Introduction
How networks works? I think it is important to understand why networking matters in the first place. Almost everything we do today depends on networks, from sending messages to watching videos online. Behind all of these actions, there is a huge system moving information from one place to another. We use networks constantly without really noticing how they works or how they function. This article explains in simple terms how information travels through networks and why learning the basics can help us understand How Information Moves Across Networks.
Understanding What a Network Really Is
A network is basically a group of devices connected so they can share data with each other [2]. Your home Wi-Fi is a network, your phone connecting to a cell tower is a network, and even two computers linked by a cable create a small network. No matter the size, the purpose is always the same exchanging information. The modern idea of networking began with ARPANET, where engineers connected a computer at Stanford to another one at the University of California [3]. Today this seems simple, but at the time it was a huge achievement, and it became the starting point of the Internet. Many people confuse the Internet with the World Wide Web. The Internet is the physical and logical infrastructure that allows communication. It includes the cables, routers, servers, and all the protocols that move information around the world [1]. The World Wide Web is only one service that runs on top of the Internet, made of web pages and linked documents that we open in a browser [1]. When we type WWW before a website’s name, we are accessing that web service, not the entire Internet. Networks can be used for communication, collaboration, resource sharing, storing files, streaming videos, and all kinds of digital activities [2]. During the pandemic, the importance of networks became even clearer because they allowed people to stay connected and keep working or studying remotely. Companies also rely on networks so employees can access shared data from different locations [2]
How Networks Are Structured and How Devices Communicate
Every network has some kind of physical or logical structure called a topology. A bus or line topology connects devices in a straight path, but if one part breaks, the devices beyond that break lose connection [2]. A star topology connects all devices to a central point, and the network keeps working even if one device fails. [2]. A ring topology connects devices in a circle so data can travel in more than one direction. A mesh topology connects devices with multiple paths, making it highly reliable because if one path fails, another can be used [2]. Internet providers often use tree topologies because they organize networks in layers that are easy to expand [2]. Networks use different devices to make all this communication happen. A hub simply repeats incoming data to every connected port, which is not efficient [2]. A switch is smarter because it learns the addresses of devices and sends data only to the correct destination [2]. A router connects different networks and provides important functions like DHCP for automatic IP assignment and NAT for handling public and private addresses [2]. Cables also matter. Straight-through cables connect computers to switches or routers crossover cables connect two computers directly, and rollover cables are used for maintenance tasks such as accessing console ports on networking devices [2]. Information moves across networks in pieces called packets. Each packet contains a MAC address to identify hardware, an IP address to identify the device on the network, and TCP or UDP information, depending on how the data needs to travel [1], [2]. For example, streaming services receive packets that may arrive out of order, but the software buffers and rearranges them so the video plays smoothly [1].
Consideration
Learning the basics of how networks work makes us appreciate the complex system behind the simple actions we perform on our devices every day. What started as two computers talking to each other through ARPANET became a global system supporting millions of people’s communication, business operations, entertainment,and so on. Even though the original engineers imagined these systems decades ago, we are the ones who benefit from their ideas today. When we use internet we should try not to be reckless protect our information, and use the Internet for good reasons instead of harming others or ourselves. The technology is powerful, and it is up to us to use it in a positive way
References
[1] Mozilla Foundation, “How the Internet Works.” https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Common_questions/How_does_the_Internet_work
[2] Cisco, “Networking Basics.” https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/small-business/resource-center/networking/networking-basics.html
[3] M. Weber, “The First 50 Years of Living Online: ARPANET and Internet,” CHM, Oct. 25, 2019. https://computerhistory.org/blog/history-of-the-future-october-29-1969-fifty-years-of-a-connected-world/
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