Approach to Describing User Network Sessions xvii --
Computer Networks and Why They Exist 1 --
Example of a Computer Network 2 --
Point-to-Point Connections? 4 --
Examples of Network Services 8 --
A Network by Any Other Name... 10 --
Chapter 2 Computer and Human Communications 13 --
Communications Between Humans 13 --
Communications Between Computers 14 --
Codes: The Language of Computer Networks 15 --
Private Instant Messaging, Chat Rooms, and Email 17 --
Just About Everything Needs Synchronization 19 --
Codes: We've Been Using Them for Centuries 20 --
Binary Numbers: Bits, Bytes, Nibbles, and, Sometimes, Octets 22 --
Extending the Analogy 23 --
Path Between the Computers 23 --
Chapter 3 Sending and Receiving User Traffic on the Communications Link 27 --
Is the Link Analog or Digital? 31 --
Bits and Codes on the Link 31 --
Bits, Bandwidth, and Broadband Networks 35 --
One Way to Increase Bandwidth 38 --
Comparison of Two Different Bandwidths 41 --
Why Longer Bits Are More Robust 41 --
Error Detection: Computers and Humans 45 --
Chapter 4 Modem and the Telephone Network 49 --
Defining the Problem 49 --
Examining the Solution 50 --
Connecting to the Telephone Network 52 --
Sending Ted's "Payload" to Bob 53 --
Location of the Modem 55 --
Chapter 5 Digital Networks 57 --
Advantages of Digital Networks 57 --
Analog-to-Digital Conversion 61 --
It's All a Matter of 1s and 0s 63 --
All-Digital Network 63 --
Chapter 6 Bit Rates and Broadband Networks 65 --
Examples of Bit Rates 66 --
Broadband Systems Revisited 68 --
Network Cloud and the UNI 70 --
Broadband at the Local Loop: The Final Mile 71 --
Chapter 7 Voice and Data Characteristics 75 --
Effect of the Bursty Process on the Communications Link 79 --
Chapter 8 Multiplexing and Packet Switching 85 --
Idle Bandwidth = Wasted Capacity 85 --
Solution Is Multiplexing 86 --
Thousands of Users on One Link 88 --
Combining the Multiplexer and the Switch: The Packet Switch 89 --
Chapter 9 Network IDs: Addresses 91 --
Postal Addresses and Network Addresses 91 --
Address in the Packet Header 93 --
Network ID/Subnet ID/Host ID Is Like Area Code/Exchange Code/Line Number 96 --
IP Addressing Standard 97 --
Chapter 10 Network IDs: Names 101 --
Network Name Is Not an Address 101 --
Flexibility of the Network Name 103 --
Moving Around and Keeping the Same Name 103 --
Is It infoinst.com, INFOINST.com, or InfoInst.com? 105 --
But Isn't the Network Name an Email Address? 105 --
A Vital Network Component: The Name Server 106 --
Email and Other Forms of Messages 106 --
Name Servers Support Thousands of Users 108 --
Next, Routing the Packet 109 --
Name Server Is Like a Telephone Directory 110 --
Source and Destination IDs 110 --
Chapter 11 Connecting to the Data Network 113 --
Revisiting the Switch 113 --
Data Travels Through the Telephone Local Exchange to the Data Network 114 --
Why Use the Telephone Exchange? 115 --
Why Not Use the Cable TV Network? 117 --
Hereafter, Assume the Existence of the Telco or Cable TV Links 117 --
Packet Switch is a Router 118 --
Chapter 12 Routing Traffic Through the Network 119 --
Comparing Postal Bins and Router Queues 119 --
Revisiting the Locations of Ted and Bob in the Network 121 --
Using Destination Addresses to Make Routing Decisions 122 --
Sending the Packet to Dallas and Processing It 124 --
Processing the Packet at the Dallas Router 126 --
Sending the Packet to the Chicago Router and Processing It 126 --
Processing the Packet at the Chicago Router 127 --
Dealing With a Mail Server if a Mail Server Is Involved 127 --
Routing Activities from the Users' View 128 --
Chapter 13 Backup and Route Discovery 131 --
Using Alternate Routes for Backup Operations 131 --
Discovering Problems 133 --
Acknowledgment Operations May Not Happen 135 --
Building the Road Map with Route Advertising 136 --
Chapter 14 Internet and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 141 --
Finally and Formally Introducing the Internet 141 --
Connecting to the Internet 143 --
Supporting Millions of Computers and Thousands of Networks 144 --
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 145 --
Chapter 15 Network IDs: Domain Names 147 --
Review of Network Names 147 --
Hierarchical Names 148 --
Name Domains and Name Servers 150 --
Domain Name System (DNS) 151 --
Internet DNS Root Servers 152 --
Using DNS to Look Up an Address 152 --
Chapter 16 Putting It Together 155 --
Obtaining Bob's Address 155 --
If the Traffic Uses a Server 156 --
Insert the Address into the Packet 156 --
Operations at the Router 157 --
Delivery to the Dallas Node, and Then to Chicago 158 --
Sending the Reply Back to Ted 159 --
Chapter 17 Dialing in to the Net 161 --
Dial-Up Arrangement 161 --
Dial-Up Background Hisses and Tones 162 --
Furnishing Information to the ISP 163 --
What the ISP Does with the Information 165 --
An Experiment: Go to http://www.infoinst.com 170 --
If You Are Interested In... 171 --
...An Order for a Famous Book 172 --
Chapter 19 Protocols 175 --
Internet Protocol (IP) 175 --
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) 176 --
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) 177 --
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) 178 --
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) 179 --
Domain Name System (DNS) 180 --
Chapter 20 Next Step 181 --
A Look into the Future 182 --
Appendix A Typical User Sessions in a Computer Network 185 --
Private Internet Messaging with a Server 187 --
Private Instant Messaging Directly 188 --
Interactive Voice, Video, and Data Dialogues With a Server 191 --
Interactive Voice and Data Dialogues without a Server 192 --
Appendix B Modulation Techniques 193 --