Summary

In this chapter, we have discussed the fundamentals of a computer network. First, you learned about the differences between the OSI model and the TCP/IP (DoD) model. The OSI model is only theoretical and does not have a physical implementation. Don’t be confused when someone mentions the TCP/IP model when talking about the TCP/IP suite of protocols. We also looked at the different types of hardware you may find in a networking environment to understand the differences between a hub and a router. A router is a much more complex device responsible for sending data to the next hop. In contrast, a hub is only used to extend the network segment by giving additional hosts a location to connect to the network. A hub does not “do” anything; it merely creates an extension of the network.

You should be able to explain the differences between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless-oriented protocol and in what situations each protocol should be used...