Networking Fundamentals
A vendor-neutral path from the OSI model through IPv4 subnetting, IPv6, routing, core services, TLS and firewall architecture. Every room shows which network control it supports and what evidence proves it.
10
rooms
1680
total XP
9h
est. time
What you'll be able to do
- ›Subnet any IPv4 block by hand, including VLSM and summarisation
- ›Explain switching, routing, NAT, DNS and TLS at the packet level
- ›Design segmentation and review a firewall rule set against policy
- ›Name the network evidence an auditor will ask for and where it lives
Rooms
Network Models and Encapsulation
Trace a request through two network models, calculate payload budgets, and choose evidence that actually supports a control claim.
Ethernet, Switching and VLANs
Trace Ethernet forwarding, diagnose ARP deception and loops, and distinguish VLAN separation from enforceable access policy.
IPv4 Addressing and CIDR
Decode IPv4 bits, calculate CIDR boundaries, and distinguish private addressing from actual isolation.
Subnetting in Depth
Calculate IPv4 boundaries, allocate unequal networks, and challenge unsafe route summaries with reproducible evidence.
IPv6 Essentials
Read IPv6 addresses, distinguish scope and configuration mechanisms, and close dual-stack control gaps.
Routing and NAT
Trace forwarding decisions, distinguish routing convergence from loop protection, and separate address translation from access control.
Transport and Core Services
Reconstruct transport sessions, address allocation and name resolution without overstating what network evidence proves.
Secure Protocols and PKI
Trace authenticated encryption from TLS negotiation to certificate lifecycle controls and VPN boundaries.
Network Security Architecture
Trace permitted flows, contain lateral movement, and prove firewall controls with configuration and operational evidence.
Networking Fundamentals Capstone
Allocate a verified VLSM plan, enforce zone boundaries, and test an ordered firewall policy against permitted flows.