Networking and the Internet: Like living in the dorms

In chapter 4, we have learned extensively about Networking and the internet. Living in the dorms is very similar to both of these topics. Being in Kollen Hall, is like having a Local Area Network. The Metropolitan area network would be like the southside dorms, and the wide are network would be like all of hope college. Obviously, this is on a much smaller scale, but in essensce it is similar.

The dorms are similar to the internet, as each dorm would be the world wide web. Each dorm room is a website, and is on the same network. When trying to transfer information to another room, you are the applicaiotn layer preparing the message and determining the destination. You then leave your room as the transport layer and then determine you exact destination as the network layer. You then transfer the information to another room as the link layer.

The dorms are also like a security system, and provide a firwall against intruders. The RAs are like antivirus software, trying to keep bad things from happening. Also to get into the rooms you have to provide authentication, either by code or key.

In chapter 4 we discussed protocols. A protocol is a system of rules that define how something is to be done. By having these agreed standards of behavior, vendors are able to build products for network applications that are compatible with products from other vendors. Protocols are important so that all the men who live in Durfee can live peacefully together. I live in Durfee and in Durfee there are some important protocols for all those who live there. Some of these protocols include no flooding the bathroom, no playing with fire extinguishers, no lighting fireworks off in the basement, and no contact sports in the hallway. Although these protocols are frequently broken, they are put in place so that the Men in Durfee can get along and function more efficiently as a community.

Hope college as Chapter 4

In chapter four we talked about networks, and IP addresses. At Hope college, we all are on the same Hope network, but we access the network through different ways. Buildings such as the library, Martha Miller, or the DOW all have wifi, and you just need to connect with the wifi to allow access. Buildings like Dykstra still do not have Wifi, and we must use our own routers or an Ethernet cable. No matter which method we use, we are all connected to the same local network. The different email addresses and student ID numbers identify us and keep our information secret from others, and identify us, like a IP address does. Our passkey also allows us into buildings and lets us be in different "networks" of buildings.