The Internet is much more complex. Internet Infrastructure The Internet backbone is made up of many large networks which interconnect with each other. These networks peer with each other to exchange packet traffic. NAPs were the original Internet interconnect points. Below is a picture showing this hierarchical infrastructure. Diagram 4 This is not a true representation of an actual piece of the Internet.
None of the physical network components are shown in Diagram 4 as they are in Diagram 3. This is because a single NSP's backbone infrastructure is a complex drawing by itself. Most NSPs publish maps of their network infrastructure on their web sites and can be found easily.
To draw an actual map of the Internet would be nearly impossible due to it's size, complexity, and ever changing structure. Does every computer connected to the Internet know where the other computers are? Do packets simply get 'broadcast' to every computer on the Internet?
The answer to both the preceeding questions is 'no'. No computer knows where any of the other computers are, and packets do not get sent to every computer. The information used to get packets to their destinations are contained in routing tables kept by each router connected to the Internet. Routers are packet switches. A router is usually connected between networks to route packets between them.
Each router knows about it's sub-networks and which IP addresses they use. The router usually doesn't know what IP addresses are 'above' it. Examine Diagram 5 below. The black boxes connecting the backbones are routers. Under them are several sub-networks, and under them, more sub-networks. At the bottom are two local area networks with computers attached. Diagram 5 When a packet arrives at a router, the router examines the IP address put there by the IP protocol layer on the originating computer.
The router checks it's routing table. If the network containing the IP address is found, the packet is sent to that network. If the network containing the IP address is not found, then the router sends the packet on a default route, usually up the backbone hierarchy to the next router. Hopefully the next router will know where to send the packet. If it does not, again the packet is routed upwards until it reaches a NSP backbone.
The routers connected to the NSP backbones hold the largest routing tables and here the packet will be routed to the correct backbone, where it will begin its journey 'downward' through smaller and smaller networks until it finds it's destination. What if the you need to access a web server referred to as www.
How does your web browser know where on the Internet this computer lives? The DNS is a distributed database which keeps track of computer's names and their corresponding IP addresses on the Internet. Many computers connected to the Internet host part of the DNS database and the software that allows others to access it. These computers are known as DNS servers. No DNS server contains the entire database; they only contain a subset of it. The computer requesting a name resolution will be re-directed 'up' the hierarchy until a DNS server is found that can resolve the domain name in the request.
Figure 6 illustrates a portion of the hierarchy. At the top of the tree are the domain roots. Some of the older, more common domains are seen near the top. What is not shown are the multitude of DNS servers around the world which form the rest of the hierarchy. Begin with people you know, at work and in your social life. Keep your ears open and listen for information that could work to your advantage.
What are the benefits of networking? A lot of good jobs never make it to the pages of a recruitment website or newspaper. They get filled by word of mouth and the more senior the position, the more often it happens this way. Even if the job is advertised, it helps to know someone inside the new organisation who can give you the inside line. They may even end up interviewing you which will always make it a less stressful experience. For professionals, the best networking opportunities may occur at trade shows, seminars, and conferences, designed to attract a large crowd of like-minded individuals.
Networking helps a professional keep up with current events in the field and develops relationships that may boost future business or employment prospects. Needless to say, it also provides opportunities to help other people find jobs , make connections, and catch up on the news.
Small business owners network to develop relationships with people and companies they may do business with in the future. These connections help them establish rapport and trust among people in their own communities. Successful business networking involves regularly following up with contacts to exchange valuable information that may not be readily available outside the network. Business owners and entrepreneurs often join their local chamber of commerce to promote their business interests and help others in their community do the same.
There are many additional benefits to joining a chamber of commerce, such as receiving deals and discounts from other chamber members, having one's business listed in the chamber directory, and the ability to influence policies related to the area's business and economic activity.
Professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn provide an online location for people to engage with other professionals, join groups, post blogs, and share information. And, of course, they provide a place to post a resume that can be seen by prospective employers, to search for jobs, or to identify job candidates.
These days, a business-to-business B2B customer pipeline can be developed almost entirely through the use of a social networking site. Online networking forums allow professionals to demonstrate their knowledge and connect with like-minded people. LinkedIn is the largest professional network, but there are many others. Some cater to particular subsets of people, such as Black Business Women Online.
Others have a different focus, such as Meetup, which encourages its members to meet in person off-site or virtually through online video conferences. The term computer networking refers to linking multiple devices to share information and software resources in an immediate way.
Given the growing number of networking opportunities available to people looking to start or advance their careers, it's important to take some time to explore your options before committing to a specific networking group. While it's tempting for a new business owner or someone looking for a dream job to join as many networks as possible, a better strategy is to target your time and efforts toward those groups that best fit your needs and interests.
Many networking organizations will host a special meet and greet events that allow potential new members to attend a meeting before becoming a member.
Once you join a networking group, it's important to become a contributing member. Rather than just using the association to further their own goals, people who use networking effectively look to offer something of value to other group members. Networking can help you identify opportunities for collaboration, strategic joint ventures , partnerships, and new areas to expand your business.
These sites make it simple to reconnect with people you've lost track of. And they provide a natural way to expand your circle of contacts by establishing relationships with friends of friends. Many business people put the popular, general social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to good use.
Other sites, such as LinkedIn , offer social networking targeted more to business connections. Ryze, Ning, Meetup and other Web sites provide business-oriented social networking and help professionals develop their own networks online. Some people also make good use of blogs -- their own, or someone else's -- for networking. Business executives recognize the value of social networking. Some have even started their own networks. General Electric, for example, recently started MarkNet to link its 5, marketing professionals around the world [source: Liguori ].
Social networking sites can be valuable. They help you reach out to people at your convenience, without having to attend events or meetings. Communicating on Facebook or LinkedIn is a lot less stressful than trying to strike up a conversation with someone you barely know.
These sites make it easy to connect with people no matter where they are. They can be a good way to get the word out about developments in your business. But good business networking shouldn't begin and end with online social networking.
Those who study such things say that social networking sites enhance but don't replace face-to-face networking. Follow-up is important. Relationships must be nurtured. If all you do is tweet about yourself or your business on Twitter, or post about yourself or your products on Facebook, you're not going to accomplish much.
People may think you're self-centered and ignore you. Having hundreds of online "friends" doesn't mean much, either. A network isn't worth much if it isn't built on a genuine relationship and mutual trust.
To be worth the time and effort, business networking must produce results. Networking should help you reach your business goals. If that's going to happen, you need to keep in mind some basic networking guidelines, whether you're networking in the flesh or in cyberspace.
If you learn nothing else about business networking, remember that it's a two-way street. Networking is exchanging -- ideas, referrals, information, empathy or whatever you need. Successful networking builds relationships. You trust your network to help you when it can, and its members trust you to help them. Whether you're working the room at an event or posting on a social networking site, if your only topics for discussion are yourself and your business, you're probably wasting your time.
When you meet someone in person, the rules change a little. Here are some tips for face-to-face networking:.
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