Networks & Protocols

This course provided a foundational and hands-on exploration of the technologies, protocols, and architectures that underpin the Internet and modern computer networks. Designed for cybersecurity students, it bridged academic networking principles with engineering-oriented labs inspired by CompTIA Network+, covering ~60% of its material.

university

University of Maryland • graduate course

focus areas

TCP/IP stack Wireshark Routing & Switching DNS / HTTP / ARP VPN / NAT / DHCP SDN & NFV

🔍 core concepts & topics covered

  • network layered architecture: physical, data link, network, transport, and application layers.
  • protocols & technologies: IP, TCP, UDP, ARP, HTTP, DNS; delay, throughput, packet loss, congestion; TCP tuning, congestion control, window scaling.
  • hands-on configuration: IP addressing, subnetting, Ethernet switches, VLANs, routers; DHCP, NAT, DNS; enterprise Wi-Fi design and testing.
  • modern networking: SDN and NFV fundamentals vs. traditional architectures; remote access VPNs for secure connectivity in cloud networks.

🧪 labs & tools

  • Extensive Wireshark use to capture/analyze TCP flows, HTTP transactions, and DNS lookups.
  • Virtual lab setups for enterprise-grade routing, switching, and access control.
  • Configured and validated DHCP, NAT, DNS, and VPN services.

The course built a strong foundation to configure, troubleshoot, and secure traditional and modern networks—essential skills for cybersecurity.

Wireshark capture of TCP and DNS traffic during lab analysis
Packet analysis with Wireshark.

references & practice

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