Computer Networking: A

Top-Down Approach
8th edition
Jim Kurose, Keith Ross
Pearson, 2020
1
Chapter 1: introduction
Chapter goal:
▪ Get “feel,” “big picture,”
introduction to terminology
• more depth, detail later in
course
Overview/roadmap:
▪ What is the Internet? What is a
protocol?
▪ Network edge: hosts, access network,
physical media
▪ Network core: packet/circuit switching,
internet structure
▪ Performance: loss, delay, throughput
▪ Protocol layers, service models
▪ Security
▪ History
Introduction: 1-2
The Internet: a “nuts and bolts” view
Billions of connected mobile network
computing devices: national or global ISP
▪ hosts = end systems
▪ running network apps at
Internet’s “edge”

Packet switches: forward

local or
packets (chunks of data) Internet
regional ISP
▪ routers, switches
home network content
Communication links provider
network datacenter
▪ fiber, copper, radio, satellite network

▪ transmission rate: bandwidth

Networks enterprise
▪ collection of devices, routers, network
links: managed by an organization
Introduction: 1-3
“Fun” Internet-connected devices
Tweet-a-watt:
monitor energy use

bikes

Pacemaker & Monitor

Amazon Echo Web-enabled toaster +

IP picture frame
weather forecaster
Internet
refrigerator
Slingbox: remote cars
control cable TV
Security Camera AR devices
sensorized, scooters
bed
mattress

Gaming devices
Others?
Internet phones Fitbit
Introduction: 1-4
The Internet: a “nuts and bolts” view
mobile network
4G
▪ Internet: “network of networks” national or global ISP
• Interconnected ISPs
• Internet Service Provider

▪ protocols are everywhere Skype

IP
Streaming
video
• control sending, receiving of
messages local or
regional ISP
• e.g., HTTP (Web), streaming video,
Skype, TCP, IP, WiFi, 4G, Ethernet home network content
provider
HTTP network datacenter
▪ Internet standards network
Ethernet
• RFC: Request for Comments
• IETF: Internet Engineering Task enterprise
TCP

Force network

WiFi
Introduction: 1-5
The Internet: a “services” view
▪ Infrastructure that provides mobile network

services to applications: national or global ISP

• Web, streaming video, multimedia

teleconferencing, email, games, e- Streaming
commerce, social media, inter- Skype video
connected appliances, … local or
regional ISP
▪ provides programming interface
to distributed applications: home network content
provider
• “hooks” allowing sending/receiving HTTP network datacenter
network
apps to “connect” to, use Internet
transport service
• provides service options, analogous enterprise
to postal service network

Introduction: 1-6
 Internet vs Web
▪ The Internet is a global network of networks , also referred as the Net.
• is mostly based on hardware.
▪ The Web, also referred to formally as World Wide Web (www) is a
collection of information that is accessed via the Internet.
• WWW is more software-oriented
▪ The Internet is the infrastructure, while the Web is served on top of that
infrastructure.
▪ The Internet is superset of WWW, whereas the World Wide Web is a
subset of the Internet.
▪ Internet first appeared in the late 1960s whereas World Wide Web was
created in 1989.

Introduction: 1-7
What’s a protocol?
Human protocols: Network protocols:
▪ “what’s the time?” ▪ computers (devices) rather than humans
▪ “I have a question” ▪ all communication activity in Internet
▪ introductions governed by protocols

Rules for:
Protocols define the format, order of
… specific messages sent messages sent and received among
… specific actions taken network entities, and actions taken
when message received,
or other events on message transmission, receipt

Introduction: 1-8
What’s a protocol?
A human protocol and a computer network protocol:

Hi TCP connection
request
Hi TCP connection
response
Got the
time? GET http://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross
2:00
<file>
time

Q: other human protocols?

Introduction: 1-9
Chapter 1: roadmap
▪ What is the Internet?
▪ What is a protocol?
▪ Network edge: hosts, access network,
physical media
▪ Network core: packet/circuit
switching, internet structure
▪ Performance: loss, delay, throughput
▪ Security
▪ Protocol layers, service models
▪ History
Introduction: 1-10
A closer look at Internet structure
mobile network

Network edge: national or global ISP

▪ hosts: clients and servers

▪ servers often in data centers
local or
regional ISP

home network content

provider
network datacenter
network

enterprise
network

Introduction: 1-11
A closer look at Internet structure
mobile network

Network edge: national or global ISP

▪ hosts: clients and servers

▪ servers often in data centers
local or
Access networks, physical media: regional ISP

▪wired, wireless communication links home network content

provider
network datacenter
network

enterprise
network

Introduction: 1-12
A closer look at Internet structure
mobile network

Network edge: national or global ISP

▪ hosts: clients and servers

▪ servers often in data centers
local or
Access networks, physical media: regional ISP

