Drivers facilitate communication between hardware and software.
CRC - cyclical redundancy check - error checking to determine the need (if any) for packet retransmission
packet components - header, data, trailer
packet structure is determined by protocol
computer see all packet traffic, but intercept only those addressed to them
preamble is an introduction to a valid packet, often a data-less stream of alternating 0's and 1's.
protocols work together in stacks
protocols are ordered in layers
protocols act as peers and the order of binding is important
binding must occur in a specific order
5-4-3 rule - five segments with four repeaters with a maximum of three segments with stations attached