Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Network Communication Protocols

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Think about the last time someone sent you mail. They probably wrote some content on some paper, put it in an envelope, wrote an address and put it in a mailbox. From there, the letter probably went into a sorting center, got sorted, and was put in a bag. The bag then went into a vehicle like a truck, plane or boat. The vehicle either traveled through water, the air, or on the road. The postal system is a complicated one, designed to let individuals communicate easily, yet being efficient enough to group many letters into one postal delivery. The same ideas apply to how messages move around the internet. Whether it be a ‘like’ on Facebook, a video stream or an email – the internet and its various protocols look after it for you so it is delivered on time and intact to the other person.

In this chapter we introduce some concepts, algorithms, techniques, applications, and problems that relate to network protocols; it isn’t a complete list of all ideas in the area but should be enough to give you a good idea of what this area of computer science is about.

    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

    DLCS18.HS.33

    Evaluate the scalability and reliability of networks by describing the relationship between routers, switches, servers, topology, packets, or addressing, as well as the issues that impact network functionality.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.HS.33

    Vocabulary

    • scalability
    • reliability
    • bandwidth
    • load
    • delay
    • fault tolerance
    • redundancy
    • latency
    a.
    • domain name
    • Domain Name System (DNS) server
    • IP address
    • DNS name resolution
    b.
    • networking protocols
    • layers
    • packets

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • how routers, switches, servers, network topology, packets, and IP addressing affect scalability and reliability of networks.
    • how to describe the issues that impact network functionality.
    a.
    • that the DNS server function is to turn a user
    • friendly domain name into an IP address that machines use to identify each other on a network.
    • that the DNS server manages a database that maps domain names to IP addresses.
    • the typical format of an IP address.
    • computers communicate the IP address in binary form.
    b.
    • that networking protocols are formal standards and policies that include procedures, formats and rules the define how two or more devices will communicate over a network.
    • there are several broad types of networking protocols including network communication protocols such as TCP/IP and HTTP, networking security protocols such as HTTPS and SSL, and network management protocols such as SNMP and ICMP.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • describe the relationships of routers, switches, servers, network topology, packets, and IP addressing.
    • describe scalability and reliability of networks.
    • describe issues that impact network functionality.
    a.
    • explain the purpose of IP addresses.
    • identify what a typical IP address look like.
    • explain the difference between IP addresses expressed in decimal format and binary format.
    • explain how domain names are resolved to IP addresses through a DNS server.
    b.
    • explain the significance of networking protocols.
    • provide examples of common networking protocols.
    • explain the uses of different networking protocols.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • scalability and reliability of networks are dependent on relationships between routers, switches, servers, network topology, packets, and IP addressing, etc.
    • network functionality is impacted by bandwidth, load, delay, latency, firewalls, server capacity, etc.
    a.
    • an Internet Protocol address is a unique identifying number for every machine on the internet.
    • the DNS server manages a massive database that maps user
    • friendly domain names to an IP address.
    b.
    • networking protocols are needed to define rules for communication between network devices.
    • networking protocols include Internet protocols (IP, TCP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, etc.), wireless network protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE), and network routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, etc.).
    • networking security protocols, such as HTTPS and SSL, provide security over network communications.
    • network management protocols, such as SNMP and ICMP, provide network governance and maintenance.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Learning Activity

    Resource Provider

    CS Field Guide
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
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