CHAPTER 4

Network Building Blocks

In this chapter, you will learn about

• Basic networking components, including switches and routers

• Two main network operating systems—Windows and UNIX

• Servers in general and various types of servers in particular

• External storage systems, including RAID systems

So far we have outlined the basics of how data travels across a network, including giving a description of the logical model for defining that process—the OSI model—in Chapter 2. It’s important to understand the OSI model because, as you learn more about network devices and protocols, you’ll hear the layers referenced again and again.

In coming chapters, we drill down further into the layers of the OSI model, but first things first. Before you ...

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