Lesson 1 - Connectionless and Connection-Oriented Networks

   Introduction

Networks are termed connectionless when no full-time, end-to-end physical connection exists between the communicating nodes. Instead, packets of information are passed from node to node, with a packet possibly traversing many nodes (routers) before it arrives at its destination. Connection-oriented networks, on the other hand, have a connection (circuit) established between the network endpoints, with the information always taking the same path. Additionally, the network protocols themselves, for example, Internet Protocol (IP), determine whether a network is being operated in a connectionless or connection-oriented mode.

   Objectives

At the end of this lesson you should be able to:

1.	Differentiate between connectionless and connection-oriented networks
2.	Understand some of the characteristics of each

Key Point
Connectionless networks allow physical resources to be shared by many users.

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