Data packet: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:37, 7 November 2017

Networks^[1]

A packet is a basic unit of communication over a digital network. A packet is also called a datagram, a segment, a block, a cell or a frame, depending on the protocol used for the transmission of data. When data has to be transmitted, it is broken down into similar structures of data before transmission, called packets, which are reassembled to the original data chunk once they reach their destination.

The structure of a packet depends on the type of packet it is and on the protocol. Normally, a packet has a header and a payload.

The header keeps overhead information about the packet, the service, and other transmission-related data. For example, data transfer over the Internet requires breaking down the data into IP packets, which is defined in IP (Internet Protocol), and an IP packet includes:

The source IP address, which is the IP address of the machine sending the data.
The destination IP address, which is the machine or device to which the data is sent.
The sequence number of the packets, a number that puts the packets in order such that they are reassembled in a way to get the original data back exactly as it was prior to transmission.
The type of service
Flags
And some other technical data
The payload, which represents the bulk of the packet (all the above is considered as overhead), and is actually the data being carried.

(Above used with gratitude from: https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-data-packet-3426310^[2])

Looking for a basic introduction to packets ?[edit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIuBmOufbls

What do you actually NEED to know?[edit]

Describe how communication over networks is broken down into different layers
Define the terms: protocol, data packet
Explain how data is transmitted by packet switching

References[edit]

[1] ttp://www.flaticon.com/

[2] ttps://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-data-packet-3426310

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[file:network.png|right|frame|Networks<ref>http://www.flaticon.com/</ref>]]
-A computer network or data network is a telecommunications network which allows computers to exchange data. In computer networks, networked computing devices exchange data with each other using a data link. The connections between nodes are established using either cable media or wireless media. The best-known computer network is the Internet.
+A packet is a basic unit of communication over a digital network. A packet is also called a datagram, a segment, a block, a cell or a frame, depending on the protocol used for the transmission of data. When data has to be transmitted, it is broken down into similar structures of data before transmission, called packets, which are reassembled to the original data chunk once they reach their destination.
-Network computer devices that originate, route and terminate the data are called [[network nodes]].  Nodes can include hosts such as personal computers, phones, servers as well as networking hardware. Two such devices can be said to be networked together when one device is able to exchange information with the other device, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other.
+The structure of a packet depends on the type of packet it is and on the protocol.  Normally, a packet has a header and a payload.
-Computer networks differ in the [[transmission medium]] used to carry their signals, the communications protocols to organize network traffic, the network's size, topology and organizational intent.
+The header keeps overhead information about the packet, the service, and other transmission-related data. For example, data transfer over the Internet requires breaking down the data into IP packets, which is defined in IP (Internet Protocol), and an IP packet includes:
-Computer networks support an enormous number of applications such as access to the World Wide Web, video, digital audio, shared use of application and storage servers, printers, and fax machines, and use of email and instant messaging applications as well as many others. In most cases, application-specific communications [[protocols]] are [[Network layers | layered]] (i.e. carried as payload) over other more general communications protocols.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_network</ref>
+* The source IP address, which is the IP address of the machine sending the data.
+* The destination IP address, which is the machine or device to which the data is sent.
+* The sequence number of the packets, a number that puts the packets in order such that they are reassembled in a way to get the original data back exactly as it was prior to transmission.
+* The type of service
+* Flags
+* And some other technical data
+* The payload, which represents the bulk of the packet (all the above is considered as overhead), and is actually the data being carried.
+(Above used with gratitude from: https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-data-packet-3426310<ref>https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-data-packet-3426310</ref>)
 == Looking for a basic introduction to packets ?==