Chapter 1 - Networking basics. This chapter has several objectives: to give a brief history of the internet, to give the definition of the two often-used terms in the discussion of the internet: protocol and standard, to categorize standard organizations involved in the internet and give a brief discussion of each, to define internet standards and explain the mechanism through which these standards are developed, to discuss the internet administration and give a brief description of each branch. | Chapter Overview Network Communications The OSI Reference Model Signals and Protocols A data network is a group of computers connected by a network medium. The network medium carries signals between computers. Signals reduce complex information to the simplest possible form. Computers communicate by using a language called a protocol. Protocol Services Packet acknowledgment Segmentation Flow control Error detection Error correction Data compression Data encryption A Protocol Stack Protocol Interaction Local Area Networks A local area network (LAN) is a collection of computers located in a relatively small area and connected by a common medium. The pattern in which computers in a LAN are connected is called the topology. LAN topologies include bus, star, and ring. The defining protocols for a LAN are the data-link layer protocols. Wide Area Networks Packet Switching Half-Duplex and Full-Duplex Communications Backbone Network Client/Server and . | Chapter Overview Network Communications The OSI Reference Model Signals and Protocols A data network is a group of computers connected by a network medium. The network medium carries signals between computers. Signals reduce complex information to the simplest possible form. Computers communicate by using a language called a protocol. Protocol Services Packet acknowledgment Segmentation Flow control Error detection Error correction Data compression Data encryption A Protocol Stack Protocol Interaction Local Area Networks A local area network (LAN) is a collection of computers located in a relatively small area and connected by a common medium. The pattern in which computers in a LAN are connected is called the topology. LAN topologies include bus, star, and ring. The defining protocols for a LAN are the data-link layer protocols. Wide Area Networks Packet Switching Half-Duplex and Full-Duplex Communications Backbone Network Client/Server and Peer-to-Peer Networking On a client/server network, computers function as either clients or servers. On a peer-to-peer network, computers can function as both clients and servers. Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and Linux are peer-to-peer operating systems. Novell NetWare is a client/server operating system. The OSI Reference Model Data Encapsulation PDU Names at Different OSI Layers OSI Layer Protocol Data Unit (PDU) Name Application Message Transport Segment or datagram Network Datagram Data-link Frame (Any layer) Packet The Physical Layer Defines the hardware elements of the network, including The network medium How the network is installed The type of signaling Includes the following elements: Cables Network interface adapters (also called network interface cards, or NICs) Hubs The Data-Link Layer Includes the following protocols: Ethernet Token Ring Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) The .
