What is the best way to learn computer networking?

I am not at all savvy on computer networking. I only know how to write, log, surf and download etc. but I have near zero knowledge in networking. Is there a soft ware or hardware that will visually show me step by step to to troubleshoot and basically teach me how to maintain my network running? I prefer visual rather than techically phrased, since I am so stupid in technical terminology.

Your advice will be appreciated.

RDWhat is the best way to learn computer networking?
It depends on just how far you are wanting to take it. Are you setting up a network for public use, your private web page, or just a home network. A home network is pretty easy and if you buy a router most will have a tech support number with a real person that will guide you the whole way. As for anything more complicated, either take a class or go to half price books and look through the resources.
If you want to learn in LAMENS terms basic networking, go to your local library or bookstore and pickup "networking for dummies".



This is a great book and they dont speak tech talk.



If you want this as a certification, get a book called network + by Comptia. Good Luck.What is the best way to learn computer networking?
Computer networking is the scientific and engineering discipline concerned with communication between computer systems. Such networks involve at least two devices capable of being networked with at least one usually being a computer. The devices can be separated by a few meters (e.g. via Bluetooth) or thousands of kilometers (e.g. via the Internet). Computer networking is sometimes considered a sub-discipline of telecommunications.

History

Carrying instructions between calculation machines and early computers was done by human users. In September, 1940 George Stibitz used a teletype machine to send instructions for a problem set from his Model K at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to his Complex Number Calculator in New York and received results back by the same means. Linking output systems like teletypes to computers was an interest at the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) when, in 1962, J.C.R. Licklider was hired and developed a working group he called the "Intergalactic Network", a precursor to the ARPANet. In 1964, researchers at Dartmouth developed the Dartmouth Time Sharing System for distributed users of large computer systems. The same year, at MIT, a research group supported by General Electric and Bell Labs used a computer (DEC's PDP-8) to route and manage telephone connections. Throughout 1960s Leonard Kleinrock, Paul Baran and Donald Davies had independently conceptualized and developed network systems consisting of datagrams or packets that could be used in a packet switching network between computer systems. In 1969 the University of California at Los Angeles, SRI (in Stanford), University of California at Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah were connected as the beginning of the ARPANet network using 50 kbit/s circuits.



Networks, and the technologies needed to connect and communicate through and between them, continue to drive computer hardware, software, and peripherals industries. This expansion is mirrored by growth in the numbers and types of users of networks from researcher



By scale

Personal area network (PAN)

Local area network (LAN)

Campus area network (CAN)

Metropolitan area network (MAN)

Wide area network (WAN)

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By connection method

HomePNA

Power line communication (HomePlug)

Ethernet

WiFi

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By functional relationship

Active Networking (Low-level code movement versus static data)

Client-server

Peer-to-peer (Workgroup)

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By network topology

Bus network

Star network

Ring network

Mesh network

Star-bus network

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By Services provided

Storage area networks

Server farms

Process control networks

Value-added network

SOHO network

Wireless community network

XML appliance

Jungle Networks

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Protocol stacks

Computer networks may be implemented using a variety of protocol stack architectures, computer buses or combinations of media and protocol layers, incorporating one or more of:



ARCNET

AppleTalk

ATM

Bluetooth

DECnet

Ethernet

FDDI

Frame relay

HIPPI

IEEE 1394 aka FireWire, iLink

IEEE 802.11 aka Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi certification)

IEEE-488

IP

IPX

Myrinet

QsNet

RS-232

SPX

System Network Architecture

Token Ring

TCP

TCP Tuning for discussion of improving performance of same

USB

UDP

X.25

For a list of more see Network protocols.



For standards see IEEE 802.



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Suggested topics

Further reading for acquiring an in-depth understanding of computer networks include:



Communication theory

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Data transmission

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Wired transmission

Public switched telephone network

Modems and dialup

Dedicated lines 鈥?leased lines

ISDN

DSL

Time-division multiplexing(TDM)

Packet switching

Frame relay

PDH

Ethernet

RS-232

RS-485

Optical fiber transmission

Synchronous optical networking(SONET)

Fiber distributed data interface

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Wireless transmission

Extreme Short range

ZigBee

Short range

Bluetooth

InfraRed(IrDA)

Medium range

WiFi(IEEE 802.11)

Long range

Satellite

MMDS

SMDS

Mobile phone data transmission (channel access methods)

CDMA

CDPD

GSM

TDMA

Paging networks

DataTAC

Mobitex

Motient

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Other

Computer networking device

Network card

Naming schemes

Network monitoring

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See also

Active Networking

Computing

Minimum spanning tree

Graph theory

Prim's algorithm

Robert C. Prim

Vojt臎ch Jarn铆k

Joseph Kruskal

ARPANET

BITNET

Internet

Internet networks:

Backbone

Transit

Stub

Ambient network

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References

Larry Peterson, "Computer Networks" (ISBN 1-55860-832-X).

Andrew S. Tanenbaum, "Computer Networks" (ISBN 0-13-349945-6).

Important publications in computer networks

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External links

Easy Network Concepts (Linux kernel specific)

Computer Networks and Protocol (Research document, 2006)

Computer Networking Glossary

Data Communication Resource



Try some web site of microsft

also do some cources like CCNA , MCSE, LINUX etc from some where than u will learn basics.

Thanks buddy
I do not knowWhat is the best way to learn computer networking?
My husband went to college for 2 years to learn computer networking! Good Luck!





NO, I'm kidding. I don't know if there is anything. Try to go on a website such as amazon.com where they sell books and cds and stuff and see if there is anything on there that you could buy. Even the library may have some books that would provide pretty good pictures for you to look at.



Good Luck
network plus and cisco courses
Here are some basics to get you started:



Ethernet: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ethern鈥?/a>

Lan Switching: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/lan-sw鈥?/a>

Routers: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/router鈥?/a>

Firewalls: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/firewa鈥?/a>



Networking Fundamentals

http://tcpipguide.com/free/index.htm