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Networks and Protocols

Tutoring Operating Systems and Networks > Network Concepts

How do devices manage communication between themselves? What rules are there to make sure it all works properly?

What is a protocol?

A network protocol is a system of digital rules for data exchange within or between computers or devices.

Routing protocols

Routing protocols manage routes between nodes (devices) in a network. 

Routing algorithms define the actual routes between nodes. The way this system works is that a node shares it's information with it's immediate neighbors, and then throughout the network.

Internet protocols

Internet protocol (IP) contains a set of related protocols which are higher level and integrate with IP to provide aditional capabilities.

  • TCP - Transmission Control Protocol

  • UDP - User Datagram Protocol

  • HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol

  • FTP - File Transfer Protocol

A group of network protocols that work together at higher and lower levels are often called a protocol family.

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