Standards and Protocols: TCP/IP, SLIP, and PPP

TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. It was developed by the Department of Defense as a method of transferring data between many different networks. IP, which the internet is based upon, is the protocol by which data is packaged and sent over the internet. IP forwards each packet of information based on a 4-byte destination address, or IP number. Packets are sent to gateway machines, which route them according to their address. TCP verifies the transmission of data by the Internet Protocol. It is capable of detecting errors and lost data and of signalling retransmission of flawed packets.

SLIP and PPP are methods by which IP packets can be set via modem. SLIP, or Serial Line Internet Protocol, encapsulates IP packets in a method such that they can be sent over the modem. CSLIP is a version of SLIP that compresses the IP headers, so smaller packets can be sent. PPP, or Point-to-Point Protocol, is another method of data encapsulation. It has better security options, as well as better data compression.