1.3.21

Network Protocols

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Network Protocols

For devices to communicate, they first need to mutually decide on a set of rules for how the communication will take place.

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Network protocols

  • A network protocol can be thought of as several rules that define how data is transmitted between connected devices.
  • Protocols exist for any data exchange between two devices.
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What is in a protocol?

  • Common decisions made in a protocol are:
    • How communication should start and end (handshaking).
    • How data should be structured.
    • Which network port communication should be over.
    • How to check if the received data is correct.
    • What to do if something goes wrong.

Transmission Protocols

In any network, we need a set of protocols which determine how data will be transmitted and how it will be structured.

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Ethernet

  • Ethernet is a protocol that defines how data should be physically transmitted between network hardware.
  • Ethernet is used in wired networks.
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WiFi

  • WiFi (802.11x) is a set of protocols defining how data should be transmitted using radio waves.
  • WiFi is used in wireless networks.
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Transmission Control Protocol

  • Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) splits data from applications into small pieces called 'packets'.
  • Each packet has a header and a payload.
    • The header is data about how the packet should reach its destination.
    • The payload is the actual data that needs to be sent.
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Internet Protocol

  • Internet Protocol (IP) defines how data packets should be sent between networks.
  • An IP header is added to each packet with the source and destination IP address.
    • Routers use this information to deliver the packet to the correct network.

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1Computer Systems

1.1Systems Architecture

1.2Memory & Storage

1.3Computer Networks, Connections & Protocols

1.4Network Security

1.5Systems Software

1.6Ethical, Legal, Cultural & Environmental Concern

2Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming

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