Network Topologies, Protocols and Layers

Network Topologies, Protocols and Layers

1. A mesh topology is when all devices in a network are connected to all of the devices, so they can all communicate directly.

2. HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) is used by web-browsers to communicate with web servers. HTTPS (hypertext transfer protocol secure) is the same, but secured by encryption.

3. IMAP is used to retrieve emails, like POP or POP3.

   • POP(3) (post office protocol (version 3)) is used to retrieve emails, but is being replaced by IMAP.

4. SMTP is used to send Emails.

5. Protocols are sorted in to layers so that, if one layer is changed, it does not effect the rest of the layers. This is also a standardized form of communication between networks.

6. Devices either have a STATIC IP, which never changes, or a DYNAMIC IP, which regularly changes.

   • IPs are 48-bit.

7. A protocol is a set of rules.

8. A star topology is when all devices are connected to the switch, but not to each other.

   • It is easy to add new devices to it, though ports on the switch may run out.
   • It is relatively fast as all devices are connected to the switch.
   • There are few data collisions.
   • If one connection goes down, the entire network is not impacted or effected, but it is heavily reliant on one connection, switch to server.