When you load a website your request travels through several piece of hardware over the internet. Each device plays a specific role in transferring the data. The journey of data from home to internet looks
computer->switch->router->modem->ISP->Web server
Apart from this server has firewall and load balancers before reaching to actual server. Let's explore each device in details:
Modem
A modem acts as translator between your computer and internet. It converts the digital signals from your network into analog signals that can travel over cable, fiber or phone lines
Modem is boundary between your local network(private ip) and internet(public IP).Modem shares one public IP address to internet
Router
Router directs data package between different networks. It manages traffic between your device and internet.
Router acts as Postman, it looks at destination address on each packages and determine the best route to send it. Also packages going to local address stay within the building while packages for distant locations get send main network
Difference between Modem and Router:
Modem:
- connects your network to ISP
- coverts digital to analog or Vice versa
- Get Public IP from ISP Router
- connects device between network -Traffic routing -assign private ip address to device
Hub
A Hub is a simple device that broadcasts all incoming data to every connected device. for example image an office where you shouts every message to everyone in the room. Even if the message is meant for just one person, everyone hears it and must decide whether to ignore listen
Switch
Switch is smart it forwards data only to device that needs it. It learns which device is are connected to which ports and creates direct paths between them.
Firewall
A firewall acts a security guard for all incoming and outgoing traffic and only allowed data at transferred on your server/machine. Their are different types of firewall network firewall, host based firewall and web application firewall.
Load Balancer
A load balancer distributes incoming data across multiple servers to ensure no single server has too much load. It also monitors health check, handles https encryption /decryption. Their are different algorithms like round robin, least connections, IP hash or weighted
so now understand all the device lets take a look how they work
- Your laptop sends request to the switch.
- switch forwards to the router
- router determines the destination outside your local network
- Router send to modem
- modem coverts digital signal to analog, sends to ISP
- ISP routes your request to destination web server
if you are using web application
- internet send to firewall
- firewall approves the request, send to load balancer
- load balancer based on algorithm routes it to the web server
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