▪wired, wireless communication links home network content

provider
network datacenter

Network core: network

▪ interconnected routers
▪ network of networks enterprise
network

Introduction: 1-13
Access networks and physical media
Q: How to connect end systems mobile network
national or global ISP
to edge router?
▪ residential access nets
▪ institutional access networks (school,
company)
local or
▪ mobile access networks (WiFi, 4G/5G) regional ISP

home network content

provider
network datacenter
network

enterprise
network

Introduction: 1-14
Access networks: cable-based access
cable headend

cable splitter
modem

C
O
V V V V V V N
I I I I I I D D T
D D D D D D A A R
E E E E E E T T O
O O O O O O A A L

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Channels

frequency division multiplexing (FDM): different channels transmitted in

different frequency bands
See this video (Optional) Introduction: 1-15
What is a Modem?

• A modem is a device that transforms digital

information from computer into analog signals
that can transmit over wires (and vice versa)
by modulating and demodulating electrical
impulses.
• Those impulses are sent through phone lines,
coaxial cables, or other types of wiring.
• Most standalone modems have just two ports:
one that connects to the outside world, and an
Ethernet jack that connects to a computer or a
router.

Introduction: 1-16
Access networks: cable-based access
cable headend

cable splitter cable modem

modem CMTS termination system
data, TV transmitted at different
frequencies over shared cable ISP
distribution network

▪ HFC: hybrid fiber coax

• asymmetric: up to 40 Mbps – 1.2 Gbps downstream transmission rate, 30-100 Mbps
upstream transmission rate
▪ network of cable, fiber attaches homes to ISP router
• homes share access network to cable headend
Introduction: 1-17
Access networks: digital subscriber line (DSL)
central office telephone
network

DSL splitter
modem DSLAM

voice, data transmitted ISP

at different frequencies over DSL access
dedicated line to central office multiplexer

▪ use existing telephone line to central office DSLAM

• data over DSL phone line goes to Internet
• voice over DSL phone line goes to telephone net
▪ 24-52 Mbps dedicated downstream transmission rate
▪ 3.5-16 Mbps dedicated upstream transmission rate
Introduction: 1-18
 • A router is a device that connects two or
more networks or subnetworks.
• It serves two primary functions:
• managing traffic between different networks
• It connects multiple computers, phones, tablets,
What is a or other devices to form a managed local area
network and to use the same Internet
router? connection.

• Wireless Access Point vs Wi-Fi Router

Introduction: 1-19
 What Is Wi-Fi?
▪ Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices such as
computers (laptops and desktops), mobile devices (smart phones
and wearables), and other equipment (printers and video cameras)
to exchange information with one another, creating a network and to
interface with the Internet.
▪ Internet connectivity occurs through a wireless router. When you
access Wi-Fi, you are connecting to a wireless router that allows your
Wi-Fi-compatible devices to interface with the Internet.
▪ Wi-Fi is not an acronym; it is a brand name created by a marketing
firm

Introduction: 1-20
 What is an Access Point (AP)?
▪ An access point is a device that creates a wireless local area network,
or WLAN, usually in an office or large building.
▪ An access point connects to a wired router, switch, or hub via an
Ethernet cable.
▪ Access points can handle over 60 simultaneous connections each.
▪ An access point takes the bandwidth coming from a router and
stretches it so that many devices can go on the network from farther
distances away.

Introduction: 1-21
What is a wireless router?
▪ A wireless router combines the
networking functions of a wireless
access point and a router.
▪ A wireless router is sometimes referred
to as a wireless local area network
(WLAN) device. A wireless network is
also called a Wi-Fi network.
▪ Wireless routers are commonly found
in homes.

Introduction: 1-22
Access networks: home networks
Wireless and wired
devices

to/from headend or
central office
often combined
in single box

cable or DSL modem

WiFi wireless access router, firewall, NAT

point (54, 450 Mbps)
wired Ethernet (1 Gbps)
Introduction: 1-23
 Computer Networks

Introduction: 1-24
Source: https://www.baeldung.com/cs/routers-vs-switches-vs-access-points
 Wireless access networks
Shared wireless access network connects end system to router
▪ via base station aka “access point”

Wireless local area networks Wide-area cellular access networks

(WLANs)
▪ typically within or around
building (~100 ft)
▪ 802.11b/g/n (WiFi): 11, 54, 450
Mbps transmission rate
▪ provided by mobile, cellular network
operator (10’s km)
▪ 10’s Mbps
▪ 4G cellular networks (5G coming)

to Internet
to Internet
Introduction: 1-25
Access networks: enterprise networks

Enterprise link to
ISP (Internet)
institutional router
Ethernet institutional mail,
switch web servers

▪ companies, universities, etc.

