TCP/IP Protocols Quiz

TCP/IP Standard

• The TCP/IP standard includes several protocols for handling data communication:
• TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) for communication between applications
• UDP (User Datagram Protocol) for simple communication between applications
• IP (Internet Protocol) for communication between computers
• ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) for errors and statistics
• DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) for dynamic addressing

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

• TCP is responsible for breaking data down into IP packets before they are sent, and for assembling the packets when they arrive
• TCP is for communication between applications
• To communicate with another application via TCP, a communication request must be sent to an exact address
• A "handshake" between the two applications sets up a "full-duplex" communication between them
• The "full-duplex" communication occupies the communication line between the two computers until it is closed by one of the two applications

Internet Protocol (IP)

• IP is a connection-less protocol, meaning it does not occupy the communication line between two computers
• IP uses IP addresses and the subnet mask to determine whether the datagram is on the local or a remote network
• If the datagram is on a remote network, it is forwarded to the default gateway, which is a router that links to another network
• IP keeps track of the number of traverses through each router that the datagram goes through to reach its destination
• Each traverse is called a hop; if the hop count exceeds 255 hops, the datagram is removed and the destination is considered unreachable

PSK Demodulation

• Coherent detection can be used to detect a PSK modulated signal, but it requires a coherent local oscillator at the receiver
• Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) is employed in PSK demodulation to avoid the need for a coherent reference signal at the detectors
• In DPSK, the data is conveyed by the phase difference between the current pulse and the pulse that precedes it

Bit Error Rate (BER)

• The error probability in a digital system is the total number of errors per total number of bits received
• The acceptable error probability in communication systems ranges from 10^(-2) to 10^(-8)
• The average number of errors is given as Ae = m × Pe, where m is the length of the transmission bits

Ring Topology

• Advantages:
  • It is better than Bus topology in terms of performance when the load on the network increases
  • There is no need for a network server to control the connectivity between workstations
  • Additional components do not affect the performance of the network
  • Each computer has equal access to resources
• Disadvantages:
  • Each packet of data must pass through all the computers between the source and destination, making it slower than Star topology
  • If one workstation or port goes down, the entire network gets affected
  • The network is highly dependent on the wire that connects different components
  • MAU's and network cards are expensive compared to Ethernet cards and hubs

Bus Topology

• Advantages:
  • It is easy to set up and extend
  • Cable length required for this topology is the least compared to other networks
  • Bus topology is very cheap
  • Bus network is mostly used in small networks
• Disadvantages:
  • There is a limit on central cable length and number of nodes that can be connected
  • Dependency on central cable has its disadvantages
  • If the main cable goes down, the entire network gets affected

OSI Model

• Advantages:
  • It allows various types of network hardware and software to communicate
  • It prevents changes in one layer from affecting other layers, so it does not hamper development
  • It allows multiple-vendor development through standardization of network components
  • It encourages industry standardization by defining what functions occur at each layer of the model
  • It divides the network communication process into smaller and simpler components, hence aiding component development, design, and troubleshooting

OSI Model Architecture

• The OSI model is divided into seven logical layers:
  1. Physical Layer: concerned with the transmission of raw data bits over the communication lines
  2. Data Link Layer: provides error-free transfer of data frames between two nodes on the same network
  3. Network Layer: manages device addressing, tracks the location of devices on the network, and determines the best way to move data from one node to another
  4. Transport Layer: provides end-to-end data transport services and establishes a logical connection between the sending host and destination host on an internetwork
  5. Session Layer: establishes, manages, and terminates connections between applications
  6. Presentation Layer: converts data into a format that can be understood by the receiving device
  7. Application Layer: provides services to end-user applications

Test your knowledge of the TCP/IP standard and its various protocols, including TCP, UDP, IP, ICMP, and DHCP.