What is TCP/IP?
TCP/IP is actually two layered networking protocols: TCP and IP. IP stands for Internet Protocol and, as the name implies, is the protocol used by the Internet. TCP, the Transmission Control Protocol, runs on top of IP and handles the sending of data between the machine and the network. IP can also run on top of PPP for dial in access (in which case it would be TCP/PPP), but is still commonly referred to as TCP/IP. You have probably used TCP/IP before and not been aware of it. Applications such as FTP (the File Transfer Protocol) and Telnet use TCP/IP, although it is user-transparent. You might also be familiar with the Domain Name System (DNS) or Network File System (NFS); these, too, work over IP, using UDP instead of TCP.
TCP is a reliable stream protocol. This means packets are guaranteed to have been received correctly and in proper order. UDP, on the other hand, simply sends packets. The software using UDP must make sure that the data gets to its destination intact.
One of the main advantages TCP/IP has over other networking protocols is its interconnectivity. It was designed to be used with almost any type of cabling; for example, fiber optic, twisted pair, coaxial cable, or even wireless networks are possible. Additionally, it can be used by any networking topologies, including Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI. This makes it possible to use TCP/IP in practically any networking environment.
TCP/IP is also machine-independent. UNIX machines can talk to other computers, printers or network devices, just as long as they all understand TCP/IP. The other machine doesn't need to be using the same OS and it needn't be the same type. This has helped to make TCP/IP one of the most popular networking choices around.
TCP/IP is an open networking protocol which has allowed many vendors to develop applications and systems that incorporate TCP/IP in them. UNIX vendors have been incorporating TCP/IP for years and it is hard to find a UNIX machine without it. It is not, however, as common on the Macintosh or PC platform, and additional software may be required to set it up. Windows 95, Windows NT, and Macintosh System 7.5 all include TCP/IP networking without third-party applications.
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