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Network Basics for IT Staff

An intranet is a private network for an organization's staff, enhancing internal communication and collaboration while securing access to resources. Bridges connect segments of the same network, while routers connect different networks, directing data between them. ARP and RARP are protocols for resolving IP and MAC addresses, and IP addressing identifies devices on a network with unique addresses, categorized into public, private, static, and dynamic types.

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Yash Sachdev
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
10 views26 pages

Network Basics for IT Staff

An intranet is a private network for an organization's staff, enhancing internal communication and collaboration while securing access to resources. Bridges connect segments of the same network, while routers connect different networks, directing data between them. ARP and RARP are protocols for resolving IP and MAC addresses, and IP addressing identifies devices on a network with unique addresses, categorized into public, private, static, and dynamic types.

Uploaded by

Yash Sachdev
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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intranet

An intranet is a private network accessible only to an


organization’s staff. It facilitates internal communication,
collaboration, and information sharing through features like
document management systems, internal websites, and
messaging platforms. Typically secured by firewalls, an intranet
enables employees to access company resources, policies, and
tools efficiently. It enhances productivity by streamlining
workflows and centralizing information, reducing the reliance
on external resources. Additionally, it fosters a sense of
community among employees, offering forums and social
networking features. Overall, an intranet is crucial for
improving organizational cohesion and ensuring that everyone
stays informed and connected.
bridges and routers in 100 words in layman language
Bridges and routers are devices that help connect different
parts of a network. A bridge connects two or more segments of
the same network, allowing them to communicate as if they
were one. It helps reduce traffic and improve performance by
filtering data.
A router, on the other hand, connects different networks, like
your home network to the internet. It directs data between
these networks, ensuring that information reaches the right
destination. While bridges work within a single network, routers
handle communication between multiple networks, making
them essential for internet access and data sharing across
different locations.
arp and rarp in short
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is a network protocol
used to find the physical (MAC) address of a device from its IP
address within a local network. When a device wants to
communicate with another device, it uses ARP to discover the
MAC address associated with the target IP address.
RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol), on the other
hand, is used to determine an IP address from a known MAC
address. This is useful for devices that don’t have a way to
store their IP address, allowing them to request their IP from a
server based on their MAC address.
In summary, ARP translates IP to MAC, while RARP does the
reverse.
how it works
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) works as follows:
1. Request: When a device (let's call it Device A) wants to
send data to another device (Device B) on the same local
network, it checks its ARP cache to see if it already knows
the MAC address corresponding to Device B’s IP address. If
it doesn’t, Device A broadcasts an ARP request to all
devices on the network, asking, "Who has IP address
X.X.X.X?"
2. Response: All devices receive this broadcast, but only
Device B (the one with the matching IP address) responds
with an ARP reply, providing its MAC address.
3. Caching: Device A receives the reply and stores the MAC
address in its ARP cache for future use, allowing for faster
communication in subsequent exchanges.

RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) works like


this:
1. Request: A device (like a diskless workstation) knows its
MAC address but not its IP address. It sends out a RARP
request, essentially saying, "What is my IP address?"
2. Response: A RARP server on the network receives this
request, checks its database for the MAC address, and
responds with the corresponding IP address.
3. Configuration: The device receives the IP address and
can then configure itself to participate in the network.
ip addressing
IP addressing is a method used to identify devices on a
network. Each device connected to a network is assigned a
unique IP address, which allows it to communicate with other
devices. Here are the key aspects:
1. Types of IP Addresses
 IPv4: The most common format, consisting of four sets of
numbers (0-255) separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
This format allows for about 4.3 billion unique addresses.
 IPv6: A newer format designed to replace IPv4 due to
address exhaustion. It consists of eight groups of
hexadecimal numbers separated by colons (e.g.,
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334), allowing for
an almost infinite number of addresses.
2. Public vs. Private IP Addresses
 Public IP Addresses: Assigned by Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) and can be accessed over the internet.
Each public IP must be unique across the entire internet.
 Private IP Addresses: Used within local networks and
not routable on the internet. Common private IP ranges
include:
o 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
o 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
o 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255
3. Subnetting
Subnetting divides a large network into smaller, more
manageable sub-networks (subnets). This helps improve
performance and security. Each subnet has a specific range of
IP addresses.
4. Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses
 Static IP Addresses: Permanently assigned to a device,
ensuring it always has the same address. Useful for
servers and devices that need consistent access.
 Dynamic IP Addresses: Temporarily assigned by a DHCP
(Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. Most
devices on home networks typically receive dynamic IPs.
5. CIDR Notation
Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) notation is a method for
specifying IP addresses and their associated network masks
(e.g., 192.168.1.0/24). The number after the slash indicates the
number of bits used for the network portion.

