VoIP with NetMeeting:

Definition: NetMeeting is a software application for audio and video conferencing. NetMeeting offers sharing of desktop video, audio, chat and file transfer functionality.

NetMeeting supports directory servers and services. NetMeeting uses may automatically register with a directory when they start their NetMeeting client. The directory then allows users to find online users by name or location. If no directory is available, NetMeeting users can also call each other directly by computer name or IP address.

Once connected to other users, NetMeeting places all parties in a “call.” NetMeeting tracks the call roster and allows users to share their desktop windows, to chat, transfer files, or share a VoIP feed. NetMeeting supports dozens of simulataneous users in a call. It supports users over any type of IP network connection including dialup service. However, the overall performance of a NetMeeting call generally suffers when dialup users are connected.

Microsoft ships NetMeeting with the Microsoft Windows operating system. “Conf.exe” is the NetMeeting client executable. Windows XP leaves conf.exe inactive by default and requires special user configuratio to enable it.

Microsoft has ceased future development of NetMeeting and announced plans to phase out this tool in favor of a new service called Office Live Meeting.

What Is a Network Protocol?

Definition: A network protocol defines rules and conventions for communication between network devices. Protocols for computer networking all generally use packet switching techniques to send and receive messages in the form of packets.

Network protocols include mechanisms for devices to identify and make connections with each other, as well as formatting rules that specify how data is packaged into messages sent and received. Some protocols also support message acknowledgement and data compression designed for reliable and/or high-performance network communication. Hundreds of different computer network protocols have been developed each designed for specific purposes and environments.

Internet Protocols:

The Internet Protocol family contains a set of related protocols.Besides Internet Protocol (IP) itself, higher-level protocols like TCP, UDP, HTTP, and FTP all integrate with IP to provide additional capabilities. Similarly, lower-level Internet Protocols like ARP and ICMP also co-exist with IP. These higher level protocols interact more closely with applications like Web browsers while lower-level protocols interact with network adapters and other computer hardware.

Routing Protocols:

Routing protocols are special-purpose protocols designed specifically for use by network routers on the Internet. Common routing protocols include EIGRP, OSPF,IGRP,RIP and BGP.
RIP-Routing Internet Protocol
IGRP-Interrior Gateway Routing Protocol
EIGRP-Enhanced Interrior Routung Protocol
BGP-Border Gateway Protocol

How Network Protocols Are Implemented:

Modern operating systems like Microsoft Windows contain built-in services or daemons that implement support for some network protocols. Applications like Web browsers contain software libraries that support the high level protocols necessary for that application to function. For some lower level TCP/IP and routing protocols, support is implemented in directly hardware (silicon chipsets) for improved performance.

Default Gateway,ISDN,Bandwidth Cap:

Default Gateway:

You will sometimes see the term default gateway on network configuration screens.

In computer networking, a default gateway is the device that passes traffic from the local subnet to devices on other subnets. The default gateway often connects a local network to the Internet, although internal gateways for local networks also exist.

Internet default gateways are typically one of two types:

* On home or small business networks with a broadband router to share the Internet connection, the home router serves as the default gateway.

* On home or small business networks without a router, such as for residences with dialup Internet access, a router at the Internet Service Provider location serves as the default gateway.

Default network gateways can also be configured using an ordinary computer instead of a router. These gateways use two network adapters, one connected to the local subnet and one to the outside network. Either routers or gateway computers can be used to network local subnets such as those in larger businesses.

ISDN:

ISDN is a network technology that supports digital transfer of simultaneous voice and data traffic. Similar to DSL in this respect, an ISDN Internet service works over ordinary telephone lines. ISDN Internet service generally supports data rates of 128 Kbps.

ISDN emerged as an alternative to traditional dialup networking during the 1990s. The relatively high cost of ISDN service, though, limited its popularity with residential customers at the outset. More recently, the much higher network speeds supported by newer broadband technologies like DSL have drawn many consumers away from ISDN service.

ISDN technology today has limited applications as a networking solution. Some customers who live in rural areas of the U.S. subscribe to ISDN Internet as an alternative to satellite Internet. ISDN phone service also remains fairly common in some European countries.

Bandwidth Cap:

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) sometimes place limits on the amount of data customers can send and/or receive over their Internet connections. These are sometimes called bandwidth caps.

Comcast, one of the largest ISPs in the U.S., instituted a monthly bandwidth quota for its residential customers starting in October, 2008. Comcast limits each customer to a total of 250 gigabytes (GB) of traffic (combination of downloads and uploads) per month. Except for Comcast, Internet providers in the United States typically do not impose monthly bandwidth quotas although the process tends to be more common in some other countries.

Bandwidth Throttling

Service plans for broadband Internet access normally rate their connection speed as a certain bandwidth level like 1 Mbps or 5 Mbps. Besides maintaining connections that regularly achieve the advertised data rate, some broadband providers put additional technology into their network to actively prevent connections from going faster than their rating. This type of throttling is managed by the broadband modem.

Bandwidth throttling may also be performed by providers on a per application basis. ISPs have most notably targeted peer to peer (P2P) applications for throttling, which due to their popularity can overload their networks. To help file sharers keep within reasonable usage limits, all popular P2P applications include options for throttling the bandwidth they consume.

Other Types of Bandwidth Limits

Dialup Internet connections are not bandwidth throttled but instead are inherently limited by their modem technology to 56 Kbps speeds.

Individuals may have temporarly, personal bandwidth limits applied to their accounts as disciplinary action by providers.

Dial UP Connection:

Definition: Dial up networking technology provides PCs and other network devices access to a LAN or WAN via standard telephone lines. Dial up Internet service providers offer subscription plans for home computer users.

Types of dial up services include V.34 and V.90 modem as well as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Dial up systems utilize special-purpose network protocols like Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP).

To use a dial up Internet connection, a client modem calls another modem located at the Internet Service Provider (ISP). The modems transfer network information over the telephone until one modem or the other disconnects.

When the popularity of the Internet exploded in the 1990s, dial up was the most common form of Internet access due mainly to its low cost to setup. However, the performance of dial up networking is relatively poor due to the limitations of traditional modem technology. V.90 modem dial up supports less than 56 Kbps bandwidth and ISDN handles approximately 128Kbps.

Many home users are currently replacing their dial up services with high-speed broadband technologies that operate at much higher speeds.

Broadband & DSL:

Definition: The term broadband refers to any type of transmission technique that carries several data channels over a common wire. DSL service, for example, combines separate voice and data channels over a single telephone line. In DSL, voice fills the low end of the frequency spectrum and data fills the high end.

In home networking, broadband constitutes any form of high-speed Internet access using this transmission technique. Both DSL and cable modem are common broadband Internet technologies. So-called broadband routers and broadband modems are network devices that support both DSL and cable. Other forms of home broadband include fiber (FTTH) and fixed wireless.

To qualify as a broadband Internet service, the technology should as a general guideline support network bandwidth of at least 256 Kbps for connections in one direction.

Definition: DSL is a high-speed Internet service like cable Internet. DSL provides high-speed networking over ordinary phone lines using broadband modem technology. DSL technology allows Internet and telephone service to work over the same phone line without requiring customers to disconnect either their voice or Internet connections.

DSL technology theoretically supports data rates of 8.448 Mbps, although typical rates are 1.544 Mbps or lower.

DSL Internet services are used primarily in homes and small businesses. DSL Internet service only works over a limited physical distance and remains unavailable in many areas where the local telephone infrastructure does not support DSL technology.