Computer Networking Problems and Solutions

PART IThe Data Plane

To begin, the primary job of a network is to carry data from one attached host to another. This might appear to be simple at first glance, but it is actually fraught with problems. An illustration might be helpful here; Figure PI-1 is used to illustrate the complexity.

The diagram shows three blocks. The first block has three sub-blocks which reads, application, network software, and network hardware. The second block has two sub-blocks switching process and network hardware. The third block has three sub-blocks which reads, application, network software, and network hardware. Block 1 is connected to block 2. Block 2 is connected ...