Need some advice on learning networking

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Have you considered checking with your nearest community college to see what they might offers as far as computer science courses in operating systems, networking, computer security and programming?

Not really. This isn't anything I'd want to do for a living. It's interesting and I never intended to take it this far. It's one of those things that's hard to put down. As soon as I learn one thing, it opens the door on 20 other things. And I like the challenge.

[srvctec]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Not really. This isn't anything I'd want to do for a living. It's interesting and I never intended to take it this far. It's one of those things that's hard to put down. As soon as I learn one thing, it opens the door on 20 other things. And I like the challenge.

Well, You've certainly come a long way since this thread started!! I like the "simple" networking stuff (basically just what is required to hook up and/or troubleshoot a MFP for printing/scanning issues) and even tried to be the "IT guy" at our office (in addition to being a service tech) when ours left and just couldn't wrap my head around the more complicated stuff. I love a good challenge but more prefer a challenge of mechanical issues vs. network (I'm WAY more mechanically inclined than anything else). So, I had to go to the bosses at the time and just let them know that they were gonna have to get an actual IT guy/firm instead of me trying to wear both hats because if I kept going down that road, I was going to self-destruct.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Well, You've certainly come a long way since this thread started!! I like the "simple" networking stuff (basically just what is required to hook up and/or troubleshoot a MFP for printing/scanning issues) and even tried to be the "IT guy" at our office (in addition to being a service tech) when ours left and just couldn't wrap my head around the more complicated stuff. I love a good challenge but more prefer a challenge of mechanical issues vs. network (I'm WAY more mechanically inclined than anything else). So, I had to go to the bosses at the time and just let them know that they were gonna have to get an actual IT guy/firm instead of me trying to wear both hats because if I kept going down that road, I was going to self-destruct.

I still consider myself a dumbass when it comes to networking. There's so much I don't know. But I'm less of a dumbass than when I started.

I had a lot of help from members on this site. If I had a question, they'd break it down to where I could understand it. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to even get started.


I hear you on the self destructing thing. I often feel that way when I get frustrated. At times I have to step away for a day or 3.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Using Cisco Packet Tracer has sped up the learning curve x 1000. Light bulbs are going off all over the place and that used to be few and far between. I can't say enough good things about it. My understanding is that Cisco Packet Tracer used to be only available if you went to one of Cisco's accredited schools but they recently released it to the public for free.


Anyway, I have VLANS down to the point where I can create them with no problem. While that is great, it's not enough to merely know how to do it, it's important to understand why they're needed and the benefits. For one thing, it cuts down on broadcast traffic from one PC to another. If every PC was on the same vlan, every port on the switch would receive broadcast traffic. When you create separate VLAN's...only the PC's on that VLAL will receive broadcast traffic that's intended for the desired PC.

VLAN's, along with firewalls, can greatly cut down on network traffic thus creating less potential problems.

[slimslob]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Using Cisco Packet Tracer has sped up the learning curve x 1000. Light bulbs are going off all over the place and that used to be few and far between. I can't say enough good things about it. My understanding is that Cisco Packet Tracer used to be only available if you went to one of Cisco's accredited schools but they recently released it to the public for free.


Anyway, I have VLANS down to the point where I can create them with no problem. While that is great, it's not enough to merely know how to do it, it's important to understand why they're needed and the benefits. For one thing, it cuts down on broadcast traffic from one PC to another. If every PC was on the same vlan, every port on the switch would receive broadcast traffic. When you create separate VLAN's...only the PC's on that VLAL will receive broadcast traffic that's intended for the desired PC.

VLAN's, along with firewalls, can greatly cut down on network traffic thus creating less potential problems.

I had a school district that had 7 campuses, a district office, maintenance office/bus garage, a warehouse/print shop and IT office/server bank. Each location had it own separate LAN. They were all tied together with a VLAN. Printing was possible to any printer but since each campus had at least one MFP it wasn't used. Scan to folder was done to the central file server with each user having their own home directory set up through their profiles on Active Directory. As all models were new enough to print limits through user code each person had an annual limit. IT was able to edit the address books from his desk for all the machines.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I had a school district that had 7 campuses, a district office, maintenance office/bus garage, a warehouse/print shop and IT office/server bank. Each location had it own separate LAN. They were all tied together with a VLAN. Printing was possible to any printer but since each campus had at least one MFP it wasn't used. Scan to folder was done to the central file server with each user having their own home directory set up through their profiles on Active Directory. As all models were new enough to print limits through user code each person had an annual limit. IT was able to edit the address books from his desk for all the machines.