▪ mix of wired, wireless link technologies, connecting a mix of switches
and routers (we’ll cover differences shortly)
▪ Ethernet: wired access at 100Mbps, 1Gbps, 10Gbps
▪ WiFi: wireless access points at 11, 54, 450 Mbps
Introduction: 1-26
Access networks: data center networks
mobile network
▪ high-bandwidth links (10s to 100s national or global ISP
Gbps) connect hundreds to thousands
of servers together, and to Internet

local or
regional ISP

home network content

provider
network datacenter
network

Courtesy: Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing enterprise

Center (mghpcc.org) network

Introduction: 1-27
Host: sends packets of data
host sending function:
▪ takes application message
▪ breaks into smaller chunks, two packets,
known as packets, of length L bits L bits each

▪ transmits packet into access

2 1
network at transmission rate R
• link transmission rate, aka link host
capacity, aka link bandwidth R: link transmission rate

packet time needed to L (bits)

transmission = transmit L-bit =
delay packet into link R (bits/sec)
Introduction: 1-28
Links: physical media
Wireless radio Radio link types:
▪ signal carried in various ▪ Wireless LAN (WiFi)
“bands” in electromagnetic • 10-100’s Mbps; 10’s of meters
spectrum ▪ wide-area (e.g., 4G cellular)
▪ no physical “wire” • 10’s Mbps over ~10 Km
▪ broadcast, “half-duplex” ▪ Bluetooth: cable replacement
(sender to receiver)
• short distances, limited rates
▪ propagation environment
effects: ▪ terrestrial microwave
• reflection • point-to-point; 45 Mbps channels
• obstruction by objects ▪ satellite
• Interference/noise • up to 45 Mbps per channel
• 270 msec end-end delay
Introduction: 1-29
Links: physical media
▪ bit: propagates between Twisted pair (TP)
transmitter/receiver pairs
▪ two insulated copper wires
▪ physical link: what lies • Category 5: 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps Ethernet
between transmitter & • Category 6: 10Gbps Ethernet
receiver
▪ guided media:
• signals propagate in solid
media: copper, fiber, coax
▪ unguided media:
• signals propagate freely,
e.g., radio

Introduction: 1-30
 Guided Media
▪ It is defined as the physical medium through which the signals are transmitted.
▪ Types Of Guided media:
1. Twisted pair: Twisted pair is a physical media made up of a pair of cables twisted with each
other. A twisted pair cable is cheap as compared to other transmission media.
• The cost of the shielded twisted pair cable is not very high and not very low.
• An installation of STP is easy.
2. Coaxial Cable: Coaxial cable is very commonly used transmission media, for example, TV
wire is usually a coaxial cable
• The data can be transmitted at high speed.
• It has better shielding as compared to twisted pair cable.
• It provides higher bandwidth.
• It is more expensive as compared to twisted pair cable
3. Fibre Optic: Fibre optic cable is a cable that uses electrical signals for communication.
• Greater Bandwidth: The fibre optic cable provides more bandwidth as compared copper.
• Faster speed: Fibre optic cable carries the data in the form of light.
• Longer distances: Fibre optic cable carries the data at a longer distance as compared to copper cable.
• Better reliability: The fibre optic cable is more reliable than the copper cable as it is immune to any
temperature changes while it can cause obstruct in the connectivity of copper cable.
• Thinner and Sturdier:
Source: https://www.javatpoint.com/guided-transmission-media
Introduction: 1-31
Introduction: 1-32
 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)
▪ An unshielded twisted pair is widely used in telecommunication.
▪ The following are the categories of the unshielded twisted pair cable:
1. Category 1: is used for telephone lines that have low-speed data.
2. Category 2: It can support upto 4Mbps.
3. Category 3: It can support upto 16Mbps.
4. Category 4: It can support upto 20Mbps. Therefore, it can be used for long-distance communication.
5. Category 5: It can support upto 100Mbps.
• Category 5e: up to 1 Gbps
▪ Advantages Of Unshielded Twisted Pair:
• It is cheap.
• Installation is easy.
• It can be used for high-speed LAN.
▪ Disadvantage:
• This cable can only be used for shorter distances because of attenuation.

Introduction: 1-33
Links: physical media
Coaxial cable: Fiber optic cable:
▪ two concentric copper conductors ▪ glass fiber carrying light pulses, each
pulse a bit
▪ bidirectional
▪ high-speed operation:
▪ broadband: • high-speed point-to-point
• multiple frequency channels on cable transmission (10’s-100’s Gbps)
• 100’s Mbps per channel ▪ low error rate:
• repeaters spaced far apart
• immune to electromagnetic noise

Introduction: 1-34