Systems and Network Infrastructure Integration

5Network Services

“Think like a client.”

Paul Gillin

– Defining the concept of network services.

– Understanding the different types of network services.

– Understanding the operating principle of DHCP service.

– Understanding the principle of name resolution with a DNS system.

– Understanding how the SMTP protocol functions to operate an e-mail server.

– Understanding how a web server functions.

– Understanding how a file transfer server functions.

5.1. Introduction

IT networks, which have become omnipresent in every part of human life, were designed to provide services. These services are based on the client/server approach, in which a client requests a specific service from the corresponding server.

A server is an entity that provides a service to a group of computers called clients via a network.

The services provided vary widely, ranging from file sharing, data and IT resources (printer, fax, etc.), storage, logic address attribution, e-mail, name resolution, etc.

These services depend on the needs to be met and thus differ from one enterprise to another. However, certain services are always requested, and we refer to these services as common or base services, which will be discussed throughout this chapter.

5.2. DHCP service

5.2.1. Introduction

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a standardized TCP/IP protocol designed to simply manage and automate the IP address configuration. In a TCP/IP network, each computer must have a computer name and a unique ...