CST 311 --- Week 1, Computer Networks

There was much that I have learned in this first week of class in CST 311.

We started off with downloading the network emulator Mininet, VirtualBox, MobaXTerm, and WireShark. It was cool getting to know these programs and how they work, I was able to successfully run all of them. 

Some basics of the concept reading I learned were concepts such as the Internet Protocol Stack: Application, Transport, Network, Link, and the Physical. Examples of each are: Applications: FTP, SMTP, HTTP, Transport: TCP, UDP, Network: Routing of datagrams from source to destination, IP routing protocols, Link: Data transfer between neighboring network elements: Ethernet, Wifi, PPP Physical: Bits "on the wire". 

I also learned the difference between Transmission Delay and Propagation Delay. Transmission Delay is "the amount of time for a router to push out a packet, which depends on the packet length and how big the packet is in bits and the transmission length of the link" Whereas Propagation Delay is: "the time it takes for the bit to propagate from the router to the destination and is based on the distance between the router and the next destination, nothing to do with packet length nor the transmission rate of the  delay."

Furthermore, I learned the extreme importance of making sure your networks, data, etc are secured. We delved a bit into Security and Cyber Security topics. In security there are three main topics: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. I was able to learn what each of these mean in terms of when an attacker could access your information. Also, in Cyber Security, there were the topics of Authentication and Nonrepudiation. Firewalls, Antivirus Software etc are *not* security in and of themselves but are a means to an end, meaning they reach the goals of security. 

There was much more that I learned but these are some topics that stood out to me. Overall and so far, I find the course extremely interesting, even moreso than previous topics. I have a feeling I will greatly enjoy this course and everything I learn here! Off to a good start in Week 1, looking to continue that streak in the weeks to follow.