Truly understanding Networking? [closed]

Question

I understand the basics of networking such as Lan and stuff. I know what many of the protocols are and how to build a client/server socket program in C. But what I really want is a very good understanding of how networks actually work. Not only from a programming aspect but also from a application aspect. I am looking for some material(preferably a book) which will give me a very good foundation to go off of. I am in the middle of wanting to be a programmer or a UNIX admin, so I really should learn and know how to apply networking fundamentals.

Does any such a concise resource exist? Would it be better going the more academic route by buying a networking book(such as those from Tanenbaum or Kurose), or is it better to go the It route possibly looking into network admin text or certification books.

Thank you all so much.

Answer 1

Here is the way I would recommend:

• Learn how Internet Evolved, this would give you the reason why they needed it
• Learn the different protocols - HTTP, telnet, ssh esp the secure ones SFTP, HTTPS etc
• Learn what are sockets and types of sockets
• Learn how you can do socket programming. I suggest you to use Python sockets to do the programming
• Learn the TCP/IP network stack. That would be beneficial
• Learn how routing works, this is important for learning
• Try to have a sound knowledge of topics like DNS, it is very important
• Get VirtualBox and install various OS and try to internetwork them. Play around with the networking stack of the OS.