TCP/IP
BY KEN EGBUNA
Introduction
 TCP/IP is a suite of protocols that enables the
Internet to work as it does today.
 It is split into four layers, which work together in
order to allow for various devices to communicate
with each other over various networks.
 TCP/IP is used in just about every networked device
found in modern society, including desktop
computers, laptops, cell phones, and gaming
consoles.
Brief History
In the early 70’s, DARPA began working on data
communication technologies. This was after the
creation of ARPANET, a network designed for the
rapid dissemination of military intelligence to remote
locations.
The value of this technology was recognized, and
DARPA began reaching to Stanford, BBN Technologies,
and the University College London in order to develop
it on different platforms.
After several revisions, the creators found stability in
TCP/IP v4 during the early 1980’s. The military
declared it as the official standard for military
networking in 1982, and in 1985, the Internet
Architecture Board held a workshop on TCP/IP in
order to expose and increase the use of the protocol.
Usage
 There are approximately 1.8 billion users of the
Internet.
 Every single one of these users has to be using a
TCP/IP enabled device, whether it is a mobile
handset or standalone personal computer.
Usage (cont’d)
 This map shows a
representation of all
the subnets present on
the Internet.
 Behind each of these
IP addresses, a
network of any size
can be present.
Interoperability
 One of TCP/IP’s strengths is that it is capable of
working with any software that requires networking.
 Regardless of operating system, TCP/IP is generally
the default communication protocol. Therefore,
networking between vastly different systems is only
an issue at the user level.
Advantage
Security
 TCP/IP is known to be weak in terms of security,
especially due to some flaws in the design.
 Authentication is weak, and thus various spoofing
techniques can be used to infiltrate a system. This
has forced users to resort to firewalls and encryption
in order to ensure their security.
Disadvantage
Pervasiveness + Community Support
 As TCP/IP is the de facto standard in networking, its
pervasiveness is near ubiquity.
 One can assume that a device that features networking
capabilities is compatible with the TCP/IP suite of
protocols.
 Websites such as broadbandreport.com and
homenetbuilder.com offer forums for users who are
having trouble with their networks. These forums are
well trafficked and offer a lot of support from fellow
users.
Advantage
Ease of Use
 A lot of TCP/IP is done through automatic
configuration, especially for end-users.
 DHCP handles the automatic configuration of
clients, allowing users to essentially “plug&play”
 Once a client is set up on its LAN, access to external
networks requires little configuration.
Advantage
IPv6
 IPv4 has been the protocol used since the early
development of the internet.
IPv6 (cont’d)
 Since 1994, the internet has been exponentially
increasing in size.
 IPv4 allows for the addressing of 4 billion addresses,
which seemed like plenty at first, but has turned out
to be insufficient once the internet began to explode
in growth.
 The IETF began working on solutions in the early
1990’s, eventually coming up with IPv6 in 1996.
IPv6 Features
 IPv6 features an addressing space capable of
assigning 2^128 addresses by using a 128 bit
addressing space as opposed to IPv4’s 32 bit.
 Internet Protocol Security is also a mandatory part of
configuration for IPv6 networks, providing
encryption and authentication for packets.
 By using jumbograms, IPv6 can enhance a network’s
performance by allowing much larger packets to be
sent over the network.
Internet Engineering Task Force
 Formed in 1986, the IETF’s purpose is to promote
and develop internet standards.
 It is a volunteer group, with no membership
requirements. However, many participants are often
funded by employers and/or government agencies.
 At its inception, it only commanded about 35
attendees. Today, there are around 1200 members
who meet quarterly to discuss and develop internet
standards.
Conclusion
 TCP/IP fills a vital role in the operation of the
internet.
 While it has its limitations, these can be easily
overcome by using peripherals such as firewalls and
filtering software.
 IPv6 will help to improve TCP/IP’s performance,
allowing for better connections and enhanced
security.