Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol - Essay Example

Background of Case It was Department of Defense (DoD) that developed both TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol) as a research project which was initiated to establish connection between a wide variety of networks developed by a number of different vendors into a huge network of networks (the "Internet"). Moreover, TCP/IP took many years to be successfully tested and developed and this process sustained for a number of years. Finally, a version 2 of TCP was documented and published in March 1977. And soon after 4 months in August 1977, a major crisis happened in development of TCP/IP’s development (The TCP/IP Guide, 2005). Additionally, it is believed to be a biggest success for the reason that it successfully provided a small number of fundamental capabilities and services that everyone required at that time. In this scenario, some of the well-known applications and services that were supported by these protocols included remote logon, file transfer, and electronic mail (email) to a large number of users as well as server systems. In fact, a number of different systems located in a small building or office can employ TCP/IP (in conjunction with additional protocols) on a single local area network (LAN). Basically, this is a combination of two protocols, in which the internet protocol (IP) was established to fulfill a need for consistency of distinctiveness. Hence, the development of this protocol allowed all computers across the earth to share data and information the same way. In fact, it is the most affordable method to make a universal network. In addition, the IP part of the protocol allows effective routing from one location of a building to the organization’s central network, afterward to provincial networks, and ultimately to the worldwide Internet. As it was developed by DOD so it was intended to be used to provide support and services in battlefield. In view of the fact that on the battleground a communication medium or network will be used to maintain damage, hence the DOD developed TCP/IP to be vigorous and without human intervention recover from any phone line or terminal breakdown. In this scenario, this design facilitated them to construct a very large network with less central management. Though, due to the computerized processing, there was a chance that a wide variety of network issues can go uncorrected and unidentified for long periods of time. On the other hand, the development of TCP was aimed at providing the connection-oriented communication. In this scenario, the basic purpose of this development was to provide a way for information distribution and communication in which a computer is able to set up a instant link to a server prior to additional communication takes place. However, if a computer does not establish a connection to a server, a server will pay no attention to that computers requests (Polenin, 2012; Gilbert, 1995). In a modern research environment, individuals depend on their ability to access and share information with colleagues. This ability greatly enhances the development of innovations in our society. Governments have played a substantial role in initiating the development of technology based solutions for communications-tools that would enhance the ability to better communicate in order to expedite the diffusion of change in our society. In the late 1960s a government organization called the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was in search of a solution for sharing information with colleagues at distant locations. Their goal was to develop a method of distributing data electronically. This led to the development of a packet switching technology, which would be distributed over ordinary telephone lines. By 1969, this networking technology had evolved to what was known as ARPAnet, the first known interconnecting network of computer databases of its type. Eventually, the United States Department of Defense took over the ARPAnet project. It was the defense department that was now experimenting with electro-magnetic (EM) communications technologies. These were technologies such as satellite, radio and what has come to be known as packet switching computer networks. As packet switching networks Evolution of TCP/IP 3 evolved, new and improved protocols were needed to insure the integrity of the data being transmitted. The initial Network Control Program (NCP) used by ARPAnet was deemed unstable and therefore inadequate for current and future government use. The need for a more robust and stable environment for government data led to the advent of improved transmission protocols. The Internet Protocol Address TCP/IP was the result of a universal desire for the further development of a new and improved protocol for transporting information. New standards were needed in order to ensure that an open systems environment would succeed. A Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) provided a universal set of instructions that allowed various computer systems to connect. Early applications of TCP/IP took place in the mid 1970s. With ARPAnet now under the control of the Defense Communications Agency (DCA), an even greater need for further protocol development was established. This was the predicate for the development and eventual adoption of TCP/IP as a recognized standard for government use. By the early 1980s the DOD had totally discontinued the use of the original NCP protocol and would adopt TCP/IP as the sole protocol for interconnecting the ARPAnet government sponsored network. It was this formal discontinuance and further adoption that marked the birth of the internet (Taylor, 1998, p. 4). This early version of TCP/IP had evolved and enhanced the ability to interconnect government networks, a process referred to as internetworking. It was this internetworking or "internet" functionality that led to the further development and involvement of additional government agencies, as well as educational institutions. Evolution of TCP/IP 4 The 1980s marked a period in which companies invested large amounts of capital resources in technology development. In addition, with the introduction of new microprocessor and disk operation system technology (DOS), the personal computer market would begin to expand into the home market. Due to government support, educational institutions, and eventually business and the consumer would become beneficiaries to TCP/IP technology. Realizing the value of this increasing demand in the commercial market place, businesses provided research and further development for this internetworking protocol. It was this growing support that enhanced the adoption and commercialization for TCP/IP based networks. In addition, the emergence of the PC as a fascination for government, education, business, and consumer use, created a huge demand in the market. This led to an enormous increase in the desire to share information. Businesses required a method in which to interconnect computers. TCP/IP was a logical tool for meeting this need, allowing local area networks to proliferate (Young, 2012). Read More