Basics of Computer Networking

A computer network is a collection of interconnected devices that share resources and information. These
devices can include computers, servers, printers, and other hardware. Networks allow for the efficient
exchange of data, enabling various applications such as email, file sharing, and internet browsing.
• Network: A group of connected computers and devices that can communicate and share data with each

other.
• Node: Any device that can send, receive, or forward data in a network. This includes laptops, mobiles,

printers, earbuds, servers, etc.

• Networking Devices: Devices that manage and support networking functions. This includes routers,

switches, hubs, and access points.

• Transmission Media: The physical or wireless medium through which data travels between devices.

• Wired media: Ethernet cables, optical fiber.

• Wireless media: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared

• Service Provider Networks: Networks offered by external providers that allow users or organizations

to lease network access and capabilities. This includes internet providers, mobile carriers, etc.

Uses of Computer Network

There are multiple uses of computer network including:
• Communication: Computer networks enable individuals and organizations to communicate with

each other using various methods such as email, messaging, and video conferencing.
 • Resource sharing: Networks allow users to share resources such as printers, scanners, and files,
which can improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Remote access: Networks enable users to access information and resources from anywhere in the
world, providing greater flexibility and convenience.
• Collaboration: Networks facilitate collaboration by enabling users to work together on projects,
share ideas, and provide feedback in real time.
• E-commerce: Computer networks are used extensively in e-commerce, enabling businesses to sell
products and services online and process payments securely.
• Education: Networks are used in educational institutions to facilitate distance learning, provide
access to educational resources, and enable collaboration among students and teachers.
• Entertainment: Networks are used for entertainment purposes such as online gaming, streaming
movies and music, and social media.

• Applications of Computer Network

There are multiple applications of computer networks including:
• Business applications: Computer networks are widely used in businesses to improve communication,

share resources, and enable remote access.

• Educational applications: Computer networks are used extensively in educational institutions to

facilitate distance learning, provide access to educational resources, and enable collaboration among
students and teachers.
 • Healthcare applications: Computer networks are used in healthcare to store and share patient
information, enabling healthcare professionals to provide more personalized care.
• Entertainment applications: Computer networks are used for entertainment purposes such as online

gaming, streaming movies and music, and social media.

• Military applications: Computer networks are used in military applications to provide secure

communication and information sharing among military personnel.

• Scientific applications: Computer networks are used in scientific research to facilitate collaboration

among researchers and share data and information.

• Transportation applications: Computer networks are used in transportation to manage traffic, track

vehicles, and improve transportation efficiency.

• Banking and finance applications: Computer networks are used in banking and finance to process

transactions, share information, and provide secure access to financial services.

Computer networks play a crucial role in modern society, facilitating communication, data sharing, and
resource access among devices. They are used in various industries and settings, including business, education,
healthcare, and entertainment. Computer networks enable the sharing of information and resources, improving
efficiency and productivity. They also provide connectivity for devices to access the internet, enabling online
communication and services. Overall, computer networks are essential for modern communication and
information exchange.
What is Computer Network?
A computer network is a group of interconnected computers that communicate with each other to share
resources and information. The primary uses of computer networks are to facilitate communication, enable
resource sharing, provide remote access, and collaborate. Computer networks are essential for businesses,
educational institutions, and individuals who rely on technology to connect with others and access resources.
Uses of Computer Network
There are multiple uses of computer network including:
• Communication: Computer networks enable individuals and organizations to communicate with each

other using various methods such as email, messaging, and video conferencing.
• Resource sharing: Networks allow users to share resources such as printers, scanners, and files, which

can improve efficiency and reduce costs.

• Remote access: Networks enable users to access information and resources from anywhere in the world,

providing greater flexibility and convenience.

• Collaboration: Networks facilitate collaboration by enabling users to work together on projects, share

ideas, and provide feedback in real time.

• E-commerce: Computer networks are used extensively in e-commerce, enabling businesses to sell

products and services online and process payments securely.

• Education: Networks are used in educational institutions to facilitate distance learning, provide access

to educational resources, and enable collaboration among students and teachers.

• Entertainment: Networks are used for entertainment purposes such as online gaming, streaming movies

and music, and social media.

