This chapter focuses on advanced networking topics, including network design, network component upgrades, and e-mail server installations. Basic networking topics, such as safety, network components, and preventive maintenance, are also discussed.

To meet the expectations and needs of your customers and network users, you must be familiar with networking technologies. You must understand the basics of how a network is designed and why some components affect the flow of data on a network. Troubleshooting advanced network situations is also described in this chapter.

After completing this chapter, you will meet these objectives:

• Identify potential safety hazards and implement proper safety procedures related to networks.
• Design a network based on the customer's needs.
• Determine the components for your customer's network.
• Implement the customer's network.
• Upgrade the customer's network.
• Describe installation, configuration, and management of a simple mail server.
• Describe preventive maintenance procedures for networks.
• Troubleshoot the network.