Networking Fundamentals: IP, Packets, DNS, and Redundancy

Bandwidth

the maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time, usually measured in bits per second

Computing Device

a machine that can run a program, including computers, tablets, servers, routers, and smart sensors

Computing Network

a group of interconnected computing devices capable of sending or receiving data.

Computing System

a group of computing devices and programs working together for a common purpose

Path

the series of connections between computing devices on a network starting with a sender and ending with a receiver

IP Address

The unique number assigned to each device on the Internet

Internet Protocol (IP)

a protocol for sending data across the Internet that assigns unique numbers (IP addresses) to each connected device

Protocol

An agreed-upon set of rules that specify the behavior of some system

Fault Tolerant

Can continue to function even in the event of individual component failures. This is important because elements of complex systems like a computer network fail at unexpected times, often in groups.

Redundancy

The inclusion of extra components so that a system can continue to work even if individual components fail, for example by having more than one path between any two connected devices in a network

Router

A type of computer that forwards data across a network

Packet

A chunk of data sent over a network. Larger messages are divided into packets that may arrive at the destination in order, out-of-order, or not at all

Domain Name System (DNS)

the system responsible for translating domain names like example.com into IP addresses

HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

the protocol used for transmitting web pages over the Internet

World Wide Web

a system of linked pages, programs, and files

Digital Divide

differing access to computing devices and the Internet, based on socioeconomic, geographic, or demographic characteristics

UDP

User Datagram protocol used instead of TCP when guaranteed delivery of each packet is not necessary.

TCP

Transmission Control Protocol - provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of a stream of packets on the internet.

Datastream

• a continuous flow of data that is being transmitted or received. It can be thought of as a steady stream of information flowing from one point to another.