WHAT IS .NET,CLR,CLS,CTS,MSIL CODE,JIT COMPILER

.NET Framework (.NET)

Definition - What does .NET Framework (.NET) mean?

The .NET framework is a software development framework from Microsoft. It provides a controlled programming environment where software can be developed, installed and executed on Windows-based operating systems.
The principal design features are:

• Interoperability: This allows for .NET-developed programs to access functionalities in programs developed outside .NET.
• Common Runtime Engine: Also known as the common language runtime, this allows programs developed in .NET to exhibit common behaviors in memory usage, exception handling and security.
• Language Independence: Common language infrastructure specifications (CLI) allow for the exchange of data types between two programs developed in different languages.
• Base Class Library: A library of code for most common functions--used by programmers to avoid repetitive rewriting of code.
• Ease of Deployment: There are tools to ensure the ease of installing programs without interfering with previously installed applications.
• Security: Programs developed in .NET are based on a common security model.

How to Microsoft .Net Framework

Microsoft .Net Languages Source Code are compiled into Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) . MSIL we can call it as Intermediate Language (IL) or Common Intermediate Language (CIL). Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) is a CPU independent set of instructions that can be converted to the native code. Metadata also created in the course of compile time with Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) and stored it with the compiled code . Metadata is completely self-describing . Metadata is stored in a file called Manifest, and it contains information about the members, types, references and all the other data that the Common Language Runtime (CLR) needs for execution .

The Common Language Runtime (CLR) uses metadata to locate and load classes, generate native code, provide security, and execute Managed Code. Both Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) and Metadata assembled together is known as Portable Executable (PE) file. Portable Executable (PE) is supposed to be portable across all 32-bit operating systems by Microsoft .Net Framework.

During the runtime the Common Language Runtime (CLR)'s Just In Time (JIT) compiler converts the Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) code into native code to the Operating System. The native code is Operating System independent and this code is known as Managed Code , that is, the language's functionality is managed by the .NET Framework . The Common Language Runtime (CLR) provides various Just In Time (JIT) compilers, and each works on a different architecture depends on Operating Systems, that means the same Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) can be executed on different Operating Systems. From the following section you can see how Common Language Runtime (CLR) functions .

Microsoft Intermediate Language - MSIL

MSIL stands for Microsoft Intermediate Language. We can call it as Intermediate Language (IL) or Common Intermediate Language (CIL). During the compile time , the compiler convert the source code into Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) .Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) is a CPU-independent set of instructions that can be efficiently converted to the native code. During the runtime the Common Language Runtime (CLR)'s Just In Time (JIT) compiler converts the Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) code into native code to the Operating System.

When a compiler produces Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL), it also produces Metadata. The Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) and Metadata are contained in a portable executable (PE) file . Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) includes instructions for loading, storing, initializing, and calling methods on objects, as well as instructions for arithmetic and logical operations, control flow, direct memory access, exception handling, and other operations.

Common Language Runtime 

The Common Language Runtime (CLR) is an Execution Environment . It works as a layer between Operating Systems and the applications written in .Net languages that conforms to the Common Language Specification (CLS). The main function of Common Language Runtime (CLR) is to convert the Managed Code into native code and then execute the Program. The Managed Code compiled only when it needed, that is it converts the appropriate instructions when each function is called . The Common Language Runtime (CLR) 's Just In Time (JIT) compilation converts Intermediate Language (MSIL) to native code on demand at application run time.

During the execution of the program ,the Common Language Runtime (CLR) manages memory, Thread execution, Garbage Collection (GC) , Exception Handling, Common Type System (CTS), code safety verifications, and other system services. The CLR ( Common Language Runtime ) defines the Common Type System (CTS), which is a standard type system used by all .Net languages . That means all .NET programming languages uses the same representation for common Data Types , so Common Language Runtime (CLR) is a language-independent runtime environment . The Common Language Runtime (CLR) environment is also referred to as a managed environment, because during the execution of a program it also controls the interaction with the Operating System. In the coming section you can see what are the main functions of Common Language Runtime (CLR).

 

Just In Time Compiler - JIT

The .Net languages , which is conforms to the Common Language Specification (CLS), uses its corresponding runtime to run the application on different Operating Systems . During the code execution time, the Managed Code compiled only when it is needed, that is it converts the appropriate instructions to the native code for execution just before when each function is called. This process is called Just In Time (JIT) compilation, also known as Dynamic Translation . With the help of Just In Time Compiler (JIT) the Common Language Runtime (CLR) doing these tasks.

