Current, essential IT networking skills made easy! Thoroughly revised to cover the latest technologies, this practical resource provides you with a solid foundation in networking fundamentals. Networking: A Beginner's Guide, Sixth Edition discusses wired and wireless network design, configuration, hardware, protocols, security, backup, recovery, and virtualization. You'll also get step-by-step instructions for installing, configuring, and managing Windows Server 2012, Exchange Server 2013, Oracle Linux, and Apache. This is the perfect book for anyone starting a networking career or in need of an easy-to-follow refresher. Understand network cabling, topologies, hardware, and the OSI seven-layer model; Connect LANs and WANs; Configure network protocols, such as TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, SMTP, DHCP, HTTP, WINS, and more; Explore directory services, such as Microsoft's Active Directory, X.400, and LDAP; Enable and support remote network access; Secure your network and handle backup and disaster recovery; Select, install, and manage reliable network servers, including Windows Server 2012, Exchange Server 2013, Oracle Linux, and Apache; Manage network workstation computers; Design a robust network from the ground up; Work with virtualization technologies, such as Hyper-V, VMWare, and Oracle VM VirtualBox. - Publisher.

Part 1 : Networking ins and outs. The business of networking -- Understanding networking -- Understanding network cabling -- Understanding network hardware -- Making WAN connections -- Understanding networking protocols -- Exploring directory services -- Connections from afar : remote network access -- Securing your network -- Network disaster recovery -- Network servers : everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask -- Purchasing and managing client computers -- Designing a network -- Part 2 : Hands-on knowledge. Installing and setting up Windows Server 2012 -- Administering Windows Server 2012 : the basics -- Introducing Exchange Server 2013 -- Understanding other Windows Server 2012 services -- Installing Linux -- Introduction to Linux systems administrations -- Setting up a Linux web server with Apache -- Introduction to virtualization -- Glossary.