ip datagram format and its delivery


An IP datagram is the fundamental unit of data used in the
Internet Protocol (IP) for transmitting data across networks. It
consists of a header and a payload. Here’s a breakdown of its
format and delivery process:
IP Datagram Format
1. Header: Contains crucial information for routing and
delivering the datagram. Key fields include:
o Version: Indicates the IP version (IPv4 or IPv6).
o Header Length: Specifies the length of the header.
o Type of Service (ToS): Indicates the quality of
service parameters.
o Total Length: The entire length of the datagram
(header + payload).
o Identification: A unique identifier for the datagram,
used for fragmentation.
o Flags: Control and manage fragmentation.
o Fragment Offset: Indicates the position of the
fragment in the original datagram.
o Time to Live (TTL): Limits the datagram's lifespan
to prevent infinite loops.
o Protocol: Specifies the transport layer protocol (e.g.,
TCP, UDP).
o Header Checksum: A checksum for error-checking
the header.
o Source IP Address: The IP address of the sender.
o Destination IP Address: The IP address of the
intended recipient.
2. Payload: The actual data being transmitted, which can
vary in size, depending on the total length and header
size.
Delivery Process
1. Source Device: The sending device creates an IP
datagram, fills in the appropriate header fields, and sends
it to the network.
2. Routing: Routers examine the destination IP address in
the header to determine the best path through the
network. Each router makes a forwarding decision based
on its routing table.
3. Fragmentation: If the datagram is too large to be
transmitted over a network segment (based on the
Maximum Transmission Unit or MTU), it may be
fragmented into smaller pieces. Each fragment is sent
separately and contains its own IP header.
4. Transmission: The datagram is encapsulated in a data
link layer frame (e.g., Ethernet) and transmitted over the
physical network.
5. Receiving Device: Upon reaching the destination, the
receiving device processes the datagram. If the datagram
was fragmented, it reassembles the fragments based on
the information in the headers.
6. Protocol Handling: The device checks the protocol field
to determine how to process the payload (e.g., hand it off
to TCP or UDP).
7. Delivery to Application: Finally, the data is delivered to
the appropriate application or service on the receiving
device.
This entire process enables efficient and reliable
communication across diverse networks, allowing devices to
exchange data seamlessly.
routing table format
A routing table is a data structure used by routers to determine
the best path for forwarding packets to their destination. Here’s
a general format of a routing table, with the key fields
explained:
Routing Table Format
Destinatio Subnet Interfac Metri Route
Next Hop
n Network Mask e c Type
192.168.1. 255.255.25 Directly
192.168.1.1 eth0 1
0 5.0 Connected
10.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 10.1.1.1 eth1 10 Static
192.168.1.2
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 eth0 20 Default
54
Key Fields Explained
1. Destination Network: The IP address of the destination
network or host. This identifies where the packet is
intended to go.
2. Subnet Mask: Defines the size of the subnet. It helps the
router determine which part of the IP address refers to the
network and which part refers to the host.
3. Next Hop: The IP address of the next router or device
that will receive the packet on its way to the destination. If
the destination is directly connected, this may be the
same as the destination IP.
4. Interface: The specific network interface (e.g., eth0,
wlan0) on the router through which the packet should be
sent.
5. Metric: A value that indicates the cost of reaching the
destination. Lower values are preferred; this can reflect
hop count, latency, or other criteria.
6. Route Type: Specifies how the route was learned.
Common types include:
o Directly Connected: Routes to networks that are
directly attached to the router.
o Static: Manually configured routes.
o Dynamic: Routes learned through dynamic routing
protocols (e.g., RIP, OSPF, BGP).
Additional Considerations
 Administrative Distance: This value (not shown in the
basic table) represents the trustworthiness of a route.
Lower values are preferred over higher ones.
 Route Status: Some tables may include a status
indicator to show whether the route is active or down.