The Common Language Runtime (CLR) provides various Just In Time compilers (JIT) and each works on a different architecture depending on Operating System. That is why the same Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) can be executed on different Operating Systems without rewrite the source code. Just In Time (JIT) compilation preserves memory and save time during application initialization. Just In Time (JIT) compilation is used to run at high speed, after an initial phase of slow interpretation. Just In Time Compiler (JIT) code generally offers far better performance than interpreters.

Common Language Specification - CLS

Common Language Specification (CLS) is a set of basic language features that .Net Languages needed to develop Applications and Services , which are compatible with the .Net Framework. When there is a situation to communicate Objects written in different .Net Complaint languages , those objects must expose the features that are common to all the languages . Common Language Specification (CLS) ensures complete interoperability among applications, regardless of the language used to create the application.

Common Language Specification (CLS) defines a subset of Common Type System (CTS) . Common Type System (CTS) describes a set of types that can use different .Net languages have in common , which ensure that objects written in different languages can interact with each other. Most of the members defined by types in the .NET Framework Class Library (FCL) are Common Language Specification (CLS) compliant Types. Moreover Common Language Specification (CLS) standardized by ECMA .

Common Type System - CTS

Common Type System (CTS) describes a set of types that can be used in different .Net languages in common . That is , the Common Type System (CTS) ensure that objects written in different .Net languages can interact with each other. For Communicating between programs written in any .NET complaint language, the types have to be compatible on the basic level .

These types can be Value Types or Reference Types . The Value Types are passed by values and stored in the stack. The Reference Types are passed by references and stored in the heap. Common Type System (CTS) provides base set of Data Types which is responsible for cross language integration. The Common Language Runtime (CLR) can load and execute the source code written in any .Net language, only if the type is described in the Common Type System (CTS) .Most of the members defined by types in the .NET Framework Class Library (FCL) are Common Language Specification (CLS) compliant Types.

 

Portable Executable (PE) File Format

The Portable Executable (PE) format is a file format for executables, object code, and DLLs, used in 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems.

The PE file format was defined to provide the best way for the Windows Operating System to execute code and also to store the essential data which is needed to run a program. Portable Executable File Format is derived from the Microsoft Common Object File Format (COFF).

Network Devices (Hub, Repeater, Bridge, Switch, Router and Gateways)

 1. Repeater – A repeater operates at the physical layer. Its job is to regenerate the signal over the same network before the signal becomes too weak or corrupted so as to extend the length to which the signal can be transmitted over the same network. An important point to be noted about repeaters is that they do no amplify the signal. When the signal becomes weak, they copy the signal bit by bit and regenerate it at the original strength. It is a 2 port device.

2. Hub –  A hub is basically a multiport repeater. A hub connects multiple wires coming from different branches, for example, the connector in star topology which connects different stations. Hubs cannot filter data, so data packets are sent to all connected devices.  In other words, collision domain of all hosts connected through Hub remains one.  Also, they do not have intelligence to find out best path for data packets which leads to inefficiencies and wastage.

3. Bridge – A bridge operates at data link layer. A bridge is a repeater, with add on functionality of filtering content by reading the MAC addresses of source and destination. It is also used for interconnecting two LANs working on the same protocol. It has a single input and single output port, thus making it a 2 port device.

4. Switch – A switch is a multi port bridge with a buffer and a design that can boost its efficiency(large number of  ports imply less traffic) and performance. Switch is data link layer device. Switch can perform error checking before forwarding data, that makes it very efficient as it does not forward packets that have errors and  forward good packets selectively to correct port only.  In other words, switch divides collision domain of hosts, but broadcast domain remains same.

5. Routers – A router is a device like a switch that routes data packets based on their IP addresses. Router is mainly a Network Layer device. Routers normally connect LANs and WANs together and have a dynamically updating routing table based on which they make decisions on routing the data packets. Router divide broadcast domains of hosts connected through it.

Network Switching

Switching is process to forward packets coming in from one port to a port leading towards the destination. When data comes on a port it is called ingress, and when data leaves a port or goes out it is called egress. A communication system may include number of switches and nodes. At broad level, switching can be divided into two major categories:

• Connectionless: The data is forwarded on behalf of forwarding tables. No previous handshaking is required and acknowledgements are optional.
• Connection Oriented:  Before switching data to be forwarded to destination, there is a need to pre-establish circuit along the path between both endpoints. Data is then forwarded on that circuit. After the transfer is completed, circuits can be kept for future use or can be turned down immediately.

