Chapter 6. The Transport Layer
The transport layer is not just another layer. It is the heart of the whole protocol hierarchy. Its task is to provide reliable, cost-effective data transport from the source machine to the destination machine, independently of the physical network or networks currently in use. Without the transport layer, the whole concept of layered protocols would make little sense. In this chapter we will study the transport layer in detail, including its services, design, protocols, and performance. |