Icmp dnat nat firewalls


ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol)
ICMP is a network layer protocol used for diagnostic and control
purposes. It helps manage and control the behavior of network
devices. Key functions include:
 Error Reporting: ICMP sends messages about errors in
data processing (e.g., "Destination Unreachable").
 Echo Requests/Replies: Used in tools like ping to test
connectivity between devices by sending an echo request
and waiting for a reply.
 Route Discovery: Helps determine the best path for data
packets.
NAT (Network Address Translation)
NAT is a technique used to translate private IP addresses into
public IP addresses and vice versa. It serves several purposes:
 Conservation of IP Addresses: Allows multiple devices
on a private network to share a single public IP address.
 Security: Hides internal IP addresses from the outside
world, making it harder for attackers to target specific
devices.
 Types of NAT:
o Static NAT: Maps a single private IP to a single
public IP.
o Dynamic NAT: Maps a private IP to any available
public IP from a pool.
o PAT (Port Address Translation): A form of
dynamic NAT that allows multiple devices to share a
single public IP by differentiating them using port
numbers.
DNAT (Destination Network Address Translation)
DNAT is a specific type of NAT that modifies the destination
address of incoming packets. It is commonly used in scenarios
like:
 Port Forwarding: Redirecting traffic from a public IP and
port to a private IP and port within a local network.
 Load Balancing: Distributing incoming requests across
multiple servers.
Firewalls
Firewalls are security devices or software that monitor and
control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on
predetermined security rules. They help protect networks by:
 Packet Filtering: Examining packets and allowing or
blocking them based on source/destination IP addresses,
ports, and protocols.
 Stateful Inspection: Tracking active connections and
making decisions based on the state of the traffic.
 Proxy Services: Acting as intermediaries between users
and the internet, inspecting traffic at a higher level.
 Application Layer Filtering: Monitoring and filtering
traffic based on applications (e.g., blocking certain
websites).
icmp messages in short
ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) messages are used
for diagnostic and control purposes in a network. Here’s a brief
overview of common ICMP message types:
Common ICMP Messages
1. Echo Request (Type 8): Used by the ping command to
check the reachability of a host. It sends a request for an
echo reply.
2. Echo Reply (Type 0): Sent in response to an Echo
Request, confirming that the host is reachable.
3. Destination Unreachable (Type 3): Indicates that a
packet could not reach its destination. This can include
reasons like network unreachable, host unreachable,
protocol unreachable, or port unreachable.
4. Time Exceeded (Type 11): Sent when a packet's TTL
(Time to Live) reaches zero, indicating that the packet has
been dropped because it took too long to reach its
destination.
5. Redirect (Type 5): Informs a host to send packets to a
different router for more efficient routing.
6. Parameter Problem (Type 12): Indicates an issue with
the header of a packet, such as a missing or incorrect
field.
subnetting supernetting cidr dns
Subnetting
Subnetting is the process of dividing a larger IP network into
smaller, manageable sub-networks (subnets). This enhances
network organization, security, and efficiency. Key aspects
include:
 Subnet Mask: Determines the size of the subnet and
which part of the IP address is the network and which part
is the host.
 Benefits:
o Improved network performance and management.
o Enhanced security by isolating segments of the
network.
o Efficient IP address utilization.
Supernetting
Supernetting is the reverse of subnetting, where multiple
contiguous networks are combined into a single, larger
network. This is often used to simplify routing tables and
optimize address allocation. Key points include:
 CIDR: Supernetting is typically implemented using
Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) to aggregate IP
addresses.
 Example: Combining several /24 networks into a single
/22 network.
CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing)
CIDR is a method for allocating IP addresses and IP routing that
improves efficiency. It replaces the traditional class-based
system with a more flexible approach:
 Notation: Uses a format like 192.168.0.0/24, where the
/24 indicates the number of bits used for the network
portion.
 Benefits:
o Reduces waste of IP addresses by allowing for
variable-length subnet masks (VLSM).
o Simplifies routing tables by allowing route
aggregation (supernetting).
DNS (Domain Name System)
DNS is a hierarchical system that translates human-readable
domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses (like
192.0.2.1), allowing users to access websites without
remembering numerical addresses. Key components include:
 DNS Records:
o A Record: Maps a domain to an IPv4 address.
o AAAA Record: Maps a domain to an IPv6 address.
o CNAME Record: Alias for another domain name.
o MX Record: Specifies mail servers for the domain.
 DNS Resolution: The process of translating a domain
name into its corresponding IP address through a series of
queries to DNS servers.
vlans concept and types
VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks)
Concept: A VLAN is a logical grouping of devices on a network
that allows them to communicate as if they were on the same
physical network, regardless of their actual physical location.
VLANs improve network management, enhance security, and
optimize performance by segmenting broadcast domains.
Benefits of VLANs:
 Improved Security: By separating sensitive data traffic
from general traffic, VLANs reduce the risk of unauthorized
access.
 Better Performance: VLANs limit broadcast traffic,
reducing congestion and improving overall network
performance.
 Simplified Management: VLANs can be configured and
managed through software, making it easier to adjust
network segments without changing physical
infrastructure.
Types of VLANs
1. Data VLAN:
o Purpose: Used for user-generated data traffic.
o Example: A VLAN assigned to all devices in the sales
department to facilitate communication.
2. Voice VLAN:
o Purpose: Specifically for VoIP (Voice over IP) traffic.
o Example: A separate VLAN for IP phones ensures
quality of service (QoS) for voice communications.
3. Management VLAN:
o Purpose: Used for managing network devices (e.g.,
switches, routers).
o Example: A dedicated VLAN for administrative tasks
ensures management traffic is secure and isolated.
4. Native VLAN:
o Purpose: The default VLAN for untagged traffic on a
trunk port. It helps manage traffic between VLANs.
o Example: Typically VLAN 1 is set as the native VLAN.
5. Private VLAN (PVLAN):
o Purpose: Allows the segmentation of a VLAN into
sub-VLANs while still being part of the same VLAN.
This enhances security by preventing communication
between devices in the same VLAN.
o Example: In a shared hosting environment, each
customer may have their own isolated PVLAN.

