How to learn TCP/IP
As TCP/IP is what governs almost all modern networks, it is a good idea to learn TCP/IP if you are either a system or a network administrator. I suggest the following steps for learning TCP/IP and its protocols:
- Make simple connections using telnet to better understand a protocol.
- Study relevant RFCs to fully understand a protocol.
- Read books.
- Make more complex TCP/IP connections using telnet.
- Study the network traffic and the TCP/IP packets using WireShark.
What to read? Link to heading
- Internetworking with TCP/IP, Volume I, Douglas E. Comer, 1991, Prentice Hall
- TCP/IP Illustrated, Vol 1-3, W. Richard Stevens, Addison Wesley
- SMTP RFC: http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5321
- POP3 RFC: http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1081