***** part of the full course: MTA - Networking Fundamentals (Teaching and Learning) *****

MTA or Microsoft Technology Associate is an entry-level certification that provides the fundamentals of a certain technology based on Microsoft products. The MTA: Networking fundamentals (exam 98-366) is one of these certifications that will provide essential networking knowledge and skills to you. This certification can be your first step in networking and towards other advanced Microsoft certifications such as MCSA and MCSE. It can be considered as the Microsoft version of Network+ or Cisco ICND1/CCENT.

In this course you will start the first steps of learning about networking. You will learn about what is a computer network, and what are local area networks or LANs, since those are the most basic form of a network you will encounter in real world. After that we have to understand network addresses in order to assign them to devices in our network, and thus enable communication between those devices. But before that, we have to understand numbering systems, such as binary and hexadecimal, since network addresses such as IPv4, IPv6, and MAC are implemented using these numbering systems.

Now as you have understood the concepts of network addressing, it is time to practice with them, and we will use Cisco packet Tracer for that purpose. Afterwards, you have to understand how to map between different types of addresses using ARP, or the Address Resolution Protocol, and why this mapping is needed. Also ICMP or the Internet Control Message Protocol will be explained to demonstrate how communication in computer networks works. And again will we practice both ARP and ICMP using Packet Tracer in order to understand the concepts, and start establishing our hands on expertise.

Furthermore, Network Media Types will be explained, starting with wired network media and its different types, followed by brief but focused explanation of the wireless network media.

Finally, network topologies including Token ring, FDDI, and Ethernet will be explained. To understand Ethernet in practice, the explanation of how both hubs and switches work was included.

I hope that you will join me in this course and start your journey of leaning computer networking. Happy learning!