Network Protocols

           A network protocol is "an agreement on how to converse". The four most commonly used network protocols are TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, X.25 and SNA. Each protocol performs essentially the same functions, but each protocol is incompatible with other unless there is a special device to translate between them.

TCP/IP Network Addressing

              TCP/IP protocol uses 3 different types of addressing to move data between computers: Physical, Logical and Port addresses. The physical addresses (MAC addresses) are utilized to move data within a single LAN, logical addresses (IP addresses) are used to move data from one LAN to another LAN across the network and the port address is used to transmit data to the intended application.

              MAC addresses burned into hardware. IP address is a 32-bit value. This means that there are fore billion different IP address possibilities. IP addresses may be sent in software and are thus flexible. An IP address contains the address of the device itself as well as the address of the network on which the device is located. Therefore, if a device is moved from one network to a different network, the IP address of the device must be changed. IP addresses are hierarchical addresses like phone numbers and zip codes. They provide a better way to organize computer addresses like social security numbers. 

              The International Network Information Center (InterNIC) assigns to companies blocks of IP addresses based on the size of their networks.

How to Determine Your IP Address?

                                                     Go to the Start menu and select Run... Then type "cmd" in the box and click OK. Then type "ipconfig" in the command prompt and press Enter.

Posted in: Communications, Network Components