Answers (5) |
Hemajohnson
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Oct 24, 2006,5:49 am
Hi,
<br>If there’s one word you will get used to seeing a lot as you go through this Guide, it is this one: protocol. You will see reference to networking protocols, internetworking protocols, high-level protocols, low-level protocols, protocol stacks, protocol suites, sub-protocols, and so on. Clearly protocols are important, yet many reference works and standards use the term over and over again without ever explaining it. One reason for this may be because the term is somewhat vague and can have many meanings, which can make it difficult to grasp.
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<br>The Meaning of the Word “Protocol”
<br>In some cases, understanding a technical term is easier if we go back to look at how the term is used in plain English. In the real world, a protocol often refers to a code of conduct, or a form of etiquette observed by diplomats. These people must follow certain rules of ceremony and form to ensure that they communicate effectively, and without coming into conflict. They also must understand what is expected of them when they interact with representatives from other nations, to make sure that, for example, they do not offend due to unfamiliarity with local customs. Even we “normal people” follow protocols of various sorts, which are sort of the “unwritten rules of society”.
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<br>This may seem to have little to do with networking, but in fact, this is a pretty good high-level description of what networking protocols are about. They define a language and a set of rules and procedures that enable devices and systems to communicate. Obviously, computers do not have “local customs”, and they hardly have to worry about committing a “faux pas” that might cause another computer to take offense. What networking protocols concern themselves with is ensuring that all the devices on a network or internetwork are in agreement about how various actions must be performed in the total communication process.
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<br>So, a protocol is basically a way of ensuring that devices are able to talk to each other effectively. In most cases, an individual protocol describes how communication is accomplished between one particular software or hardware element in two or more devices. In the context of the OSI Reference Model, a protocol is formally defined as a set of rules governing communication between entities at the same Reference Model layer. For example, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is responsible for a specific set of functions on TCP/IP networks. Each host on a TCP/IP network has a TCP implementation, and they all communicate with each other logically at layer four of the OSI model.
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<br>While OSI Reference Model definitions are sometimes overly theoretical in nature, this particular one is rather accurate in assessing protocols in real-world networking. If something doesn’t specify a means of communication, it arguably isn’t a protocol.
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<br>Hope you understand.......
<br>Hema. |
 
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KWANG SANG WOO
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Oct 24, 2006,10:04 pm
great ..thnks for ur erort in getting me a perfect answer
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Varghese Mathew
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Oct 25, 2006,1:04 am
You will have read in many detective stories; when an agent meets another agent, he says a spcific phrase and the other responds with another specific phrase.. or a specific pattern of knocking on the door and a phrase said in response to that so that the two people can identify each other/confim each other. Now that is an Identification protocol..
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<br>A protocol is basically the specifics of communication between two entities/things/persons/processes whatever, so that each can understand what the other is trying to communicate. Protocol is a very broadminded word and can be extrapolated to include a lot of such things.
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<br>protocol could be in restricted senses synonymous with rule, specification etc. but there is no word that can be used interchangably with protocol so that the meaning is unaffected (atleast that is my understanding) |
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ravichandran
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Oct 26, 2006,10:53 pm
| protocals is a set of rules. |
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Anonymous
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Oct 27, 2006,11:43 pm
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