Applications of Computer Network
There are multiple applications of computer networks including:
 • Business applications: Computer networks are widely used in businesses to improve communication,
share resources, and enable remote access.
• Educational applications: Computer networks are used extensively in educational institutions to

facilitate distance learning, provide access to educational resources, and enable collaboration among
students and teachers.
• Healthcare applications: Computer networks are used in healthcare to store and share patient

information, enabling healthcare professionals to provide more personalized care.

• Entertainment applications: Computer networks are used for entertainment purposes such as online

gaming, streaming movies and music, and social media.

• Military applications: Computer networks are used in military applications to provide secure

communication and information sharing among military personnel.

• Scientific applications: Computer networks are used in scientific research to facilitate collaboration

among researchers and share data and information.

• Transportation applications: Computer networks are used in transportation to manage traffic, track

vehicles, and improve transportation efficiency.

• Banking and finance applications: Computer networks are used in banking and finance to process

transactions, share information, and provide secure access to financial services.

Advantages of Uses of Computer Networks
Here are the advantages uses of a computer network:
• Improved communication and collaboration.

• Cost savings through resource sharing.

 • Better data management and security.
• Increased flexibility with remote access.

• Enhanced productivity and efficiency

Disadvantages of Uses of Computer Networks

Here are the disadvantages uses of a computer network:
• Security risks and potential for data breaches.

• Technical issues and maintenance challenges.

• Increased vulnerability to viruses and malware.

• Potential for decreased privacy and confidentiality.

Conclusion
Computer networks are integral to modern society, enabling communication, data sharing, and resource access
among devices. They play a vital role in various industries and settings, improving efficiency, productivity,
and connectivity.

Components of Data Communication System

The term “Data Communication” comprises two words: Data and Communication. Data can be any text,
image, audio, video, and multimedia files. Communication is an act of sending or receiving data. Thus, data
communication refers to the exchange of data between two or more networked or connected devices.
Data Communication System Components : There are mainly five components of a data communication
system:
1. Message
2. Sender
3. Receiver
4. Transmission Medium
5. Set of rules (Protocol)
All above mentioned elements are described below:

Figure - Components of Data Communication System

1. Message : This is most useful asset of a data communication system. The message simply refers to data
or piece of information which is to be communicated. A message could be in any form, it may be in form
of a text file, an audio file, a video file, etc.

2. Sender : To transfer message from source to destination, someone must be there who will play role of a
source. Sender plays part of a source in data communication system. It is simple a device that sends data
 message. The device could be in form of a computer, mobile, telephone, laptop, video camera, or a
workstation, etc.

3. Receiver : It is destination where finally message sent by source has arrived. It is a device that receives
message. Same as sender, receiver can also be in form of a computer, telephone mobile, workstation,
etc.

4. Transmission Medium : In entire process of data communication, there must be something which could
act as a bridge between sender and receiver, Transmission medium plays that part. It is physical path by
which data or message travels from sender to receiver. Transmission medium could be guided (with
wires) or unguided (without wires), for example, twisted pair cable, fiber optic cable, radio waves,
microwaves, etc.

5. Set of rules (Protocol) : To govern data communications, various sets of rules had been already designed
by the designers of the communication systems, which represent a kind of agreement between
communicating devices. These are defined as protocol. In simple terms, the protocol is a set of rules that
govern data communication. If two different devices are connected but there is no protocol among them,
 there would not be any kind of communication between those two devices. Thus the protocol is necessary
for data communication to take place.
Need for Protocols
We need protocols for different reasons such as flow control, access control, addressing, etc. Flow
control is required when the sender and receiver have different speeds of sending and receiving the data.
Figure 11.14 shows that Computer A is sending data at the speed of and computer B is receiving data
at the speed of 512 Mbps. In this case, Computer B must be able to inform computer A about the speed
mismatch so that computer A can adjust its data transmission rate. Otherwise some data will be lost.
Protocols also define:
• how computers identify one another on a network.
• the form to which the data should be converted for transit.
• how to decide whether the data received is for that node or to be forwarded to another node.
• ensuring that all the data have reached the destination without any loss.
• how to rearrange the packets and process them at the destination.

