Network & Connectivity

Network protocols are standardized rules and procedures that govern how data is transmitted, received, and interpreted across a network. They ensure that different devices and systems can communicate effectively regardless of their underlying hardware or software.

• Protocols exist at various layers of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, each serving a specific purpose.
• Common protocols include TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) for reliable data transfer, HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) for web communication, and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) for email transmission.
• Protocols define aspects such as data formatting, error handling, flow control, and addressing methods.
• The use of standardized protocols enables interoperability between different networks and devices from various manufacturers.

IP (Internet Protocol) addressing is a system used to uniquely identify devices on a network and route data between them. It’s a crucial concept in networking that allows for the proper delivery of information across both local and wide area networks.

• IPv4 (32-bit) and IPv6 (128-bit) are the two main versions of IP addressing currently in use.
• IP addresses can be static (manually assigned and fixed) or dynamic (automatically assigned by DHCP servers).
• Subnetting is used to divide larger networks into smaller, more manageable segments, improving efficiency and security.
• Network Address Translation (NAT) allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address, conserving IPv4 addresses and providing a layer of security.

Network topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of devices, nodes, and connections in a network. The choice of topology can significantly impact a network’s performance, scalability, and resilience.

• Common physical topologies include bus, star, ring, mesh, and tree configurations.
• Logical topologies describe how data flows within the network, which may differ from the physical layout.
• Each topology has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, ease of installation, fault tolerance, and scalability.
• Hybrid topologies, combining elements of multiple basic topologies, are often used in complex networks to leverage the strengths of different configurations.
• The choice of topology can affect factors such as data transmission speed, network congestion, and ease of troubleshooting.