Chapter 1. Introduction to Computer Networking

This chapter gives you a light-hearted perspective about networks, how they were originally created, and why networks work the way they do. Although no specific fact from this chapter happens to be on any of the CCNA exams, this chapter helps you prepare for the depth of topics you will start to read about in Chapter 2, “The TCP/IP and OSI Networking Models.” If you are brand new to networking, this short introductory chapter will help you get ready for the details to follow. If you already understand some of the basics of TCP/IP, Ethernet, switches, routers, IP addressing, and the like, go ahead and skip on to Chapter 2. The rest of you will probably want to read through this short introductory chapter before diving into the details.