A typical example of a data communication system is sending an e-mail. The user which send email act as
sender, message is data which user wants to send, receiver is one whom user wants to send message, there are
many protocols involved in this entire process, one of them is Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), both
sender and receiver must have an internet connection which uses a wireless medium to send and receive email.
TYPES OF DATA COMMUNICATION
Data communication happens in the form of signals between two or more computing devices or nodes.
The transfer of data happens over a point-to-point or multipoint communication channel. Data
communication between different devices are broadly categorised into 3 types: Simplex communication,
Halfduplexcommunication, and Full-duplexcommunication.

Simplex Communication
It is a one way or unidirectional communication between two devices in which one device is sender and
other one is receiver. Devices use the entire capacity of the link to transmit the data. It is like a one way
street where vehicles can move in only one direction. For example, data entered through a keyboard or
audio sent to a speaker are one way communications.

Half-duplex Communication
It is two way or bidirectional communication between two devices in which both the devices can send
and receive data or control signals in both directions, but not at the same time, as shown in Figure 11.4.
While one device is sending data, the other one will receive and vice-versa. It is like sharing a one-way
narrow bridge among vehicles moving in both directions. Vehicles cannot pass the bridge
simultaneously. Basically, it is a simplex channel where the direction of transmission can be switched.
Application of such type of communication can be found in walkie-talkie where one can press the push-
to-talk button and talk. This enables the transmitter and turns off the receiver in that device and others
can only listen.
Figure 11.4: Half-duplex where communication occurs in two different moments.

Full-duplex Communication
It is two way or bidirectional communication in which both devices can send and receive data
simultaneously, as shown in Figure 11.5. It is like a two way road where vehicles can go in both directions
at the same time. This type of communication channel is employed to allow simultaneous
communication, for example, in our mobile phones and landline telephones. The capacity of the
transmission link is shared between the signals going in both directions. This can be done either by using
two physically separate simplex lines - one for sending and other for receiving, or the capacity of the
single channel is shared between the signals travelling in different directions.
Figure 11.5: Full duplex transmission of data

Types of Computer Networks

Computer networks are classified based on several factors, such as geographical area, ownership, architecture,
topology, and transmission technology.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A LAN is a type of network where devices are connected with each other and within a limited geographical
area, such as a home, office, or school. Local Area Networks are usually implemented to allow computer
sharing or centralization of resources such as printers, files, and the Internet.
Most homes have a LAN now. Your router creates it. All your devices connect through it. You can share files
between computers easily. Print from any device to one printer. LANs are fast because all devices are close
together. They use cables or Wi-Fi. Schools use them so students can access the same programs. Offices need
them for teamwork.
Example: A small office where many connected computers with a central router for files and printing is
exemplified by a LAN. The devices are interconnected through preferably Ethernet cables or wirelessly
through wireless networks.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
MAN is used to connect several LANs together and thus it extends over a larger area, usually a city or a large
campus. Today, LANs are combined by many organizations using MANs.
A MAN is bigger than you might think. It can cover a whole town. Universities implement MANs because
they link all the buildings. City governments use them too. They connect libraries, offices, and schools
together. The speed is pretty good. Not as fast as a LAN, but way better than old phone lines. Cable companies
often run MANs. They use fiber optic cables mostly. It’s like having one big network for the whole area.
Example: A university, for instance, has many buildings linked with each other using a high-speed fiber-optic
cable, known as a MAN. The network enables students and faculty to use resources and communicate in the
space across buildings on campus.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A WAN connects a large geographical area and can extend to several cities, regions, or even countries. WANs
are largely employed in large organizations to interconnect a number of LANs or MANs.
The internet is actually the biggest WAN out there. Companies with offices everywhere need WANs. Banks
use them to connect branches. The data travels long distances, sometimes through underwater cables between
countries. WANs cost more than other networks. They are slower, too, because of the distance. But they let
people work together from anywhere. Cloud services run on WANs. Without them, we couldn’t video chat
with family overseas or work from home.
Example: A WAN is a multinational corporation with offices in different countries utilizing dedicated fiber
optic links to enable communication. This enables the employees in the different stations to access common
assets and share ideas, and information.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

