Transport Layer Overview

 Definition: The transport layer is the second layer in the TCP/IP

model and the fourth layer in the OSI model. It is an end-to-end
layer used to deliver messages to the host 1.
 Functionality:
o The transport layer takes services from the application layer
and provides them to the network layer 2.
o It performs segmentation of data, adding source and
destination port numbers to the header of each segment 3.
 Key Functions:
o Process-to-Process Delivery: Also known as port-to-port
delivery, it ensures that data is delivered from one
application process to another 4.
o Multiplexing and Demultiplexing: Allows multiple
applications to use the same network connection 4.
o Error Control: Ensures data integrity by detecting errors and
requesting retransmission 5.
o Flow Control: Manages the rate of data transmission
between sender and receiver to prevent overwhelming the
receiver 6.
o Congestion Control: Techniques to prevent or manage
congestion in the network 7.
 Protocols:
o TCP (Transmission Control Protocol):

 Connection-oriented protocol that establishes a

connection before data transfer 8.
 Features include full duplex communication, error
control, flow control, and congestion control 9.
 Uses a header format that includes source and
destination port numbers, sequence numbers,
acknowledgment numbers, and control bits .
 Establishes a connection using a three-way handshake
process 10.
o UDP (User Datagram Protocol):

 Connectionless protocol that sends data without

establishing a connection 11.
 Suitable for applications where low latency is critical,
such as online gaming and real-time applications 12.
  Does not guarantee delivery, making it less reliable
than TCP 13.
 Important Topics:
o TCP and UDP header formats, including numerical problems
related to extracting information from headers 14.
o The significance of the three-way handshake in TCP for
establishing connections 10.
This summary encapsulates the key concepts and functionalities of the
transport layer, including its protocols, operations, and important
topics to focus on for exams.
UDP Overview
 UDP Header Structure: The UDP header is relatively small and
consists of four 16-bit fields:
1. Source Port: The port number of the sender.
2. Destination Port: The port number of the receiver, which is
essential for data delivery 15.
3. Length: This field indicates the total length of the UDP
packet, including both header and data. The minimum
length can be 8 bytes, and the maximum can be 65535
bytes 16.
4. Checksum: Used for error checking of the header and data.
It is optional in IPv4 but mandatory in IPv6 17.
 Key Features of UDP:
o Connectionless Protocol: Unlike TCP, UDP does not establish
a connection before sending data, making it faster but less
reliable 18.
o Use Cases: Suitable for time-sensitive applications like
online gaming and video streaming due to its low
latency 18.
TCP Overview
 Connection-Oriented Protocol: TCP establishes a connection using
a three-way handshake before data transmission 19.
 Reliability: TCP ensures reliable data delivery through
acknowledgments and retransmissions. If a packet is lost, it is
resent 20.
 Flow Control and Congestion Control:
o Flow Control: Prevents the sender from overwhelming the
receiver by matching the data transmission rate with the
receiver's processing capacity 21.
 o Congestion Control: TCP uses a congestion window to
manage data flow and avoid network congestion. It employs
algorithms like slow start, congestion avoidance, and
congestion detection 22.
Comparison of TCP and UDP
 Connection Type: TCP is connection-oriented, while UDP is
connectionless 19.
 Reliability: TCP guarantees delivery and order of packets; UDP
does not 23.
 Header Size: TCP has a minimum header size of 20 bytes, while
UDP has a minimum of 8 bytes 24.
Multiplexing and Demultiplexing
 Multiplexing: The process of collecting data from multiple
applications and sending it over a single channel 25.
 Demultiplexing: The reverse process where the received data is
distributed to the correct application processes 26.
Quality of Service (QoS)
 Key Metrics: Reliability, delay, jitter, and bandwidth are critical
for assessing network performance 27.
 Improvement Techniques: Techniques such as over-provisioning,
buffering, and scheduling can enhance QoS 28.
Conclusion Understanding the differences between TCP and UDP, along
with their respective features, is crucial for selecting the appropriate
protocol for specific applications. The concepts of multiplexing,
demultiplexing, and QoS further enhance the efficiency and reliability of
data transmission in networks.