In just about all of the host-to-host interactions we've described in this book, one host must resolve a domain name or IP address for another host by communicating over a path of routers, switches, and gateways. However, this process of address resolution through a chain of external host devices doesn't help us establish the initial communication with the next host on our network. If we want our host to successfully transmit information to the nearest neighbor in the network path, we need to know specifically what address it might be listening on.
While I realize you're already aware of this fact, I would wager that you don't often think about the fact that when you establish a connection between two hosts, that ...
