Standards Chapter 7

This presentation covers What is a standard? What is a protocol? Impact of standards on networks.

What is a standard? This was covered in section 3.1.2. so for a more in depth presentation refer to that section. A standard allows different computer technologies to communicate with one another. So, for example, a computer is able to communicate with a printer because they use the standard protocols. If they didn’t follow the same protocols the devices could not talk to each other.

What is a protocol? A protocol is a set of communication rules which control: The format of the message The type of error checking to be used Any compression How the sending device indicates it as finished sending How the receiving device indicates that it has received the message

Impact of standards If computers and devices are not talking to each other using the same protocols then communication between the devices are likely to: Not work at all Or If communication does take place it is very likely that the messages received will be incorrect.

Impact of standards It is therefore important that the network administrator ensures that the devices that are used are capable of supporting the needs of the network. You might like to do a little research into the impact of Apple computers now using Intel processors – I won’t say anymore otherwise I’ll give too much away.