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What are network protocols?
I’ve overheard some of our engineering guys talk about changing our network protocols and I’m curious to know what that means. Are these just security rules for who can and can’t use a network, or do they have a deeper meaning? I’m wondering if this will affect my access to our office networks. Thanks.
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4 Answers
Think of a network protocol as a language with very specific rules of operation. Ethernet communication works differently than ATM. They are both forms of network protocols. This should all be seamless to end users (ideally...). If done right it should not affect your access, unless you need to change a configuration on your computer and they don't tell you, or they don't want you to connect anymore.
Network protocols defines a language of rules and conventions for communication between network devices.Common ones you see everyday on your computer are HTTP for Web and TCP/IP for network connectivity.
To exchange information, computers have to package data in the same way. Network protocols are the methods used to box information, so it can travel over the wire from the sending point to the receiving point. There are literally dozens of network protocols and they vary in how they are implemented. Some work on the lower level physical connections (say Ethernet) and others operate at higher levels (say the application layer). Consequently, it is hard to determine what type of impact that the change at your company may have on you. It probably will have no impact (in general, companies change regularly and try to do it in a way that does not disrupt the employees. In a worst case scenario, a setting may be changed so you may need to download new software to your system in order to access the network.
Network Protocols is one of those terms with several levels of meanings.
As a base definition, a network protocol is a set of rules that govern a particular type of network communication. As you get more detailed, the protocol is more specific to a particular type of communication.
As an example, you have an assembly of 200 people. Maybe you need to make a simple announcement for all, and hope they all hear you. So you stand up, say 'Excuse me' and continue with your message.
That would be like a stateless TCP protocol broadcast.
Or you have an acknowledgement form that each must come up and sign. So you need to recognize each, tell them where to sign, wait for them to acknowledge they heard you ( by signing ) before you go to the next.
This would be like a stateful unicast UDP with handshaking ( syn, syn/ack )
In the case of what you overheard, it could be something as simple as changing how your remote/telecommute VPN works, changing the protocol from PPTP to a more secure IKE based IPSEC protocol perhaps. Or changing your intranet web site from using the standard HTTP port 80 to a more secure HTTPS port 443.
( yes, some people use the terms 'Port' and 'Protocol' interchangeably even if not accurately )
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