Internet protocols and network hardware

Internet protocols
  • Set of rules
  • used for network devices to communicate each other
  • a standard method in transmitting data across the network

Communication layers
  • Physical
  • Data link
  • Network
  • Transport
  • Application

Ethernet

TCP - Transmission control protocol
  • Ensures that data is transmitted accurately
IP - Internet protocol
  • makes sure that data is delivered to the correct address

Handshaking - the initial communication between two devices that enables exchange of data to take place

Parity check - a means of verifying that data has been transmitted accurately
the bit at the start of the byte is called the parity bit, whilst the remaining seven bits are used to represent the data being transmitted

Network hardware

  • Network hub - connects computers together in a network and distributes data from one device to the others on the network
    • does not read any of the data in th packets which arrive from a computer, but just sends them on
    • may amplify the signal before sending it on
    • passive hub - does not amplify the signal of the data packets but merely sends the data on its way
  • Switches - can have a number of other devices connected to it. able to direct network traffic using MAC (Media Access Control) address of a data packet
    • more advance than a hub
    • data from any computer is transmitted to its destination without congesting the other ports
    • knows addresses of each device attatched to it (has them stored in the form of an internal table
    • when it is sent a packet from one device, it notes the address of the device that sent it and forwards the packet on to all the other computers
  • Routers

Intranets
a website located on a private network within an organization
only for the use of members of that organization
Firewalls prevent people outside the organization from accessing the intranet
Smaller than Internet<---global
advantage over traditional LAN - based on Internet protocols
a client-server relationship between computers, devices and the servers
each device is allocated an IP address and data are identifire using a URL data being transmitted uses HTTP
Useful?
  • local e-mail - sending messages within the organisation
  • getting members more in contact through e-mails and videoconferences
  • easier to share information acoss an intranet rather than sending memos
  • provide faster access to documents and statistics
  • sharing diaries, organizing meeting times
  • provide discussion forums
  • employees up to date with the organisation's policies

WLANs (Wireless local area network) - no wires/cables other than the wiring that connects the WLAN access points together a WLAN uses either spread spectrum radio waves or infrared signals to enable devices to communicate with each other

Wi-Fi (Wireless fidelity) - wireless networking
using radio waves instead of cabling
Data translated into radio signal and decodes it