Monday, March 23, 2009

Computer network vs Roads

Just doing a comparison between computer networks and road...

1> Roads and network both have bandwidth... a road can be 4 lane road while a network can be 2 MBps.
2> Both get congested
3> Actual data on network is in the packets. Actual traveller on road is not the vehicle but the passenger inside it.
4> A packet can be encrypted so that no one is able to see what is inside it... a vehicle/car can have tinted glass for the same purpose.
5> When a packet enters a secure zone, it is inspected at the boundry to see if it is malicious, where it wants to go etc. etc.... When a vehicle arrives in a secure zone the security guard inspects it and ensures that it doesn't carry an explosive item. To what address in the zone the vehicle wants to go...
6> If every person who is a traveller starts travelling in car, the number of cars on the road increases. This leads to congestion and wastage of time and resources. To solve this form car pools, use public transports like bus, train etc. In computer science you use piggy backing, buffering, etc to solve such issues....
7> Network follow protocols like tcp/ip... On roads protocols is in terms of traffic rules...


Not identical but quite similar.... Solve problem of roads by learning the solutions of network and vice-versa.

1 comment:

  1. IP networks are like Indian roads. There is no guarantee that the packets/vehicles will reach their destination. Both are self-organizing system, loosely governed by nuisances called routers/traffic signals. :)

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