GNVQ ICT - Intermediate

Unit 10 - Networks and Communications

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Network protocols:  This is a bit complicated – but it will help you understand just how the correct bit of software or file manages to get to your workstation when you want it!  

At Hyde Tech we have over 1000 network users and over 400 workstations that can be connected to the network at the same time!

Imagine a postman with 400 different houses to deliver to – and over 1000 people living in those houses.  Imagine that one day (due to heavy rain) all the addresses are impossible to read on every letter he has to deliver.  It would be impossible for him to make sure that each letter arrived at the correct house.  The next day each letter that he has to deliver has the address printed clearly on the front – and he is able to do his job properly.  It is the same with a computer network.  Each packet of data must get to the correct place – if one goes missing or something goes wrong with it the whole network will suffer as a result!

Networks must have rules so that they get the data to the right place – and the word “protocol” is another word for ”rule”.  In the case of networks this means that special software needs to be installed so that the data going backwards and forwards along the network cables doesn’t break any of the rules.  One such protocol is called “TCP-IP” and is the one used at Hyde – and is also used over the Internet.  Each item on the network – including printers, computer workstations and servers – has an “address” which is unique – no two items can ever have the same address!  This is so that when a “packet” of data is sent from the server to a workstation it can get to the correct place quickly and efficiently.

The screen shots below show you how to install the TCP/IP protocol on a workstation.  If you have more than one computer at home - and you have the necessary hardware to connect them together - you could try it (but don't blame me if it goes wrong - please!)

To get a computer connected to a network you must use the Windows "Control Panel" and double click the "Network" icon

Next you select the network component you want to add.  In this case you select "protocol"

It is the Microsoft TCP/IP protocol that we want to use - so this is selected from the list

The above screen confirms that TCP/IP protocol has been installed

Finally the IP address must be entered. Some network servers allocate these whenever a workstation logs on - so they do not need to be set by the user

So the postman has found the right address for each letter - and the server has managed to send the correct packet of data to the correct workstation.  Now we need to repeat that thousands of times each second so that all the users can get the right packets of data!!!!!!!!!!!

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Please email your comments to mail@ictgnvq.org.uk    Created by K C Parry - Please email your comments to kcparry@ictgnvq.org.uk