Networking NOob

[NaiMan]

How should I ask this question...

What do you guys recommend for someone who wants to get into this field, besides taking classes at school.

or I want to know everything about Network, where do I start?

any book recommendations, ariticles, etc?

Thanks a bunch

 

[GreyMittens]

Originally posted by: NaiMan
How should I ask this question...

What do you guys recommend for someone who wants to get into this field, besides taking classes at school.

or I want to know everything about Network, where do I start?

any book recommendations, ariticles, etc?

Thanks a bunch

It will be tough to learn 'everything about networks' you will have to focus more on one area and specialize though knowing a bit about each of the other areas certainly helps.

Do you want to:
- Learn how to install, setup and configure cables / fibre etc?
- Work with operating systems in corporate environments (servers, workstations on windows or linux?)
- Wide Area networks over the internet or satelite / microwave?

My particular skill set is focuses on Windows networks (back office such as server, exchange, sql etc.). Even if you go Linux, Novell or Unix you will *need* to have a good understanding of TCP/IP. My mind now is starting to go crazy with all the stuff out there, dns, printers, firewalls, routers etc. etc.

Wow... If you have *zero* knowledge of networking, network protocols etc. I would honestly start off with a 'networks for dummies' book or something - no offense here at all. Read that, they usually cover a fairly broad range of areas.. if you read that book and find a few areas that seem to interest you, read another book that focuses more on those topics . (windows/linux/wide area networks etc.)

I have been doing this now for 15 years and I'm always learning (and sadly forgetting) things. One thing for certain though, you will *never* know everything about networks. They're fun though and it's been an enjoyable career for me so far... just remember. Do or do not, there is no try 🙂

gm

 

[Atheus]

Get some old machines (the older the better in some ways...) and some network cards and cables, install some different operating systems, and just play with it. Set up a webserver or something, run your own dns, your own email, write your own firewall scripts and test them for security, write network code.

 

[nweaver]

learn tcp/ip and subnetting, learn routing basics, and use some old boxes to setup complex routing stuff.

 

[destrekor]

a good start is to read A+ books that deal with Network Operating Systems (NOS's) or CCNA Semester 1 books.
as long as you have a decent amount of computer knowledge, any of those books can be a great read.
I can't point any good books out. I am enrolled in A+ Semester 2 and CCNA Semester 3/4 at my highschool so its all online curriculum direct from Cisco. But there are course books available at Barnes and Noble and similar bookstores. Hell the library might even have something close to them.

 

[NaiMan]

Great. I do have some old computers laying around and a few switches here an there. I know how to hook them up (plug in what fits) but when it comes to configuring i'll probably have to read more into those.

"My particular skill set is focuses on Windows networks (back office such as server, exchange, sql etc.). Even if you go Linux, Novell or Unix you will *need* to have a good understanding of TCP/IP. My mind now is starting to go crazy with all the stuff out there, dns, printers, firewalls, routers etc. etc. "

I would like to follow your footsteps and become your padawan GreyMittens.

seriously, that is the field I want to get into.


Thanks for all the advice...I will start learning now since I just graduated