What is a Protocol?
A protocol is a set of
rules that governs the communications between computers on a network. In order
for two computers to talk to each other, they must be speaking the same
language. Many different types of network protocols and standards are required
to ensure that your computer (no matter which operating system, network card,
or application you are using) can communicate with another computer located on
the next desk or half-way around the world. The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection)
Reference Model defines seven layers of networking protocols. The complexity of
these layers is beyond the scope of this tutorial; however, they can be
simplified into four layers to help identify some of the protocols with which
you should be familiar (see fig 1).
