The internet protocol suite is a loose description of a set of rules that have to be followed

to create a functioning network. These protocols are used in layers to make data able to be sent
from one point, travel to its destination, and arrive safely to the destination point. Without
internet protocols there would be no way to regulate data transfer over the internet which would
cause data to get lost. Using these protocols help to keep data headed to the proper destination
and safe from harm, including corruption and theft.
Defining Internet Protocols
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) – One of the most important protocols that make up the
Internet Protocol Suite. TCP enables two hosts to establish a connection and exchange streams of
data. TCP guarantees delivery of data and also guarantees that packets will be delivered in the
same order in which they were sent.
IP (Internet Protocol) – The second most important protocol that makes up the Internet Protocol
Suite. Formats data being sent over the internet and lets the sender point the packet to the
intended recipient of the data packet.
HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) - HTTP defines how messages are formatted and
transmitted, and what actions Web servers and browsers should take in response to various
commands. For example, when you enter a URL in your browser, this actually sends an HTTP
command to the Web server directing it to fetch and transmit the requested Web page.
POP3 (Post Office Protocol) - A protocol used to retrieve e-mail from a mail server. Most e-mail
applications, often referred to as an e-mail client, use the POP protocol, POP3 being the updated
version to the POP2 which was widely used in the 80’s.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - FTP is most commonly used to download a file from a server
using the Internet or to upload a file to a server (e.g., uploading a Web page file to a server). It is
the protocol for exchanging files over the Internet.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) - A protocol for sending e-mail messages between
servers. Most e-mail systems that send mail over the Internet use SMTP to send messages from
one server to another; the messages can then be retrieved with an e-mail client using either POP
or IMAP.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) – A protocol for assigning dynamic IP addresses
to devices on a network. With dynamic addressing, a device can have a different IP address
every time it connects to the network. Dynamic addressing simplifies network administration
because the software keeps track of IP addresses rather than requiring an administrator to
manage the task.
NFS (Network File System) – A client/server application that allows all network users to access
shared files on computers of different types; a widely used protocol for file sharing over a
network.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) - A protocol for retrieving e-mail messages. Similar to
POP3 but offers other features not offered with POP3; developed at Stanford University in 1986.
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) - A connectionless protocol that, like TCP, runs on top of IP
networks. Unlike TCP/IP, UDP/IP provides very few error recovery services, offering instead a
direct way to send and receive datagrams over an IP network. It's used primarily for broadcasting
messages over a network.
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) - A set of protocols for managing complex
networks. SNMP works by sending messages, called protocol data units, to different parts of a
network. SNMP-compliant devices, called agents, store data about themselves in Management
Information Bases and return this data to the SNMP requesters.
PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol) - A new technology for creating Virtual Private
Networks; A VPN is a private network of computers that uses the public Internet to connect
some nodes. Because the Internet is essentially an open network, the Point-to-Point Tunneling
Protocol (PPTP) is used to ensure that messages transmitted from one VPN node to another are
secure. With PPTP, users can dial in to their corporate network via the Internet.
(Parts of the Definitions above retrieved from Webopedia.com)

Connection and Connectionless Data Transport Methods

Connection oriented data transmissions require a form of authentication before the data is
sent to the recipient. In connectionless methods there is no need for prior authentication. The
sender sends the data to the recipient and hopes the data reaches its destination safe and secure.
“A connection oriented data transfer is a three phase operation, 1) authentication: also known as
a handshake, this confirms that the receiving device is up and able to receive data, 2) data
transmission: the data is sent and if it does not reach the destination it resends and resends until
the receiving device makes it to its destination, 3) connection break: the sending device breaks
the connection and the transmission is over (Nicks, 2010)”. Once more data has to be sent to the
device again a new request has to be made. With connectionless transmissions no authentication
is needed and there is no error control in this method.
Connectionless examples: UDP, IPX, and Ethernet
Recommendation
I would recommend using the TCP/IP for our transmission method rather than the
UDP/IP network architecture. Using a connection oriented method would ensure that the data is
reaching the recipient without any problems that could occur with a connectionless method. The
POP3 protocol for our mail client is recommended because it is the protocol more widely used
by other e-mail clients. I also believe we should incorporate the DHCP so that connecting new
equipment to the network will provide IP addresses to the equipment without needing to
manually create IP addresses for each device. Finally, it is recommended that we take advantage
of the NFS protocol so that all business files can be shared through all employees at Notcom.

Reference:

Nicks, V (2010) “Connection Oriented vs. Connectionless Protocols” Retrieved October 13,
2010, from: http://www.suite101.com/content/connection-oriented-vs-connectionless-protocols-
a208991

“Webopedia” (n.d.) Retrieved October 13, 2010, from: http://www.webopedia.com/search/PPTP