The network, as we know it

Abstract

If you aren't a network guru and have no interest whatsoever in becoming one, though still wonder how the 'Net' works, this chapter will provide you with a number of precious answers. Together, we'll revisit the hectic journey of a data packet from the time it's conceived by an Internet server, until its destiny is accomplished in your computer. As with messengers, packets carry valuable information. Their purpose in life is simple: to find the best path to their addressee. However, in a network entangled with billions of links, how does your packet find its way through? How can streams of packets be delivered on time? You will appreciate the mechanisms that keep the network connected and stable. To those who are not network specialists, this chapter will provide all the elements required to tackle the more advanced networking concepts introduced in the rest of book. You will read about routers, packet switching, data buffering, message forwarding, the wonders of Dijkstra's algorithm and the tricks used to keep mobile terminals connected. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.