Summary
This chapter shows how data moves through the global Internet from one specific process on the source computer to a single cooperating process on the other side of the world. TCP/IP uses globally unique addresses to identify any computer in the world. It uses protocol numbers and port numbers to uniquely identify a single process running on that computer.
Routing directs the datagrams destined for a remote process through the maze of the global network. Routing uses part of the IP address to identify the destination network. Every system maintains a routing table that describes how to reach remote networks. The routing table usually contains a default route that is used if the table does not contain a specific route to the remote network. A route only identifies the next computer along the path to the destination. TCP/IP uses hop-by-hop routing to move datagrams one step closer to the destination until the datagram finally reaches the destination network.
Routes are disseminated through the network by routing protocols. Routing protocols collect routing information, select the best route to a destination, and use that information to build the routing table. Interior routing protocols provide routing information to gateways within an autonomous system. Exterior routing protocols pass routing information between autonomous systems. Windows NT systems generally do not run routing protocols. But when they do, they run interior routing protocols. The two most popular interior ...
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