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Host
We will describe the journey of Grandma's recipe from her host at home through ADSL to the Internet.
Let us assume that Grandma chose some application to send the packets of information that contain the recipe.
Starting at network layer with the IP protocol, the host examines the packet containing the destination address of the granddaughter's host. Using its routing table, the host decides to send the packet to its default gateway.
In the event that there is a router that handles a small network at home (which is likely to be a wireless LAN or Ethernet) the packet is forwarded to it and from there it follows as if there is only one computer on an Ethernet LAN connected to the ADSL Modem.
Most ADSL Modems today are actually routers as we will see later; therefore the host's default gateway will be the modem.
The host (or the home router) uses ARP to discover the modem's MAC address and then transmits the packet on the local Ethernet network.
The packet arrives at the modem.
Click on the modem icon to continue.
 

Network Components
Home or office computerTelephone
ADSL ModemSplitter
Voice SwitchSplitter
DSLAM
ATM or Ethernet Network
ISP
Internet