Computer Networks

Introduction COMPSCI 453

Professor Jim Kurose
College of Information and Computer Sciences
University of Massachusetts

 Overview. What is the Internet? What

is a protocol?
 Network edge Class textbook:
Computer Networking: A Top-
Down Approach (8th ed.)
 Network core J.F. Kurose, K.W. Ross
Pearson, 2020
http://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross

 Performance: loss, delay, throughput

 Protocol layers, service models
 Security
 History
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
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
“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
The Internet: a “nuts and bolts” view
mobile network
4G
 Internet: “network of networks” national or global ISP

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

WiFi
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
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
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 COMPSCI 453 Computer Networks
Professor Jim Kurose
College of Information and Computer Sciences
 Introduction. What is the Internet? University of Massachusetts

What is a protocol?
 Network edge
Class textbook:
 Network core Computer Networking: A Top-
Down Approach (8th ed.)
 Performance: loss, delay, throughput J.F. Kurose, K.W. Ross
Pearson, 2020
http://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross

 Protocol layers, service models

 Security
 History Video: 2020, J.F. Kurose, All Rights Reserved
Powerpoint: 1996-2020, J.F. Kurose, K.W. Ross, All Rights Reserved