TCP/IP PROTOCOL SUITE
Host-to- Network Layer −
It is the lowest layer that is concerned with the physical transmission of data.
TCP/IP does not specifically define any protocol here but supports all the
standard protocols.
Internet Layer −
It defines the protocols for logical transmission of data over the network.
The main protocol in this layer is Internet Protocol (IP) and
it is supported by the protocols ICMP, IGMP, RARP, and ARP.
Transport Layer −
It is responsible for error-free end-to-end delivery of data.
The protocols defined here are Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
and User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
Application Layer −
This is the topmost layer and defines the interface of host programs
with the transport layer services.
This layer includes all high-level protocols like Telnet, DNS, HTTP,
FTP, SMTP, etc.
HOST NETWORK LAYER
The functions of this layer are −
It defines how bits are to be encoded into optical or electrical pulses.
It accepts IP packets from the network layer and encapsulates them into frames.
It synchronizes the transmission of the frames as well as the bits making up the
frames, between the sender and the receiver.
It states the transmission mode, i.e. simplex, half duplex or full duplex
It states the topology of the network, i.e. bus, star, ring etc.
The protocols that this layer supports are −
Ethernet, Frame Relay, Token Ring , ATM
INTERNET LAYER
The Internet layer is responsible for logical transmission of data packets over
the internet.
It can be compared to the network layer of the OSI model.
The main functions of the internet layer are −
It transmits data packets to the link layer.
It routes each of the data packets independently from the source to the
destination, using the optimal route.
It reassembles the out-of-order packets when they reach the destination.
It handles the error in transmission of data packets and fragmentation of data
packets.
The protocols used in this layer are −
1) Internet Protocol, IP −
It is a connectionless and unreliable protocol that provides a best
effort delivery service.
It transports data packets called datagrams that travel over different
routes across multiple nodes.
2) Address Resolution Protocol, ARP −
This protocol maps the logical address or the Internet address of a
host to its physical address, as printed in the network interface card.
3) Reverse Address Resolution Protocol, RARP −
This is to find the Internet address of a host when its physical
address is known.
4) Internet Control Message Protocol, ICMP −
It monitors sending the queries as well as the error messages.
5) Internet Group Message Protocol, IGMP −
It allows the transmission of a message to a group of recipients
simultaneously.
TRANSPORT LAYER
The transport layer is responsible for error-free, end-to-end delivery
of data from the source host to the destination host.
It corresponds to the transport layer of the OSI model.
The functions of the transport layer are −
It facilitates the communicating hosts to carry on a conversation.
It provides an interface for the users to the underlying network.
It can provide for a reliable connection. It can also carry out error
checking, flow control, and verification.
1) Transmission Control Protocol, TCP −
It is a reliable connection-oriented protocol that transmits data from the
source to the destination machine without any error.
A connection is established between the peer entities prior to
transmission.
At the sending host, TCP divides an incoming byte stream into
segments and assigns a separate sequence number to each segment.
At the receiving host, TCP reorders the segments and sends an
acknowledgment to the sender for correct receipt of segments.
TCP also manages flow control so that a fast sender does not
overwhelm a slow receiver.
2 ) User Datagram Protocol, UDP −
It is a message-oriented protocol that provides a simple unreliable,
connectionless, unacknowledged service.
It is suitable for applications that do not require TCP’s sequencing,
error control or flow control.
It is used for transmitting a small amount of data where the speed of
delivery is more important than the accuracy of delivery.
3) Stream Control Transmission Protocol, SCTP −
It combines the features of both TCP and UDP.
It is message oriented like the UDP, which providing the
reliable, connection-oriented service like TCP.
It is used for telephony over the Internet.
Application Layer
The application layer is the highest abstraction layer of the TCP/IP model that
provides the interfaces and protocols needed by the users.
It combines the functionalities of the session layer, the presentation layer and
the application layer of the OSI model.
------ The functions of the application layer are −
It facilitates the user to use the services of the network.
It is used to develop network-based applications.
It provides user services like user login, naming network devices, formatting
messages, and e-mails, transfer of files etc.
It is also concerned with error handling and recovery of the message as a whole.
1) Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, HTTP −
It is the underlying protocol for world wide web.
It defines how hypermedia messages are formatted and
transmitted.
2) File Transfer Protocol, FTP −
It is a client-server based protocol for transfer of files between
client and server over the network.
3) Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, SMTP −
It lays down the rules and semantics for sending and receiving
electronic mails (e-mails).
4) Domain Name System, DNS −
It is a naming system for devices in networks.
It provides services for translating domain names to IP addresses.
5) TELNET −
It provides bi-directional text-oriented services for remote login
to the hosts over the network.
6) Simple Network Management Protocol, SNMP
It is for managing, monitoring the network and for organizing
information about the networked devices.
