Basic Networking Concepts
1. IP Addressing
An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to each device connected to a network. It allows devices to communicate with each other over the internet or a local network. IP addresses can be either IPv4 (e.g., 192.168.1.1) or IPv6 (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
Example: If you have a home network with a router, the router's IP address might be 192.168.1.1. Each device connected to the router, such as your laptop or smartphone, will have a unique IP address within the range 192.168.1.x.
2. Subnetting
Subnetting is the process of dividing a network into smaller, more manageable subnetworks. This helps in reducing network congestion and improving security. Subnetting is achieved by using a subnet mask, which defines the network and host portions of an IP address.
Example: A network with the IP address 192.168.1.0 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0 can be divided into two subnets by using a subnet mask of 255.255.255.128. This creates two subnets: 192.168.1.0/25 and 192.168.1.128/25.
3. MAC Address
A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications at the data link layer of a network segment. MAC addresses are used as a network address for most IEEE 802 network technologies, including Ethernet and Wi-Fi.
Example: If you look at the network settings of your computer, you might see a MAC address like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. This address is unique to your network card and is used for communication within the local network.
4. Network Topology
Network topology refers to the arrangement of various elements (links, nodes, etc.) in a computer network. Common topologies include bus, star, ring, and mesh. The choice of topology depends on factors like cost, ease of installation, and scalability.
Example: In a star topology, all devices are connected to a central hub or switch. If one device fails, it does not affect the others, but the central hub is a single point of failure.
5. Routing
Routing is the process of selecting paths in a network along which to send network traffic. Routers are devices that forward data packets between computer networks. They use routing tables to determine the best path for data to travel.
Example: When you send an email from your computer to someone on a different network, the data packets travel through multiple routers. Each router checks its routing table to decide the next hop towards the destination.