FYI, the modern version of the intro networking book we (UC undergrad computer science) had 20 years ago is Computer Networks 6th ed. by Tanenbaum.
If you want a programming language to really dig into parsing and creating packets and binary data, Erlang (and Elixir), while a completely different programming paradigm daunting to novice users, are unmatched (pun intended) in generating and parsing binary packets with a native and flexible binary data type.
If you want to be able to observe, decode, and inspect real packets on your local network, then you need wireshark and/or tcpdump.
If you want a home lab for simulating various networks with various clients, servers, and network devices either XenServer (free) or VMware ESXi (pirated "free" v.7 or maybe v.8) are good options because they simulate dumb virtual switches, virtual networks, and virtual computers (VMs) in another piece of software that replaces a real computer's (usually a server but rarely a desktop or laptop, but also it can run inside a VM on desktop, laptop, or server using what's called a type-2 hypervisor) operating system with its own (type-1 hypervisor). (VMware pre-Broadcom and Citrix engineering cultures had an unspoken, unwritten "gentleman's agreement" that industry-limited pirating was cool so long as it wasn't unreasonable, and product licensing wouldn't break customers' production and would be limited to nags. Comes from the mouth(s) of (a) certain former product manager(s) at one or more of the above entities. Pirating developer use for self-demoing within the industry was a nonzero, unrecognized sales acquisition channel that was probably important in large customer bases but under-appreciated... most engineers/IT people don't want to have to deal with vendor sales/sales engineering meeting free lunches and sit through vendor demos so see if a product trial will work or just to get an installer and a demo license key.)
PS: I'm wondering if there's retro networking/netadmin homelab community that buys 10 Mbps - 1 GbE Cisco gear and goes through CCIE courseware to see all the old protocols and old problems like spanning tree loops, crossover cables pre auto–MDI-X, and duplex flapping with Intel PRO/1000 in generation 8-9 HP and Dell servers.
FYI, the modern version of the intro networking book we (UC undergrad computer science) had 20 years ago is Computer Networks 6th ed. by Tanenbaum.
If you want a programming language to really dig into parsing and creating packets and binary data, Erlang (and Elixir), while a completely different programming paradigm daunting to novice users, are unmatched (pun intended) in generating and parsing binary packets with a native and flexible binary data type.
If you want to be able to observe, decode, and inspect real packets on your local network, then you need wireshark and/or tcpdump.
If you want a home lab for simulating various networks with various clients, servers, and network devices either XenServer (free) or VMware ESXi (pirated "free" v.7 or maybe v.8) are good options because they simulate dumb virtual switches, virtual networks, and virtual computers (VMs) in another piece of software that replaces a real computer's (usually a server but rarely a desktop or laptop, but also it can run inside a VM on desktop, laptop, or server using what's called a type-2 hypervisor) operating system with its own (type-1 hypervisor). (VMware pre-Broadcom and Citrix engineering cultures had an unspoken, unwritten "gentleman's agreement" that industry-limited pirating was cool so long as it wasn't unreasonable, and product licensing wouldn't break customers' production and would be limited to nags. Comes from the mouth(s) of (a) certain former product manager(s) at one or more of the above entities. Pirating developer use for self-demoing within the industry was a nonzero, unrecognized sales acquisition channel that was probably important in large customer bases but under-appreciated... most engineers/IT people don't want to have to deal with vendor sales/sales engineering meeting free lunches and sit through vendor demos so see if a product trial will work or just to get an installer and a demo license key.)
https://search.worldcat.org/title/1085945855
PS: I'm wondering if there's retro networking/netadmin homelab community that buys 10 Mbps - 1 GbE Cisco gear and goes through CCIE courseware to see all the old protocols and old problems like spanning tree loops, crossover cables pre auto–MDI-X, and duplex flapping with Intel PRO/1000 in generation 8-9 HP and Dell servers.