Networking Basics
OSI model, TCP/IP, how routers work, DNS resolution, and IP addressing - the foundational concepts behind all network communication.
Published June 12, 2024
Networking Basics
These concepts sit underneath everything else in a homelab. Routers, containers, VMs, DNS, and service discovery all rely on the same core networking building blocks.
In This Section
- OSI Model - how network traffic moves from application data down to the wire and back again.
- TCP/IP Protocols - reliable vs fast transport, handshakes, and where TCP and UDP fit.
- Router Essentials - DHCP, NAT, firewall behavior, and what your router actually does.
- IP Addressing and Subnetting - private address space,
/24notation, and a practical homelab layout. - DNS Fundamentals - resolution flow, local hostnames, and custom DNS entries.
Suggested Reading Order
Start with the OSI model if you want the mental model first, then move through TCP/IP, router behavior, addressing, and DNS. If you are troubleshooting a service that is already deployed, the router, addressing, and DNS pages are usually the fastest path.