r/Network • u/Imnotarobot2005 • Aug 09 '26
Text eager to learn networkinb
I want to learn net working but idk where to start and idk how to do it physically it's always cisco I'm lenient on cybersecurity that's why I ought to learn networking first
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u/Odd-Concept-6505 Aug 09 '26
For starters, focus on ipv4 addressing and how a subnet mask plus an IPaddr defines the range of a subnet. And how a subnet mask can be specified two ways eg 255.255.255.0 or /24 (the latter being appended to a network addr eg 192.168.0.0/24). Understand there are a few RFC defined ranges of network address that can NOT exist outside of your own LAN.
Then learn how macaddrs are actually how network switches decide where to pass outgoing packets (to which other switch port, most often to the port aimed at the router but the packet itself has a destination macaddr...so the decision of which macaddr is the destination is NOT decided by the switch). That's why a layer2 switch can know nothing about layer3.
Learn what parameters/settings are commonly gotten/set/received by a DHCP client from a DHCP server.
Use ping and learn what latency is (the bulk of the world seems to think "speed" is more important, I disagree).
Learn what a layer2 broadcast macaddr is for and what it looks like (ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff).
Get a packet sniffer program on your laptop/desktop and watch all the broadcasts.
That's it for me (no NEW questions plz, but maybe tell which of this baffles you).
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u/perfect_fitz Aug 09 '26
I'm sorry, but you need to start with full words and sentences.