This text is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in all the information required to prepare for the Network+ Certification exam—network hardware, software, and troubleshooting. Written by two Network+ certified authors with 10 years of network experience, it demystifies the computer network, its hardware and software components, how it connects with other networks, the services it provides, network design and implementation, and how network problems can be solved. Throughout, real-world situational examples follow the exploits of Joe Tekk, a fictitious network technician working, as he encounters the successes and failures commonly associated with computer networks and their operation, and also interacts with many different individuals regarding their networking experiences.