Networks: Friends, Money, and Bytes from Coursera

You pick up your iPhone while waiting in line at a coffee shop. You google a not-so-famous actor, get linked to a Wikipedia entry listing his recent movies and popular YouTube clips of several of them. You check out user reviews on Amazon and pick one, download that movie on BitTorrent or stream that in Netflix. But suddenly the WiFi logo on your phone is gone and you're on 3G. Video quality starts to degrade, but you don't know if it's the server getting crowded or the Internet is congested somewhere. In any case, it costs you $10 per Gigabyte, and you decide to stop watching the movie, and instead multitask between sending tweets and calling your friend on Skype, while songs stream from iCloud to your phone. You're happy with the call quality, but get a little irritated when you see there're no new followers on Twitter. You may wonder how they all kind of work, and why sometimes they don't. Take a look at the list of 20 questions below. Each question is selected not just for its relevance to our daily lives, but also for the core concepts in the field of networking illustrated by its answers. This course is about formulating and answering these 20 questions. All the features of this course are available for free. It does not offer a certificate upon completion.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for beginners seeking foundational knowledge

Explores networking concepts commonly encountered in daily life

Delivered by recognized instructors in the field of networking

Taught by instructors who are highly regarded for their expertise

Reviews summary

Engaging course on networking fundamentals

This course offers engaging content and practical examples to help you understand core networking concepts. It's a valuable resource for anyone wanting to delve into the fundamentals.

Helps visualize complex concepts

"...learnt a lot through the course..."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Networks: Friends, Money, and Bytes with these activities:

Review Network Fundamentals

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Review basic concepts of networking to strengthen understanding of the course material.

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Read through lecture notes from previous networking courses.
Complete practice problems related to network fundamentals.
Set up a small network in a simulated environment.

Explore Network Simulation Tools

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Gain practical experience with network simulation tools to enhance understanding of network concepts.

Browse courses on Network Simulation

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Identify a network simulation tool (e.g., NS-3, OPNET, GNS3).
Follow tutorials to learn the basics of the tool.
Build and simulate simple network scenarios.

Analyze Network Traffic Data

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Practice analyzing network traffic data using tools like Wireshark to identify patterns, troubleshoot issues, and enhance understanding of network behavior.

Browse courses on Network Analysis

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Capture network traffic using a tool like Wireshark.
Filter and analyze the captured data.
Identify patterns and trends in the network traffic.

Four other activities

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Develop Network Design Diagrams

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Create network design diagrams to visualize and document network configurations, improving understanding of network architecture.

Browse courses on Network Design

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Gather information about the network requirements.
Use a network design tool to create a logical diagram.
Generate a physical diagram based on the logical design.

Participate in Hands-on Network Labs

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Apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings by participating in hands-on network labs, enhancing understanding and problem-solving skills.

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Locate workshops or training programs that offer hands-on network labs.
Register and participate in the labs.
Configure and troubleshoot network devices.

Attend Industry Conferences

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Network with professionals, learn about industry trends, and gain insights into real-world applications of networking concepts.

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Identify relevant industry conferences.
Register and attend the conferences.
Engage with speakers and attendees.

Contribute to Open-Source Networking Projects

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Gain practical experience in networking by contributing to open-source projects, deepening understanding of network protocols and implementation details.

Browse courses on Linux

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Identify open-source networking projects (e.g., Linux kernel, network protocols).
Read the project documentation and codebase.
Make code contributions or report bugs.

Career center

Learners who complete Networks: Friends, Money, and Bytes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, build, and maintain computer networks. This course would be useful for Network Engineers, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for designing and implementing networks. The course would also help Network Engineers to develop skills in network security and performance optimization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers design and implement network security systems. This course would be useful for Network Security Engineers, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how network security systems work. The course would also help Network Security Engineers to develop skills in network security and intrusion detection.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Network Administrator

Network Administrators are responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of computer networks. This course would be useful for Network Administrators, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for managing and troubleshooting networks. The course would also help Network Administrators to develop skills in network security and performance optimization.

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Cloud Architect

Cloud Architects design and manage cloud computing systems. This course would be useful for Cloud Architects, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how cloud computing systems work. The course would also help Cloud Architects to develop skills in cloud security and performance optimization.

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Security Analyst

Security Analysts are responsible for protecting computer networks and systems from unauthorized access and attacks. This course would be useful for Security Analysts, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how networks are attacked and defended. The course would also help Security Analysts to develop skills in network security and intrusion detection.

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Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts protect computer networks and systems from unauthorized access and attacks. This course would be useful for Information Security Analysts, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how networks are attacked and defended. The course would also help Information Security Analysts to develop skills in network security and intrusion detection.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers bridge the gap between software development and operations teams. This course would be useful for DevOps Engineers, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how software development and operations teams interact. The course would also help DevOps Engineers to develop skills in cloud computing and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD).

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts help organizations make data-driven decisions by collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data. This course would be useful for Data Analysts, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how data is transmitted and stored. The course would also help Data Analysts to develop skills in data visualization and analysis, which are essential for communicating data-driven insights to stakeholders.

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Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for the management and maintenance of databases. This course would be useful for Database Administrators, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how databases interact with networks. The course would also help Database Administrators to develop skills in database security and performance optimization.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. This course would be useful for Data Scientists, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how data is transmitted and stored. The course would also help Data Scientists to develop skills in data visualization and analysis, which are essential for communicating data-driven insights to stakeholders.

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IT Manager

IT Managers are responsible for the planning, implementation, and management of information technology systems. This course would be useful for IT Managers, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how IT systems work. The course would also help IT Managers to develop skills in IT strategy and planning.

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Systems Administrator

Systems Administrators are responsible for the management and maintenance of computer systems. This course would be useful for Systems Administrators, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how computer systems interact with networks. The course would also help Systems Administrators to develop skills in network administration and troubleshooting.

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Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course would be useful for Software Developers, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how software applications interact with networks. The course would also help Software Developers to develop skills in network programming and distributed systems.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for software and hardware products. This course would be useful for Technical Writers, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how networks work. The course would also help Technical Writers to develop skills in writing clear and concise technical documentation.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design, develop, and maintain websites. This course would be useful for Web Developers, as it would provide them with a foundation in networking concepts that are essential for understanding how websites interact with networks. The course would also help Web Developers to develop skills in web programming and web hosting.

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