Networks Are The Engine Of The Internet, But None Of Them Would Work Without Protocols.
Protocols and related services allow networks to communicate with each other and create a larger entity called the Internet.
This is why without network protocols, the Internet would not exist.
Standard network protocols, including Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP), enable the exchange of information across the Internet and play a key role in improving things. For network professionals, knowing and understanding network protocols is essential. n a situation where many users don’t even know much about their existence or how they work. This article will review 12 standard network protocols that all network engineers should know. This topic includes the main functions of protocols and the importance of these shared network protocols.
Familiarity with 12 standard and widely used network protocols
Address Resolution Protocol
To properly communicate these devices with each other, the address translation process must be done correctly. It translates IP addresses to Media Access Control (MAC) addresses and vice versa so that endpoints on a local area network (LAN) can communicate with each other. Having an ARP protocol in the network is necessary because the lengths of IP and MAC addresses are different. Version 4 IP addresses are 32-bit, while the IPv6 protocol uses 128-bit addresses, and MAC addresses are 12 hexadecimal digits divided into six pairs, which are the physical hardware number of the device.
It should be noted that ARP is not required whenever network devices try to communicate with each other because the LAN host stores the translated addresses in its ARP cache, so this process is mainly used when new devices join the network.
Border Gateway Protocol
The BGP protocol makes the Internet work. This routing protocol controls how packets pass through routers in an autonomous system – one or more networks implemented by a single organization or provider and connecting to different networks. BGP can connect endpoints on a LAN and different LANs across the Internet.
External BGP directs network traffic from different autonomous systems to the Internet and vice versa. In addition, BGP internally runs network traffic between endpoints in an independent system.
Domain name system
A database that contains the domain name of a website and the IP addresses of devices used to locate websites so that users can access websites over the most accessible network. The domain name system is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses. It is necessary to explain that these translations are included in the domain name system. Servers can store domain name system data needed to access websites. In addition, the domain name system consists of the DNS protocol, which resides in the IP pool and describes the specifications that the domain name system uses to translate and communicate.
The domain name system is essential because it can quickly provide information to users and access remote hosts and resources across the Internet.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
The DHCP protocol assigns IP addresses to network endpoints so that they can communicate with other network endpoints via IP. Whenever a device joins a network with a DHCP server, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol automatically assigns it a new IP address. When the device’s location on the network changes, it is automatically assigned a new address. assigns
A dynamic host configuration protocol handshake occurs when a device connects to a network. When a device connects to a network, a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol handover process occurs, where the device and the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server communicate. It is in this mode that the device can share with the network. In this case, the device receives the IP address from the server. More precisely, the device requests an IP address, and the server provides it with a unique address.
File Transfer Protocol
FTP over TCP/IP implements a set of communication protocols that require a command and data channels to communicate and exchange files. The FTP protocol is a client-server protocol in which a client requests a file, and the server sends it. Clients request files through the command channel and download, edit, and copy files through the access data channel.
As most systems have started using HTTP for file sharing, FTP has become less popular. However, FTP is a popular network protocol for more private file sharing by industries and institutions such as banks.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Like the FTP protocol, the HTTP protocol is a file-sharing protocol that runs over TCP/IP. However, HTTP primarily works on web browsers and is usually recognizable to most users. When a user enters a website domain and intends to access it, HTTP provides access. HTTP connects to the domain server and requests the site’s HTML, which is the code that contains the structured design of a page, and sends it to the user’s browser as is.
Another HTTP protocol is HTTPS protocol, which stands for HTTP over Secure Sockets Layer or HTTP Secure. HTTPS can encrypt HTTP requests and user web pages. This provides more security for users and can prevent common cyber security threats such as man-in-the-middle attacks.
Internet Protocol
The IP protocol has a function similar to the postal service. When users send and receive data from their devices, the data is split into packets, like letters, with two IP addresses: one for the sender and one for the receiver. After the package leaves the sender’s system, it goes to a gate, like a post office, that directs it to the right path. Packets continue to move through gateways until they reach their destination.
IP is usually paired with TCP to form TCP/IP and the Internet protocol suite. IP is responsible for sending packets to the destination, and TCP is responsible for ordering the boxes at the destination. َد IP sometimes sends packets out of order to ensure the packages take the fastest route.
Open Shortest Path First
The OSPF protocol cooperates with IP in sending packets to the destination. The goal of IP is to send packets through the fastest possible path, which is what OSPF was designed to do. OSPF opens the shortest or quickest way for boxes first. It also updates routing tables—the rules that control where containers move—and alerts routers to routing tables or network changes when they change.
OSPF is similar to and supports Routing Information Protocol – which routes traffic based on the number of hops it must travel along a path. Additionally, it has replaced RIP in many networks. OSPF was developed as a simpler and more scalable alternative to RIP. For example, RIP sends updated routing tables every 30 seconds, while OSPF sends updates only when necessary and updates only the part of the table where a change has occurred. to give
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
The SMTP protocol is the most popular one, is part of the TCP/IP suite, and controls how email clients send user messages. Email servers use SMTP to send email messages from the client to the email server and the recipient. However, SMTP does not control how email clients receive messages—it only controls how they send messages.
SMTP requires other protocols to ensure email messages are sent and received correctly. SMTP can work with the Post Office Protocol 3 or Internet Message Access Protocol, which controls how the email server receives email messages.
remote network (Telnet)
The Telnet protocol is designed for remote connectivity and enables a remote session between a remote endpoint and a host machine. Telnet prompts the user on the remote endpoint to log in and, after authentication, allows the endpoint to access network resources and data on the host computer.
Telnet has been around since the 1960s and was arguably the first draft of the modern Internet. However, Telnet lacks the sophisticated security protections required for everyday communications and technology, so it is no longer used.
Transmission Control Protocol
The TCP protocol is the other half of TCP/IP and sorts packets so that IP can deliver them. In particular, TCP numbers individual packets because IP can send packets through different paths to their destination and drought them, so TCP corrects this before IP delivers the packages.
Additionally, TCP detects errors in the forwarding process—including if packets are missing based on TCP’s numbering system—and requires IP to forward those packets before IP delivers the data to its destination. Through this process, the TCP/IP suite controls communications across the Internet.
User Datagram Protocol
The UDP protocol is an alternative to TCP and works with IP to transfer time-sensitive data. UDP enables low-latency data transfer between Internet applications, so this protocol is a good choice for voice-over IP or other audio and video applications. Unlike TCP, the UDP protocol does not wait for all packets to arrive or organize boxes. Instead, UDP forwards all packets even if some have not come.
UDP only sends packets, while TCP handles sending, organizing, and ensuring parcels arrive. While UDP is faster than TCP, it is less reliable.
last word
TCP/IP is the essential protocol that, as a network expert, you should have complete information about. In this article, we tried to introduce you to 12 of the most widely used network protocols. Each of these protocols contains a lot of information that we suggest, spend some time and carefully review the details related to them to succeed in your work.