Networking Technologies Worksheet 4: IPv4, Switching, Routing

This assignment, "Networking Technologies Worksheet Four," delves into core networking concepts. It begins with an explanation of IPv4 addresses, detailing their structure, function, and significance in internet traffic routing. The worksheet then explores switching tables, describing how switches build and utilize MAC address tables to forward data frames efficiently. Following this, the assignment analyzes routing tables, explaining their role in determining the optimal paths for data packets based on destination information, next hops, and metrics. The reflection section addresses the TCP/IP suite, IPv4 address classes, and normalization steps. The student also identifies areas of difficulty, particularly concerning normalization, subnet mask calculations, and CIDR notation. References to relevant patents and publications are included to support the presented information.

1
Networking Technologies Worksheet Four
Student's Name
Institutional Affiliation

NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES WORKSHEET FOUR 2
Question 1
IPv4 address is the fourth version of the Internet Protocol. It is a protocol that is core and routes
and connects most of the internet traffic up-to-date. IPv4 address has four octets and three
periods separating them. It is a 32-bit number that identifies an interface of a network uniquely
(Sarikaya 2015, p. 89). This address has two or parts which are the network and the host parts.
The network part usually specifies the number that is unique and assigned to a network. This part
identifies the network class. The host part is usually assigned to every host. On any given
network, the host part identifies the computer. A network part is the same for all hosts on that
network but the hosts differ.
Question 2
In a switching table, a switch creates its Media Access Control (MAC) address table by making a
record of MAC address of every device that is connected to its ports. To construct a switch table,
a dynamic process of learning is done by observation of the frames MAC address source. Upon
the arrival of a frame, the source MAC address is inspected, this address is associated with the
incoming interface, and this mapping is then stored in the switch table. Then the time-to-live
field is used to forget the mapping (Raman & Manohar 2016, p. 235).
Question 3
A routing table is set rules in a table format usually used for the determination of the direction
and the best path the data packets will travel on an internet protocol (Kumbhare et al. 2015, p.
119). Every packet has the origin and destination information. A routing table has destination
information which is the Internet Protocol address of the final destination of the data packet. It
also has the next hop. This is the IP address where the data packet is forwarded to. The routing

NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES WORKSHEET FOUR 3
table also has the interface that a device uses when forwarding a packet to its final destination or
next hop. The metric which assigns the cost of routes available for the most effective path to be
chosen is also found in the routing table and lastly the routes which includes subnets which are
attached directly, routs that are default to be used for certain traffic types and subnets that are
indirect which are not attached to device but accessed via a hop(s). A routing table is used for the
generation of information for a forwarding table that is smaller and has only the preferred routes
for the forwarding of packets.
Reflection (a)
In networking protocol we have the TCP/IP suite that has the application, transport, internetwork
and network layers. In IP addressing, IPv4 address is a 32-bit number with four octets separated
by periods. IPv4 address has classes A to E. Normalization has steps for 1NF, 2NF and 3NF that
are needed to solve anomalies and Network switches, switching tables, routing table, multilayer
switches, access points NIC and higher-end APs are some of the network hardware.
Reflection (b)
I don’t fully understand Normalization of tables; how to achieve the 2NF and 3NF. The
procedure needed to achieve 2NF and 3NF are so complicated for me. Another module I didn’t
understand fully is the calculation of subnet mask, CIDR notation and how its format is used to
achieve the subnet mask. To get the number of hosts on any given network is a complex concept
to me.

NETWORKING TECHNOLOGIES WORKSHEET FOUR 4
References
Kumbhare, A.P., Kamath, D.G., Pandey, V.A. and Mukherjee, N., International Business
Machines Corp, 2015. Switch routing table utilizing software defined network (SDN)
controller programmed route segregation and prioritization. U.S. Patent 9,225,635,
pp.110-128.
Raman, M. and Manohar, M., Brocade Communications Systems LLC, 2016. Scalable
MAC address distribution in an Ethernet fabric switch. U.S. Patent 9,401,861, pp.228-
239.
Sarikaya, B., FutureWei Technologies Inc, 2015. Multicast support for internet protocol
version four residual deployment via encapsulation or translation. U.S. Patent 9,036,633,
pp.78-92.