Networking Basics

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Network protocols

This page will explain what network protocols are and why they are important.

Protocol suites are collections of protocols that enable network communication between hosts. A protocol is a formal de******ion of a set of rules and conventions that govern a particular aspect of how devices on a network communicate. Protocols determine the format, timing, sequencing, and error control in data communication. Without protocols, the computer cannot make or rebuild the stream of incoming bits from another computer into the original format.

Protocols control all aspects of data communication, which include the following:

How the physical network is built
How computers connect to the network
How the data is formatted for transmission
How that data is sent
How to deal with errors

These network rules are created and maintained by many different organizations and committees. Included in these groups are the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), formerly known as the Comité Consultatif International Téléphonique et Télégraphique (CCITT).

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Local-area networks (LANs)


This page will explain the features and benefits of LANs.

LANs consist of the following components:

Computers
Network interface cards
Peripheral devices
Networking media
Network devices

LANs allow businesses to locally share computer files and printers efficiently and make internal communications possible. A good example of this technology is e-mail. LANs manage data, local communications, and computing equipment.

Some common LAN technologies include the following:

Ethernet
Token Ring
FDDI