TCP/IP First-Step [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Chapter 2. What Has TCP/IP Done for Me Lately?

What You Will Learn

After reading this chapter, you should be able to answer the following questions:

How can TCP/IP satisfy the network performance requirements of an unlimited number of software applications?

What are the two basic network performance requirements imposed by software applications?

Is TCP/IP a tool designed for business or pleasure?

For what is TCP/IP used?

What does the term reliable delivery mean?

What does the term best-effort delivery mean?

What has TCP/IP done for you lately? Plenty! If you are an Internet user, you are also a TCP/IP user. Even if you never use the Internet, chances are excellent that you are still a TCP/IP user. The fact is that TCP/IP has become bigger than the Internet! It's true. Although massive in size and scope, the Internet is not the only computer network in the world. Probably hundreds of thousands of smaller networks are in homes, schools, companies, stores, and everywhere two or more computers need to communicate. The vast majority of these private networks use TCP/IP.

The technological advances in desktop computing and software applications have enabled network users to start thinking about networks solely in terms of applicationsnot in terms of the underlying wires and switches and communications protocols.

This chapter looks at some of the various types of applications that TCP/IP supports, as well as how TCP/IP is able to support as many applications as it does. By the end of this chapter you know exactly what TCP/IP has done for you lately!