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`Network Fundamentals Study Guide | Webopedia
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`HOME > NETWORKING
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`© Vangie Beal
`February 17, 2015
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`Networking fundamentals teaches the building blocks of modern network design. Learn different types of
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`networks, concepts, architecture and design.
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`Networking fundamentals teaches computer science students the building blocks of
`modern network design. Typically you will learn about the manydifferent types of
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`Sy) networks, networking concepts, network architecture, network communications and
`AAT3 network design.
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`NETWORK FUNDAMENTALS CHECKLIST
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`Jump to a topic:
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`Getting Started: Key Terms to Know
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`Defining a Network
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`Different Types of Networks
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`The Importance of Network Standards
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`Network Components, Devices and Functions
`Network Models
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`The 7 Layers of the OSI Model
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`The TCP/IP model
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`Network Topologies
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`GETTING STARTED: KEY TERMS TO KNOW
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`The following definitions will help you to better understand computer networks:
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`https:/Awww.webopedia.com/reference/network-fundamentals-study-guide/#topologies
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`Network Fundamentals Study Guide | Webopedia
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`6/14/22, 11:08 AM
`e« network
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`e« networking
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`e stub network
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`e star network
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`e
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`ring network
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`e bus network
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`* network map
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`DEFINING A NETWORK
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`A network is a group of two or more computer systems or other devices that are linked together to
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`exchange data. Networks share resources, exchange files and electronic communications. For example,
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`networked computers can sharefiles or multiple computers on the network can share the same printer.
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`DIFFERENT TYPES OF NETWORKS
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`There are many types of computer networks. Common types of networks include the following:
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`e Local-area network (LAN): The computers are geographically close together (that is, in the same
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`building).
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`e Wide-area network (WAN): The computersare farther apart and are connected by telephone lines or
`radio waves.
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`e« Metropolitan-area network (MAN): A data network designed for a townor city.
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`e Home-area network (HAN): A network contained within a user’s home that connects a person's digital
`devices.
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`e Virtual private network (VPN): A network that is constructed by using public wires usually the Internet
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`to connectto a private network, such as a company’s internal network.
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`e Storage area network (SAN): A high-speed network of storage devices that also connects those storage
`devices with servers.
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`RecommendedReading: Webopedia’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) Study Guide.
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`THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORK STANDARDS
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`Network standards are important to ensure that hardware and software can work together. Without
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`standards you could noteasily develop a network to share information. Networking standards can be
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`categorized in one of two ways: formal and de facto (informal).
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`Formal standards are developed by industry organizations or governments. Formal standards exist for
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`network layer software,data link layer, hardware and so on. Formal standardization is a lengthy process of
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`developing the specification, identifying choices and industry acceptance.
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`There are a several leading organizations for standardization including The International Organization for
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`Standardization (ISO) and The American National StandardsInstitute (ANSI). The most known standards
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`https:/Awww.webopedia.com/reference/network-fundamentals-study-guide/#topologies
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`Network Fundamentals Study Guide | Webopedia
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`organization in the world is the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). IETF sets the standards that govern
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`how much of the Internet operates.
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`The second category of networking standardsis de facto standards. These standards typically emerge in
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`the marketplace and are supported by technology vendors but have no official backing. For example,
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`Microsoft Windowsis a de facto standard, butis not formally recognized by any standards organization. It is
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`simply widely recognized and accepted.
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`NETWORK COMPONENTS, DEVICES AND
`FUNCTIONS
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`Networks share common devices and functions, such as servers, transmission media (the cabling used to
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`connect the network) clients, shared data (e.g. files and email), network cards, printers and other peripheral
`devices.
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`The following is a brief introduction to common network components and devices. You can click anylink
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`below to read the full Webopedia definition:
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`Server: A computer or device on a network that manages network resources. Servers are often
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`dedicated, meaning that they perform no other tasks besides their server tasks.
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`Client: A client is an application that runs on a personal computer or workstation and relies on a server
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`to perform some operations.
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`Devices: Computer devices, such as a CD-ROM drive or printer, that is not part of the essential
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`computer. Examples of devices include disk drives, printers, and modems.
