Chapter 1

Introduction

Computer Networking: A
Top-Down Approach
8th edition
Jim Kurose, Keith Ross
Pearson, 2020

Introduction: 1-1
Chapter 1: introduction
Chapter goal:
• Get “feel,” “big picture,”
introduction to terminology
• more depth, detail later in
course
• Approach:
• use Internet as example
Overview/roadmap:
• What is the Internet?
• What is a protocol?
• Network edge: hosts, access network,
physical media
• Network core: packet/circuit switching,
internet structure
• Performance: loss, delay, throughput
• Security
• Protocol layers, service models
Introduction: 1-2
The Internet: a “nuts and bolts” view
Billions of connected mobile network
computing devices: national or global ISP
▪ hosts = end systems
▪ running network apps at
Internet’s “edge”

Packet switches: forward

local or
packets (chunks of data) Internet
regional ISP
▪ routers, switches
home network content
Communication links provider
network datacenter
▪ fiber, copper, radio, satellite network

▪ transmission rate: bandwidth

Networks enterprise
▪ collection of devices, routers, network
links: managed by an organization Introduction: 1-3
 “Fun” Internet-connected devices

Pacemaker & Monitor

Tweet-a-watt:
monitor energy use
Amazon Echo
IP picture frame Web-enabled toaster +
weather forecaster
Internet
refrigerator
Slingbox: remote
control cable TV
Security Camera AR devices
sensorized,
bed
Internet phones mattress Others?
Fitbit
Introduction: 1-4
The Internet: a “nuts and bolts” view
mobile network
4G
• Internet: “network of networks” national or global ISP

• Interconnected ISPs
▪ protocols are everywhere Skype
IP
Streaming
video
• control sending, receiving of
messages local or
regional ISP
• e.g., HTTP (Web), streaming video,
Skype, TCP, IP, WiFi, 4G, Ethernet home network content
provider
▪ Internet standards HTTP network datacenter
network

• RFC: Request for Comments Ethernet

• IETF: Internet Engineering Task TCP

Force enterprise
network

WiFi Introduction: 1-5

The Internet: a “service” view
• Infrastructure that provides mobile network

services to applications: national or global ISP

• Web, streaming video, multimedia

teleconferencing, email, games, e- Streaming
commerce, social media, inter- Skype video
connected appliances, … local or
regional ISP
▪ provides programming interface
to distributed applications: home network content
provider
• “hooks” allowing sending/receiving HTTP network datacenter
network
apps to “connect” to, use Internet
transport service
• provides service options, analogous enterprise
to postal service network

Introduction: 1-6
What’s a protocol?
Human protocols: Network protocols:
▪ “what’s the time?” ▪ computers (devices) rather than humans
▪ “I have a question” ▪ all communication activity in Internet
▪ introductions governed by protocols

… specific messages sent

Protocols define the format, order of
… specific actions taken
when message received, messages sent and received among
or other events network entities, and actions taken
on msg transmission, receipt

Introduction: 1-7
What’s a protocol?
A human protocol and a computer network protocol:

Hi TCP connection
request
Hi TCP connection
response
Got the
time? GET http://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross
2:00
<file>
time

Introduction: 1-8
Chapter 1: roadmap
• What is the Internet?
• What is a protocol?
• Network edge: hosts, access network,
physical media
• Network core: packet/circuit
switching, internet structure
• Performance: loss, delay, throughput
• Security
• Protocol layers, service models
• History
Introduction: 1-9
A closer look at Internet structure
mobile network

Network edge: national or global ISP

• hosts: clients and servers

• servers often in data centers
local or
regional ISP

home network content

provider
network datacenter
network

enterprise
network

Introduction: 1-10
A closer look at Internet structure
mobile network

Network edge: national or global ISP

• hosts: clients and servers

• servers often in data centers
local or
Access networks, physical media: regional ISP

• wired, wireless communication links home network content

provider
network datacenter
network

enterprise
network

Introduction: 1-11
A closer look at Internet structure
mobile network

Network edge: national or global ISP

• hosts: clients and servers

• servers often in data centers
local or
Access networks, physical media: regional ISP

• wired, wireless communication links home network content

provider
network datacenter

Network core: network

▪ interconnected routers
▪ network of networks enterprise
network

Introduction: 1-12
Access networks and physical media
Q: How to connect end systems to mobile network
national or global ISP
edge router?
• residential access nets
• institutional access networks (school,
company)
local or
• mobile access networks (WiFi, 4G/5G) regional ISP

What to look for: home network content

provider
network
▪ transmission rate (bits per second) of access datacenter
network
network?
▪ shared or dedicated access among users?
enterprise
network

Introduction: 1-13
Access networks: home networks
wireless
devices

to/from headend or
central office
often combined
in single box

cable or DSL modem

WiFi wireless access router, firewall, NAT

point (54, 450 Mbps)
wired Ethernet (1 Gbps)
Introduction: 1-14
Wireless access networks
Shared wireless access network connects end system to router
▪ via base station aka “access point”

Wireless local area networks Wide-area cellular access networks

(WLANs)
▪ typically within or around
building (~100 ft)
▪ 802.11b/g/n (WiFi): 11, 54, 450
Mbps transmission rate
▪ provided by mobile, cellular network
operator (10’s km)
▪ 10’s Mbps
▪ 4G/5G cellular networks

to Internet
to Internet
Introduction: 1-15