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Monday, March 7, 2011

Data About Networking

1.1 Growth Of Computer Networking
Computer networking has grown explosively. Since the 1970s, computer communication
has changed from an esoteric research topic to an essential part of the infrastructure.
Networking is used in every aspect of business, including advertising, production,
shipping, planning, billing, and accounting. Consequently, most corporations have multiple
networks. Schools, at all grade levels from elementary through post-graduate, are
using computer networks to provide students and teachers with instantaneous access to
online information. Federal, state, and local government offices use networks, as do
military organizations. In short, computer networks are everywhere.
The growth and uses of the global Internet† are among the most interesting and exciting
phenomena in networking. In 1980, the Internet was a research project that involved
a few dozen sites. Today, the Internet has grown into a production communication
system that reaches all populated countries of the world. Many users have highspeed
Internet access through cable modems, DSL, or wireless technologies.
The advent and utility of networking has created dramatic economic shifts. Data
networking has made telecommuting available to individuals and has changed business
communication. In addition, an entire industry emerged that develops networking technologies,
products, and services. The importance of computer networking has produced
a demand in all industries for people with more networking expertise. Companies need
workers to plan, acquire, install, operate, and manage the hardware and software systems
that constitute computer networks and internets.
1.2 Introduction And Overview Chap
quired because all programmers are expected to design and implement application
software that can communicate with applications on other computers.
1.2 Why Networking Seems Complex
Because computer networking is an active, exciting field, the subject seems complex.
Many technologies exist, and each technology has features that distinguish it from
the others. Companies continue to create commercial networking products and services,
often by using technologies in new unconventional ways. Finally, networking seems
complex because technologies can be combined and interconnected in many ways.
Computer networking can be especially confusing to a beginner because no single
underlying theory exists that explains the relationship among all parts. Multiple organizations
have created networking standards, but some standards are incompatible with
others. Various organizations and research groups have attempted to define conceptual
models that capture the essence and explain the nuances among network hardware and
software systems, but because the set of technologies is diverse and changes rapidly,
models are either so simplistic that they do not distinguish among details or so complex
that they do not help simplify the subject.
The lack of consistency in the field has produced another challenge for beginners:
instead of a uniform terminology for networking concepts, multiple groups each attempt
to create their own terminology. Researchers cling to scientifically precise terminology.
Corporate marketing groups often associate a product with a generic technical term or
invent new terms merely to distinguish their products or services from those of competitors.
Thus, technical terms are easily confused with the names of popular products. To
add further confusion, professionals sometimes use a technical term from one technology
when referring to an analogous feature of another technology. Consequently, in addition
to a large set of terms and acronyms that contains many synonyms, networking
jargon contains terms that are often abbreviated, misused, or associated with products.