In: Computer Science
Web Development Example Question:
(a) Difference between Ethernet and IP
When we look at the diagrams of the Ethernet and IP packets we see a number of similarities. Both contain source and destination addresses, a data payload, and a field to indicate what higher layer protocol the data payload is carrying. Why do we use IP for the worldwide Internet and only use Ethernet in limited networks?
Ethernet:
Ethernet is just one of many ways in which packets can be transported between computers. It is particularly well adapted for networks of the size, roughly, of one building, whether that be a house or a small office, or perhaps a floor of a large office block. It is, therefore, the form of network that most people see most often. But there are simpler networking systems used inside one box, and larger networking systems used to connect buildings within a city or between cities.
Anyone and everyone that has a computer device and a router can use it. Ethernet provides a fast, efficient, and direct connection to a router. Its counterpart, Wi-Fi, is used for wireless connection. A reason you would use Ethernet over WiFi is to achieve a faster, more reliable connection.
IP:
TCP/IP is a way of sending a stream of data via packets a long distance over multiple hops which may use any kind of networking. It assumes that packets can be sent from one computer to another, by means unspecified, and controls making that basic ability into a reliable way of transporting data between any two computers far apart.
Transmission Control Protocol is a standard that defines how to establish and maintain a network conversation via which application programs can exchange data. TCP Los Angeles works with the Internet Protocol, which defines how computers send packets of data to each other.