Introduction

The seminar "Introduction to Computer Networks & Internet Technologies" is organized by the specialized high-tech company Digital Academy created by the Group of Lecturers of the NTUA Multimedia Technology Laboratory. It is an intensive seminar that is carried out exclusively by the Distance Learning method, allowing the learner to follow a high-level scientific training program from his home or office or from the place of his choice and at the time of his choice, via the Internet. The program has been designed in such a way by the laboratory, so that it combines high-level theoretical knowledge but also ways of designing and analyzing networks, helping the trainee to develop initiatives, critical thinking and creativity of analysis and design, using the theoretical knowledge of the area of ​​Networks but and the Internet.

The seminar consists of 9 modules that are completed over a period of 4 weeks and corresponds to 140-160 hours of lessons.

Topics

1. Introduction to Computer Networks.
2. Introduction to the OSI and TCP/IP models.
3. IP Address Classes & Subnetting.
4. Media and Devices.
5. IP Routing.
6. Virtual LANs (VLANs) & NAT.
7. Network Security & VPN.
8. Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6).
9. Network Technologies.
10. Final thesis (Network Study).

Methodology

According to our training program, the material is divided into 10 training modules and is concluded with a final assignment lasting two weeks. The program uses the latest version of the free software (open source) Moodle, which is based on the PhP programming platform. The online courses are hosted on proprietary servers incorporating state-of-the-art technologies such as: Processor 2 x Intel Pentium XEON hyperthreading, Memory 32 GB DDR RAM, Hard Disks IBM SCSI U320 HDDs @ 15000 rpm Raptors HardWare RAID 5. The central interface with the Internet is carried out through EDET (National Research and Technology Network) and is of the order of 1 Gbps (EDET has a 2X622 Mbps connection to the INTERNET - Pan-European Research Internet GEANT).

After the seminar

After the seminar the trainee will be able to:

1. Analyze and understand a very wide range of networks, their topologies, their operation, their addressing, as well as how they are routed.
2. It uses the theoretical knowledge it will acquire creatively to provide solutions to basic problems of designing and studying Computer Networks (network design, congestion analysis, bridge-hub choice, routing analysis etc) as well as problems related to Internet Technologies (FTP, Tracert, ping, performance analysis, socket control, netstat, TCP/IP, SMTP, email services, http etc).
3. Draws simple floor plans of Computer Networks, composes topologies and gives design solutions, with critical thinking, to real Network problems, with the help of special design software (Microsoft Visio 2003)
4. To understand the simple operation, the possible problems but also to give simple solutions regarding various corporate local networks (Security, Firewalls, Proxy Server, File-Printer Sharing).
5. To develop critical thinking and simple planning and problem-solving initiative regarding local PC Networks, the various Internet Technologies and their extensions (e-commerce, m-commerce etc).

Purpose of the seminar

The purpose of the training program is to provide the necessary resources and scientific qualifications to people who already work in companies or are studying and wish to acquire introductory knowledge in the field of Computer Networks and Internet technologies. The course starts from scratch and is intended for people who have no previous experience in PC Networking or have very limited experience and would like to go deeper and significantly improve their knowledge level.