The Edge of The Internet: End Systems
Here's an introduction to the important physical components of the Internet that make it tick!
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So far, we know that the Internet is a network of networks. Each network is made up of devices, called end systems, connected to each other with communication links. Let’s look at each in more detail.
End Systems
End systems are devices that are connected to the Internet. They include:
- Desktop computers
- Servers
- Mobile devices
- IoT devices.
So, an end system can be anything from a rack server to an Internet-enabled toaster. These devices are often also called edge systems in networking jargon because they are technically situated at the ‘edge’ of the Internet since they don’t relay data from one device to another.
The Network Edge
The network edge is simply the collection of end-systems that we use every day: smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc. However, note that devices that relay messages (such as routers) are not part of the edge of the Internet.
Note that the two networks shown could be connected through any number of intermediate networks such as those for their Internet Service Providers. Since the actual path doesn’t matter, we obfuscate the interconnectivity by using the cloud symbol.
Feel free to ask any questions related to the lesson in the following widget. Our AI will answer them and help you better understand the topic
Quick Quiz!
Which of the following is NOT an end system?
The mobile connection system
A digital door bell
A web server
A router
Now that we understand the basic structure of the Internet, let’s look into how end systems access the Internet in the next lesson!
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