Question: The network layer protocol for internet is __________
A | ethernet |
B | internet protocol |
C | hypertext transfer protocol |
D | file transfer protocol |
Answer: B
Explanation: There are several protocols used in Network layer. Some of them are IP, ICMP, CLNP, ARP, IPX, HRSP etc. Hypertext transfer protocol is for application layer and ethernet protocol is for data link layer.
The network layer protocol for the internet is the Internet Protocol (IP). IP is a fundamental protocol used for transmitting data packets across the internet and other networks. It is a part of the TCP/IP protocol suite, which is a collection of protocols that form the basis of internet communication.
The Internet Protocol operates at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, which is a conceptual framework that standardizes the functions of a communication system into seven layers. The network layer is responsible for routing and forwarding data packets between different networks. IP provides a connectionless, best-effort packet delivery service, meaning it does not guarantee packet delivery, nor does it ensure the packets arrive in the correct order or without errors.
IP has two widely used versions: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4, the most commonly used version, utilizes 32-bit addresses, which allows for a maximum of approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. However, due to the rapid growth of the internet and the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, IPv6 was introduced. IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, providing a vastly larger address space and improved routing capabilities.
The IP protocol works in conjunction with the Transport Layer (Layer 4) protocols, such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP), to ensure end-to-end communication between hosts. TCP/IP, the combination of IP and TCP, is the most widely used protocol for internet communication, providing reliable, connection-oriented, and error-checked data transmission.
To recap, the Internet Protocol (IP) is the network layer protocol responsible for routing and forwarding data packets across the internet and other networks. It is a core component of the TCP/IP protocol suite and operates at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model.
Item | Description |
---|---|
Protocol | Internet Protocol (IP) |
Layer | Network Layer (Layer 3) |
Function | Routing and forwarding data packets across networks |
Features | Connectionless, best-effort packet delivery |
Versions | IPv4 (32-bit addresses), IPv6 (128-bit addresses) |
Related Protocols | TCP, UDP (Transport Layer protocols) |
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