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`Transmission Media: the type of physical system used to carry a communication signal from one
`system to another. Examples of transmission media include twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber
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`optic cable.
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`Network Operating System (NOS): A network operating system includes special functions for
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`connecting computers and devices into a local-area network (LAN). The term network operating
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`system is generally reserved for software that enhancesa basic operating system by adding
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`networking features.
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`Operating System: Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs,
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`called application programs, can run. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing
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`input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on
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`the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.
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`NetworkInterface Card (NIC): An expansion board you insert into a computer so the computer can be
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`connected to a network. Most NICs are designed for a particular type of network, protocol, and media,
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`although some can serve multiple networks.
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`Hub: Acommon connection point for devices in a network. A hub contains multiple ports. When a
`packetarrives at one port,it is copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can seeall
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`packets.
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`Switch:A device thatfilters and forwards packets between LAN segments. Switches operate at the
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`datalink layer (layer 2) and sometimes the network layer(layer 3) of the OSI Reference Model.
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`Router: A router is a device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connectedto at least
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`two networks and is located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect.
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`RecommendedReading: The Difference Between Hubs, Switches and Routers
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`Gateway: A node on a network that serves as an entrance to another network.
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`Bridge:A device that connects twolocal-area networks (LANs), or two segments of the same LAN that
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`use the same protocol
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`ChannelService Unit/Digital Service Unit (CSU/DSU): The CSU is a device that connects a terminal to
`a digital line. Typically, the two devices are packaged as a single unit.
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`Terminal Adapter(ISDN Adapter): A device that connects a computer to an external digital
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`communicationsline, such as an ISDN line. A terminal adapter is a bit like a modem but only needs to
`pass along digital signals.
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`Access Point: A hardware device or a computer's software that acts as a communication hub for users
`of a wireless device to connect to a wired LAN.
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`Modem (modulator-demodulator): A modemis a device or program that enables a computer to
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`transmit data over, for example, telephone or cable lines.
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`Firewall: A system designed to prevent unauthorized accessto or from a private network. Firewalls can
`be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both.
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`RecommendedReading: The Differences and Features of Hardware and Software Firewalls
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`MAC Address: A MAC (Media Access Control) address, sometimes referred to as a hardware address or
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`physical address, is an ID codethat's assigned to a network adapteror any device with built-in
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`networking capability.
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`NETWORK MODELS
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`To simplify networks, everything is separated in layers and each layer handles specific tasks and is
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`independentofall other layers. Control is passed from one layer to the next, starting at the top layer in one
`station, and proceeding to the bottom layer, over the channel to the next station and back up thehierarchy.
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`Network models are usedto define a set of network layers and how theyinteract. The two most widely
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`recognized network models include the TCP/IP Model and the OSI Network Model.
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`THE 7 LAYERS OF THE OSI MODEL
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`The Open System Interconnect (OSI) is an open standard for all communication systems.The OSI model
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`defines a networking framework to implement protocols in sevenlayers.
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`Physical Layer
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`This layer conveys the bit stream — electrical impulse,light or radio signal — through the networkat the
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`electrical and mechanical level. It provides the hardware meansof sending andreceiving data ona
`carrier, including defining cables, cards and physical aspects. Examples include Ethernet, FDDI, B8ZS,
`V.35, V.24, RI45.
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`Data Link Layer
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`At this layer, data packets are encoded and decodedintobits.It furnishes transmission protocol
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`knowledge and managementand handleserrors in the physical layer, flow control and frame
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`synchronization. The datalink layer is divided into two sub layers: The Media Access Control (MAC) layer
`and the Logical Link Control (LLC) layer. Examples include PPP, FDDI, ATM, IEEE 802.5/ 802.2, IEEE
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`802.3/802.2, HDLC, FrameRelay.
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`Network Layer
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`This layer provides switching and routing technologies, creating logical paths, knownasvirtual circuits,
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`for transmitting data from node to node. Routing and forwarding are functionsof this layer, as well as
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`addressing, internetworking, error handling, congestion control and packet sequencing. Examples
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`include AppleTalk DDP,IP, IPX.
