Analysis of Internet Protocols and Infrastructure Essay -- Internet Te

Analysis of Internet Protocols and Infrastructure Introduction: Network: Anything reticulated or decussated at equal distances, with interstices between the intersections. - A Dictionary of the English Language SECTION : 1 1.1 WHAT IS A NETWORK? A) What is a network? A network is simply a collection of machines connected in some way that allows them to communicate with each other and share information. To do this the machines have to be connected in some way that allows communication, and have an agreed upon a language to talk when they do communicate. Components of a network might include individual hosts, some form of communications hardware, a network protocol and a collection of network services. B) Individual hosts A network is a collection of individual machines sometimes referred to as hosts. Each host (computer) must have some unique identifier that allows other hosts to talk to it. 1.2 COMPONENTS OF A NETWORK A) Network Protocol In order to communicate the parties must speak the same language. Languages on computer networks are referred to as network protocols. A network protocol is simply a set of rules and formats that govern how information is sent and in what format it is sent. Some of the different network protocols used today include TCP/IP (Internet and UNIX favourite), IPX (Novell), Appletalk (MAC), DECnet and various others. TCP/IP is quickly becoming the networking protocol and is the one I concentrate on in this subject. B) Network services To be of use to users the network will provide various services including file, print and device sharing, electronic mail etc. 1.3 TYPES OF NETWORKS A) Network categories  · LAN (local ... ...UNIX the routing table can be viewed using the netstat command. The route a packet follows can be viewed using the traceroute command. Routing tables are either created statically, or by the systems administrator configuring the system, using the startup or configuration fiels, to used a pre-defined, unchanging route.dynamically.  · There are protocols, part of TCP/IP, that will dynamically modify the routing table in response to events.  · Adding a host to the network requires obtaining, installing and configuring the necessary network hardware, gather the required information including IP address and hostname of the new host, the gateway and the name server, the network address and the subnet mask, modify the appropriate configuration and startup files with that information, make sure the new host has an entry in the domain name service, test the connection.