Networking Fundamentals

The networking every automation engineer needs — taught one screen at a time. Ten lessons, each 6–12 minutes, in the screen-by-screen, predict-then-reveal style. Start at lesson 01 and finish in about 90 minutes. No prior networking knowledge required.

• Lesson 01 — What is a network — Two devices, one cable, the smallest possible network. Build it from scratch.
• Lesson 02 — IP addresses — Every device needs an address. Here's how IPv4 works on the plant floor.
• Lesson 03 — IP classes & private networks — Why your factory uses 192.168 and your phone doesn't.
• Lesson 04 — Subnet masks — How devices know who's on their network — with a live CIDR slider.
• Lesson 05 — MAC vs IP — Two addresses per device, and which one travels where.
• Lesson 06 — Ports & sockets — Same IP, many services — the port concierge.
• Lesson 07 — TCP vs UDP — Reliable vs fast — and the packet race that shows the difference.
• Lesson 08 — The OSI model (practically) — 7 layers, but only 4 you'll touch daily.
• Lesson 09 — Routers, switches, gateways — Build a working network and break it on purpose.
• Lesson 10 — Industrial network topologies — Star, line, ring — and the cut-the-cable simulator.