Tag: understanding

Understanding Floating Point Formats

Under ordinary circumstances, you don’t have to know or care how numbers are represented within your programs. However, when you are transferring data files that contain numbers, you will have to convert if the storage formats are not identical. If the numbers are just integers, that’s fairly easy because the only differences will be the length and the byte order: how many bytes the number takes up, and whether it is stored lsb or msb (least signifacant byte or most significant byte first). Once you know that, conversion is trivial.

Understanding Web Metrics to Improve Site Performance

Many home-based online entrepreneurs keep their eyes on the ball, but fail to stop to check the score. In the rush to be online, these entrepreneurs focus too much on where they are going – e.g. increasing their traffic and sales, marketing their sites, improving their content, attracting a community of loyal visitors, and other goals. While important for the success of an online business, they often overlook checking where their businesses are. Many Web publishers fail to understand how users come to the site and what those users do once they get there. Not knowing where exactly a business stands is risky, particularly on the Internet where things change so rapidly.

Understanding Network Models – The Cisco Network Design Model

This article focuses on another important network model, the Cisco hierarchical network design model. Very different that the OSI model, this model is used as the basis for designing Cisco networks for security and performance. The article provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of each of the model’s 3 layers.

Understanding Network Models – The OSI Model

I have to assume that after reading the title to this week’s article you probably let out a low, discerning groan of displeasure. Of all the networking topics that I’ve ever taught, the OSI model is the one that will generate looks of angst and torture on the faces of students. Some simply tune out and play solitaire, while others shake their heads in the familiar “not this thing again”. Still others pretend that there’s no time like right now to catch a half-hour of shut-eye. One thing that has never happened is someone’s eyes lighting up and them shouting “I love the OSI model!”. The reason for this is simple. This is often the first thing that people are ever taught when it comes to networking, and it was probably explained in such a way that they didn’t understand it to begin with. A theoretical model is a terrible introduction to the world of networking. The good news for me is that most of you probably already have experience in the field, and will hopefully be able to appreciate how important network models really are.

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