Internet Jargon

Internet Jargon

Internet:

           Internet is a global computer network which provides services to various                applications by using standardized protocols.

Internet

End Systems:

• End systems are devices like laptop,desktop,mobile etc which sit at the end of computer networks and run various applications like email,web browser program, web server programs etc.

• End systems are also referred to as hosts.

End Systems

• There are two types of hosts:clients and servers

• The clients can access data or services provided by the server.

Clients and Servers

Communication Links:

Communication links are physical media like optic fiber,coaxial cable or radio spectrum which connects two communicating devices.

Radio Spectrum for Communication

Network Cables

Transmission Rate:

• Transmission Rate is defined as number of bits transmitted in unit time.

• Its unit is Bits/Second.

Packets:

• When data is to be sent through a communication link from one end system to the other it is segmented into packets.

• Every packet has header bits which contain information about the destination where it is to be sent.

Packet Switch:

A packet switch takes packet arriving at one of its incoming communication link and sends it to one of its outbound link according to destination address.

Packet Switch

Route/Path:

Route or Path is the sequence of communication links and packet switches traversed by a packet from sending end system to receiving end system.

ISP(Internet Service Provider):

                      According to Wikipedia ISP(Internet Service Provider) is an organization that provides services for accessing, using, or participating in the Internet. 

   

Protocols:

• Protocols define the format and order of messages exchanged between two communicating devices.

• Internet standard protocols are developed by IETF(Internet Engineering Task Force).

• The standard documents are called RFCs (Requests For Comments).

Access Networks:

• An access network is a type of network which physically connects an end system to the immediate router (also known as the “edge router”) on a path from the end system to any other distant end system.

• Example of access networks are DSL(Digital Subscriber Link), FTTH(Fiber To The Home), HFC(Hybrid Fiber Coaxial Network) etc.