tagging in short
Tagging in networking refers to the process of adding
identifiers (tags) to data packets or frames to indicate their
VLAN membership. This is commonly used in Ethernet networks
to manage traffic for multiple VLANs over a single physical link.
Key Points:
1. 802.1Q Standard: The most widely used tagging
method, defined by the IEEE 802.1Q standard. It adds a 4-
byte tag to the Ethernet frame header.
2. VLAN Identifier (VID): The tag includes a VLAN ID (1-
4095) that specifies which VLAN the packet belongs to,
allowing network devices to properly route and manage
the traffic.
3. Trunk Ports: Ports configured to carry traffic from
multiple VLANs use tagging to distinguish between
different VLANs, while access ports typically do not use
tags and belong to a single VLAN.
4. Benefits:
o Efficient Traffic Management: Allows multiple
VLANs to share the same physical infrastructure.
o Improved Security and Performance: Ensures
that traffic remains isolated according to VLAN
configurations.
ipv6 format in short
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the most recent version of
the Internet Protocol, designed to replace IPv4 due to address
exhaustion. Here’s a concise overview of its format:
IPv6 Format
1. Address Structure: An IPv6 address consists of 128 bits,
represented as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits,
separated by colons. For example:
o Full Format:
2001:0db8:0000:0042:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
2. Simplified Representation: Leading zeros in each group
can be omitted, and contiguous groups of zeros can be
replaced with double colons (::) but only once in an
address. For example:
o Compressed Format:
2001:db8:0:42::8a2e:370:7334
3. Types of Addresses:
o Unicast: Identifies a single unique interface.
o Multicast: Identifies multiple interfaces; packets are
sent to all interfaces in the group.
o Anycast: Sent to the nearest interface among a
group of interfaces.
4. Address Types:
o Link-Local: Used for communication within a single
network segment (fe80::/10).
o Global Unicast: Routable on the internet (2000::/3).
o Unique Local: Similar to private IPv4 addresses,
used within local networks (fc00::/7).

