What is a Computer Network?

A computer network is a group of two or more computers or devices that are connected
together so they can share data, files, resources (like printers), and internet access.

Key Features:
• Devices in a network can communicate with each other.
• Can be wired (using cables) or wireless (using Wi-Fi).
• Networks use rules called protocols (like TCP/IP) to send and receive data.

Example:
• Your laptop connected to Wi-Fi at home.
• Computer labs in a school where all PCs are connected.
• Offices where multiple employees share files and printers.

🖧 Types of Computer Networks:

Type Full Form Area Covered Example

LAN Local Area Network Small area (like a room) School computer lab

MAN Metropolitan Area Network City or campus-wide Cable TV network

WAN Wide Area Network Large area (country/world) The Internet

Why are Computer Networks Useful?

• Share files and data
• Share printers and scanners
• Use email and messaging
• Access Internet
• Play multiplayer games
Structure of Internet, Intranet, ISP and ICANN

1. Internet – Structure and Working

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a huge global network that connects millions of computers and devices
worldwide. It allows us to share information, send messages, watch videos, browse
websites, and more.

How is it Structured?
The Internet is made of several layers:
1. End Devices (Users):
o Computers, smartphones, tablets.
o Use applications like web browsers, email, etc.
2. Local Networks (LANs):
o Your home or office Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.
3. Routers and Modems:
o Devices that connect your LAN to your Internet Service Provider.
4. Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
o Companies that give you access to the Internet.
5. Backbone Networks:
o High-speed networks that connect ISPs around the world.
6. Servers:
o Store websites, videos, files, etc.
o When you open a website, your computer sends a request to a server.
7. Protocols (Rules):
o The Internet works using a set of rules called TCP/IP protocols.

2. Intranet

What is Intranet?
An Intranet is a private network used inside an organization (like a company or school). It
uses the same technology as the Internet (like web pages, email), but it's not open to the
public.

Example:
• A company may have an intranet where employees can access:
o Internal news
o Employee records
o Project files
o Company forms

Features:
• Only accessible by authorized users.
• Provides better security and control.
• Uses browsers and websites just like the Internet, but only within the organization.

3. Role of ISP (Internet Service Provider)

What is an ISP?
An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that connects users to the Internet.

What does an ISP do?

• Gives access to the Internet via cable, fiber, DSL, mobile data, etc.
• Assigns IP addresses to users.
• Provides email services, customer support, domain names, and web hosting.

Examples of ISPs:
• In India: Jio, Airtel, BSNL, ACT
• Globally: AT&T, Verizon, Comcast

How it works:
1. You connect your device to a router/modem.
2. The router communicates with the ISP.
3. The ISP connects you to the global Internet.
 4. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)

What is ICANN?
ICANN is a non-profit international organization that helps manage the Internet's
structure.

Main Roles of ICANN:

1. Manages Domain Names:
o Example: .com, .org, .in
o Ensures every website name (like google.com) is unique.
2. Assigns IP Addresses:
o Ensures no two devices on the Internet have the same IP address.
3. Controls the DNS System:
o DNS = Domain Name System
o Helps convert website names (like www.google.com) into IP addresses.
4. Coordinates with ISPs and Registrars:
o Works with ISPs and companies that register domain names (e.g., GoDaddy).

Why is ICANN important?

• Without ICANN, the Internet would become confusing and chaotic.
• It keeps things organized, secure, and accessible worldwide.

What is IPv4? (Internet Protocol version 4)

Definition:
IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is the 4th version of the Internet Protocol.
It is used to identify and locate devices (like computers, phones, routers) on a network using
numerical IP addresses.

IPv4 Address Format:

• IPv4 uses a 32-bit address, divided into 4 parts.
• Each part (called an octet) is 8 bits, written in decimal form.
 • Example:
192.168.1.1
Each number can range from 0 to 255.

Example of IPv4 Address:

IP: 192.168.0.1
Breakdown:
192 . 168 . 0 . 1
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
8 bits 8 bits 8 bits 8 bits = 32 bits total

What is IPv4 used for?

• To assign a unique address to every device on the network.
• To route packets (data) from source to destination.
• Used in homes, offices, and the internet.

Why IPv4 is Limited:

• Due to only 32 bits, IPv4 supports only about 4.3 billion unique addresses.
• With billions of devices today, IPv4 addresses are running out.
• That’s why IPv6 (with 128-bit addresses) was introduced.

Let me know if you want:

• A diagram of IPv4 packet structure
• Comparison between IPv4 and IPv6
• Subnetting explanation with IPv4
You said:
what is ipv6
ChatGPT said:

What is IPv6? (Internet Protocol version 6)

 Definition:
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the latest version of the Internet Protocol.
It was developed to replace IPv4, which is running out of addresses.
IPv6 provides a much larger address space and improved features for modern internet
needs.

