Unit 5

Lesson 5 - LAN Software Architectures

   Common Ground: TCP/IP

The acronym TCP/IP represents the common working combination of the Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol. However, the term is often used to denote much more than just the protocols themselves. The TCP/IP "world" can be considered to include other components, such as the entire suite of protocols, software, and applications that are standard parts of most UNIX-based and PC-based OSs.

TCP/IP is normally used as the protocol stack in UNIX networking implementations. As we have just seen however, those protocols are also supported by all major NOSs. Now that the Internet has become an essential business tool, many corporate networks find it convenient to use TCP/IP as their Transport and Network Layer protocols. Thus, while various networks may use NetWare, Windows NT, or AppleTalk, it is likely each of those OSs is also configured to use TCP and IP.

Real Audio Clip

Why has the TCP/IP become the most predominant architecture found in networks today?

   Activities

See the Activities and Extended Activities section in Unit 5 Lesson 5 in your textbook Introduction to Networking to test what you have learned so far.

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