Today's networks are required to support an increasing array of real-time communication methods. Video chat and live resources put demands on networks that were previously unimagined. Written to be accessible to all, Fundamentals of Communications and Networking, Third Edition helps readers better understand today's networks and the way they support the evolving requirements of different types of organizations. While displaying technical depth, this new edition presents an evolutionary perspective of data networking from the early years to the local area networking boom, to advanced IP data networks that support multimedia and real-time applications. The Third Edition is loaded with real-world examples, network designs, and network scenarios that provide the reader with a wealth of data networking information and practical implementation tips. Labs: Lab 1: Assessing the Physical and Logical Network Infrastructure Lab 2: Analyzing Data Link and Network Layer Traffic with Wireshark Lab 3: Analyzing Transport and Application Layer Traffic with Wireshark Lab 4: Configuring a Layer 2 Network with the Spanning Tree Protocol Lab 5: Configuring a Layer 3 Network with Dynamic Routing Protocols Lab 6: Designing a Network Topology with GNS3 Lab 7: Configuring an SNMP Manager and Alerts Lab 8: Monitoring and Auditing Network Activity Lab 9: Implementing a Layered Security Solution on the Network Lab 10: Troubleshooting Common Network Issue.