Network Topology

Network Topology

1. IP Address - A unique string of numbers separated by full stops that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network. They are similar to as a postcode that is used to identify a house in a county on a street.

   • Data travelling on a Network are sent as packets Each device on the internet has a unique IP address which is sent with the packets to identify which computer to send the data to. The address is broken down into four numbers which can represent a number between 0 and 255 separated by a full stop.

2. MAC addresses, or Media Access Control Addresses, uniquely identify a device on a network by identifying the network adapter that the device is using

   • The MAC address is embedded into the device when it is manufactured and the owner cannot change it. A MAC address is a unique code which is built into the Network Interface Card (NIC) Each address is individual and is made up of 48 bits, usually written in hexadecimal for ease.

3. The header also contains the packet number as well as the total number of packets, for example packet 4 of 60, packet 45 of 60. When the packets arrive at the destination this information is used to reassemble the data. Packets can be lost so sometimes the computer request the packet to be sent again, if a packet never arrives then it is deleted by the router.