Chapter 1 Assignment - Learn and Blog about Protocols

HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol

HTTP’s function is to collect and transmit messages. It is used when you type in a URL in a browser it collects and transmits the request to the Web server.

SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

SMTP’s function is to send e-mails between servers. It is usually used when one is sending e-mails from a mail client to a mail server.

RTP: Real-Time Transfer Protocol

RTP’s function is to transmit real-time data between servers (ex. video, audio). It is used most commonly in Internet telephony applications.

DNS: Domain Name Servers

DNS’s function is to translate domain names into IP addresses. The DNS system is its own network, so when you have a certain website it gets translated by the DNS service into an IP address.

TCP: Transmission Control Protocol

TCP’s function is to create a connection between two hosts and interchange streams of data. It is used in Web browsers to email and send files from one location to another.

UDP: User Datagram Protocol

UDP’s function is to exchange messages between computers in a network. It is an alterative to the TCP. It is used mainly for broadcasting messages over a network.

IP: Internet Protocol

IP’s function is similar to as a postal system. It allows one to send it to the system and drop it off in the system with no connection to the sending host. When combined with TCP/IP, it can allow one to send messages from one host to another directly. It is used as the primary protocol in the Internet layer, which delivers packets to form an IP address.

ICMP: Internet Control Message Protocol

ICMP is an extension to the IP and its function is to provide support to the packets containing error, control and informational messages. ICMP is used in the ping command to test an Internet Connection.

DSL: Digital Subscriber Line

DSL’s function is to provide Internet access by transferring digital data over wires of a local telephone network. It is used to create a faster connection.

SONET: Synchronous Optical Networking

SONET’s function is to create a standard for connecting fiber-optic transmission systems. It is used so that digital networks can interconnect internationally.

*References used are Wikipedia and Webopedia.