IPv4 and the Binary Breakdown

Had a really good time at school today.

Our Cisco class today consisted of a short lecture than open lab time. I like how our instructor Mr. Stark breaks things down. He really does like to add some humor in a topic that is pretty technical in nature and he also gives the class an opportunity to answer questions that are presented.

Normally I'll have just enough time to jot down some math on a scratch piece of paper to get a response going. Most instructors won't do that, consistently at least, so it shows how patient he is. Which is great because I'm normally asking plenty of questions too.

We were discussing how to break down IP assignments between the network and host portions of an address and how to find the pattern to gather the range of IP's you could assign. The math itself isn't overly complicated but the fact that you have to redo your formula as soon as you move from bit to another bit outside of octets is what was tripping me up a little.

Then he made it SO much easier after we started breaking things down into binary. In a 32 bit address scheme the 4 octets that are separated by dots are really only for humans to figure out what's going on. I'll be honest, I kinda giggled until he explained what he  meant.

So when we look at an IP address we see 192.168.2.1, but a computer just understands binary. So they don't see those dots. So when you break down an IP to binary (I'll use the one from up top here) it looks like this  11000000 10101000 00000010 00000001. Removing the dots in the addressing seemed to make it easier for me to convert.

Here's a table I found that breaks it down by bits in each octet.

Of course this was only half of the solution. There still is the subnet mask which is what will tell a computer which part of the IP address to use as the network and host portions. In some cases it appears that the subnet mask is more important to understand than the IP address itself, because understanding the amount of hosts you can use will determine how large your network can be.

It took me a minute but we did a few more range calculations and it all made sense to me. Then I realized how massive and particular any one network could be.

Here's a video I found if you're interested in really learning this concept step by step.

IP Addresses and Subnetting

DEMO DAY!! But I don't destroy anything

Hi everyone, I was super excited to try my hand at a video blog. I decided to go with a demonstration of how to make an ethernet cable.

A couple of notes:

The materials shown can be purchased online or at your local Home Depot.
The quality of the video isn't the highest so I apologize if some parts go in and out of focus
Great YouTube channel related to networking. Eli The Computer Guy

I got your Protocol right here buddy!

This past week I've been extremely excited to learn how network protocols work. I'm pretty amazed at the amount of protocols there are and still some how these things work around each other.

So when I hear the word protocol, I think of a way something has to be done. For example: When you approach a red light when driving, the protocol is to stop your vehicle and wait until you see the green light which gives you the signal to proceed. Nothing to tricky about that, but we don't call it a driving protocol or RLGLP (Red Light, Green Light Protocol), everyone that's taught to drive learns those are the rules. It that scenario then, I guess I would be the computer, but it only makes sense to me because I know how to drive.

I started having some issues trying to figure out how apply that logic to network protocols. In theory the definition of protocol doesn't change. Completely simplified, it's a set of rules used to communicate information. So when I ask someone what is the most common network protocol they know, I would most likely be told it's TCP/IP.

But what does that mean? Where does this protocol come from? How and when is it applied? Can we just go back to red light, green light please?

Now TCP/IP is really just one of thousands of protocols that a computer uses. And while it's not required to know every protocol, it's extremely important to know why certain protocols are being used.  With that being said you might think I have book that is titled "Protocols, LOL Have Fun Buddy!", but actually I don't. 

There was a class I had last week that really opened my mind up to how these things interact with each other. I'll be honest, it was pretty simple after it was explained and it made me pretty happy after it clicked. Below is a slide that tried to explain what happens when a protocol is used.

After this was broke down a bit for me I was able to wrap my head around the entire concept. The picture above represents a protocol. There are two people talking, they can understand one another, and they take turns talking. When one person called, the other one says hello, and when they are done talking whoever is last to speak says goodbye. BOOM, protocol in action.

So then I realized I wasn't as confused about protocols I as I thought. I really just wanted to know what all the protocols were and what they do. So when it comes to computer protocols there really is only one goal that they have, which is to communicate the data that relates to that specific protocol. Every time you try to send or receive information on your computer there are a ton of protocols that jump into action. Whether it be to communicate within the hardware, software or over the network. 

