By Dargslan in books — 25 Nov 2025

Networking Basics: IP, DNS, and Subnets

Networking Basics: IP, DNS, and Subnets,Learn core networking concepts like IP, DNS, and subnets with simple explanations.

Confused by IPs, ports, and protocols? You’re not alone. With the right guide, networking becomes a clear, practical skill you can use at work, in a lab, or at home.

This accessible resource turns complex concepts into step-by-step learning. You’ll go from “What does DNS even do?” to confidently planning subnets, reading packet flows, and troubleshooting real connectivity issues.

Understand Core Networking Concepts for Beginners and IT Learners

Overview

Networking Basics: IP, DNS, and Subnets is a friendly, expert-led roadmap to the foundations that keep modern networks running. It delivers a structured, hands-on approach to Networking, guiding you from TCP/IP fundamentals and IP addressing to practical subnetting, DNS resolution, and network routing with clarity and confidence.

Across concise chapters, you’ll explore gateways, DHCP configuration, common network protocols, and port assignments while building a mental model of how packets move through network infrastructure. You’ll practice diagnosing connectivity issues, mastering network commands, and applying network security basics to keep systems resilient and compliant in real-world environments.

The result is a complete, career-ready foundation spanning IPv4 and IPv6, subnet masks, and network design—supported by diagrams, step-by-step labs, and troubleshooting playbooks. Perfect as an IT book, programming guide, and technical book, this resource truly lives up to its promise: Understand Core Networking Concepts for Beginners and IT Learners, and apply them with confidence.

Who This Book Is For

New and aspiring IT professionals — Build a solid foundation in TCP/IP, DNS, and subnetting so you can excel in help desk, NOC, or junior network roles.
Students and certification candidates — Prepare for entry-level exams with practical explanations, diagrams, and exercises that reinforce key outcomes.
Developers, sysadmins, and career changers — Bridge knowledge gaps, speak the language of networking, and confidently solve day-to-day connectivity challenges.

Key Lessons and Takeaways

Plan and implement addressing schemes — Master IP addressing, subnet masks, and subnetting to design scalable, efficient networks.
Resolve and route with confidence — Understand DNS resolution, network routing, gateways, and port assignments to keep services reachable and fast.
Troubleshoot like a pro — Use network commands and structured playbooks to diagnose connectivity issues, verify configurations, and improve network security basics.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Clarity comes first: every concept is presented in plain language, then reinforced with diagrams and step-by-step walkthroughs. You won’t just memorize definitions—you’ll build a deep, working understanding of how the pieces fit together.

It’s also relentlessly practical. From DHCP configuration to reading DNS records and routing tables, you’ll apply concepts immediately through exercises and real scenarios. The appendices add lasting value with a comprehensive glossary, quick subnetting references, essential command guides, and curated tools to continue learning.

How to Get the Most Out of It

Follow the progression: Start with TCP/IP fundamentals and IP addressing, then move to DNS, routing, and subnetting. Save advanced troubleshooting and design chapters for last—each section builds on the previous one.
Apply as you learn: Practice with real devices, a home lab, or virtual machines. Configure a DHCP scope, query DNS records, and trace a route to see how theory maps to packet flows.
Reinforce with mini-projects: Design a small office IP plan, document port assignments for a web app, and write a troubleshooting checklist using ping, traceroute, nslookup/dig, and netstat/ss.