Internet protocol

[¦in·tər‚net ′prōd·ə‚kȯl]

(communications)

The set of standards responsible for ensuring that data packets transmitted over the Internet are routed to their intended destinations. Abbreviated IP.

Internet Protocol

(networking)

(IP) The network layer for the TCP/IP protocol suite widely used on Ethernet networks, defined in STD 5, RFC 791. IP is a connectionless, best-effort packet switching protocol. It provides packet routing, fragmentation and re-assembly through the data link layer.

IPv4 is the version in widespread use and IPv6 is just beginning to come into use in 2000.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)

Internet Protocol

The communications technology of the public Internet, local area networks (LANs) and most wide area networks (WANs). The Internet Protocol (IP) is part of the TCP/IP protocol suite, and the terms "IP network" and "TCP/IP network" are synonymous.

Packet Switching
The Internet uses a packet-switched architecture, in which data are broken up into smaller "packets," with each packet containing a source address and destination address. Internet protocol (IP) packets are handed over to a data link layer protocol, for the physical transmission to the next node in the network path.

IP is the Network Layer
While "IP" refers to the entire TCP/IP protocol suite, "IP layer" refers to just the network-to-network part, occupying layer 3 in the "protocol stack" (see below). To learn about IP networking, see TCP/IP and TCP/IP abc's. See OSI model, IP address and IP on Everything.

The TCP/IP "Stack"

IP layer 3 resides in the middle of the TCP/IP stack. It accepts packets from the upper layer TCP or UDP protocols and hands them to a lower layer data link protocol. Within a local network, the data link protocol is typically Ethernet. Within the public Internet, the data link protocols are SONET, ATM, frame relay and Carrier Ethernet.

The Protocols

Following are the primary standards that keep the Internet running:

Protocol      Purpose TCP/IP   Network packet transmission

      TCP   Reliable delivery
      UDP   Unreliable delivery
      IP    Network to network

   HTTP     Web transmission
   HTTPS    Secure Web transmission

   HTML     Web page formatting

   SMTP     Email

   FTP      File transfer

   DNS      Domain name management

   SNMP     Network management

   Telnet   Remote execution

   OSPF     Routing protocol
   RIP      Routing protocol

   ICMP     Control messages

   DHCP     Assign IP addresses
   ARP      Find MAC addresses

   RTP      Real-time transmission
   RTSP     Real-time transmission + QoS

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References in periodicals archive

The good news is that this scenario has been anticipated for about 10 years and the new Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) rectifies this problem by offering a greater number of new addresses that will last many years into the future.

Thinking ahead can keep firms connected

Mr Abuzannad said for residential users, IPTV would be provided in conjunction with video on demand and may be bundled with internet services such as web access and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP).

Getting Smart with television

Click on the Networking Tab and double-click on the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

Telecommute safely: use Internet technology to keep cost down

Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) is an enabling technology that facilitates convergence and unified communications.

Unified communications: where the world is heading; The convergence of network appliances with employees' electronic devices is helping businesses lower communication costs while improving knowledge-worker productivity and customer service

The internet protocol (IP) provides the routing address of the destination device and the data-link layer sends the packet over the physical network (Ethernet) to the target iSCSI storage device.

SMB migration to IP SANs

IPv6 is the designated successor to the current Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), and carries a number of significant performance and security advantages over earlier versions.

Dynamic Threat Protection platform. (Security)

The market for Japan's Internet protocol (IP) phones is likely to grow to 720 billion yen in 2007, more than 230 times the 3.1 billion yen in 2002, the Japanese unit of International Data Corp.

IP phone market in 2007 seen at 230 times 2002 value

A private-sector association promoting the use of the next-generation Internet protocol IPv6 said Friday it will begin full-scale experiments on the distribution of contents using the protocol.

Full experiments on IPv6 to begin

As a result of the union, Lakehead University will receive the largest installation of voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephony in North America.

Tech centre to deliver e-education, training. (Thunder Bay)

allows Cybertel to terminate its Internet Protocol, or voice-over-the-Internet, calls on Bell Atlantic's local network.

BELL ATLANTIC AND CYBERTEL LINK TO COMPLETE INTERNET CALLS

Telephone companies, internet service providers and research and education networks have joined forces to promote version 6 of the Internet Protocol through the IPv6 Forum.

Telcos, ISPs, Universities Join to Form IPv6 Forum

INTERNET: Worldwide computer network, linked by Internet Protocol.

Off the Record; WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY