The TCP/IP Protocol Stack
Before I examine each layer of TCP/IP, I should cover a few basic concepts. Protocols are standardized methods of communication. Think of them as languages such as English or Spanish. If you are not speaking the same language, you cannot communicate.
The term TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) actually refers to a whole family of protocols, of which TCP and IP are just two. Table 7.1 shows the TCP/IP layers and what tasks are accomplished at each layer. In practice, the distinctions between these layers are frequently blurred.
| Architecture Layer | Function |
|---|---|
| Application | Where users typically interact with the network; provides applications the ability to access the ... |
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