Network Communication Protocols

The interconnection of systems and computer networks is the foundation of communications today and is designed using multiple communication protocols. For example, there are many protocols when establishing an internet connection and depending on the type that needs to be established, these protocols will vary. Furthermore, communication with the Internet is not the only type of communication when we refer to data transmission and exchange of messages across networks. In all cases, network protocols define the characteristics of the connection.

A protocol is a set of rules: the network protocols are formal standards and policies, made up of restrictions, procedures, and formats, that define the exchange of data packets to achieve communication between two servers or more devices over a network.

Network protocols include mechanisms for device identification and the establishment of connections between them, as well as formatting rules that specify how packets and data are structured in messages that are sent and received. Some protocols support message recognition and data compression, designed for reliable, high-performance network communication.

Types of Network Protocols

The most important protocols for data transmission across the Internet are TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol). Using these jointly (TCP/IP), we can link devices that access the network; some other communication protocols associated with the Internet are POP, SMTP and HTTP.

We use these practically every day, although most users don’t know it, and don’t understand how they work. These protocols allow the transfer of data from our devices so that we can browse websites, send emails, listen to music online, etc.

There are several types of network protocols:

Network communication protocols: Basic packet communication protocols such as TCP/IP and HTTP.
Network security protocols: they implement security in network communications between servers; includes HTTPS, SSL, and SFTP.
Network management protocols: these provide network maintenance and governance, they include SNMP and ICMP.

A group of network protocols that work together at the top and bottom levels are commonly referred to as a protocol family.

The OSI model (Open System Interconnection) conceptually organizes network protocol families into specific network layers. This Open System Interconnection aims to establish a context to base the communication architectures between different systems.

Below we list some of the best known network protocols, according to the layers of the OSI model:

Layer 1 Protocols – Physical Layer

USB: Universal Serial Bus
Ethernet: Ethernet physical layer
DSL: Digital subscriber line
Etherloop: Ethernet and DSL combination
Infrared: Infrared radiation
Frame Relay
SDH: Synchronous Digital Hierarchy
SONET: Synchronized optical network

Layer 2 Protocols – Data Link

DCAP: Data Link Switching Client Access Protocol
FDDI: Fiber Data Distribution Interface
HDLC: High-level Data Link Control
LAPD: Link Access Protocol D-channel
PPP: Point-to-Point Protocol
STP: Spanning Tree Protocol
VTP VLAN: Virtual Trunking Protocol for Virtual LAN
MPLS: Multi-Protocol Label Switching

Layer 3 Protocols – Network

ARP: Address Resolution Protocol
BGP: Border Gateway Protocol
ICMP: Internet Control Message Protocol
IPv4: Internet Protocol version 4
IPv6: Internet Protocol version 6
IPX: Internetwork Packet Exchange
OSPF: Open Shortest Path First
RARP: Reverse Address Resolution Protocol

Layer 4 Protocols – Transport

IL: Originally converted as a transport layer for 9P
SPX: Sequenced Packet Exchange
SCTP: Stream Control Transmission Protocol
TCP: Transmission Control Protocol
UDP: User Datagram Protocol
iSCSI: Internet Small Computer Systems Interface
DCCP: Datagram Congestion Control Protocol

Layer 5 Protocols – Session

NFS: Network File System
SMB: Server Message Block
RPC: Remote Procedure Call
SDP: Sockets Direct Protocol
SMB: Server Message Block
SMPP: Short Message Point-to-Point

Layer 6 Protocols – Presentation

TLS: Transport Layer Security
SSL: Secure Socket Layer
XDR: External Data Representation
MIME: Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions

Layer 7 Protocols – Application

DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
DNS: Domain Name System
HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol
HTTPS: Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
POP3: Post Office Protocol 3
SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
Telnet: Telecommunications Network Protocol

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References

Jithin. Interserver. (2016). Common Network Protocols https://www.interserver.net/tips/kb/common-network-protocols-ports/, accessed in August 2019.

Rouse, Margaret. TechTarget. (undated) Network Protocols https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/protocol, accessed August 2019.