UNIT 3 : Computer Networks

14.5
COMMUNICATION AND NETWORK CONCEPTS

(ii) Each packet is given a number serialwise e.g., 1, 2, 3.

(iii) All these packets are then sent to the address of destination computer.
(iv) The destination computer receives the packets in random manner. (It may
even receive packet 10 before packet 1 arrives). If a packet is garbled or lost, it
is demanded again.
(v) The packets are reassembled in the order of their number and the original
message/file/document is obtained.
Let us now see what all helps Internet in doing so.

Internet Functioning
The reason that the Internet works at all is that every computer connected to it uses the

.
same set of rules for communication. Do you know that set of rules is called protocol ?

O
The communication protocol used by Internet is TCP/IP.
m The TCP (i.e., Transmission Control Protocol) part is responsible for dividing the

C
file/message into packets on the source computer. It (TCP) is also responsible for
reassembling the received packets at the destination or recipient computer.

&
m The IP (i.e., Internet Protocol) part is responsible for handling the address of
destination computer so that each packet is routed (sent) to its proper
destination. You shall learn about TCP/IP in details later in the chapter.
AI
The future of Internet is said to be in Interspace. Let us know what Interspace is.
R
14.4.3 The Interspace
InterSpace is a client/server software program that allows multiple users to com-
T

municate online with real-time audio, video and text chat in dynamic 3D environments.
InterSpace provides the most advanced form of communication available
PA

InterSpace InterSpace is a on the Internet today.

client/server software program
The Interspace is a vision of what the Internet will become, where users
that allows multiple users to
cross-correlate information in multiple ways from multiple sources. It is
communicate online with real-
AN

an applications environment for interconnecting spaces to manipulate

time audio, video and text chat
in dynamic 3D environments. information, much as the Internet is a protocol environment for
interconnecting networks to transmit data.
H

14.4.4 Elementary Terminology of Networks

It is now time to learn about the components/terms mostly used in networking.
D

Whenever we talk about a network it includes the hardware and the software that make
NOTE up the network. Now let us have a look at some typical hardware
A computer becomes a components of network.
workstation of a network as
14.4.4A Nodes (Workstations)
soon as it is attached to a
network. The term nodes refers to the computers that are attached to a network and
are seeking to share the resources of the network. Of course, if there were
no nodes (also called workstations), there would be no network at all.
Server A computer that
facilitates the sharing of data, 14.4.4B Server
software, and hardware On small networks, sometimes, all the shareable stuff (like files, data,
resources (e.g., printers, software etc.) is stored on the server. A network can have more than one
modems etc.) on the network, server also. Each server has a unique name on the network and all users of
is termed as a Server. network identify the server by its unique name.