Networking Mastery Course
Welcome to the Networking Mastery course! This comprehensive course takes you from networking fundamentals to advanced topics like container networking and service mesh, with practical scenarios that explain how real systems work.
Course Duration: 40-50 hours
Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced
Prerequisites: Basic computer literacy
Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced
Prerequisites: Basic computer literacy
Course Overview
This course is designed to give you both breadth and depth in networking. We cover:Fundamentals
OSI/TCP-IP models, protocols, and how the internet works
IP & Subnetting
CIDR, private/public IPs, subnetting calculations
NAT & Routing
How private networks access internet, BGP, OSPF
DNS Deep Dive
Zones, records, propagation, troubleshooting
Security
Firewalls, Security Groups, NACLs, Zero Trust
Cloud & Containers
AWS VPC, Docker, Kubernetes networking
What Makes This Course Different
Real-World Scenarios
Complete end-to-end flows: “What happens when you type google.com?”
Practical Examples
Actual commands, configurations, and troubleshooting steps
Common Confusions Addressed
“Can two companies use the same private IP?” - We explain it all.
Interview Ready
Covers topics frequently asked in system design interviews
Course Structure
Part 1: Foundations (Modules 1-6)
| Module | Topic | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overview | Network types, Internet basics |
| 2 | OSI & TCP/IP Models | 7 layers, encapsulation |
| 3 | Physical & Data Link | MAC addresses, Ethernet, switching |
| 4 | Network Layer | IP addressing basics, routing intro |
| 5 | Transport Layer | TCP vs UDP, handshakes, flow control |
| 6 | Application Layer | HTTP, DNS, DHCP |
Part 2: Security & Advanced Basics (Modules 7-8)
| Module | Topic | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Network Security | Firewalls, VPNs, TLS, attacks |
| 8 | Advanced Networking | SDN, Cloud basics, IPv6 intro |
Part 3: Deep Dives (Modules 9-15)
| Module | Topic | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | IP Addressing Mastery | CIDR, subnetting, private vs public |
| 10 | NAT Deep Dive | PAT, NAT Gateway, port forwarding |
| 11 | Routing Mastery | Static/dynamic, BGP, OSPF, route tables |
| 12 | DNS Deep Dive | Zones, records, TTL, propagation |
| 13 | Load Balancing | L4/L7, algorithms, reverse proxies |
| 14 | Troubleshooting | Tools, techniques, common issues |
| 15 | VPNs & Tunneling | IPsec, OpenVPN, WireGuard |
Part 4: Real World (Modules 16-18)
| Module | Topic | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Network Scenarios | End-to-end flows, common patterns |
| 17 | Firewalls & Security Groups | iptables, NACLs, Zero Trust |
| 18 | Container Networking | Docker, Kubernetes, Service Mesh |
Who This Course Is For
- Software Engineers who want to understand what happens beneath the API calls
- DevOps Engineers deploying and troubleshooting cloud infrastructure
- Cloud Architects designing VPCs and network topologies
- Anyone preparing for system design interviews
- Curious minds who want to truly understand how the internet works
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of computers and command line
- No prior networking knowledge required
- Access to a computer for hands-on practice (optional but recommended)
1.1 What is a Computer Network?
A computer network is a set of computers sharing resources located on or provided by network nodes. The computers use common communication protocols over digital interconnections to communicate with each other.Key Components
- Nodes: Devices like computers, servers, phones.
- Links: Physical or wireless connections (cables, fiber, Wi-Fi).
- Protocols: Rules governing data exchange (TCP/IP, HTTP).
1.2 Types of Networks
- LAN (Local Area Network): Connects devices within a limited area (home, office).
- WAN (Wide Area Network): Covers a broad area (e.g., the Internet).
- MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): Connects users in a city.
- PAN (Personal Area Network): Individual workspace (Bluetooth).
1.3 The Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link devices worldwide.How it works (High Level)
- Client sends a request.
- Router directs the traffic.
- ISP connects to the backbone.
- Server processes the request and sends a response.
Next Module
Module 2: Network Models
Understand the OSI and TCP/IP models.