TCP/IP Overview

• Named after the two most commonly used protocols in the Internet Protocol Suite - Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol.

• The most common networking protocol suite used today. The Internet is built using TCP/IP.

• Specifies the language two computers use to communicate with each other, over various networks and internetworks.

• Invented by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn.

• Specified in documents called Request for Comments (RFCs)

• Originally implemented on Unix - as Unix became popular, particularly in the university environment, so did TCP/IP. Now implemented on multiple other platforms such as Windows 95, Windows NT, OS/2, Novell Netware, Macintosh etc. etc.

• Defines a layered model, grouping common networking tasks into the same layer. Each layer uses the services provided by the layer below, and provides services to the layer above.

• Defines a number of protocols, which implement the tasks specified in each layer.