Network protocol: what is it, what is it for and what is its importance in computing?

In communications between computers, there are what are called computer networks. These are the ones that allow each of the processes in a network to be executed in an orderly fashion, allowing the exchange of information between computer systems.

The world of network protocols is really interesting, because learning from it involves getting your hands dirty with the most essential concepts of digital communication at the technical level of course.

In this article, we are going to teach you the most important things about network protocols, so that you can use it to study for your high school exam, or just to expand your knowledge about it. So pay attention and save this entry as a favorite .

What is a network protocol and what is it used for in a computer system?

A network protocol is a set of standards set in a computer system that dictates guidelines to be observed in order to achieve effective communication between the nodes that make up said system. It is in a way the rules of the road for the information which circulates in the form of bits from one computer to another.

This is very important, because without them the information that is transmitted would not be verified, which would not guarantee that it arrives without errors. So it becomes something like a means of communication; full of speculative information and dubious providence . But most importantly, the commands in it would be improperly applied, leading to a complete collapse of the applications that run them.

In a way, protocols are like monitors: a quality control filter for data transmitted over the network. Thanks to them, perfect harmony can be achieved throughout the computer system , in which everything works as it should.

What are the main existing network protocols in IT?

In the same computer network there is a huge amount of protocols, naming them all would get us here much more than an article. But the most important and well-known will be named below:

internet protocol

Perhaps the most famous. It is an unreliable data transport protocol. What it does is send data packets (datagrams) from one point of origin to another of destination. , being limited to that and not guaranteeing that the packages are delivered.

This very basic concept is the basis of Internet communications. Since it establishes an address for your computer (IP address) and gives it the ability to send data (download) and receive them (download) . There are two known versions of this protocol, IPv4 and IPv6, and the main difference between them is the number of addresses it can assign.

ARP

Less known but very important. It works in conjunction with version 4 of the Internet Protocol, and it takes care of assigning IPv4 addresses to the corresponding computers. It's a simple task, but it makes things a lot easier. Its initials correspond to the address resolution protocol or the address resolution protocol. .

However, one of its weaknesses is that it does not verify that the addresses it assigns are correct, which leaves room for errors.

ND protocol

This protocol has exactly the same function as the previous one, but in this case it is responsible for assigning IPv6 addresses. In this way, it allows a computer to join the local network , being a link for datagrams to access it.

ICMP

It is another protocol that works in conjunction with the Internet Protocol. It is known as Internet Message Control Protocol or Internet Control Message Protocol, and it is responsible for sending notifications and error messages , reports of scenarios such as the host cannot be located or that a service is no longer available at the time of its request.

TCP

This protocol is mounted on top of IP, which often causes the two to be known as TCP / IP. This has exactly the same function, since what it is responsible for is to transport data from one point to another, with the difference that in each data it adds a checksum or sum de control to guarantee the reliability of the data transmitted.

Its initials correspond to the transmission control protocol or the transmission control protocol.

UDP

This is a protocol very similar to the previous one, but it is responsible for transmitting data in the local networks of the same user, without depending on an Internet connection. Like IP, it does not guarantee that data will be received, but this in turn speeds up communications over the network.

What is the OSI classification? What are all the layers that make up this communication protocol?

In the world of network protocols, there is a reference model known as the OSI classification, which is a standard created by the World Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the 80s, which determines a basic scheme on which the different must be regulated. existing protocols. This is not the only one, IBM has also created its own System Network Architecture (SNA), but OSI is still the most popular .

This model consists of 7 layers with different functions that allow communication in a network to be 100% efficient. The user only interacts with 2 of them: the first and the last respectively, since the others occur at the system level.

Here we present each of them:

Layer 1 (physical level)

The physical layer is the one that is worth the redundancy, it is made up of all the physical elements of the network, from machines or computers to cables and routers . It also encompasses the concept of network topology, which is nothing more than how a network is structured to facilitate communications.

This is the layer with which the user has the most interaction , and it is even said that it is the only one since the seventh layer, the application layer, is not executed by it but by software that it uses in this first physical layer.

Layer 2 (tie layer)

Known as the data link layer. It works between the physical components and the network (layer 3). It is in charge of processing, checking and confirming data sent at level 1 of the OSI model. , and then send them to level 3, where the process of sending and receiving information between computers really begins.

This layer is essential because it this is a filter to ensure that the data entering the network is correct , because the network layer protocols, in most cases, will not be able to do this because it would reduce the smoothness of the transport of the se.

Layer 3 (network layer)

This layer is where most of the protocols mentioned above coexist. It is responsible for sending the data from an origin to its destination whether the two points are directly connected or there is a device "intermediate" between them.

The most important element of this is the Internet protocol (IP) which we already explained in the previous point, and it works in conjunction with hundreds of other protocols.

Layer 4 (transport level)

It is often confused with the previous one, because it has almost the same function when transporting data from one IP address to another within a network with or without connection Internet . To do this, it uses the TCP (with connection) and UDP (without connection) protocols, which work over the Internet or IP protocol. This makes the data independent of the network layer, to make its transmission from source to destination much faster.

Layer 5 (session level)

Whenever an exchange of information between computers is initiated, what is called a "session" is opened. This level is responsible for keeping the session open while the data exchange takes place. , otherwise it could not be terminated and communication over the network would be totally impossible.

It is also capable of resuming a session in the event of an unexpected interruption, recovering it from the exact point where it was interrupted.

Layer 6 (presentation level)

It is one of the most important layers. All data or datagrams traveling in a network are simple binary numbers, impossible for a normal person to understand. What is done at this level is that this data is interpreted and rewritten so that applications and users can understand it.

Basically, this is what allows you to see an image you download while browsing the Internet, despite the fact that for the network it was a handful of zeros and ones. It is basically a data translator .

Layer 7 (application level)

Finally, there is the application level, which allows programs to use the information generated on the network for later execution.

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