This intro book aims to explain the key concepts, design, protocols, and infrastructure behind today’s Internet connectivity in plain language that anyone can understand. Originally coming from a popular online networking course it shows the clever way global digital networks are put together through topics like TCP/IP, hardware pieces, and a quick history – without needing special skills or math smarts.
Recommended for:
- Beginner to intermediate readers interested in learning about how the internet and networking technologies work.
- Students and professionals from diverse backgrounds (STEM, non-STEM) who want to gain a fundamental understanding of internet history, architecture, and protocols.
- Learners seeking an open educational resource that covers networking concepts in an accessible, engaging manner.
- Readers interested in exploring a new approach to building remixable open educational resources.
You will:
- Gain a comprehensive introduction to the history, technology, and security aspects of the internet.
- Understand the fundamental protocols, architectures, and technologies that enable internet communication and functionality.
- Learn about the evolution of the internet, from its origins to modern developments.
- Explore key networking concepts such as TCP/IP, DNS, routing, and internet security.
- Engage with interactive quizzes and exercises to reinforce your understanding of networking principles.
- Discover opportunities to contribute to the open-source development of the course materials through pull requests and feedback.
- Have the option to further your learning by taking the related “Internet History, Technology, and Security” course on Coursera.
Detailed overview
At around 120 pages, the book breaks down even complicated networking stuff into clear terms a general audience can follow and it covers the standards and communication protocols that define the whole structure as well as the hardware gadgets that let worldwide data trading happen. While not tied to specific certifications, it gives a nice introduction for folks checking out exams in the field. Created first by a University of Michigan teacher, the material reached over 100,000 online students. Published in 2015 under a Creative Commons license, the goal is demystifying the underlying digital tech that’s everywhere in life today. The book serves both technical and non-technical readers curious to grasp the basics yet key magic of Internet workings. Reviews praise its simple style revealing the wonders underneath today’s connected digital experiences.
In short, the book takes an accessible, engaging way to expose readers to the technical marvels beneath global networking through topics like a quick history, TCP/IP networking parts, and protocol design – without intimidating lingo or advanced knowledge requirements.
Citation
Severance, C. R. (2015). Introduction to networking: How the internet works. Retrieved from https://www.dr-chuck.com/net-intro/
Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. The full text of the license is available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
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