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30 PART 1 INTRODUCTION AND UNDERLYING TECHNOLOGIES
Layers in the TCP/IP Protocol Suite
In this section, we briefly discuss the purpose of each layer in the TCP/IP protocol suite.
When we study the purpose of each layer, it is easier to think of a private internet,
instead of the global Internet. We assume that we want to use the TCP/IP suite in a small,
private internet. Such an internet is made up of several small networks, which we call
links. A link is a network that allows a set of computers to communicate with each other.
For example, if all computers in an office are wired together, the connection makes a
link. If several computers belonging to a private company are connected via a satellite
channel, the connection is a link. A link, as we discussed in Chapter 3, can be a LAN
(local area network) serving a small area or a WAN (wide area network) serving a larger
area. We also assume that different links are connected together by devices called rout-
ers or switches that route the data to reach their final destinations. Figure 2.9 shows our
imaginary internet that is used to show the purpose of each layer. We have six links and
four routers (R1 to R4). We have shown only two computers, A and B.
Figure 2.9 A private internet
Link 1
A Link 2
R1 R2
Link 3 Link 4 Link 6
B
Link 5
R3 R4
Physical Layer
TCP/IP does not define any specific protocol for the physical layer. It supports all of the
standard and proprietary protocols. At this level, the communication is between two hops
or nodes, either a computer or router. The unit of communication is a single bit. When the
connection is established between the two nodes, a stream of bits is flowing between
them. The physical layer, however, treats each bit individually. Figure 2.10 shows the
communication between nodes. We are assuming that at this moment the two computers
have discovered that the most efficient way to communicate with each other is via routers
R1, R3, and R4. How this decision is made is the subject of some future chapters.
Note that if a node is connected to n links, it needs n physical-layer protocols, one for
each link. The reason is that different links may use different physical-layer protocols. The
figure, however, shows only physical layers involved in the communication. Each com-
puter involves with only one link; each router involves with only two links. As Figure 2.10
shows, the journey of bits between computer A and computer B is made of four indepen-
dent short trips. Computer A sends each bit to router R1 in the format of the protocol used
by link 1. Router 1 sends each bit to router R3 in the format dictated by the protocol used
by link 3. And so on. Router R1 has two three physical layers (two are shown in our sce-
nario). The layer connected to link 1 receives bits according to the format of the protocol
