The 4th lecture :)

Seriously, while I'm still feeling like it's just the beginning of the semester, there goes the mid-term test and here it comes the
4th official lecture !

Ya, time and tide wait for no man.

This week, we got to explore more about network topology in the class, which I had covered through my own readings on last 2 week's blog entry :)

View me :) Scroll down :) Network topology's here :)


Furthermore, we learnt about ATM.

It's not the ATM  ( Automated Teller Machine ) which we withdraw money from okay XD

It's ATM ( Asynchronous Transfer Mode ) which is a standard switching technique designed to unify telecommunications and computer networks.

 

ATM

- uses asynchronous time-division multiplexing
- encode data into small, fixed-size cells
-provides data link layer services
- has functional similarity with both circuit switched networking and small packet switched networking.
- uses a connection-oriented in which a virtual circuit must be established between two endpoints before the actual data exchange begins.


There are 2 common types of architecture.

1. Peer-to-peer

* every workstation has equivalent capabilities and responsibilities. (workstations are peers to each other XD )
* generally simpler
* usually do not offer the same performance under heavy loads.
 
2. Client-server

* each computer or process on the network is either a client or a server.
* Servers are powerful computers or processes dedicated to managing disk drives (file servers), printers (print servers), or network traffic (network servers )
* Clients are PCs or workstations on which users run applications. 
* Clients rely on servers for resources.

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It's someone's coursework and he's doing a comparison of Peer-to-Peer Networks and Client/Server networks.

What is protocol ?

- special set of rules that end points in a telecommunication connection use when they communicate.
- specifies interactions between the communicating entities.
- a set of rules that governs the communications between computers on a network. In order for two computers to talk to each other, they must be speaking the same language.

There are 4 major network protocols:

1. Ethernet

 * a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs) commercially introduced in 1980.
 * uses a bus or star topology and supports data transfer rates of 10   Mbps.
 * The Ethernet specification served as the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, which specifies the physical and lower software layers.

2. Token Ring

* is a local area network protocol which resides at the data link layer (DLL) of the OSI model.
* second most widely-used protocol on local area networks after Ethernet.
* uses a special three-byte frame called a token that travels around the ring.


3. LocalTalk

* is a particular implementation of the physical layer of the AppleTalk networking system from Apple Computer.
* specifies a system of shielded twisted pair cabling, plugged into self-terminating transceivers, running at a rate of 230.4 kbit/s.

4. FDDI

* Fiber Distributed Data Interface
* a set of ANSI and ISO standards for data transmission on fiber optic lines in a local area network (LAN) that can extend in range up to 200 km (124 miles).
* based on the token ring protocol.
* frequently used on the backbone for a wide area network (WAN)



My little reflection of the day :


The more I sail into this subject , the more I realise my innocence.

It truly comprises a lot of facilities and resources behind the convenience of every single technology we use nowadays. 

We should have appreciated the ones who work these all out while enjoying the speed of internet and the ease of communication.

We should have learnt more and more, as there isn't anything simply coming by itself, so do knowledge and progress :)