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Premium Course Syllabus

Computer Networks

Condensed Placement Preparation Syllabus

Networking Fundamentals · Protocols · Security · Interview Ready

6 Modules
28 Topics
6 Quizzes
Core CS

Ideal For

Campus placement technical rounds at service and product companies
GATE CS — Computer Networks section
Backend and network engineering interviews
Students who need fast, structured CN revision

Module-Wise Curriculum

A concise, placement-focused syllabus — covers every key concept without overloading.

1

Module 1

Networking Basics & Osi Model

  • What is a Network — types (LAN, WAN, MAN), topologies (Star, Bus, Ring, Mesh)
  • OSI Model — all 7 layers, function of each, data units (bit/frame/packet/segment)
  • TCP/IP Model — 4 layers, mapping to OSI, why it replaced OSI in practice
  • Transmission Media — guided (twisted pair, coaxial, fiber) vs unguided (radio, microwave)
  • Network Devices — Hub, Switch, Router, Bridge, Gateway — roles and differences
Quiz — Networking Basics
2

Module 2

Data Link & Network Layer

  • Data Link Layer — framing, error detection (CRC, checksum), error correction
  • MAC Addressing — structure, ARP protocol, ARP cache
  • IP Addressing — IPv4 classes, subnetting, CIDR notation, IPv6 basics
  • Routing — static vs dynamic, routing algorithms (Dijkstra / Distance Vector)
  • NAT (Network Address Translation) — private vs public IP, port forwarding
Quiz — Data Link & Network Layer
3

Module 3

Transport & Application Layer

  • TCP vs UDP — connection-oriented vs connectionless, use cases, header fields
  • TCP 3-Way Handshake — SYN, SYN-ACK, ACK — connection setup and teardown
  • Flow Control & Congestion Control — sliding window, TCP congestion avoidance
  • DNS — domain resolution process, A record, CNAME, TTL, DNS hierarchy
  • HTTP vs HTTPS — request-response cycle, status codes, SSL/TLS handshake
  • Application Protocols — SMTP, FTP, SSH, DHCP — purpose and port numbers
Quiz — Transport & Application Layer
4

Module 4

Network Security

  • Firewalls — packet filtering, stateful inspection, application-layer firewalls
  • Common Attacks — DDoS, Man-in-the-Middle, Phishing, SQL Injection (network view)
  • Encryption — symmetric vs asymmetric, SSL/TLS, digital certificates
  • VPN — how it works, tunneling protocols, use cases
Quiz — Network Security
5

Module 5

Wireless & Modern Networking

  • Wireless Networking — Wi-Fi standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), SSID, WPA2
  • Cellular Networks — 3G, 4G LTE, 5G — key differences and bandwidth
  • CDN — Content Delivery Network — how it works, edge servers, use cases
  • Cloud Networking — VPC, load balancers, microservices networking basics
Quiz — Wireless & Modern Networking
6

Module 6

Interview Masterclass

  • Key Differences — TCP vs UDP, HTTP vs HTTPS, IPv4 vs IPv6, Router vs Switch
  • Top 20 CN Interview Questions with structured answers
  • Numericals — subnetting calculations, bandwidth estimation problems
  • Rapid Revision Flashcards — all protocols, ports, and acronyms
Quiz — CN Interview Masterclass

Pattern-First

Learn recurring patterns, not one-off tricks — the fastest path to solving new problems.

Placement-Ready

Every module ends with an assessment or drill mapped to the way rounds are actually run.

AI-Assisted

Unlimited AI Tutor, Mock Interviews and Resume Review are included with your subscription.

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Computer Networks Notes & Interview Questions

Computer networks structured the way interviewers walk through it: the OSI and TCP/IP layers with the responsibility of each, then transport with TCP versus UDP, the three-way handshake, flow and congestion control, then the network layer with IP addressing, subnetting, routing and NAT.

The application layer covers DNS resolution, HTTP and HTTPS, TLS handshakes, cookies and sessions, followed by network security basics, firewalls and common attacks. The recurring 'what happens when you type a URL in the browser' question is answered end to end, layer by layer, because it tests the whole subject at once.

What you'll learn in Computer Networks

  • Networking Basics & Osi Model
  • Data Link & Network Layer
  • Transport & Application Layer
  • Network Security
  • Wireless & Modern Networking
  • Interview Masterclass

Why Computer Networks matters for placements

Networking questions appear in core-CS rounds, in DevOps and backend interviews, and in almost every service-company technical round. They also carry into practical debugging conversations, which is why interviewers like them.

Free vs Premium — what's included

Free

  • This full module-wise syllabus and topic list
  • The free revision course for this subject
  • Free core CS question bank and roadmaps
  • Aptitude and DSA practice sheets

Premium

  • Full lesson content for every module listed above
  • Module quizzes and interview question sets
  • Worked examples, numericals and revision drills
  • All 14 premium placement courses, lifetime access

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between TCP and UDP?

TCP is connection-oriented and reliable with ordering, retransmission and congestion control; UDP is connectionless with no delivery guarantee, lower overhead and lower latency, so it suits streaming, gaming and DNS.

What happens when you type a URL into a browser?

DNS resolution, TCP connection with the three-way handshake, TLS handshake for HTTPS, the HTTP request, server processing and response, then rendering — each step is walked through layer by layer in the course.

Is subnetting asked in placement interviews?

Yes, usually as a small numerical: given an IP and mask, find the network address, broadcast address and usable host count. Practice a few and the pattern is fixed.

Also revise

Free Computer Networks EssentialsOperating SystemsHigh-Level Design