Computer systems and applications use time stamps for communication purposes. Synchronous system times are highly important for these so-called temporal signatures to be of any use – especially for systems that exchange information via the internet. A protocol that has provided valuable assistance for decades is the network time protocol (NTP) – here is an introduction to NTP, as well as some...
For a long time, Windows users were left behind when it came to command interpreters because the command prompt did not allow full access to operating system internal components, and scripting also offered only limited possibilities. This should finally change thanks to Microsoft’s PowerShell. The cross-platform program not only does much better than cmd.exe, it also provides remote computer...
Rules must be observed when communicating in a group. This is no different with local networks: CSMA/CD regulates how data packet collisions must be handled in a LAN network. But what happens if several participants attempt to simultaneously carry out a transmission and the information gets lost? Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection is an important procedure for smooth network...
How do you achieve order in a wireless network? If all devices were to send information amongst themselves in an uncoordinated way, the data would rarely reach the recipient without problems. With CSMA/CA, there is a protocol that organizes the process and avoids collisions – without the need for central coordination. It’s a complex time management system. We go through the process step by step so...
The internet – just like other large networks – must be precisely subdivided. The network classes, used until the 1990s and not yet completely gone from the scene, were far too inflexible for the requirements of the digital world. CIDR can help: With classless inter-domain routing, it’s possible to create effective subnets and routes. We explain how this works.
In the context of open source operating systems, the term “unixoid” is often used, indicating that the software is similar to the Unix system published in 1969. Typical indicators are, for example, the file system, or means and rights available to access the system and its processes. But what exactly is Unix, and who is behind the development of this influential operating system?
When networking a computer system, protocols play an important role. An example is the Internet Protocol, which was published in a first specification in 1981, and is the indispensable basis for the smooth sending and receiving of data packets. But what is behind the RFC standard? And how does the internet protocol actually work?
The infamous blue screen of death usually shows up without any warning. It’s an important indicator of internal problems with hardware, software, or drivers. If Windows can no longer be run as a result of such a problem, then the forced shutdown takes place in the form of a blue screen containing an error message. This may cause unsaved files and documents to be lost. The most important thing with...
Ethernet frames enable the transmission of data over an Ethernet connection and are essential for local area networks. Ethernet frames are structured and sized differently depending on the protocol, and contain important information such as MAC addresses, protocol information, length information, and much more. The established Ethernet standard IEEE 802.3 has also developed special frames for VLAN...
There are more than 200 CMD commands available with Windows. The command prompt can be used to control large parts of the operating system, computer, or drives. You can also use the Windows “command prompt” commands to organize your files or run network tasks. To do this, though, you have to know the right commands. Here we explain how to use CMD commands and which functions they have. Our article...
