TCP/IP Terminology

TCP/IP Terminology

The Internet standards use a specific set of terms when referring to network elements and concepts related to TCP/IP networking. These terms provide a foundation for subsequent chapters. Figure 1-1 illustrates the components of an IP network.

Figure 1-1  Elements of an IP network

Common terms and concepts in TCP/IP are defined as follows:

• Node  Any device, including routers and hosts, which runs an implementation of IP.
• Router  A node that can forward IP packets not explicitly addressed to itself. On an IPv6 network, a router also typically advertises its presence and host configuration information.
• Host  A node that cannot forward IP packets not explicitly addressed to itself (a non-router). A host is typically the source and the destination of IP traffic. A host silently discards traffic that it receives but that is not explicitly addressed to itself.
• Upper-layer protocol A protocol above IP that uses IP as its transport. Examples include Internet layer protocols such as the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) and Transport layer protocols such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP). (However, Application layer protocols that use TCP and UDP as their transports are not considered upper-layer protocols. File Transfer Protocol [FTP] and Domain Name System [DNS] fall into this category). For details of the layers of the TCP/IP protocol suite, see Chapter 2, "Architectural Overview of the TCP/IP Protocol Suite."
• LAN segment  A portion of a subnet consisting of a single medium that is bounded by bridges or Layer 2 switches.
• Subnet  One or more LAN segments that are bounded by routers and use the same IP address prefix. Other terms for subnet are network segment and link.
• Network  Two or more subnets connected by routers. Another term for network is internetwork.
• Neighbor  A node connected to the same subnet as another node.
• Interface  The representation of a physical or logical attachment of a node to a subnet. An example of a physical interface is a network adapter. An example of a logical interface is a tunnel interface that is used to send IPv6 packets across an IPv4 network.
• Address  An identifier that can be used as the source or destination of IP packets and that is assigned at the Internet layer to an interface or set of interfaces.
• Packet  The protocol data unit (PDU) that exists at the Internet layer and comprises an IP header and payload.

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TCP/IP Components in Windows

Table 1-3 lists the advantages of the TCP/IP protocol suite and the inclusion of TCP/IP components in Windows.

Advantages of the TCP/IP protocol suite	Advantages of TCP/IP components in Windows
A standard, routable enterprise networking protocol that is the most complete and accepted protocol available. All modern operating systems support TCP/IP, and most large private networks rely on TCP/IP for much of their traffic.	TCP/IP components in Windows enable enterprise networking and connectivity for Windows and non-Windows–based computers.
A technology for connecting dissimilar systems. Many TCP/IP application protocols were designed to access and transfer data between dissimilar systems. These protocols include HTTP, FTP, and Telnet.	TCP/IP components in Windows allow standards-based connectivity to other operating system platforms.
A robust, scaleable, cross-platform client/server framework.	TCP/IP components in Windows support the Windows Sockets application programming interface, which developers use to create client/server applications.
A method of gaining access to the Internet.	Windows-based computers are Internet-ready.

Table 1-3  Advantages of the TCP/IP protocol suite and TCP/IP components in Windows
Windows includes both an IPv4-based and an IPv6-based TCP/IP component.


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