Every day, we create more than 2.5 quintillion bytes of data. That’s a lot of data to manage, store, and analyze.
Entrepreneurs like you probably know the importance of most of these data-related tasks. One question you may be asking yourself is, “How does data get around?”
Data transport is fundamental to almost all telecommunications today. Whenever you send an email or a text, you’re relying on certain forms of data transportation.
So, what should entrepreneurs know about the various ways data moves around? An understanding of the fundamentals will help you make better choices. You can then set up a robust network to service your business needs.
The Basics of Data Transport
What is data transport anyway? It’s essentially any transfer of data between two computers.
The simplest way to do this is to let two machines “talk” to each other over a hardwired connection. Both computers need to speak the same language. They can send information back and forth over the link.
Networking many machines together is more complex. You could link several computers together in a sequence. Information has to pass from the sending computer through each computer in sequence.
That slows communication down. If one computer goes down, then whole network goes too.
Hubs and routers are key to setting up efficient networks. Each computer connected to the router can send and receive messages from the hub or router. The router handles many messages from senders, then passes them to the recipient.
This speeds up the transfer of data. It also makes the network robust, since the router directs messages from the sender to the destination. If one computer goes down, it won’t take out the entire network.
A bridge transports data between two networks.
Transporting Data over the Internet
Most modern forms of communication rely on data transfers. Perhaps the most important form of data transport is the Internet. How does data travel on the Internet?
The Internet is essentially a giant network. It’s made up of many devices and routers. All are interconnected and speaking the same language.
This is Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, or TCP/IP for short. This ensures understanding between the sender, the recipient, and other devices on the way. can understand and decode the information being transported.
Data messages are sent through a network in bundles called packets. Each packet is a maximum of 1,500 bytes.
The packets contain header and footer information as well. This information tells receiving devices some important information:
- Where the data came from
- Where it’s going
- What kind of data it is
- How it fits together with other data
This is important, as the packets must be reassembled for the receiving device. Routers and other devices make decisions about the fastest route to send each packet. That makes receiving data more efficient.
Imagine trying to transfer a 40 MB file across a single connection. Instead, the router can send packets via different routes to reach their destination.
Most networks work the same way, whether they’re Internet networks or local intranet networks.
Why Should You Care?
Understanding how data transport works can help you design a more efficient network.
An example shows how. Suppose you’ve just purchased a new printer for the office. You now need to connect your devices to the printer to print.
If you haven’t set up a wireless network or an intranet, you’ll need to connect each individual device to the printer. This will cause cord chaos, as well as problems when it comes time to print. The printer may receive print requests from several devices and crash.
If you connect all your devices to a router instead, you’ll solve your network traffic issues. Each machine, including the printer, is connected to the router. The router then handles network requests, sending them to the right destination.
The router can also determine the order of requests and set up a queue. Your new printer is less likely to be overwhelmed and crash as a result.
You can apply this thinking to almost any network application in your business. Whether it’s a database server or your Internet connection, data transport is involved.
Designing a Better Network
With an understanding of data transport, you can work to design a smarter network. Knowing how data moves on a network can help you decide on an Internet connection package. Which one is best for your business?
You may also be able to choose better equipment, such as routers, to help manage network traffic. Is it more efficient to have two smaller networks and connect them, or one large network? Should you choose one WiFi 6 router for the whole office, or will you need a couple of them?
You may want to work with the experts when crafting a network. This is especially true for network automation applications. Today’s networks are smarter than ever, but that can also make them more complex.
The Benefits of Networking
Using the right technology creates a faster, more efficient network. Your business can work faster and get things done sooner.
A better network may also mean better customer service. You can be chatting in real-time or deliver your website from your servers. The right network makes it all possible.
A robust network can also insulate you from outages. With certain network set-ups, taking out one computer will take down the whole network. A smarter network will keep working, even if one or two machines go down.
This can also offer better security for your business.
Again, working with the experts to design your network is probably your best bet.
Networking is the Foundation of Your Business
Data transport is an essential feature of virtually all business communication today. It’s important for so many other aspects of your business as well.
Understanding it helps you craft better networks. In turn, you can boost efficiency and productivity at the office.
Wondering about other tech tools to help with productivity? Check out our helpful articles to discover more about how technology can help you. You’ll be growing your business the smart way in no time.
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