Protocols Notes
What are Protocols?
● Protocols are a set of rules that allow devices to communicate with each other by sending
data.
● We have different protocols for sending and receiving data.
● We have different protocols for sharing different types of data.
● Common protocols used are HTTP(S), FTP, POP3, SMTP, IMAP and BitTorrent.
Why are protocols needed?
● Protocols provide a standard set of rules that enables successful data transfer between
devices.
● Allows communication between devices on different platforms.
● Makes communications independent of software and hardware.
● If two devices were sending messages to each other but using different protocols, they
would not be able to communicate properly
What does the Application Layer do?
● The application layer provides access to all the programs that exchange data // Interacts
directly with the user.
● … used by, for example, web browsers, server software.
● Communicates/enables data transfer to/from Transport layer // It allows applications to
access the services used in other TCP/IP layers.
● It defines the protocols that any application uses to allow the exchange of data.
What does the Transport Layer do?
● The transport layer is responsible for delivery of data from the source host to the
destination host
● It is where data is broken up into packets and sent to the internet layer
● Adds the sequence number to the packet header
● It establishes end to end contact
● It ensures data arrives error free // It retransmits packets if lost.
● It handles packets and controls the flow of data
What does the Internet Layer do?
● The Internet Layer identifies the intended network and host
● It transmits packets to the (Data) Link / Physical Layer
● It routes the packets independently through the optimum route
● It adds the IP address of the sender and the receiver on the packets.
● It then uses an IP address and port number to form a socket.
What does the Link Layer do?
● To ensure correct network protocols are followed
● To enable the upper layers to access the physical medium // enables connection/
communication with the internet / network layer
● To be responsible for transporting data within the network/local segments
● To format the data into frames for transmission
● Maps IP addresses to MAC/Physical addresses.
Protocols and Their Descriptions
● HTTP(S)
- Stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol (Secure).
- Responsible for correct transfer of hypertext documents or web pages on the
world wide web.
● FTP
- Stands for File Transfer Protocol.
- used when transferring files from a server to a client on a network. Or we can say
that it is used for sending and receiving files between two computers on a
network.
● POP3
- Stands for Post Office Protocol (Version 3)
- handles the receiving of emails
● IMAP
- Stands for Internet Message Access Protocol
- handles the receiving of emails
● SMTP
- Stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
- handles the sending of emails
● BitTorrent
- provides peer-to-peer file sharing
- There is no central device.
- Peers (devices on the network) can communicate directly.
- Peers are connected on the internet
- It allows more users to share files with each other than would be the case with a
peer-to-peer network.
How the layers of the TCP/IP protocol stack interact with each other
● Each layer can only accept input from the next higher layer or the next lower layer
● There is an interface between the adjacent layers which is the only interaction between
layers
● Data is added to the headers as the frames/packets pass through the layers
● The interactions are carried out by installed software
● User interaction takes place at the highest/Application layer of the stack through
protocols associated with that layer of the stack
● MP6 Direct access to hardware takes place at the lowest/Link layer of the stack.
