Networking Explained, Second Edition
An in-depth explanation of all things networking.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Networking Explained, Second Edition
Chapter 7: Internetworks and Network Layer Concepts and Components
Overview
In Chapters 4, 5, and 6, we introduced many of the concepts and hardware components related to layers 1 and 2 of the OSI model. Our discussion in these chapters also was relative to local area networks. In this chapter, we extend our previous discussions to wide area links. As part of this presentation, we introduce the concept of internetworking from a WAN perspective and discuss the third layer of the OSI model the network layer. An outline of the main topics we address follows.
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The Concept of Internetworking (Questions 1 4)
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WAN Circuits (Questions 5 12)
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SONET (Questions 13 15)
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Layer 3 Concepts and Issues (Questions 16 18)
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Router Protocols and Routing Algorithms (Questions 19 32)
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Routing vs. Switching (Questions 33 36)
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Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) (Questions 37 45)
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Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) (Questions 46 49)
The Concept of Internetworking
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What is an internetwork?
In Chapter 1, we defined a computer network as a collection of computers and other devices that use a common network protocol to share resources with each other over a network medium. We also indicated that if a collection of computer networks are connected to one another, then we have what is known as a network of networks, which is formally called an internetwork. Thus, an internetwork refers to a collection of interconnected networks that function as a single network. Furthermore, the individual networks comprising an internetwork are called subnetworks, the devices connected to a subnetwork are called end nodes (or end systems), and the devices that interconnect subnetworks are called intermediate...
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