Data Link Layer

Responsible for moving messages from one device to another.

Controls the way messages are sent on media.

Media Access Control

Controlling when and what computer transmit. Important when
more than one computer wants to send data at the same time over
the same, shared circuit.

Point to Point Half Duplex Links

Computers take turns

Multipoint Configurations
Ensure that no two computers attempt to transmit data at the same
time.

Controlled Access
Controlling access to shared resources. Commonly used by
mainframes.

Polling
Process of transmitting to a client only if asked and/or permitted

Contention
Transmit whenever the circuit is free.

Collisions
Occur when more than one computer transmits at the same time

Error Control
Handling of network errors caused by problems in transmission

Network Errors
Can be a bit value change during transmission

Human Errors
Can be a mistake in typing a number

Corrupted
Data that has been changed

Lost Data
Cannot find the data at all

Burst Error
Many bits are corrupted at the same time.

Parity Checking
An extra parity bit is added to the byte

Checksum
Usually 1 byte is added to the end of the message

Error Correction
Once detected, the error must be corrected

Retransmission
Backward error correction. Often called Automatic Repeat ReQuest
(ARQ).

Forward Error Correction

Receiving device can correct incoming messages without
transmission.

ARQ
Process of requesting a data transmission be resent

Flow Control
Ensuring that sender is not transmitting too quickly for the receiver

Synchronous Transmission
Data sent in a large block. Includes addressing information.

Transmission Efficiency
Move as many bits as possible with minimum error.

Throughput
Total number of information bits received per second

Transport Layer
Responsible for end-to-end delivery of messages. Responsible for
segmentation and reassembly.

Network Layer
Responsible for addressing and routing of messages

IP
Responsible for addressing and routing of packets

TCP
Breaks information into datagrams and sends them, carrying out
resends, if required, and reassembles received datagrams, it gives
'reliable' delivery a connection-oriented service between
applications

UDP
Does the same as TCP but it does not carry out any checking or
resending of datagrams, so it is described as 'unreliable', a
connectionless service

Routing
Process of identifying what path to have a packet take through a
network from sender to receiver

Routing Tables
Used to make routing decisions. Shows which path to send packets
on to reach a given destination.

Routers
Special purpose devices used to handle routing decisions on the
Internet

Centralized Routing
Decisions made by one central computer

Decentralized Routing
Decisions made by each node independently of one another

Static Routing
Uses fixed routing tables developed by network managers

Dynamic Routing
Uses routing tables at each node that are updated dynamically

Distance Vector
Uses the least number of hops to decide how to route a packet

Link State
Uses a variety of information types to decide how to route a packet

Routing Protocols
Used to exchange info among nodes for building and maintaining
routing tables

Autonomous System
A network operated by an organization

Interior Routing Protocols

Operate within a network

Exterior Routing Protocols

Operate between networks

Internet Control Message Protocol

An error reporting protocol

Border Gateway Protocol

Used to exchange routing info between autonomous systems

Application Layer Address

For servers only (URL)

Network Layer Address

Assigned by network managers, or by programs such as DHCP,
and placed in configuration files (IP Address(

Data Link Layer Address

Unique hardware adresses placed on network interface cards by
their manufacturers

IPv4
4 byte (32 bit) addresses. Used to make IP addresses easier to
understand for human readers.

IPv6
Uses 16 byte addresses.

Subnets
Group of computers on the same LAN with IP numbers with the
same prefix

Dynamic Addressing
Giving addresses to clients (automatically) only when they are
logged into a network

Server Name Resolution

Translating destinations host's domain name to its corresponding IP
address.

Data Link Layer Address Resolution

Identifying the MAC address of the next node (that packet must be
forwarded)

Information Sharing
having users access the same files, exchange information via
email, or use Internet

Resource Sharing
Having a hardware devices shared by all users (printers, internet
connections)

Dedicated Server Networks

Requires one or more dedicated computers. Enable users to share
files, printers, etc. Permanently assigned a specific task.

Peer to Peer Networks

Requires no dedicated server. Any computer can act as both a
client or a server.

Network Operating Systems

Software that controls the LAN.

Topology
Basic geometric layout of the network. The way computers on the
network interconnected.

Logical Topology
How the network works conceptually

Physical Topology
How the network is physically installed

Carrier Sense
A computer listens to the bus to determine if another computer is
transmitting before sending anything

Multiple Access
All computers have access to the network medium

Collision Detect
Declared when any signal other than its own detected

Omni Directional Antennas

Transmit in all directions simultaneously

Directional Antennas
Project signal only in one direction

Bottlenecks
Points in the network where congestion is occurring

WIMAX
Commercial name for family of IEEE 802.16 standards. Two
primary types: fixed and mobile.

Bluetooth
A standard for wireless personal area network