IPv6 Address Format:

• IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses.
• Written in 8 groups of 4 hexadecimal digits, separated by colons (:).

Example:
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
You can shorten it:
2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334

IPv6 Address Breakdown:

Each group is 16 bits, total = 8 × 16 = 128 bits
This gives 2^128 possible addresses — that’s 340 trillion trillion trillion addresses!

Why IPv6 is Needed?

IPv4 can only handle around 4.3 billion devices.
With the explosion of the internet (phones, IoT, smart devices), we need more addresses.
IPv6 solves this.

IPv4 vs IPv6 – Quick Comparison

Feature IPv4 IPv6

Address size 32 bits 128 bits

Address format Decimal (e.g., 192.168.1.1) Hexadecimal (e.g., 2001:db8::)

Total addresses ~4.3 billion 340 undecillion (2^128)

Feature IPv4 IPv6

Header size Variable (20–60 bytes) Fixed (40 bytes)

NAT required Yes

Subnetting
Subnetting is the process of dividing a larger network into smaller, manageable sub-
networks (subnets). This helps in efficient IP address management and improves network
performance and security.
Subnet Address
1. Unique Address: Each subnet within a larger network has its own unique identifier,
known as the subnet address. This address helps to distinguish one subnet from
another.
2. Derived from Main Network Address: The subnet address is created from the main
network address. For example, if you have a main network address of 192.168.1.0,
you can create several subnets from this address.
Subnet Mask
3. Subnet Mask: A subnet mask is a special number that helps define which part of an
IP address refers to the network and which part refers to the individual devices
(hosts) within that network.
• An IP address is made up of 32 bits, usually represented in four octets (e.g.,
192.168.1.1).
• The subnet mask also consists of 32 bits and is typically written in the same
format (e.g., 255.255.255.0).
4. Determining Bits for Network and Host:
• The subnet mask uses a series of 1s followed by 0s. The 1s indicate the bits
that are used for the network part, while the 0s indicate the bits that are used
for the host part.
• For example, a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 (or /24 in CIDR notation) means
that the first 24 bits are used for the network address, and the remaining 8
bits are used for host addresses.
Example
Let's illustrate this with an example:
• Main Network Address: 192.168.1.0
 • Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 (or /24)
In this case:
• The first 24 bits (192.168.1) represent the network part.
• The last 8 bits (0) represent the host part.
This means that within the subnet 192.168.1.0/24, you can have IP addresses ranging from
192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254 for individual devices (hosts). The address 192.168.1.0 is
reserved as the subnet address, and 192.168.1.255 is reserved for broadcasting messages to
all devices in that subnet.

Supernetting
Supernetting is the opposite of subnetting. It combines multiple smaller networks into a
larger one. This is useful for reducing the size of routing tables and simplifying network
management.
• In supernetting, multiple contiguous subnets are aggregated into a single address
space, which is represented by a shorter prefix. For example, if you have four subnets
(e.g., 192.168.0.0/24, 192.168.1.0/24, 192.168.2.0/24, and 192.168.3.0/24), you can
supernet them into a single network: 192.168.0.0/22.

Address Mapping
• Address Mapping refers to the process of translating between logical addresses (IP
addresses) and physical addresses (MAC addresses).
• Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
• ARP is used to map a logical IP address to a physical MAC address within a local
network. When a device wants to communicate with another device on the same
network, it needs to know the MAC address corresponding to the IP address.
• Working:
• When a device wants to send data to an IP address, it checks its ARP cache (a table
that stores IP-to-MAC address mappings).
• If the MAC address is not found, it broadcasts an ARP request to all devices on the
network asking, "Who has IP address X.X.X.X? Please send me your MAC address."
• The device with the matching IP address responds with an ARP reply, providing its
MAC address.
• The sender then updates its ARP cache with this information for future
communications.
• Message Format: An ARP message consists of:
• Hardware type (e.g., Ethernet)
• Protocol type (e.g., IPv4)
• Hardware address length
• Protocol address length
• Operation (request or reply)
• Sender's hardware address (MAC)
• Sender's protocol address (IP)
• Target's hardware address (MAC)
• Target's protocol address (IP)
• Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP)
• RARP is used to map a physical MAC address to a logical IP address. This is useful for
devices that do not have a static IP address and need to discover their IP address on
boot.
• Working:
• When a device boots up, it sends a RARP request to the network, asking, "What is my
IP address?"
• A RARP server on the network receives this request and looks up the MAC address in
its database.
• The server responds with the corresponding IP address.
• Message Format: A RARP message is similar to an ARP message and includes:
• Hardware type
• Protocol type
• Hardware address length
• Protocol address length
• Operation (request or reply)
• Sender's hardware address (MAC)
• Sender's protocol address (IP)
• Target's hardware address (MAC)
• Target's protocol address (IP)