Network Protocols
Protocols define the very specific characteristics two network devices need to communicate. Three key elements of a protocol define these characteristics: syntax, semantics, and timing. Rules must include how to interpret signals, how to identify "oneself " and other computers on a network, how to initiate and end networked communications, and how to manage information exchange across the network medium. Such collection of agreed-upon rules are network protocols which provide addressing and routing information, error checking, retransmission requests, and rules for communicating in some particular networking environment.
Transport protocols handle data delivery between computers. Connection oriented transport protocols ensure reliable delivery, whereas connectionless transport
protocols provide only best-effort delivery.
■ Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): The TCP/IP protocol responsible for reliable delivery of data. TCP and IP are two separate protocols that work hand-in-hand to manage and guide the general mobility of data packets over the Internet. Working in unison, TCP and IP manage the data flow over the network. They both use special headers that define each packet's contents and, if there is more than one, how many others should be expected (Parker, 2002). The TCP is responsible for opening and closing a session; packet management; flow control; and error detection and handling. The IP protocol manages how the packets are delivered to and from the servers and clients. ■ Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4): This network protocol provides addressing and routing information. Simply referred to as IP, but as you will see, a new version of IP is beginning to take hold. It is called IPv6. IPv6 increases the length of the address used on the Internet from 32 bits to 128 bits.
■Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) A remote access protocol that supports many
protocols, including IP, NetBEUI,...
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