A PAN is a small network that connects devices at a short range, normally within a few meters of each other.
PANs are utilized in devices that relate to individuals, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. These
networks work best in your personal space.
Think of your wireless earbuds talking to your phone. That’s a PAN in action. They use Bluetooth most of the
time. Some use infrared, too. The range is small, possibly around 30 feet. PANs make life easier. You don’t
need wires everywhere. Your fitness tracker sends data to your phone this way. It’s simple and it just works.
Example: A Bluetooth headset worn by a person who connects it to a smartphone in order to listen to music
is a typical example of PAN. Bluetooth is a Personal Area Network wherein the devices establish a connection
and can transfer data between them.
WLAN
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), also known as a Wireless LAN, is a network comprising two or
more computing devices that communicate through radio waves without the need for physical connections.
This stands in contrast to a local area network (LAN) that employs wired connectivity, whereby every
computer within the network is physically linked to the network switch or hub via an Ethernet cable.
With the rapid advancement of Wi-Fi technology, WLANs have become faster, more secure, and more
efficient, supporting everything from video streaming and online gaming to business operations and smart
home automation. Understanding how WLANs work, their advantages and potential challenges can help users
and businesses optimize their wireless networks for better performance and security.

Network Devices

Network devices are physical devices that allow hardware on a computer network to communicate and interact
with each other. Network devices like hubs, repeaters, bridges, switches, routers, gateways, and brouter help
manage and direct data flow in a network. They ensure efficient communication between connected devices
by controlling data transfer, boosting signals, and linking different networks. Each device serves a specific
role, from simple data forwarding to complex routing between networks.
How Hub works?
The hub works on layer 1 of the OSI reference model. It is a dumb device. It has no intelligence to decide how
to send information from a particular source to a specific destination. The data is broadcasted over the network
across all its ports except the one on which it was received. The communication is, therefore, not secure. The
network may also experience congestion and collisions.

Advantages of Hub
Some advantages of hub are:
• Hubs are inexpensive and simple.
 • They are easy to set up and can be set up by anyone.
Disadvantages of Hub
Some disadvantages associated with Hubs are:
• Hubs are usually inefficient as they broadcast data to all devices unnecessarily.

• If more devices are connected, it can lead to network collisions.

• Hubs are not intelligent devices, they are not capable of managing or filtering data.

Ideal Use Cases of Hubs

Hubs are rarely used in modern networks because of its inefficiency. However, they are still useful for
networks that doesn’t need advanced features such as small networks with minimal traffic.
How Switch works?
The switch works on layer 2 of the OSI reference model. It is an intelligent device that can decide to send
information from a particular source to a destination. It does so based on the MAC address of the devices. The
switch builds a MAC address table for all of the devices that are connected to the switch. It then uses it to
forward frames from a particular source to the destination. The communication is, therefore, unicast once the
switch has learned the MAC address of the destination device. The communication is, therefore, secure.
Type of Switches
Switch can be classified in two categories, which are:
• Unmanaged Switches: These are simple switches having no configuration options. They are mainly

used in small home networks where advanced controls are not required.
• Managed Switches: Managed Switches are advanced switches that come with configuration options,

such as traffic control, security features, and network monitoring. These are used in enterprise-level
networks.
Advantages of Switches
Some of the advantages of switches are:
• Switches are capable of efficient data transmission and reducing collisions.

• They are capable of scalability for larger networks.

• Managed switches can handle VLANs.

Disadvantages of Switches
Here are disadvantages of switches:
• Switches are expensive than Hubs.

• Switches also need configuration and monitoring in larger networks.

How Router works?

In the OSI reference model, the router operates at layer 3. It is an intelligent device that can decide to send
information from a particular source to the destination network. It does so based on the IP address allocated
to each networked device. The router creates a routing table, which it then utilizes to transmit packets from
one source to another. It also determines the best path to reach a specified destination network address. The
router will usually only broadcast data if specifically configured.
In its most fundamental role, a router acts as a switch, learning the locations of the transmitting computers,
and data is sent only via the required connections. The router can only communicate if it is started by it. This
implies the router is also used as a reliable, effective firewall. Now that we have discussed about all three
devices, it is time to move on to compare hub vs switch vs router.

