Computer Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Networking Basics
Learn how computers are built, how to care for them, fix common problems step by step, and set up and troubleshoot a safe home or small office network.
- 21 lessons
- 4 h 47 min
- Certificate
Maintenance and networks - Intermediate
Networking Fundamentals: IP Addressing, Routers and Wi-Fi
Understand how networks work: IP addresses, subnetting, DNS, routers, NAT, Wi-Fi, cabling and troubleshooting, and design a small school or office network.
About this course
Every school lab, business and phone depends on networks. This course explains how they really work, so that you can set up a small network, understand the numbers on your router's screen, and find faults without guessing. It builds on the beginner course "Computer Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Networking Basics".
You will learn the layered models of networking, how devices are addressed, how to divide an address range into subnets with worked examples, how routers and NAT connect you to the internet, how Wi-Fi works and how to make it secure, and how to troubleshoot in a calm, step-by-step way. The course ends with a design task for a small computer lab.
The commands shown work on Windows 10 and 11, and the Linux equivalents are given where they differ. Everything can be tried on a normal home or school network without special equipment, and we never ask you to test anything on a network that is not yours.
What you will learn
- Describe the OSI and TCP/IP models and explain packets, protocols and MAC addresses
- Explain the difference between hubs, switches and routers
- Read an IPv4 address and subnet mask, and convert between mask and CIDR notation
- Divide a network into subnets and calculate network, broadcast and host ranges correctly
- Explain DHCP, DNS, NAT, ports and firewalls and what happens when you open a website
- Choose Wi-Fi standards, bands and channels and place access points well
- Secure a network with WPA2 or WPA3, guest networks and updated firmware
- Troubleshoot with ping, ipconfig, nslookup and traceroute, and design and document a small lab network
Course content
5 modules · 20 lessons · 5 h 17 min · 6 quizzes
Module 1: How networks work
Layers, packets, protocols, Ethernet, switches and MAC addresses.
- Networks, packets and protocols 12 min
- The OSI and TCP/IP models in plain words 15 min
- Ethernet, hubs, switches and MAC addresses 14 min
- Network devices and topologies 12 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Module 2: IP addressing
IPv4, private and public addresses, masks, CIDR, subnetting, IPv6, DHCP and DNS.
- IPv4 addresses: structure, private and public 15 min
- Subnet masks and CIDR notation 15 min
- A gentle introduction to subnetting 20 min
- IPv6, DHCP and DNS 16 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Module 3: Routers and the internet
Routing, default gateway, NAT, ports, firewalls, ISPs, what happens when you open a website, traceroute and ping.
- Routing, default gateway and NAT 16 min
- Ports, firewalls and ISPs 15 min
- What happens when you open a website 16 min
- Ping and traceroute 14 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Module 4: Wi-Fi and building a network
Wi-Fi standards, bands and channels, access point placement, security, small networks, cabling and mobile data.
- Wi-Fi standards, bands and channels 15 min
- Access points, placement and Wi-Fi security 16 min
- Setting up a small office or school network 18 min
- Cabling basics and mobile data 15 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Module 5: Troubleshooting and security
A troubleshooting method, diagnostic tools, common faults, basic security, documentation and a lab design task.
- A troubleshooting method and the diagnostic tools 16 min
- Common faults and how to fix them 16 min
- Basic network security and documentation 16 min
- Capstone: design a small computer lab network 25 min
- Quiz: 8 questions
Final exam
30 questions. Pass with 70% or more to earn your certificate.
What you need
- Completion of "Computer Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Networking Basics" or equivalent basic knowledge
- A computer connected to a network (home, school or centre) for the practice tasks