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networking > osi model > packet handling

How packets are handled within a network

For a network to function effectively, it needs all its components to obey a standard set of rules which dictate how they will communicate so that network packets can be sent and received. Without this, a network would be a shambles - like the Tower of Babel where everyone spoke a different language. Such a set of rules is called a protocol, and there is a different protocol for each communication task.

For example:

• how to send data over the Internet (TCP/IP)
• how to send and receive email (POP, IMAP, SMTP)
• how to request and deliver web pages (HTTP)
• how to send files over the Internet (FTP)

There are also different technologies available to create networks. There are three main technologies used in modern networking: Ethernet (by far the most common), Token Ring, and ATM.

A 'networking technology' is a combination of packet-handing protocols and types of cabling. For example, 'Ethernet' (also known as IEEE 802.3 in the standards book) defines both how packets are handled (CSMA/CD) and cabling options (e.g. 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 10GBASE-LR, 10GBASE-LX4 etc.).

Each of these network technologies uses a different combination of hardware and software protocols for communications.

1. Ethernet, and CSMA/CD
2. Token Ring
3. ATM

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