Here are the difference between hub, switch and router. Although hubs are a basic and affordable alternative,
they can promptly bottleneck network traffic. Switches are an upgrade from hubs and can boost network
performance, but they are still insufficient if you necessitate linking various networks together. In that case,
you will need a router.
Difference between Hub, Switch, and Router
The main difference between Hub, Switch and Router is that these all are important networking devices, but
they have different functions and differ in how they manage data. Hubs operate at the physical layer (layer 1)
of the OSI model and simply transmit data to all connected devices, which leads to inefficiency and network
collisions.
On the other hand, switches operate at the Data Link Layer (Layer 2) and use MAC Address to transmit data
only to the devices that need it, making it more efficient than a hub. At last, Routers operate at the network
layer (layer 3) and goes further by displaying data route between networks. It uses IP addresses to determine
the best route for each data packet. It also connects to the Internet and provides advanced features such as
routing and security.
While hubs, switches are used in a local area network (LAN), routers are used in all sized networks from small
to large networks, such as LANs, WANs, etc.

Difference between Hub, Switch and Router

Hub Switch Router

Hub is a physical layer Router is a network layer device i.e. layer

Switch is a data link layer device i.e. layer 2.
device i.e. layer 1. 3.
Hub Switch Router

A Hub works on the basis of

Switch works on the basis of MAC address. A router works on the basis of IP address.
broadcasting.

A Hub is a multiport repeater A Switch is a tele-communication device A router reads the header of incoming
in which a signal introduced which receives a message from any device packet and forward it to the port for which
at the input of any port connected to it and then transmits the message it is intended there by determines the
appears at the output of the only to the device for which the message is route. It can also perform filtering and
all available ports. intended. encapsulation.

A route is more sophisticated and

intelligent device as it can read IP address
Hub is not an intelligent A Switch is an intelligent device as it passes
and direct the packets to another network
device that may include on the message to the selective device by
with a specified IP address. Moreover,
amplifier on repeater. inspecting the address.
routers can built address tables that helps
in routing decisions.

At least single network is Router needs at least two networks to

At least single network is required to connect.
required to connect. connect.
Hub Switch Router

Hub is cheaper as compared Router is a relatively much more

Switch is an expensive device than hub.
to switch and router. expensive device than hub and switch.

Speed of original hub maximum speed for wireless is 1-10 Mbps

10Mbps and modern internet maximum speed is 10Mbps to 100Mbps. and maximum speed for wired
hub is 100Mbps. connections is 100 Mbps.

Routers are used in LANs, MANs and

Hubs are used in LANs. Switch is used in LANs.
WANs.

INTERNET
The Internet or simply the Net is a worldwide network of computer networks. It is an interconnection of large
and small networks around the globe. 10.4 APPLICATIONS OF INTERNET With the help of Internet you
can: l Exchange messages using e-mail (Electronic mail). l Transfer files as well as software. l Browse through
information on any topic on web. l Communicate in real time (chat) with others connected to the Internet. l
Search databases of government, individuals and organizations. l Read news available from leading news
groups. l Send or receive animation and picture files from distant places. l Set up a site with information about
your company’s products and services.

HOW DOES INTERNET WORK?

The thing that characterizes the Internet is how data are transferred from one computer to another. Did you
ever wonder
what magical things go on behind the scenes that results in a web page being displayed on your screen seconds
after you request it? How does the data moves from one side of the world to the other?
Here is what happens to a piece of data (e.g. a Web page) when it is transferred over the Internet:
l. It is broken into a lot of same-sized pieces (called packets).
l A header is added to each packet that explains where it came from, where it should end up and how it fits in
with the rest of the packets.
l Each packet is sent from computer to computer until it finds its way to its destination. Each computer along
the way decides where next to send the packet. This could depend on things like how busy the other computers
are when the packet was received. The packets may not all take the same route.
l At the destination, the packets are examined. If there is any packet missing or damaged, a message is sent
asking for that packet to be resent. This continues until all the packets have been received intact.
l The packets are reassembled into their original form. Each computer connected up to the Internet has a
software called TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), which is responsible for receiving,
sending and checking packets. TCP/ IP is the ‘glue’ of the Internet.

