Important Terms Related to Computer network
💡 High-Priority Revision Note
We will discuss important terms related to Computer Networks. You should remember these crucial concepts right on your fingertips for upcoming examinations!
🌐 Part 1: Core Networking Architectures & Communications
🔗 Computer Networks
Several devices connected to each other for reliable communication/transfer of data constitute a network. A network can consist of a computer, a fax machine, a printer, a camera, a cell phone, etc. A collection of interconnected computers is called a computer Network.
🔄 Resource Sharing
The primary use of a network is to share among users programs, applications, data, and peripheral devices connected to the network, irrespective of their physical location. You must have noticed in your networked computer labs that when a printer command is given on one computer, the document is printed by a printer attached to some other computer.
🌍 Internet
Internet, a system architecture that has revolutionized communications and methods of commerce by allowing various computer networks around the world to interconnect.
🚀 InterSpace
Interspace is a software that allows multiple users in a client-server environment to communicate with each other by sending and receiving data of various types such as data files, video, audio, and textual data. It facilitates online real-time exchange of data. Interspace is the most advanced term of communication available on the internet today.
🛠️ Part 2: Network Infrastructure & Hardware Interfaces
🚧 Gateways & Backbones
Gateway: A device that connects dissimilar networks.
Backbone: A central interconnected structure that connects one or more networks just like the trunk of a tree.
🖥️ Nodes
The term node refers to computers that are attached to a network and are seeking to share resources. In a communication network, each device that is part of a network and that can receive, create, store, or send data to different network routes is called a node. In the context of data communication, a node can be a device.
🗄️ Server
A server refers to a computer that facilitates the sharing of data, software, and hardware resources on a network. Servers tend to have more memory, processing power, and storage capacity than a normal workstation.
🔌 NIC (Network Interface Unit)
A network interface unit is an interpreter that helps in establishing communication between the server and the client. It is also called a network adapter, LAN adapter, network interface controller, or Network Interface Card.
🆔 Part 3: Addressing Models & Identification Protocol Schemas
🏷️ MAC Address (Media Access Control)
Each NIC has a unique physical address known as a MAC address. A MAC address is a 48-bit address consisting of a 12-digit hexadecimal number. The first half of the MAC address represents the ID number of the adapter manufacturer, and the second half represents the unique serial number assigned to the adapter by the manufacturer.
📍 IP Address (Internet Protocol)
Every machine on a TCP/IP network has a unique identifying number called an IP address. It helps in uniquely identifying a computer on the network. An IP address is a group of four bytes (4 × 8 = 32 bits), each of which can be a number from 0 to 255.
📊 Deep Dive: Difference Between MAC Address and IP Address
Below is the detailed comparative grid mapping out physical addresses against logical addressing configurations across different structural networking layers:
| S.No | Feature Vector | MAC Address | IP Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stands For | Media Access Control Address. | Internet Protocol Address. |
| 2 | Address Size | 6-byte (48-bit) hexadecimal address value. | Either 4-byte (32-bit for IPv4) or 16-byte (128-bit for IPv6) address value. |
| 3 | Retrieval Protocol | A device attached with a MAC Address can be retrieved by the ARP protocol. | A device attached with an IP Address can be retrieved by the RARP protocol. |
| 4 | Provider Assignment | Provided and hardcoded directly by the NIC Card Manufacturer. | Provided dynamically or statically by the Network's Internet Service Provider (ISP). |
| 5 | Address Nature | It is the permanent physical address of the computer component. | It is the active logical address of the computer network node. |
| 6 | OSI Layer Operations | Operates inside the Data Link Layer (Layer 2). | Operates inside the Network Layer (Layer 3). |
| 7 | Identification Scope | Helps in simply identifying the physical local hardware device. | Identifies the structural routing connection routing slot of the device on the network. |
| 8 | Persistence / Change | Permanent; cannot be altered or modified with changing time and network environments. | Variable; modifies and changes automatically with time and environment shifts. |
| 9 | Discovery / Visibility | Hidden; cannot be discovered easily by a malicious external third party. | Publicly trackable; can be actively found out by a third party. |
| 10 | Syntax Notation & Example |
Contains 6 groups of 2 hexadecimal digits separated by hyphens (-) or colons (:). Examples: 00:FF:FF:AB:BB:AA00-FF-FF-AB-BB-AA
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IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses in dotted notation, whereas IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses in hexadecimal notation. Examples: IPv4: 192.168.1.1IPv6: FFFF:F200:3204:0B00
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