358 - Networks

3 September

TODO:Textbook:

• Source: Computer Networking, 8/e (7/e or 6/e are also acceptable), James F. Kurose, Keith W. Ross.

 

Questions:

• What are the components of the internet as a network?
• How can we quantify the performance of a network?
• Did we build a good network or a bad network?
• EfficientHow can we efficiently study techniques.the components of the internet?
  

Question. If we decompose the internet, what kind of components would we see? Well, there are essentially 2 ways to view the Internet:

• From top-down/bottoms-up view: software and hardware components
• From network application developer's view

Diagram.We discuss the first perspective first.

First component. PDAs, IoTs (end devices) pass through internet to retrieve data from servers (hosts)

Second component. Communication links, can be wired or wireless.

Third component. Routers "packet switches", DNS. Packet switches deliver packets from one end to another.

Fourth component: Network.

Fifth component: Network protocols, e.g. TCP, HTTP.

Distinction. Network core vs. network edge.

Internet standards. IETF and RFCs.

Second defn. of Internet

Defn.Definition. Computer network:network := a group/collection of end-devices, links, packet switches, controlled by a single entity. Thus the Internet may be defined as a "network of networks".

Types of networks.

At the network edge, hosts are divided into either clients or servers.

Access network first point of access when sending a packet, routes to closest packet switch (?)
Is network that connects endpoints to first packet switch connected to the Internet.
Network core consists of routers and switches.

How do end-devices make contact with edge routers? Variety of ways, e.g.:
- Residential access nets (such as ?)
- Institutional access networks (corporate, school intranet)
- mobile access networks (WiFi, 4G)