How to Understand TCP/IP

TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Although these words may be daunting, TCP/IP is nothing more than a language that computers use to communicate with each other over the Internet. The TCP/IP system functions in two layers: TCP and IP. To get an idea of how this works, review the following description of a typical TCP/IP transfer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet Access

1. Understand that when you send information (such as a file) over the Internet, the higher level, TCP, translates the information into small packets that can be sent easily from one computer to another. Each packet is labeled with its destination address, as well as the order it should go in when the packets are reassembled into one file.
2. Recognize that once the information has been properly bundled, the lower level, IP, locates the target IP address and sends the packets over the Internet to the target computer.
3. Realize that the IP layer of the target computer receives the packets and transfers them to the target computer's TCP layer, which assembles the packets back into information that the user can understand.

Tips & Warnings

• To access the Internet, your computer needs to understand TCP/IP. If you have Windows 95 or later, or Mac OS 7.5 or later, TCP/IP is included in your system software.
• When you set up your computer to use the Internet, you might use a TCP/IP control panel or control panel section. Your ISP will need to tell you what settings to use in these control panels; the settings vary greatly from ISP to ISP. (Some ISPs will make the settings for you automatically if you use your modem to set up your account.)
• TCP/IP wasn't created to work over serial lines, such as your telephone line. PPP, or the Point-to-Point protocol, is one way of translating TCP/IP over a modem connection. Typically, your computer will connect to your ISP via PPP, and then connect from your ISP's computers via TCP/IP.
• The above description is very general. To fully understand the finer points of TCP/IP, further research is suggested.

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