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Chapter 2
Communicating the Messages
Communication begins with a message, or information, that
must be sent from one individual or device to another.
People exchange ideas using many different
communication methods.
All of these methods have three elements in common.
Sender / Message source
Receiver / Message destination
Channel: The media that provides the pathway over which the
message can travel from the source to detonation
Communicating the Messages
Messages has different sizes
If messages are sent one message at a time, large
messages can consume the network resources for
long periods
To solve this issue, segmentation is used in
which all messages are broken into smaller
pieces
Communicating the Messages
Segmenting message benefits
Different conversations can be included
Increased reliability of network communications
Segmenting message disadvantage
Increased level of complexity
Components of a Network
There are three categories of network components:
Devices
Media
Protocols
Components of Network
Devices:
End Devices: PC, Laptop, Workstation, Server
Intermediary devices: Switch, Router
Media:
Wired: cabling connecting the devices
▪ Electrical signals propagating through copper (usually) cables
▪ Optical signals propagating through fiber optics cables
Wireless: electromagnetic waves in atmosphere/vacuum
Services: Communication programs which are called software that
run on network devices. E.g. Web hosting service, email hosting
service
Processes: Functionality that moves messages through the network
End Devices
End devices refer to the piece of equipment that is
the source or the destination of a message
Users usually only interact with end devices such:
Computers (Laptops, servers, workstations)
Network Printers
VoIP phones
Handheld Devices (PDAs, Smartphones, Scanners)
End Devices
An End User is a person or a group using an end device
End Devices are not always operated by people directly
Automated functions can be set up predetermined tasks.
Example:
E.g. A servers are hosts that store and share
information with other hosts called clients
Hosts communicate with each other using host
addresses
Host Address is a unique physical address used by a
host inside a local-area network
Intermediary Devices
Devices interconnected between end users
Intermediary devices pass the messages among them based
on the destination host address until it reaches the destination
Processes in intermediary devices performs various tasks
such as:
Regenerate and retransmit data signals
Maintain information about what pathways exist through the
network and internetwork
Notify other devices of errors and communication failures
Direct data along alternate pathways when there is a link failure
Classify and direct messages according to QoS priorities
Permit or deny the flow of data, based on security settings
Intermediary Devices
Intermediary Devices
Network Sizes
Networks of Many Sizes
Types of Networks
Network Protocols
Chapter 2 Part II
Rules that Govern Communications
Protocols
Protocols refer to the rules that must be followed between
parties in order to perform a successful communication
Protocol suite refers to a grouped protocols that work
together to ensure successful communication
Networking protocol suites describe processes such as:
The format or structure of the message
The method by which networking devices share
information about pathways with other networks
How and when error and system messages are passed
between devices
The setup and termination of data transfer sessions
Network Protocols - Format
Network Protocols - Process
Network Protocols – Error Messages
Network Protocols – Termination
Industry Standards
Protocols that are vendor-specific are called proprietary
Different devices from vendors are designed to interact with each
other eventually, hence common protocol standards are required
A standard is a process or protocol that has been recognized by the
networking industry and approved by a standards organization, such
as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) or the
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
Protocols and standards generally do not describe how to complete a
particular function. By describing only what functions are required of
a particular communication rule but not how they are to be carried out,
the implementation of a particular protocol can be technology-
independent.
Interaction of Protocols
Application Protocol – Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
Transport Protocol – Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
Internet Protocol – Internet Protocol (IP)
Network Access Protocols – Data link & physical layers
Technology Independent Protocols
Technology Independent Protocols
Networking protocols describe the functions that occur during
network communications.
Protocols generally do not describe how to complete a particular
function. By describing only what functions are required of a
particular communication rule but not how are to be carried out,
the implementation of a particular protocol can be technology-
independent.
Layered Model
The benefits of layered model to describe network
protocols are:
Assists in protocol design, because protocols that operate at a
specific layer have defined information that they act upon and a
defined interface to the layers above and below
Increase the competition between different technologies' vendors
because products from different vendors can work together
Prevents technology or capability changes in one layer from
affecting other layers above and below
Provides a common language to describe networking functions
and capabilities
Protocols and Reference models
Two types of networking models
Protocol models : provides a model that closely matches the
structure of a particular protocol suite. The hierarchical set of
related protocols in a suite typically represents all the
functionality required to interface the human network with the
data network. E.g. TCP/IP model
Reference models: provides a common reference for
maintaining consistency within all types of network protocols
and services. A reference model is not intended to be an
implementation specification or to provide a sufficient level of
detail to define precisely the services of the network
architecture.
Common Network Models
TCP/IP Model
Material is based on ‘Network Fundamentals, CCNA Exploration Companion Guide’ , 6th Edition
Communication Process
Communication Process
A complete communication process includes these steps:
Creation of data at the application layer of the originating source end device
Segmentation and encapsulation of data as it passes down the protocol stack
in the source end device
Generation of the data onto the media at the network access layer of the
stack
Transportation of the data through the internetwork, which consists of media
and any intermediary devices
Reception of the data at the network access layer of the destination end
device
Decapsulation and reassembly of the data as it passes up the stack in the
destination device
Passing this data to the destination application at the Application layer of the
destination end device
Protocol Data Units (PDU) and Encapsulation
The TCP/IP model is not that specific. It can be said that the OSI model
prescribes and TCP/IP model describes.
The OSI model prescribes the steps needed to transfer data over a
network and it is very specific in it, defining which protocol is used at
each layer and how.