Hour 1. What Is TCP/IP?

What You'll Learn in This Hour:

• Networks and network protocols

• History of TCP/IP

• Important features of TCP/IP

TCP/IP is a protocol system—a collection of protocols that support network communications. The answer to the question What is a protocol? must begin with the question What is a network?

This hour describes what a network is and shows why networks need protocols. You'll also learn what TCP/IP is, what it does, and where it began.

At the completion of this hour, you'll be able to

• Define the term network

• Explain what a network protocol suite is

• Explain what TCP/IP is

• Discuss the history of TCP/IP

• List some important features of TCP/IP

• Identify the organizations that oversee TCP/IP and the Internet

• Explain what RFCs are and where to find them