Discuss Network Edge and Network Core in context of following features: [02] • Functions of Network Edge and core • Addressing scheme • Switching

Network edge: Refers to a point where the organization local area networks connects to third-party network services such as the internet.

Network Core: Refers to the part of network that interconnects different subnetworks of the access network to provide a path for information exchange.

Functions:

Network Edge:

1. connects local area network to third-party network services such as the internet.
2. Provides a firewall capability to the information being sent or requested to the third-party network
3. To support NAT (Network Address Translation)

Core Network:

1. Gateways ; core networks provides gateway to access other networks
2. Service invocation: performs service invocation to the subnetworks based on explicit or implicit action
3. Aggregation: this is where all the information aggregate
4. Authentication: The function to decide whether the user requesting a service from the telecom network is authorized to do so within this network or not

Switching in:

Network Core

In terms of switching in networks core both circuit switching and packet switching approaches are used.

packet switching in which data is divided packets so that each packet forms part of a complete message that can be routed through a network of switches to its destination independently of all other packets forming the same message.

In circuit switching there is a dedicated communication channel between the network core nodes.

Network edge

In network edge packet switching technique is put in place since information destination is unknown and hence there is no dedicated communication channel.

Addressing scheme:

Network edge:

The addressing scheme that is used in the network edge is public IP addresses. The network address translation (NAT) translates the private IP address to public IP addresses to allow them to be routed in the internet.

Network Core

The network core uses private IP addressing scheme. Private IP addresses are used within the local area network