IPv6 Header Structure


The IPv6 header is streamlined compared to IPv4, with a fixed
size of 40 bytes. Here are the main fields:
1. Version (4 bits): Indicates the IP version (6 for IPv6).
2. Traffic Class (8 bits): Used for quality of service (QoS)
and prioritization of packets.
3. Flow Label (20 bits): Identifies a sequence of packets
for special handling.
4. Payload Length (16 bits): The length of the payload
(data) following the header.
5. Next Header (8 bits): Indicates the type of header
immediately following the IPv6 header (e.g., TCP, UDP).
6. Hop Limit (8 bits): Similar to TTL in IPv4; it specifies the
maximum number of hops a packet can take before being
discarded.
7. Source Address (128 bits): The IPv6 address of the
sender.
8. Destination Address (128 bits): The IPv6 address of
the intended recipient.
bgp concept of hidden network and autonomous system
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
BGP is the protocol used to exchange routing information
between different autonomous systems (ASes) on the internet.
It is crucial for determining the best paths for data transmission
across complex networks.
Key Concepts
Autonomous System (AS)
 Definition: An Autonomous System is a collection of IP
networks and routers under the control of a single
organization that presents a common routing policy to the
internet.
 AS Number (ASN): Each AS is assigned a unique
identifier called an Autonomous System Number (ASN).
This number is used in BGP routing decisions to identify
the source of routing information.
 Types of ASes:
o Public AS: Routable on the internet and used by ISPs
or large organizations (e.g., AS15169 for Google).
o Private AS: Used internally within an organization
and not routable on the internet (number range
64512 to 65535).
Hidden Network
 Concept: The term "hidden network" typically refers to
networks or devices that do not advertise their routes or
presence to other networks. In the context of BGP, this
can involve:
o Selective Route Advertisement: An AS may
choose not to advertise certain routes to other ASes,
effectively "hiding" parts of its network.
o Route Filtering: BGP allows for filtering of route
advertisements based on policy, which can be used
to conceal certain network paths or resources.
 Security Considerations: Hiding networks can enhance
security by limiting visibility of certain resources, making
it harder for malicious actors to target them.
BGP Operation
 Path Vector Protocol: BGP uses a path vector
mechanism to maintain the path information that gets
updated dynamically as the network topology changes.
Each BGP router maintains a table of network paths.
 Route Selection: BGP uses various attributes (e.g., AS
path, next hop, local preference) to determine the best
route to a destination.
 Inter-AS Communication: BGP facilitates
communication between different ASes, allowing them to
share routing information and policies.
exterior gateway in 100 in words
An Exterior Gateway Protocol (EGP) is a type of routing
protocol used to exchange routing information between
different autonomous systems (ASes) on the internet. Unlike
interior gateway protocols (IGPs), which operate within a single
AS, EGPs facilitate communication across multiple networks.
The most commonly used EGP is the Border Gateway
Protocol (BGP). BGP enables ISPs and large organizations to
share routing information and make decisions based on
policies, path attributes, and network conditions. EGPs are
crucial for maintaining the stability and efficiency of global
internet routing, ensuring that data can traverse diverse
networks effectively.
different messages of bgp
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) uses several types of messages
for establishing and maintaining connections between BGP
peers. Here are the main BGP message types:
1. OPEN Message
 Purpose: Initiates a BGP session between two peers.
 Contents: Includes fields such as version, ASN
(Autonomous System Number), hold time, BGP identifier,
and optional parameters.
2. UPDATE Message
 Purpose: Used to advertise new routes or withdraw
previously advertised routes.
 Contents: Contains two main parts:
o Path Attributes: Information about the routes, such
as AS path, next hop, and prefix length.
o Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI):
Specifies the prefixes being advertised.
3. NOTIFICATION Message
 Purpose: Sent to indicate an error or to close a BGP
session.
 Contents: Includes an error code and a sub-code,
providing details about the reason for the notification.
4. KEEPALIVE Message
 Purpose: Maintains the BGP session and checks the
connection between peers.
 Contents: A simple message sent at regular intervals to
confirm that the peer is still reachable. If no keepalive is
received within the hold time, the session will be
considered down.
5. Route Refresh Message
 Purpose: Requests a re-advertisement of the current
routes from a peer.
 Contents: Allows a router to ask for updates without
resetting the session, useful when route filtering changes.
Summary
These BGP message types are essential for establishing
connections, maintaining sessions, and managing routing
information between different autonomous systems, ensuring
the stability and efficiency of internet routing.
rip ,ospf
Here’s a brief overview of RIP (Routing Information Protocol)
and OSPF (Open Shortest Path First):
RIP (Routing Information Protocol)
