CECS 474 Computer Network Interoperabilit

CHAPTER 20
Internetworking:
Concepts, Architecture, & Protocols
Tracy Bradley Maples, Ph.D.
Computer Engineering & Computer Science
California State University, Long Beach

Notes for Douglas E. Comer, Computer Networks and Internets (5th Edition)

Why Internetworking?
"One of the most utterly scintillating notions presented in the text is that there is no
such thing as an internet. Universal service exists by deftly combining software and
hardware into a virtual network system, where the communication system is an
abstraction."
Dr. Jennifer Seitzer
University of Dayton
LANs

Low cost
Limited distance

High cost
Unlimited distance

WANs

Thus, no single networking technology is best for all needs.

Universal Service

A fundamental concept in networking

Pioneered by the telephone system
Allows an arbitrary pair of computers to communicate
Highly desirable
Difficult in a heterogeneous world

Heterogeneity
Incompatibilities among networks exist.
There are different:
Electrical properties
Signaling and data encoding
Packet formats
Physical Addresses
Ultimately:
Although universal service is highly desirable, incompatibilities among network
hardware and physical addressing prevent an organization from building a bridged
network that includes arbitrary technologies.
--Comer

Solution: Build an Internetwork

Begin with heterogeneous network technologies

Connect the physical networks
Create software to make the resulting system appear homogeneous

The result is called an internetwork or internet.

Connecting Heterogeneous Networks

Special purpose computer systems are used to connect heterogeneous networks:
Dedicated
Work with LAN or WAN technologies
Known as an
-- Internet router
-- Internet gateway

An Internet Router

The cloud denotes an arbitrary network technology

One interface per network is needed

Main Concept:
A router can interconnect networks that use different technologies, including different
media and media access techniques, physical addressing schemes, or frame formats.
--Comer

Internet Architecture

Use multiple:
-- Networks
-- Routers interconnecting networks
The Host computer connects to a network
A single router has limited
-- CPU power and memory
-- I/O capability

Goal of Internetworking
Create a communication system that is:
Seamless
Uniform
General-purpose
Universal
Hides heterogeneity from the user

The Internet Concept

Hiding Heterogeneity
To create a "virtual" network:
Invent
-- An addressing scheme
-- A naming scheme

Implement with the scheme with protocol software

Note: The protocol software is needed on both hosts and routers.

The Internet Protocols

Known as TCP/IP

Many protocols comprise the suite

Designed to work together

Divided into five conceptual layers

TCP/IP Layering

Note: This TCP/IP layering is an actual implementation of protocols, unlike the

ISO model.

TCP/IP Layers
Layer 5: Application Layer
Everything else (i.e., how one application uses the Internet)
Similar to OSI Layer 6 and 7
Layer 4: Transport Layer
Specifies how to provide reliable transfer from one application on one
computer to an application on another
Similar to OSI Layer 4
Layer 3: Internet Layer
Format of packets
Mechanisms for forwarding packets
Not in the OSI Model
Layer 2: Network Interface Layer
MAC frame format
MAC addressing
Interface between computer and the network (i.e., the NIC)
Similar to OSI Layer 2
Layer 1: Physical Layer
Basic network hardware
Similar to OSI Layer 1