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`Transport Layer
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`This layer provides transparenttransfer of data between end systems,or hosts, and is responsible for
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`end-to-end error recovery and flow control. It ensures complete data transfer.Examples include SPX,
`TCP, UDP.
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`Session Layer
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`This layer establishes, manages and terminates connections between applications. The session layer
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`sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogues between the
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`applications at each end. Examples include NFS, NetBios names, RPC, SQL.
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`Presentation Layer
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`This layer provides independencefrom differences in data representation (e.g., encryption) by
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`translating from application to network format, andvice versa. This layer formats and encrypts data to
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`be sent across a network, providing freedom from compatibility problems. Examples include
`encryption, ASCII, EBCDIC, TIFF, GIF, PICT, JPEG, MPEG, MIDI.
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`Application Layer
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`This layer supports application and end-user processes. Communication partnersare identified, quality
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`of serviceis identified, user authentication and privacy are considered, and any constraints on data
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`syntax are identified. Everything at this layer is application-specific. This layer provides application
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`servicesfor file transfers, e-mail, and other network softwareservices. Examples include WWW
`browsers, NFS, SNMP,Telnet, HTTP, FTP
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`Recommended Reading: View Webopedia’s The 7 Layers of the OS! Mode! study guidefor in-depth
`descriptions and diagrams.
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`THE TCP/IP MODEL
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`https:/Awww.webopedia.com/reference/network-fundamentals-study-guide/#topologies
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`The TCP/IP network model is a four-layer reference model. All protocols that belong to the TCP/IP protocol
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`suite are located in the top three layers of this model.
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`Application
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`Defines TCP/IP application protocols and how host programs interface with transport layer services to
`use the network. Protocol examples include HTTP, Telnet, FTP, TFTP, SNMP, DNS, SMTP.
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`Transport
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`Provides communication session management between host computers. Defines the level of service
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`and status of the connection used when transporting data. Protocol examples include TCP, UDP, RTP.
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`Internet
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`Packagesdata into IP datagrams, which contain source and destination address information thatis
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`used to forward the datagrams between hosts and across networks. Performs routing of IP datagrams.
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`Protocol examples include IP, ICMP, ARP, RARP.
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`Network interface
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`Specifies details of how data is physically sent through the network, including howbits are electrically
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`signaled by hardware devices that interface directly with a network medium, such as coaxial cable,
`optical fiber, or twisted-pair copper wire. Protocol examples include Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, X.25,
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`Frame Relay, RS-232, v.35.
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`Eachlayer of the TCP/IP model corresponds to one or morelayers of the seven-layer Open Systems
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`Interconnection (OSI) reference model.
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`NETWORK TOPOLOGIES
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`Network topology refers to the shape or the arrangementof the different elements in a computer network
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`(i.e. links and nodes). Network Topology defines how different nodes in a network are connected to each
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`other and how they communicate is determined by the network's topology.
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`Topologies are either physical or logical. There are four principal topologies used in LANs.
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`Bus Topology
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`All devices are connected to a central cable, called the bus or backbone. Bus networksarerelatively
`inexpensive and easy to install for small networks.
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`Ring Topology
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`All devices are connected to one another in the shapeof a closed loop, so that each deviceis
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`connecteddirectly to two other devices, one on either side ofit.
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`Star Topology
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`All devices are connected to a central hub. Star networksare relatively easy to install and manage, but
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`bottlenecks can occur becauseall data must pass through the hub.
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`https:/Awww.webopedia.com/reference/network-fundamentals-study-guide/#topologies
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`Tree Topology
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`Network Fundamentals Study Guide | Webopedia
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`A tree topology combines characteristics of linear bus and star topologies. It consists of groups of star-
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`configured workstations connected to a linear bus backbone cable.
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`These topologies can also be mixed. For example, a bus-star network consists of a high-bandwidth bus,
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`called the backbone, which connects a collections of slower-bandwidth star segments.
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`RecommendedReading: View Webopedia’s What are Network Topologies study guide for in-depth
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`descriptions and diagrams.
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`UPDATED:This page was updated April 2021 by Web Webster.
`
`https://;www.webopedia.com/reference/network-fundamentals-study-guide/#topologies
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