Network Protocols – ARP, FTP, SMTP, HTTP, SSL, TLS, HTTPS, DNS, DHCP – Networkin

Network Protocols – ARP, FTP, SMTP, HTTP, SSL, TLS, HTTPS, DNS, DHCP – Networking Fundamentals – L6
Practical Networking
Hello, welcome to another article from Module One of our Networking Fundamentals series. In this module, we will cover the concept of networking protocols and introduce you to some important protocols you should know about.
What is a Protocol?
A protocol is a set of rules and messages that form an internet standard. It defines how devices communicate with each other. For example, the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) resolves IP to MAC mappings, allowing hosts to discover each other’s MAC addresses. The rules for ARP are defined in RFC 826, which is the engineering implementation guideline for ARP.
Important Internet Protocols
File Transfer Protocol (FTP): Allows clients and servers to send and receive files from each other.
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP): Used by email servers to exchange emails.
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP): Used for communication with web servers.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS): Allow secure communication between clients and servers, commonly used in HTTPS.
Domain Name System (DNS)
DNS is a protocol that translates domain names into IP addresses. When you enter a website into your browser, it first requests the IP address of the website from a DNS server. The DNS server then provides the IP address, allowing your host to communicate with the web server.
Configuring a Host for Internet Connectivity
When a host connects to a network, there are four items that need to be configured for internet connectivity:
IP Address: serves as the host identity on the internet.
Subnet Mask: determines the size of the network.
Default Gateway: the router’s IP address, used to connect to foreign networks.
With these elements configured, the host can communicate with other hosts on the same local network and access the internet through the router.
These are just a few of the important protocols and concepts in networking. Understanding them is essential for a solid foundation in networking fundamentals.
Study Hack: Understanding Internet Protocols
In order for any device to connect to the internet, it must be configured with four essential items:
IP address
Subnet mask
Default gateway
DNS server
These configurations are required on every host, which can include devices like laptops, printers, and mobile phones. However, in some cases, such as connecting to a new WiFi network, these configurations are automatically obtained using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
DHCP allows a DHCP server to provide the necessary configurations to a client device. When a client device connects to a new WiFi network, it sends a DHCP discover message to find a DHCP server. The DHCP server then provides the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server to the client device. This allows the client device to communicate with the internet without manual configuration.
In summary, this lesson covered the importance of DNS and DHCP in internet communication, the four essential configurations needed for internet connectivity, and a brief overview of other internet protocols. While we only scratched the surface of these protocols, I hope this gives you a basic understanding of their roles in the internet ecosystem.
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