Assignment 2.4 – TCPIP Concepts
The underlying communications software is important to support the distributed applications and data network communication, and to reliably exchange data the protocol architecture is required. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is one such architecture that is the internet-based standard and is a framework for developing a complete range of computer communications standards (Stallings, 2009). A reliable connection is provided by TCP/IP for the transmission of data between applications. The source for the TCP/IP is Internet Protocol (IP) and due to the shortage of IP addresses under IPv4, the IPv6 was recommended. To get more addresses you need more bits, which mean a longer IP address, which means a new architecture, which means changes to all of the TCP/IP routing software (“TCP/IP Internet Protocol”, 2011).
The independence of the applications is accomplished with the help of low-level Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) that is used to map internet addresses with physical addresses. IBM created the Systems Network Architecture (SNA) though it still supports TCP/IP. SNA provides network services that simplify the design, implementation, and operation of distributed processing applications (Gray, Mcneill, 1979). The responsibility of the TCP/IP in the transport layer is to transfer data without errors. The Transport layer provides flow control and error handling, and participates in solving problems concerned with the transmission and reception of packets (“Heuristic”, n.d). In the five conceptual layers of the internet protocol the IP is the 3rd layer and the TCP is at layer 4. When the messages are sent over TCP the applications provide a means of differentiating them from each other, therefore TCP/IP guarantees that all data sent is checked for reception, data integrity, and then retransmitted when needed (Kozierok, 2005).
References
Gary, J.P., McNeill, T. B., (1979). Computing & Processing (Hardware/Software). SNA multiple-system networking, 18(2), IBM Systems Journal, 263-297.
Heuristic. (2010). Scottish Qualifications Authority: 1b: Principles of Data Communications: Basic Concepts and Terminology, Retrieved September 09, 2010, from http://www.sqa.org.uk/e-learning/NetTechDC01BCD/page_29.htm
Stallings, William., (2009). Business Data Communications. (6th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
TCP/IP Internet Protocol. (2011). Retrieved April 10, 2011, from http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii_tcpip.htm
Kozierok, Charles M (2005), TCP Characteristics: How it does what it does, Retrieved September 20, 2005 from http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_TCPCharacteristicsHowTCPDoesWhatItDoes. htm