 Type: Distance-vector routing protocol.
 Functionality: Uses hop count as its metric to determine
the best path to a destination. The maximum number of
hops allowed is 15, making 16 hops an unreachable
destination.
 Updates: Sends full routing table updates every 30
seconds, which can lead to high bandwidth usage and
slower convergence.
 Versions:
o RIP Version 1: Only supports classful routing (no
subnet information).
o RIP Version 2: Supports classless routing, allows for
subnetting, and includes authentication.
 Usage: Suitable for small networks due to its simplicity
and ease of configuration.
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)
 Type: Link-state routing protocol.
 Functionality: Uses Dijkstra's algorithm to calculate the
shortest path to each node, providing a more efficient and
accurate routing decision based on the network topology.
 Hierarchical Structure: Supports a two-level hierarchy
(areas) to optimize routing and reduce overhead. Area 0 is
the backbone area.
 Updates: Sends incremental updates (LSAs) rather than
full routing tables, resulting in faster convergence and
reduced bandwidth usage.
 Authentication: Offers various levels of authentication to
enhance security.
 Usage: Ideal for larger and more complex networks due
to its scalability and efficient routing capabilities.
Summary
 RIP is simpler and suitable for smaller networks, using hop
count as a metric but suffering from slower convergence
and bandwidth issues.
 OSPF is more sophisticated, using link-state information
for efficient routing in larger networks, with faster
convergence and a hierarchical structure.
tcp segment format , sockets , synchronization three way
handshake
TCP Segment Format
A TCP segment is the fundamental unit of data in the
Transmission Control Protocol. It consists of a header and a
data section:
1. Header (20-60 bytes): Contains critical control
information, including:
o Source Port (16 bits): The port number of the
sender.
o Destination Port (16 bits): The port number of the
receiver.
o Sequence Number (32 bits): Indicates the order of
the segment in the data stream.
o Acknowledgment Number (32 bits): Indicates the
next expected sequence number from the other side.
o Data Offset (4 bits): Specifies the size of the TCP
header.
o Flags (9 bits): Control flags (e.g., SYN, ACK, FIN,
RST) to manage the connection state.
o Window Size (16 bits): Indicates the size of the
sender's receive window (flow control).
o Checksum (16 bits): Used for error-checking the
header and data.
o Urgent Pointer (16 bits): Indicates urgent data, if
any.
o Options (variable length): Additional options for
control.
2. Data: The actual payload being transmitted, which can
vary in size.
Sockets
 Definition: A socket is an endpoint for sending and
receiving data across a network. It consists of an IP
address and a port number.
 Types:
o Stream Sockets (TCP): Provide reliable,
connection-oriented communication.
o Datagram Sockets (UDP): Provide connectionless
communication with no guarantee of delivery.
 Creation: Sockets are created using APIs in programming
languages (e.g., socket() in Python) and are used to
establish communication between a client and a server.
Three-Way Handshake
The three-way handshake is the process used to establish a
TCP connection between a client and a server. It involves three
steps:
1. SYN (Synchronize):
o The client sends a TCP segment with the SYN flag set
to the server, indicating a request to establish a
connection. It includes the initial sequence number.
2. SYN-ACK (Synchronize-Acknowledge):
o The server responds with a TCP segment that has
both the SYN and ACK flags set. It acknowledges the
client's SYN by sending back an acknowledgment
number (client's sequence number + 1) and includes
its own initial sequence number.
3. ACK (Acknowledge):
o The client sends a final TCP segment with the ACK
flag set, acknowledging the server's SYN. This
segment includes the server’s sequence number + 1.
silly window syndrome
Silly Window Syndrome (SWS) is a condition that can occur
in TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) communications,
particularly during the flow control process. It happens when a
sender transmits small packets of data, leading to inefficient
use of network bandwidth and an increase in the number of
packets sent.
Causes of Silly Window Syndrome
1. Small Window Sizes: When the receiver has a small
buffer and can only accept a tiny amount of data, it can
signal the sender to transmit just a small amount,
resulting in frequent but inefficient transmissions.
2. Delayed Acknowledgments: If acknowledgments from
the receiver are delayed or if the sender does not fully
utilize the available window size before sending more
data, it can lead to small segments being sent.
3. Flow Control Mechanisms: TCP uses a sliding window
for flow control. If the window size shrinks due to network
congestion or other reasons, the sender might transmit
small amounts of data even when larger amounts could
fit.
Consequences
 Increased Overhead: Sending many small packets
increases the overhead associated with each packet, as
each packet requires headers and processing.
 Poor Performance: Overall throughput can decrease
because the network becomes congested with too many
small packets rather than fewer large ones.
Mitigation
 Nagle’s Algorithm: This algorithm helps to reduce the
number of small packets by buffering small outgoing