Advantages
Internet covers almost every aspect of life, one can think of. Here, we will discuss some of the advantages of
Internet:

• Internet allows us to communicate with the people sitting at remote locations. There are various apps
available on the wed that uses Internet as a medium for communication. One can find various social
networking sites such as:
o Facebook

o Twitter

o Yahoo

o Google+
 o Flickr
o Orkut

• One can surf for any kind of information over the internet. Information regarding various topics such as
Technology, Health & Science, Social Studies, Geographical Information, Information Technology,
Products etc can be surfed with help of a search engine.
• Apart from communication and source of information, internet also serves a medium for entertainment.
Following are the various modes for entertainment over internet.
o Online Television

o Online Games

o Songs

o Videos

o Social Networking Apps

• Internet allows us to use many services like:

o Internet Banking

o Matrimonial Services

o Online Shopping

o Online Ticket Booking

o Online Bill Payment

o Data Sharing

o E-mail
 • Internet provides concept of electronic commerce, that allows the business deals to be conducted on
electronic systems
Disadvantages
However, Internet has prooved to be a powerful source of information in almost every field, yet there exists
many disadvanatges discussed below:

• There are always chances to loose personal information such as name, address, credit card number.
Therefore, one should be very careful while sharing such information. One should use credit cards only
through authenticated sites.
• Another disadvantage is the Spamming.Spamming corresponds to the unwanted e-mails in bulk. These
e-mails serve no purpose and lead to obstruction of entire system.
• Virus can easily be spread to the computers connected to internet. Such virus attacks may cause your
system to crash or your important data may get deleted.
 • Also a biggest threat on internet is pornography. There are many pornographic sites that can be found,
letting your children to use internet which indirectly affects the children healthy mental life.
• There are various websites that do not provide the authenticated information. This leads to misconception
among many people.

FREQUENTLY USED TERMS IN INTERNET

In this section we will discuss common internet terms to help you understand the relationship of various
Internet technologies.
World Wide Web (WWW): The World Wide Web (“WWW” or simply the “web”) is a collection of electronic
documents (called web pages) that are linked together like a spider web. These documents are stored on
computers called servers located around the world.
Web Server: A Web Server is a computer that stores web pages. It is responsible for accepting request(s) from
users and serves them with web pages.Two important web server programs are: IIS (Internet Information
server) and Apache, etc. Web servers are connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Hyperlink: It is an element in an electronic document that links to another place in the same document or to
an entirely different document or other resource. Hyperlinks usually appear as underlined text and in a different
color, but they may also appear as graphics, such as buttons to click. Hyperlinks may be used to link another
place in the same page, or another page, to play an audio or video file, to download a file, to set up a message
to an e-mail address, and to link to other Internet resources.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language): It is a language that consists of certain key words called ‘Tags’, used
for writing the documents on the web. Web Page: A web page (such as the one you are looking at now) is an
electronic document written in a computer language called HTML (Hypertext Markup Language).
Web pages can contain text, graphics, video, animation, and sound, as well as interactive features, such as data
entry forms.
Each page has a unique address known as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that identifies its location on
the server. Web pages usually contain hyperlinks to other web pages.
Website: A website (often shortened to just site) is one or more web pages, belonging to a particular company,
institute, government or an individual. The first page is called the home page, which acts like an index,
indicating the content on the site.

By default the home page is named as index.htm. From the home page, you can click hyperlinks to access
other web pages.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator): Every page on the web has a unique address, called Uniform Resource
Locator, URL. A URL indicates where the web page is stored on the Internet. A sample URL might look like
the following:
IP (Internet Protocol) Address:
Computers do not understand letters or symbols that humans use to communicate effectively. Computers
understand numbers-specifically, 1s and 0s. IP Addres stands for Internet Protocol Address. Every computer
or device connected to the Internet has a unique IP address, provided by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). It
acts like a digital identification, similar to Aadhaar or PAN cards, and helps differentiate between devices,
websites, and routers. An IP address is a set of four numbers like 192.154.3.29, where each number ranges
from 0 to 255, making the full range from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255. It plays a key role in the flow of data
over the Internet.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/ Internet Protocol (IP)

TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol. It is a set of standardised rules that uses
a client-server model of communication in which a user or machine (a client) requests a service by a server in
the network.
The IP protocol ensures that each computer or node connected to the Internet is assigned an IP address, which
is used to identify each node independently. It can be considered to be the adhesive that holds the whole
Internet together. TCP ensures that the message or data is broken into smaller chunks, called IP packets. Each
of these packets are routed (transmitted) through the Internet, along a path from one router to the next, until it
reaches the specified destination. TCP guarantees the delivery of packets on the designated IP address. It is
also responsible for ordering the packets so that they are delivered in sequence.