Question

In your own words, describe what happens at every step of our network model, when a node on one network establishes a TCP connection with a node on another network. You can assume that the two networks are both connected to the same router. Your submission must include a detailed explanation of the following: Physical layer Data link layer Network layer Transport layer MAC address IP address TCP port Checksum check

Answer 1

Recently, in one of the Google IT Support Professional courses I am currently working on called “The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking”, I was tasked with describing what happens at every step of a network model when a node on one network establishes a TCP connection with a node on another network.

I learned a lot from this section of the course and, consequently, I am amazed by the power of computer networking! There are so many things happening behind the scenes to establish a TCP connection, and they all happen insanely quickly.

I wanted to share what I wrote because it will be helpful for me to reference in the future. And also, hopefully, it will help someone who is unfamiliar with TCP connections to appreciate the amazing technological processes that are at work behind the scenes, each time we access the internet and visit a website.

Here are the instructions I was given:

In your own words, describe what happens at every step of our network model when a node on one network establishes a TCP connection with a node on another network. You can assume that the two networks are both connected to the same router.