packets until a larger packet can be sent. It combines
smaller packets to optimize data transmission.
 Receiver Window Management: Improving the
receiver's ability to manage its window size effectively can
also help minimize the occurrences of SWS.
reno sack
TCP Variants: T/TCP, Reno, and SACK
T/TCP (Transaction TCP):
 Overview: An extension of TCP designed to improve
performance for short transactions, such as web requests.
 Key Features:
o Fast Connection Setup: Uses a modified version of
the TCP handshake to reduce latency for short-lived
connections.
o No Connection Termination: Eliminates the need
for the typical connection teardown phase, allowing
faster completion of transactions.
 Use Case: Best suited for applications where numerous
short transactions occur, minimizing the overhead of
establishing and closing connections.
Reno:
 Overview: An enhancement of TCP that introduced
improvements for congestion control and loss recovery.
 Key Features:
o Fast Retransmit: If three duplicate ACKs are
received, the sender quickly retransmits the lost
segment without waiting for a timeout.
o Fast Recovery: After retransmission, Reno reduces
the congestion window by half, then gradually
increases it (using slow start) to probe for available
bandwidth.
 Use Case: Effective in networks with moderate to high
packet loss, helping to maintain throughput while
managing congestion.
SACK (Selective Acknowledgment):
 Overview: An extension to TCP that allows the receiver to
inform the sender about all segments that have been
received successfully, not just the next expected byte.
 Key Features:
o Selective Acknowledgment: Enables the receiver
to specify which segments have been received,
allowing the sender to retransmit only the missing
segments.
o Efficiency: Reduces unnecessary retransmissions
and improves performance in scenarios with multiple
segment losses.
 Use Case: Particularly beneficial in high-latency and lossy
networks, improving throughput by minimizing the
amount of data that needs to be resent.
taho
Tahoe is a version of the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
that introduced several key features aimed at improving
congestion control and reliability. Here’s a brief overview:
Key Features of TCP Tahoe
1. Congestion Control:
o Slow Start: Tahoe begins transmission in a slow
start mode, where the congestion window increases
exponentially until it reaches a threshold. This helps
to avoid overwhelming the network.
o Congestion Avoidance: After reaching the
threshold, Tahoe transitions to linear growth of the
congestion window, allowing for gradual increase in
throughput while monitoring for congestion.
2. Fast Retransmit:
o If three duplicate acknowledgments (ACKs) are
received, Tahoe immediately retransmits the lost
segment. This is a mechanism to quickly recover
from packet loss without waiting for a timeout.
3. Timeout:
o If a segment is not acknowledged within a certain
timeframe, Tahoe assumes packet loss and resets
the congestion window to one segment, entering
slow start mode again. This can lead to reduced
throughput during periods of high packet loss.
4. No Fast Recovery:
o Unlike Reno, Tahoe does not have a fast recovery
phase. After a packet loss is detected, it resets the
congestion window, which can result in more
significant reductions in throughput.
udp message encapsulation ,format and pseudo header
UDP Message Encapsulation
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is a connectionless protocol used
for sending messages between devices on a network. Its
encapsulation involves wrapping application data in a UDP
header before transmitting it over the network.
UDP Format
A UDP datagram consists of a header and the data payload. The
format of a UDP datagram is as follows:
1. UDP Header (8 bytes):
o Source Port (16 bits): The port number of the
sender.
o Destination Port (16 bits): The port number of the
receiver.
o Length (16 bits): The total length of the UDP
header and the UDP data. This includes both the
header (8 bytes) and the payload.
o Checksum (16 bits): Used for error-checking the
header and data. It is optional in IPv4 but required in
IPv6.
2. UDP Data (Variable length):
o The actual payload data being transmitted, which can
vary in size.
UDP Pseudo Header
The pseudo header is an additional structure used during the
checksum calculation for UDP. It is not transmitted as part of
the UDP packet but helps verify the integrity of the packet
across the network. The format of the pseudo header is as
follows:
1. Source IP Address (32 bits): The IP address of the
sender.
2. Destination IP Address (32 bits): The IP address of the
receiver.
3. Protocol (8 bits): The protocol number (17 for UDP).
4. UDP Length (16 bits): The length of the UDP header and
data.
Summary
 UDP Message Encapsulation: Involves wrapping
application data in a UDP header, allowing for
transmission over IP networks.
 UDP Format: Comprises an 8-byte header (including
source and destination ports, length, and checksum) and
the variable-length data payload.
 Pseudo Header: Used for checksum calculations, it
includes source and destination IP addresses, protocol
number, and UDP length but is not part of the actual
transmitted packet.
This structure helps ensure reliable delivery of UDP messages,
even though UDP itself does not provide guarantees for
reliability or order.

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