TCP/IP Protocol Suite
The TCP/IP Protocol Suite is a set of communication protocols that allows devices
to communicate over the internet or local networks. It is the foundation for most
modern network communication and is based on a model that consists of four
layers: Application, Transport, Internet, and Network Access. This suite is the
standard for internet communication and includes protocols like TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol), which ensure data is
transferred reliably between devices.
1. Internet Protocol (IP)
The Internet Protocol (IP) is responsible for addressing and routing data packets
between devices across networks. It determines how data is sent from the source
to the destination, even if the data must pass through multiple intermediate
networks. IP is considered a connectionless protocol because it doesn’t guarantee
the delivery of packets or maintain a connection between sender and receiver.
Key Functions of IP:
Logical Addressing: IP uses IP addresses to uniquely identify devices on a
network. These addresses are used to route data across networks. There
are two versions of IP: IPv4 and IPv6.
o IPv4 uses a 32-bit address format (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
o IPv6 uses a 128-bit address format to accommodate the growing
number of devices connected to the internet.
Routing: IP determines the most efficient path for data to travel across
multiple networks to reach its destination.
Packetization: IP divides larger messages into smaller packets that are
transmitted independently across the network. Each packet contains
information about the source and destination IP addresses, allowing
routers to direct them correctly.
, Types of IP:
IPv4: This is the most widely used version of IP, which uses 32-bit
addresses, resulting in over 4 billion unique addresses.
IPv6: With the rapid growth of the internet, IPv6 was developed to provide
a larger address space (128-bit) and to address limitations in IPv4, such as
address exhaustion.
2. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a connection-oriented protocol used
in the Transport Layer of the TCP/IP model. It provides reliable communication
between devices, ensuring that data is delivered in the correct order and without
errors. TCP is commonly used for applications where reliability is essential, such
as web browsing (HTTP), file transfer (FTP), and email (SMTP).
Key Functions of TCP:
Connection Establishment: TCP uses a three-way handshake process to
establish a connection between the sender and receiver before data
transmission begins. This ensures that both parties are ready for
communication.
1. SYN: The sender sends a request to establish a connection.
2. SYN-ACK: The receiver acknowledges the request and sends back a
confirmation.
3. ACK: The sender sends an acknowledgment, and the connection is
established.
Reliable Data Transfer: TCP ensures that data is delivered accurately by
using mechanisms like acknowledgments and sequencing. If a packet is lost
or corrupted, TCP requests retransmission of the packet.
Flow Control: TCP uses a method called sliding window to control the flow
of data between sender and receiver, preventing data overload on either
end.
Error Detection and Correction: TCP performs error checking using
checksums, and if errors are detected, it requests retransmission of
corrupted data.
The TCP/IP Protocol Suite is a set of communication protocols that allows devices
to communicate over the internet or local networks. It is the foundation for most
modern network communication and is based on a model that consists of four
layers: Application, Transport, Internet, and Network Access. This suite is the
standard for internet communication and includes protocols like TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol), which ensure data is
transferred reliably between devices.
1. Internet Protocol (IP)
The Internet Protocol (IP) is responsible for addressing and routing data packets
between devices across networks. It determines how data is sent from the source
to the destination, even if the data must pass through multiple intermediate
networks. IP is considered a connectionless protocol because it doesn’t guarantee
the delivery of packets or maintain a connection between sender and receiver.
Key Functions of IP:
Logical Addressing: IP uses IP addresses to uniquely identify devices on a
network. These addresses are used to route data across networks. There
are two versions of IP: IPv4 and IPv6.
o IPv4 uses a 32-bit address format (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
o IPv6 uses a 128-bit address format to accommodate the growing
number of devices connected to the internet.
Routing: IP determines the most efficient path for data to travel across
multiple networks to reach its destination.
Packetization: IP divides larger messages into smaller packets that are
transmitted independently across the network. Each packet contains
information about the source and destination IP addresses, allowing
routers to direct them correctly.
, Types of IP:
IPv4: This is the most widely used version of IP, which uses 32-bit
addresses, resulting in over 4 billion unique addresses.
IPv6: With the rapid growth of the internet, IPv6 was developed to provide
a larger address space (128-bit) and to address limitations in IPv4, such as
address exhaustion.
2. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is a connection-oriented protocol used
in the Transport Layer of the TCP/IP model. It provides reliable communication
between devices, ensuring that data is delivered in the correct order and without
errors. TCP is commonly used for applications where reliability is essential, such
as web browsing (HTTP), file transfer (FTP), and email (SMTP).
Key Functions of TCP:
Connection Establishment: TCP uses a three-way handshake process to
establish a connection between the sender and receiver before data
transmission begins. This ensures that both parties are ready for
communication.
1. SYN: The sender sends a request to establish a connection.
2. SYN-ACK: The receiver acknowledges the request and sends back a
confirmation.
3. ACK: The sender sends an acknowledgment, and the connection is
established.
Reliable Data Transfer: TCP ensures that data is delivered accurately by
using mechanisms like acknowledgments and sequencing. If a packet is lost
or corrupted, TCP requests retransmission of the packet.
Flow Control: TCP uses a method called sliding window to control the flow
of data between sender and receiver, preventing data overload on either
end.
Error Detection and Correction: TCP performs error checking using
checksums, and if errors are detected, it requests retransmission of
corrupted data.
