it will arouse their interest in learning. Especially when learning about Internet information publishing, there is no need to introduce too much basic concepts.

Then we can discuss WWW technology, introduce WEB technology, the concept of web pages, HTML language, C/S client and server mode, ports, HTTP protocol and URL uniform resource locator. In fact, at this point, we have already touched upon the basic concepts of TCP/IP protocol and the application layer, laying the foundation for further learning TCP/IP protocol and network architecture.

5. The structure of the entire teaching material

The structure of the textbook is: underlying protocols, including wide area networks, local area networks and wireless networks, TCP/IP protocols, local area network knowledge system, including protocol principles, operating system management, network construction, and finally information network security. The structure is like this, but the order of the chapters does not have to be like this, which is something that needs to be noted.

Now that the problem of organization has been solved, you can understand the knowledge system as a whole, master the key points of knowledge, understand the structure of the textbook, understand the concepts of network terms, and know how to apply the network. Learning computer network technology will be an easy thing, and you can develop an interest in learning. Interest is the best teacher. With a strong interest in learning, you can study consciously, study hard, and delve into the knowledge system of computer networks. I believe that as long as you have such a spirit of dedication, you can definitely learn and master the computer network course.