Module 2 reflection

The second module of the T171 course enabled me to understand some of the key protocols used to power the internet and how they work.1b  I learned about the development and ultimate importance of protocols such as: HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) used to request and receive a webpage, and the TCP/IP set of protocols which are used to actually transfer the data that makes up the request and the webpage.  

Information such as the TCP/IP example on the T171 website2. I found was very useful in visualising the relationships between different protocols. I was also helped by the suggestion at the end of the module to discuss the importance of the protocols within my tutor group as the discussion clarified my understanding further.

Layer name
What goes on in this layer
Typical protocols
Application
Dealing with the actions when using communications software - for example e-mail formatting, file transfer, remote login
FTP, Telnet, SMTP
Transport
Breaking messages into packets, routing messages, error detection and correction
TCP
Network
Addressing the packets that result from the transport layer disassembly
IP
Link
Handling the transmission of bits through the communications channel - for example the computer and dial-up modem
PPP, SLIP
Physical
The medium that carries the signals
RS232 (serial cable), 10BaseT (Ethernet), fibre optic, and so on

Course Website T171 M2S3 illustration of what the layered approach2

Secondly this module showed me given, the importance given the overwhelming amount of information located on the WWW, of using a logical and methodical approach to locate the exact information we required1i.. I gained an understanding in what a search engine was and how it obtained its information in two parts, firstly by searching the web and secondly by using software to allow a user to enter criteria via a web browser to obtain the information required from the search engine. Along with this I have come to understand that the value of the resulting information has to be still judged against the criteria used in previously in the course. This was reinforced by the comparing search engines exercise 3 at the end of the module.

References:-

1 T171 Module 2  [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module2/aboutmod2/loutcomes.cfm [accessed 29/04/2004]

1b. Understand how the technology behind the Internet works

1i. search the web more intelligently and efficiently, and assess the quality and reliability of the information found

2.  T171 Module 2 Section 3.3, [online] Open University, Available from : http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module2/section3/protocols.cfm [accessed 24/9/04]

3.   T171 Module 2 Section 7.6, [online] Open University, Available from  http://t171.open.ac.uk/t171/html/module2/section7/chaos.cfm [accessed 24/9/04]

 

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