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à p There are many types of data networks, including Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area
Networks (WAN) The components used to build networks are:

a p the media

b p end devices that send and receive messages (e g , computers, VoIP phones) and

c p Intermediary devices (e g , hubs, switches, routers) that move messages among different
parts of the network

2 p
ost organizations have many LANs that are connected to WANs, and to the Internet, which
itself is a series of WANs

3 p nderstanding the way Network layers work together to transfer messages is critical because it is
the foundation other concepts will be built upon throughout the course A set of functions must
be performed inside each computer or device to move messages through the network These
functions are organized into a set of layers The idea of layers implies a stack, with one layer on
top of another

4 p A Network
odel defines these layers and the functions that each performs The OSI model , and
the TCP/IP model are two different models for organizing the layers and their functions, but they
are similar in many ways Each layer has its own language or "protocol" that has rules about
how that layer will operate Layers also have standards to ensure that any two computers that
use the same protocol will be able to communicate

5 p The OSI model is the formal reference model, while the TCP/IP model was developed to reflect
the implementation of the TCP/IP protocol stack The TCP/IP model is more important because it
is the one most commonly used in practice, as a result of the popularity of the Internet It is also
the most concrete

6 p Each protocol has a protocol data unit (PD) that is like a grammar or a paper form that the
protocol uses to communicate This "form," called a PD, is added to the message at each layer
in the stack

7 p Every device has a set of addresses - i e , there are different addresses for different layers in the
protocol stack

a p Layer 2 addresses (
AC address) which are used to move messages to the correct end
device

b p Layer 3 addresses (IP address) which are used to move message between different parts of
the network and to identify the correct end device IP addresses have two parts:

ñp the network (e g , the IP number assigned to google com) and

ñp the specific computer within that part of the network (e g , a specific web server or
e-mail server within the Google network)

c p Layer 4 addresses (TCP port numbers) are used to move the message to correct Application
layer conversation at the end device (e g , the Web browser or e-mail software on your
computer)
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