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Notes Week 5 - Lecture 7 (NET1002)

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16 views

Notes Week 5 - Lecture 7 (NET1002)

Uploaded by

freezerx23
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Week 5 - Lecture 7 (NET1002)

Author : Soran / AI Date : October 3, 2024

Introduction

This document provides an in-depth guide on key networking topics covered in Lecture 7,
including networking layers, devices like switches, hubs, and routers, and communication
protocols such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi. It is intended to serve as a comprehensive study
resource for students preparing for exams and practical assessments.

Layer 1 and Layer 2 Overview

Layer 1 (Physical Layer): • Defines the physical connection between devices, including
the hardware elements such as cables, switches, and ports. • Examples include copper
cables (Ethernet cables), fiber optics (used for long-distance, high-speed connections),
and wireless media (like Wi-Fi). • Responsible for data encoding, signaling, and the actual
transmission of raw bits over a physical medium.

Layer 2 (Data Link Layer): • Manages error detection, framing, and addressing to ensure
reliable data transfer between connected devices. • The Data Link Layer ensures that
data is correctly formatted into frames, manages data flow control, and uses MAC
addresses to identify devices on a local network. • Devices that operate at this layer
include switches (which use MAC addresses to direct frames) and bridges (used to
segment networks to reduce traffic).

Key Networking Devices

• Hub (Layer 1 Device): - A basic device that simply repeats incoming signals across all
connected ports, without any form of filtering. - Hubs operate at the physical layer,
meaning they cannot differentiate between different devices connected to them and
broadcast incoming traffic to all ports, causing potential network inefficiencies.

• Switch (Layer 2 Device): - A more advanced device that can filter traffic based on
MAC addresses, thereby sending data only to the intended recipient device and reducing
unnecessary network congestion. - Switches maintain a MAC address table to determine
which device is connected to each port, allowing them to make intelligent forwarding
decisions. - Switches also support full-duplex communication, enabling simultaneous
sending and receiving of data.

• Router: - Operates at Layer 3 (Network Layer) and is responsible for forwarding


packets between different networks. - Uses IP addresses to make routing decisions,
determining the best path for data to reach its destination, even across multiple
interconnected networks.
Frames and Packets

• Frames: - Frames are the data units used at Layer 2 for communication within a local
network. - Each router or media transition along the data path generates a new frame to
encapsulate the packet, ensuring it is appropriately formatted for the physical medium. -
Frames contain the source and destination MAC addresses, allowing switches to forward
them to the correct device on a local network.

• Packets: - Packets are the data units used at Layer 3 and contain data encapsulated
for routing across networks. - Packets include both the source and destination IP
addresses, allowing routers to determine the path to the target network.

• Media Independence: - Regardless of the communication medium (Wi-Fi, Ethernet,


fiber optics), the packet's structure remains consistent. - Frames, however, are modified
based on the medium, ensuring the data is formatted correctly for each physical
environment.

Logical vs Physical Topology

• Physical Topology: - Illustrates the actual physical connection of devices, such as the
physical layout of cables, ports, and devices in a network. - Examples include star
topology (devices connected to a central hub) and bus topology (single backbone cable
connecting all devices).

• Logical Topology: - Represents how data flows within the network, irrespective of the
physical layout. - For instance, even if devices are physically connected in a star
configuration, they may logically operate as if they are all part of the same shared
network path, similar to a bus topology.

• Example: - A hub may physically connect multiple devices in a star pattern, but
logically, they share the same network path, similar to a bus topology. Switches, on the
other hand, provide each device with a distinct data path, reducing collisions and
improving efficiency.

Media Access Control (MAC)

• Function of MAC: - Media Access Control (MAC) is crucial for managing how data is
transmitted over the network. - It determines when a device can safely transmit data to
avoid collisions, especially in shared network environments.

• Full Duplex vs Half Duplex: - Full Duplex: Allows devices to send and receive data
simultaneously, effectively doubling the communication speed. - Half Duplex: Only one
operation (send or receive) is allowed at any given time, which can lead to collisions if
two devices try to communicate simultaneously.

• MAC Addressing: - MAC addresses are unique identifiers assigned to each network
interface card (NIC). - Used primarily for local communication, they identify specific
devices on a network, enabling Layer 2 devices like switches to forward frames correctly.
Practical Examples and Use Cases

• Frame Generation: - When data moves between devices, a new frame is created at
each router or media transition (e.g., transitioning from Wi-Fi to Ethernet). - This ensures
that each frame is formatted correctly for the medium it will traverse, allowing reliable
data delivery.

• Switch vs Hub Functionality: - A switch selectively forwards frames based on the


destination MAC address, making it an intelligent device that helps reduce network
traffic. - In contrast, a hub broadcasts incoming frames to all connected ports, which can
lead to collisions and inefficiencies, especially in large networks.

Summary

This revised study guide provides a thorough understanding of networking at Layers 1


and 2, focusing on the physical and data link layer operations, the devices involved, and
the addressing schemes used. Understanding these concepts is crucial for analyzing
network performance, designing efficient networks, and troubleshooting network issues
effectively.

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