For me this is one of the coolest aspects of networking so far because it's not just about knowing why protocols are used. I really want to know when protocols are used, for what purpose, what data are they sharing, what rules are applied at any one time?

As I continue the semester I really look forward to getting heavy into protocols, because they provide all the rules needed to understand whats really going on with network communication. 

And if you don't know the rules, you can't play the game.

Weekend Review - 2 Weeks at MATC

It has been two weeks of class' here at MATC and I couldn't be more motivated. What I've found I enjoy more than just learning new things is the massive amount of resources that is provided by the college and instructors.

Of course we know that "the Google" reins supreme when it comes to providing information, but when it comes to having material taught to you I have to say that MATC really has a great understanding of what it takes to mold minds into the plug and play model.

While every class does have a book assigned to it, there are a lot of compliments to them as well. Two of my courses have access to CBTNuggets which is an awesome video tutorial series helping guide you along the course material.

Also, being enrolled at MATC (in an IT program) gives you access to DreamSpark which allows you to download free full versions of programs that relate to the course material. This is great so that most of us don't have to use our "work-a-rounds" to practice on applications that give us experience using up to date tools in the industry.

Then of course there are very specific tools related to the Cisco classes. By far the most challenging of the classes but with the most resources to offer. I hands down love how they've developed their program. You have online quizzes, pretests, interactive tutorials, and what must be their crowning achievement, the packet tracer program. This program simulates active, real time network traffic and is remarkably thick. There are guides that walk you through processes and a checker button to analyze what you have and haven't accomplished in any one practice. If I could meet the team that had the idea to put this together I would give them all a hug...for real.

Aside from the amazing amount of resources I find the instructors lectures increasingly helpful. There's an honest sense of wanting to make sure we succeed and they all seem to genuinely care if we need help on a topic. They all have real world experience and they appear to grasp the course material in a way to present it in a meaningful manner. That and they all have a sense of humor. Even if the majority of the material is technical its refreshing to see how they can toss a joke in here and there while referring to something.

The last and I dare to say the most valuable resources I found that we have is each other. One of our classes we are strongly encouraged to work with each other, inside and outside of class. There are so many tools at our disposal that I have never thought of using but now see how remarkable they can be. Specifically the ability to work on documents live with another person. If you never have, let me tell you, there's something extremely exciting about sharing information in real time with someone who's right there on your screen. Checking notes, bouncing ideas back and forth, it's really something.

There's much more to learn as I progress though the semester. I plan on sharing some of the things I learn along the way. Until next time!

The Time is Now - Returning to MATC

As I sit down to write this post, I struggle quite a bit to think of what I want to say. What should I say to the big bad Internet out there? 

Last week, I returned to school, just like I have in the past. But this time it feels different. I have a goal, a plan and this is just the first step in it. A little back story should help...

In 2003-2004, I enrolled at MATC to gain a Marketing and Business Management degree. At that time I had dreams of helping create a video game empire. Every little kids' dream, right? My best friend since 1st grade and I had already been working on a Multi-User Dungeon (MUD), a few online games and stories for our very own RPG. He was and still is an excellent programmer, which at that time was simply the baseline for making a video game. We had a few other people involved, someone for art, I knew a couple local bands that would do music if needed, and a couple of contributors for story and design. 

I personally wasn't too great at programming, although I tried. And my art and music talents were less than desirable. But there was one thing I was pretty good at; getting people together, starting a dialogue and forming a game plan. Which all seemed to fit a degree in business, but alas life got in the way and I had to put school by the wayside.

Fast forward 11 years... Marriage, child, house and a career in production had left me out of the technology game. Most of my friends involved in computers had already established strong careers and I, while satisfied with my personal life, struggled more and more each day enjoying my professional journey.

I still kept up with new technology, because ever since my first computer I just couldn't get enough. From games, to design, music, and everything in between, I still loved it. 

Then, things started falling into place for a comeback. 

In the back of my head I had always said, "If this happens, I'm going back to school." "If that happens, I know I can do it." If that, if this; those terms had basically been running through my mind ever since I left school. So finally, with the support of my wife, friends, and family I pulled the trigger. 

So here I am world!! Enrolled in the Network Specialist Program at MATC. Why networking? Well because just like humans, computers love to talk to each other and I love getting people together for a chat.