Data: Messages to be shared between sender and receiver.
Communication Channel: Capable and reliable pathway for transporting messages.
Protocols: Establish accurate meanings of messages for both senders and receivers.
Physical Connection: Independent of the messages sent.
Message: Information exchanged between communicating parties.
Sharing: Connection exists between applications on sender and receiver's ends.
Signaling: Represents messages transported physically.
Examples:
POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)
Web Servers and Browsers.
HTTP Request sent:
GET /webapps/login/ HTTP/1.1
Host: blackboard.bentley.edu
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:01:44 GMT
User-Agent and Connection information included.
HTTP Response received:
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Contains various headers like Date, Server info, Set-Cookie, etc.
Includes body content as <HTML content>
.
Collaboration: Involves communication between cooperating applications at each end.
Forms of Messages: Can include data, programs, files.
Limitations: Varying message lengths and multimedia representation.
Messages are represented as a byte stream in serial communication.
Longer messages may tie up channels, causing issues for others.
Definition: Group of related packets forming a single message.
Structure:
Encapsulated data within a packet header.
Header contains information about the packet.
Purpose: Solve channel availability issues and maximize utilization.
Analogy: Packets are like envelopes containing pages of data.
Also referred to as frame or datagram.
Also Known As: Preamble.
Contents:
Description of packet.
Destination address.
Source address.
Information about the data sent.
Increases efficiency and simplifies operations.
Suitable for routing data.
Allows multiple packets from different sources to share a channel.
Each sender-receiver pair appears to have its own channel.
Facilitates block data processing instead of character-by-character.
Simplifies synchronization with clear start and stop points.
Definition: Path for messages between nodes.
Details:
May include intermediate nodes forwarding packets.
Each end’s interfaces may differ.
Links: Segments within a channel.
Bandwidth: Bit rate of the overall channel.
Guided Channels: Communications limited to specific paths.
Unguided Channels: Not limited to a specific path.
Data Transmission Directionality:
Simplex: One-direction communication.
Half-duplex: Two directions but only one at a time.
Full Duplex: Both directions simultaneously.
Connections: Point-to-point or multipoint.
Examples: Wired Ethernet, Bluetooth, WiMax.
Definition: The fundamental layout of a network.
Impacts: Availability, speed, and congestion.
Types:
Physical Topology: Actual wiring layout.
Logical Topology: Operational relationships between components.
Mesh Network
Multiple paths between nodes; failure of one node doesn't stop the network.
Bus Topology
Simplest wiring; often for wireless networks.
Star Topology
Nodes connect to a central device; failure of the central device causes entire network failure.
Ring Topology
Closed loop; packets travel from node to node.
Definition: Connects computing devices in a small localized area.
Typical Size: From a single room to multiple buildings nearby.
Components: Mostly personal computers and workstations.
Connection: Routers and gateways may connect to other networks.
Ethernet Hubs:
Based on bus topology; passive device for connections.
Declining use in favor of switches.
Ethernet Switches:
Allows direct connections between any two nodes.
Supports multiple communications simultaneously at full bandwidth.
Max data rates and ranges for various standards:
802.11a: 54 Mbps, 60 feet.
802.11b: 11 Mbps, 300 feet.
802.11g: 54 Mbps, 300 feet.
802.11n: 150 Mbps, 600 feet (up to 4 streams).
802.11ac: 450 Mbps, under development (supports up to 8 streams).
Definition: Larger than a LAN but within a geographic scope of 30 miles.
Features: May connect multiple interconnected buildings (Campus Area Network).
Role: Often required running wires or connecting facilities using service providers.