Chapter 2. Applying the Fundamentals

Chapter 1, "Network Design Goals and Techniques," discussed the primary goals of network design:

• Reliability

• Scalability

• Manageability

In the process of considering these goals, you also saw some statistical and network design analysis and learned about information hiding. All of this theory is useful, but how do you apply these goals and techniques to real networks? How can you actually build a network to meet these goals?

This chapter narrows its focus on information hiding, covering the two intertwined techniques for hiding information in a network: hierarchy and summarization. The first section of the chapter begins with a discussion of abstraction and how its use through layering helps to hide information in a network.

From there, you learn hierarchical design, beginning with the types of functions specific components of the network need to fulfill, and continuing with the two most common hierarchical designs.

Next, the chapter covers addressing and how it interrelates with summarization. The final section of the chapter discusses using summarization in less than ideal conditions.