Circuit Switching

When two nodes communicate with each other over a dedicated communication path, it is called circuit switching.There 'is a need of pre-specified route from which data will travels and no other data is permitted.In circuit switching, to transfer the data, circuit must be established so that the data transfer can take place.
Circuits can be permanent or temporary. Applications which use circuit switching may have to go through three phases:

• Establish a circuit
• Transfer the data
• Disconnect the circuit

 

Circuit switching was designed for voice applications. Telephone is the best suitable example of circuit switching. Before a user can make a call, a virtual path between caller and callee is established over the network.

Message Switching

This technique was somewhere in middle of circuit switching and packet switching. In message switching, the whole message is treated as a data unit and is switching / transferred in its entirety.
A switch working on message switching, first receives the whole message and buffers it until there are resources available to transfer it to the next hop. If the next hop is not having enough resource to accommodate large size message, the message is stored and switch waits.

This technique was considered substitute to circuit switching. As in circuit switching the whole path is blocked for two entities only. Message switching is replaced by packet switching. Message switching has the following drawbacks:

• Every switch in transit path needs enough storage to accommodate entire message.
• Because of store-and-forward technique and waits included until resources are available, message switching is very slow.
• Message switching was not a solution for streaming media and real-time applications.

Packet Switching

Shortcomings of message switching gave birth to an idea of packet switching. The entire message is broken down into smaller chunks called packets. The switching information is added in the header of each packet and transmitted independently.
It is easier for intermediate networking devices to store small size packets and they do not take much resources either on carrier path or in the internal memory of switches.

 Packet switching enhances line efficiency as packets from multiple applications can be multiplexed over the carrier. The internet uses packet switching technique. Packet switching enables the user to differentiate data streams based on priorities. Packets are stored and forwarded according to their priority to provide quality of service.

 Difference between Circuit switching & Packet switching

 

Multiplexing

Multiplexing is a technique by which different analog and digital streams of transmission can be simultaneously processed over a shared link. Multiplexing divides the high capacity medium into low capacity logical medium which is then shared by different streams.
Communication is possible over the air (radio frequency), using a physical media (cable), and light (optical fiber). All mediums are capable of multiplexing.
When multiple senders try to send over a single medium, a device called Multiplexer divides the physical channel and allocates one to each. On the other end of communication, a De-multiplexer receives data from a single medium, identifies each, and sends to differe

nt receivers.

Frequency Division Multiplexing

When the carrier is frequency, FDM is used. FDM is an analog technology. FDM divides the spectrum or carrier bandwidth in logical channels and allocates one user to each channel. Each user can use the channel frequency independently and has exclusive access of it. All channels are divided in such a way that they do not overlap with each other. Channels are separated by guard bands. Guard band is a frequency which is not used by either channel.

Time Division Multiplexing

TDM is applied primarily on digital signals but can be applied on analog signals as well. In TDM the shared channel is divided among its user by means of time slot. Each user can transmit data within the provided time slot only. Digital signals are divided in frames, equivalent to time slot i.e. frame of an optimal size which can be transmitted in given time slot.
TDM works in synchronized mode. Both ends, i.e. Multiplexer and De-multiplexer are timely synchronized and both switch to next channel simultaneously.

 

When channel A transmits its frame at one end,the De-multiplexer provides media to channel A on the other end.As soon as the channel A’s time slot expires, this side switches to channel B. On the other end, the De-multiplexer works in a synchronized manner and provides media to channel B. Signals from different channels travel the path in interleaved manner.

Wavelength Division Multiplexing

Light has different wavelength (colors). In fiber optic mode, multiple optical carrier signals are multiplexed into an optical fiber by using different wavelengths. This is an analog multiplexing technique and is done conceptually in the same manner as FDM but uses light as signals.

 

Further, on each wavelength time division multiplexing can be incorporated to accommodate more data signals.

Code Division Multiplexing

Multiple data signals can be transmitted over a single frequency by using Code Division Multiplexing. FDM divides the frequency in smaller channels but CDM allows its users to full bandwidth and transmit signals all the time using a unique code. CDM uses orthogonal codes to spread signals.
Each station is assigned with a unique code, called chip. Signals travel with these codes independently, inside the whole bandwidth.The receiver knows in advance the chip code signal it has to receive.

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