CST 311 - Intro to Computer Networks - Week 1

 

This week in CST 311, I learned a lot about the concepts of computer networks, starting with an understanding of the internet's structure and operation. The internet is basically a network of networks, consisting of many connected devices, communication links, and packet switches, all working together with various protocols like TCP, IP, and HTTP. I also learned about the different components of a network, such as the network edge, which includes hosts like clients and servers, and the network core, where packet switching and routing occur. The significance of protocols is so important, as they define the format and order of messages sent and received in the network.

Another topic was the concept of delay, loss, and throughput in networks. I learned about the different types of delays such as processing, queuing, transmission, and propagation which affect the overall performance of a network. The introduction to the internet protocol stack is also important, where I learned about the five layers which are the application, transport, network, link, and physical which are each responsible for different aspects of data communication. Lastly, the section on packet switching versus circuit switching provided insights into how data is transmitted in networks, emphasizing the advantages and limitations of each method. I think all these concepts set the stage for understanding more complex networking concepts in the weeks to come.