Introduction, Data & Information, Data Communication-Characteristics of Data Communication, Components of Data Communication, Data Representation, Data Flow- Simplex, Half Duplex, Full Duplex, Computer Network- Categories of a network, Protocol- Elements of a Protocol, Networking Standards, Reference Models- OSI Model, TCP/IP Model, Comparison of OSI and TCP/IP Model.
Transmission Media- Guided & Unguided, PSTN: Structure of the Telephone System, Data types, Signal types- Analog & Digital, Modulation Techniques, Modem, Cable Modem, Protocols: DSL, ISDN.
The Data Link Layer
Design Issues: Framing, Error Control, Flow Control, Protocols: FDDI, CDDI, Frame Relay, ATM, 802.11, PPP, HDLC.
Multiple Access Protocols: ALOHA, CSMA, Ethernet: Switched Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, DLL Switching: Internetworking, Repeaters, Hubs, Bridges, Switches, Routers, Gateways, Virtual LANs.
Design Issues, Routing Algorithms: Link State Routing, Distance Vector Routing, Flooding, Routing Protocols: RIP, IGRP, EIGRP, OSPF, Internetworking: Tunneling, Fragmentation, IPV4, IPV6 Basics, BGP.
The Transport Layer Protocols: UDP, TCP, Headers.
DNS: The DNS Name Space, Name Servers, E-Mail: SMTP, POP3, HTTP, FTP, Telnet, Network Management: SNMP.
Network Security
Cryptography: Encryption, Decryption, Private/Public Key, Digital Signatures, SSL, Firewalls, PGP, S/MIME.