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Grokking Computer Networking for Software Engineers
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Discover networking essentials for software engineers, delving into client-server architectures, Python socket programming, command-line tools, and key network protocols. Gain hands-on experience in distributed processing.

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The way applications are developed today requires software engineers to have a firm understanding of client-server architecture and networking. If you’re planning to write web applications, or apps that communicate with a remote server, then networking is an essential skill. With this in mind, it’s clear that what you do as a software engineer will be deeply rooted in networking. This course will teach you the fundamentals of networks, socket programming in Python, command-line tools and the main protocols of each layer. Additionally, you will get hands-on experience with not only socket programming, but with implementing network protocols that require distributed processing. Join us in a deep dive on everything network-related.

The way applications are developed today requires software engineers to have a firm understanding of client-server architecture ...Show More

TAKEAWAY SKILLS

Computer Networking

Prepare for Interview

Internet/Access Networks

Content

115 Lessons83 Quizzes1 Assessment3 Challenges

Getting Started

2 Lessons

Get familiar with computer networking fundamentals, practical skills, and essential Python tools.

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Instruments

Getting to Know the Internet

4 Lessons

Look at the Internet's structure, history, standards, and communication protocols.

What is the Internet?

A Quick History of The Internet

Internet Standards Documents

Communication Over the Internet

Access Networks

4 Lessons

Examine access networks, end systems, and various connection types, including DSL and fiber.

The Edge of The Internet: End Systems

What Are Access Networks?

Types of Access Networks: DSL

Types of Access Networks: Cable, FTTH, Dial-Up, and Satellite

Types of Computer Networks

4 Lessons

Find out about various computer network types by medium, distance, and topology.

Types by Physical Medium: Guided Physical Media

Types by Physical Medium: Unguided Physical Media

Types by Geographical Distance

Types by Topology

Network Infrastructure: The OSI Model

3 Lessons

Take a closer look at the OSI and TCP/IP models, layering and modularity in network infrastructures.

Layered Architectures & Protocol Stacks

The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model

The TCP/IP Model

The Application Layer

20 Lessons

Focus on the application layer's role, network architectures, HTTP dynamics, email protocols, DNS operations, and BitTorrent functionality.

What Is the Application Layer?

Network Application Architectures

P2P vs. Client-Server

How Processes Communicate

HTTP: The Basics

HTTP: Request Messages

Exercise: Looking at a Real HTTP Request

HTTP: Response Messages

Exercise: Looking at a Real HTTP Response

Exercise: View and Manage Your Cookies

Email: SMTP

Exercise: Checking a Domain’s Mail Server with nslookup

Email: POP & IMAP

Email: Message Format

DNS: Introduction

Exercise: Finding Name Servers

DNS: Records and Messages

Exercise: Looking At DNS Response Messages and Resource Records

BitTorrent

The Transport Layer

25 Lessons

Master the transport layer's protocols, reliable data transfer, congestion control, and efficient packet handling.

What Is the Transport Layer?

Multiplexing and Demultiplexing

Multiplexing & Demultiplexing in UDP

Introduction to Congestion Control

More on Principles of Congestion Control

Principles of Reliable Data Transfer

Reliable Data Transfer: Sliding Window

Reliable Data Transfer: Go-back-n

The User Datagram Protocol

UDP Checksum Calculation & Why UDP?

Exercise: Capturing UDP Packets

The Transmission Control Protocol

Key Features of the Transmission Control Protocol

TCP Segment Header

TCP Header Flags

TCP Headers: Window Size, Checksum & More

TCP Connection Establishment: Three-way Handshake

Other TCP Connection Establishment Methods

When Connection Establishment Fails: Syn Floods & Retransmission

TCP Connection Release

Efficient data transmission with TCP

TCP Window Scaling

Exercise: Measuring RTT with Ping

TCP Congestion Control: AIMD

TCP Congestion Control: Slow Start

An Introduction to Socket Programming with Python

9 Lessons

Step through Python socket programming, from creating UDP and TCP sockets to building chat applications.

The Basics

Setting up a UDP Socket

Writing a UDP Server

Writing a UDP Client Program

Running The UDP Server & Client Together

Improvements to UDP Programs: Avoiding Arbitrary Servers

Project: Write a UDP Chat App!

Solution: Write a UDP Chat App!

A TCP Client-Server Program

Network Layer

27 Lessons

Unpack the core of network layer functionality, IP protocols, and routing methodologies.

What Is the Network Layer?

Organization of the Network layer

The Control Plane: Static & Dynamic Routing

The Control Plane: Distance Vector - Routing Information Protocol

Programming Challenge: Routing Information Protocol

Solution Review: Routing Information Protocol

The Control Plane: Link State Routing

The Control Plane: Route Calculation - Dijkstra's

Programming Challenge: Implementing Dijkstra's

Solution Review: Implementing Dijkstra's

The Internet Protocol: Introduction to IPV4

The Internet Protocol: IPV4 Address Allocation

The Internet Protocol: IPV4 Packets

The Internet Protocol: IPV4 Packet Fragmentation & Reassembly

The Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

Exercise: Sending ICMP Messages With Ping & Traceroute

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

IPv4 in Practice: The Life of a Packet

Why IPv6?

IPv6 Features

Middleboxes: Firewalls

Middleboxes: NATs

Introduction to Routing in IP: Intradomain & Interdomain

Intradomain Routing: OSPF

Interdomain Routing: Border Gateway Protocol

Border Gateway Protocol: Determining the Best Routes

10.

Link Layer

15 Lessons

Explore key aspects of the data link layer, including framing, error detection, MAC, and Ethernet.

What is The Data Link Layer?

Principles of The Data Link Layer: The Framing Problem

Principles of The Data Link Layer: Error Detection

Medium Access Control: Static Allocation

Medium Access Control: Stochastic Methods - ALOHA

Medium Access Control: Stochastic Methods - CSMA

Medium Access Control: Stochastic Methods - CSMA/CD

Medium Access Control: Stochastic Methods - Optimizing CSMA/CD

Introduction to Ethernet

Ethernet Frame Format

Physical Layers for Ethernet

Ethernet Switches

Programming Challenge: Spanning Tree Protocol

Solution Review: Spanning Tree Protocol

Virtual LANs

11.

Conclusion

2 Lessons

Grasp the fundamentals of networking careers, roles, certifications, and course conclusion insights.

Networks Career Paths

Final Thoughts

Computer Networks Exam

Assessment

Certificate of Completion

Showcase your accomplishment by sharing your certificate of completion.

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