Fundamental Concepts of Advanced Networking - Case Study Example

Application Layer:  This layer defines how users access the network by using various applications like FTP, WWW, and SMTP.

Transport Layer: The transport layer lies upon the network layer and handles the information of data transmission. Logical communication is also possible at this layer between processes of the different hosts.

Network Layer:  This layer is responsible for packet delivery from source to destination.

Data Link Layer:  This layer is responsible for reliable synchronization and information transferring across the physical layer.

Physical Layer:  Physical layer defines network hardware like routers and switches.

Briefly describe each of the following TCP/ IP application layer protocols: SMTP, FTP, HTTP.

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP):  This protocol is used for electronic mails and messaging over the TCP/IP.

File Transfer Protocol (FTP): Set of rules used for governing how files transfer occurs is defined in the FTP.  This protocol allows multiple connections for remote file systems simultaneously.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): Protocol is responsible for governing how files like sound, video, text, and graphics are exchanged over the World Wide Web. (Anfinson  and Quamme, 290)

Describe the differences among the following subnetwork components: hosts, end systems, intermediate systems.

Host: A host is a computer connected to the network and offers services, information, and applications to users.

End Systems: The end system is the network host or a workstation, which has limited routing capability. End nodes in a node are also known as end systems.

Intermediate Systems:  Network devices like routers, which have intensive capabilities of packet forwarding, are known as intermediate systems (Martey, 47).

Briefly describe the differences among the following types of intermediate systems: layer 2 switches, routers, gateways.

Switching occurs at layer 2 while routing at layer 3 network layers. Based upon the MAC addresses, switches forward the frames while routers forward the packets of logical addresses. A gateway is a program or a device that allows the networks to communicate with each other. It is also referred to as a marketing term and considered in a broader context. Gateways mostly operate at the transport layer and also at the application layer. But routers never operate at level 7 (Sosinsky, 231).

What is a VPN?

A Virtual Private Network is a private data network that connects with security and tunneling protocols over public networks.

What is IPsec?

A set of protocols that is responsible for securing the packet processing at the network layer in network communication is known as an Internet security protocol. IPsec is integrated into IPv6 as well as in IPv4 older version.

Identify several applications and advantages of IPsec.

Some key benefits of IPsec are as follows:

• IPsec ensures secure data transfer between two sites at the endpoints.
• IPsec is deployed transparent of servers and clients and workstations do not need to be configured for working with IPsec.
• IPsec deployment is simplified by offloading the routers.
• Applications of IPsec at key points of networks maintain consistent security and policies in the organizations.
• IPsec is flexible and specific or selective protection can be enabled.

Briefly describe the differences between TCP and UDP.

• TCP is a connection-oriented service and the destination confirms that data has been received. If a few packets are lost then destination requests for retransmission of lost data.
• UDP is a connectionless-oriented service and does not guarantee the secure delivery of data. Source sends data to destination without worrying about whether it is received or not.

Briefly explain the differences between IPv4 and IPv6.

• IPV4 address uses 32 bits while IPv6 address uses 128 bits
• There are a lot of usable addresses in IPv6 as compared to IPv4.
• Addresses in IPv6 are represented in hexadecimal and dot-decimal notation in IPv4.

Identify and briefly describe the major functions performed by routers.

Routers carry out two major functions as follows

• Selection of path between the networks
• Transmission of information packets across the selected paths and secure delivery at destination

Routers can be either software or hardware-based and differ from layer 3 switches. Routers support a number of protocols (Aber).

Conclusion:

In this paper, fundamental concepts of advanced networking have been described. The difference between UDP and TCP has been explained. Application layer protocols FTP, HTTP, and SMTP are discussed with the related features. Differences between IPv4 and IPv6 also showed the advantages of the new IPv6 over the older version of IPv4. Major functions of the router as path selection and data forwarding are also identified.