Reviewing computer network basics

In Chapter 1, we learned that a computer network is a collection of interconnected devices, such as computers, servers, printers, and other devices, that are linked together to share resources and communicate with each other. A subnet, or subnetwork, is a smaller network that is created by partitioning a larger network into smaller segments, typically used to improve network performance, security, and management. Each subnet is identified by a unique network address, and devices within the same subnet share the same network address prefix. Each device has a unique address in the network/subnet. For a computer to talk to another one in a computer network, it must have an address for communication, which we call an IP address.

IP address

An IP address, or an Internet Protocol address, is a numerical address assigned to a device in a computer network for communication with the other devices that are also assigned IP addresses. An IP address serves...