Some of that is beyond the scope of my knowledge.

I have some questions for you on this but my brain is shot. I'll post my questions tomorrow.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I had a school district that had 7 campuses, a district office, maintenance office/bus garage, a warehouse/print shop and IT office/server bank. Each location had it own separate LAN. They were all tied together with a VLAN. Printing was possible to any printer but since each campus had at least one MFP it wasn't used. Scan to folder was done to the central file server with each user having their own home directory set up through their profiles on Active Directory. As all models were new enough to print limits through user code each person had an annual limit. IT was able to edit the address books from his desk for all the machines.

When I first read this it kinda blew my mind. I did a little research this morning and I think I understand how to do this. I think this is accomplished by setting up inter-vlans. While I knew that inter-vlans was possible across a single switch, I didn't know it was possible across multiple switches. That's a game changer. At least in my mind because I didn't know it was possible.


This will be my new project for today. These networks are getting bigger and more complicated.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Instead of building new networks on Packet Tracer that dealt with switches and VLANS, I decided to do some reading on the basics so as not to get ahead of myself. I mainly read up on trunking, access ports, and VLANS. All was going well. Nothing too complicated. But then I ran across VTP Protocol - VLAN Trunking Protocol.


VLAN Trunking Protocol's primary goal is to manage all configured VLAN's across a switched network. Basically how this works is that you have a VTP Server (it's still a switch) where all managed switches can be configured at one central location. One switch would be the VTP Server and all the other switches would be VTP Clients. Imagine if a business had 10 or 20 switches on different floors in the building. Without VLAN Trunking Protocol, you'd have to go to every switch to configure it and it would be easy to make a mistake.


I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on this but found it interesting.

[slimslob]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

And then there are cloud services. VLAN - IBM Cloud.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

And then there are cloud services. VLAN - IBM Cloud.

Everything seems to be headed to cloud computing. This networking stuff is like trying to peel an opinion. There's a lot of layers and tears are involved.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I've spent the past several hours learning about trunking. I finally figured out how to set it up via command line but then I decided to set up parallel trunking. If one trunk goes down, you're still in business because traffic will be routed to the other trunk. The only problem is that when you have a parallel path that it could create a "loop" and crash the entire network. And that's where spanning tree comes in. I don't know that I'm gonna go down the spanning tree path. I may touch on it.


Anyway, I built a network with 2 switches. Created 4 VLANS, added 8 computers and set up parallel trunking. It all worked.

The next thing I'm gonna do is see if I can set up some inter-VLANS on layer 2 switches and use a router to communicate across all VLANS.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I never dreamed that switches could be so damn complicated. Take trunking for example. Trunking is needed to carry VLAN tags from one switch to another. Simple enough concept. Some switches have gigabit ports for trunking. Other switches do not and you have to change access ports to trunk ports. Then there's parallel trunking. Then there's spanning tree protocol and backwards compatibility. It goes on and on and on.

Then there VLANS, inter-Vlans. Vlan Servers and Clients.

Did I mention having to lean all the command lines?

And I don't think I've scratched the surface yet.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I'm about 37 minutes into a hour long video. It's a very in-depth explanation of VLANS, switches, and routers and how they all work together to communicate across inter-VLANS. He also explains the OSI model and the different layers that are involved.

Probably the most interesting thing thus far is a: "Router On A Stick." Anyone ever heard of that?

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I'm still watching this video. This is some really cool stuff. Instead of this guy saying..."here's the test commands, set it up", he explains what's actually happening and how it works Sure, you could set it up if you have a little knowledge and the test commands, but you'd be in trouble if you had to do any trouble shooting...that is, unless you understand what's going on behind the scene. It's certainly been an eye opener for me. I'll post the video when I'm done watching if anyone is interested.

[tsbservice]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I'm still watching this video. This is some really cool stuff. Instead of this guy saying..."here's the test commands, set it up", he explains what's actually happening and how it works Sure, you could set it up if you have a little knowledge and the test commands, but you'd be in trouble if you had to do any trouble shooting...that is, unless you understand what's going on behind the scene. It's certainly been an eye opener for me. I'll post the video when I'm done watching if anyone is interested.

It's interesting for me to follow your thread because I'm all in copiers all day long and sometimes it's refreshing to take a side route
Please keep it up.