Networking Basics:

A Review
KYANDA SWAIB KAAWAASE, PHD
LECTURER
NETWORKS DEPARTMENT
 Communications Networks
Historically, there have been two different philosophies
guiding the design, operation, and evolution of
communication networks
◦ the “telco” view (i.e., telecommunications networks to
support voice telephony and other emerging services,
such as fax, data, location, mobile cash etc.)
◦ the “data networking” view (i.e., the Internet)
While the two approaches share some similar goals and
challenges (e.g., scale, geography, heterogeneity), they
often have quite different underlying assumptions

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 Telco Networks (1 of 2)
About 100 years old
Circuit-switched network
Designed for transmission of human voice
Twisted pair copper wire for residential access
◦ “cheap”, adequate bandwidth, easy to handle...
Aggregation of multiple calls at toll office for
multiplexing/demultiplexing using TDM
Low bandwidth required per call (e.g., 64 Kbps)
Fixed bandwidth required per call

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 Telco Networks (2 of 2)
Call routing and circuit allocation decided once per call at time of call
arrival
End to end path allocation, with dedicated circuit (reserved bandwidth)
per active call
All bits travel same path; stay in same order
Call state information crucial in network switches
Busy signal if no path possible (blocking <= 2%)
Billing model based on time used (in minutes)
Single class of service; high reliability (99.99%)
New services: faxes, modems, mobility, ...
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 The Internet (1 of 2)
About 30 years old
Packet-switched network
Variable size packets permitted
Designed for transmission of data
Wide range of access technologies
Wide range of user and application behaviour
Bursty, variable bandwidth required per call
Aggregation of traffic at routers/switches
Transmission links shared on stat mux basis
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 The Internet (2 of 2)
Connection-less network layer protocol (IP)
“Best effort” datagram delivery model
Packet routing decided on a per packet basis
No end to end path allocation; no reserved bandwidth per active call
Packets can travel any path; packets can be delayed, lost, duplicated,
re-ordered
Minimal state info in network switches
Single class of service
Billing model? (hours? pkts? bytes? bandwidth?)

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 Asynchronous Transfer Mode
(1of2)

About 20 years old

Packet-switched network
Small fixed-size packets (53 bytes)
Designed for integrated services (voice, video, data, imaging, interactivity,
…)
Network technologies (optical)
Wide range of user and application behaviour
Bursty, variable bandwidth required per call
Aggregation of traffic at switches
Transmission links shared on a stat mux basis
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 ATM (2 of 2)
Connection-oriented
Allocates a virtual channel (VC) per active call
End to end path allocation determined at time of call arrival;
reserved bandwidth per active call
All packets travel same path (order preserved)
Crucial state info in ATM switches
Multiple classes of service (priority levels)
Offers end to end QOS guarantees (SLAs)
Billing model? (cells? bandwidth? time?)

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 Internet Protocol Stack
Application: supporting network applications
and end-user services Application
◦ FTP, SMTP, HTTP, DNS, NTP

Transport: end to end data transfer Transport

◦ TCP, UDP

Network: routing of datagrams from source Network

to destination
◦ IPv4, IPv6, BGP, RIP, routing protocols Data Link
Data Link: hop by hop frames, channel
access, flow/error control Physical
◦ PPP, Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b

Physical: raw transmission of bits 001101011...

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 Internet Protocol Stack
Application Application

Transport Transport

Network Network

Data Link Data Link

Physical Core Physical

Network

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 Internet Protocol Stack
Application Application Application
Router
Transport Transport Transport

Network Network Network

Data Link Data Link Data Link

Physical Physical Physical

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 Internet Protocol Stack
Application Application Application

Transport Switch
Transport Transport

Network Network Network

Data Link Data Link Data Link

Physical Physical Physical

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