C1: Computer Networks and the Internet Flashcards
What is the Internet in terms of devices and connections?
A global network connecting billions of devices (end systems) via communication links and packet switches.
What are end systems?
Devices like computers and smartphones at the Internet’s edge.
What is a packet?
Data segmented with headers, sent through the network, and reassembled at the destination.
What do routers do in the Internet?
Forward packets to destinations in the network core.
What is the role of link-layer switches?
Forward packets locally in access networks.
What is a route in networking?
The sequence of links and switches a packet travels from source to destination.
What are ISPs?
Internet Service Providers that offer Internet access (e.g., cable, DSL, WiFi).
What is the difference between lower-tier and upper-tier ISPs?
Lower-tier ISPs connect end systems; upper-tier ISPs interconnect lower-tier ISPs with high-speed links.
What is a protocol in networking?
Rules defining message format, order, and actions for data exchange.
What is TCP/IP?
Core Internet protocols.
What is the socket interface?
Rules for programs to send/receive data over the Internet.
What are clients and servers?
Clients request services (e.g., desktops); servers host content (e.g., data center machines).
How does cable Internet work?
Uses cable TV infrastructure (fiber to neighborhood, coaxial to homes) with a cable modem connecting to the network.
What is Ethernet in networking?
A wired LAN technology using twisted-pair copper to connect devices to an Ethernet switch and the Internet.
How does WiFi provide Internet access?
Wireless LAN where devices connect to an access point wired to the Internet via Ethernet.
