Network Protocols

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Network protocols — are a set of rules and standards that define how computers and other devices in a network transmit, receive, and process data. Protocols ensure proper interaction between devices, guaranteeing that information is transmitted correctly and without errors. They describe not only the data format but also methods for routing, integrity checking, and receipt confirmation.

Network protocols are necessary to ensure:
  1. Compatibility between different devices: Protocols allow different types of computers, operating systems, and network devices to interact without problems.
  2. Error-free data transmission: Protocols contain mechanisms for verifying the integrity of transmitted data and correcting errors.
  3. Communication organization: They define how information should be sent, how to handle requests and responses.
  4. Security: Network protocols include means for encryption and authentication, protecting data from unauthorized access.
The principle of network protocols operation is based on a series of stages:
  1. Communication initiation: Data transmission begins with establishing a connection between devices (for example, via the TCP protocol).
  2. Data formatting: Data is packaged into packets with a specific header that contains information about the source, destination, size, and other parameters.
  3. Data transmission: Data is transmitted over the network using a certain physical or logical channel. Routing protocols, such as IP, determine how these packets should move through different networks.
  4. Verification and correction: Protocols check data integrity to ensure that packets were not damaged during transmission (for example, using checksums).
  5. Receipt confirmation: Upon receiving a packet, the sender may receive confirmation of successful receipt or retransmission in case of an error.
List of Network Protocols:
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 80 (HTTP) / 443 (HTTPS)
  • Purpose: Hypertext transfer protocol used for transmitting web pages and other data on the Internet
  • Features: Works on a “request-response” principle, does not maintain state between transactions
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 20 (for data transfer) / 21 (for commands)
  • Purpose: Protocol for file transfer between computers
  • Features: Supports authentication, allows browsing directories, downloading and uploading files
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 25 (unsecured) / 587 (with TLS)
  • Purpose: Protocol for sending email
  • Features: Works on a store-and-forward principle, supports message queues
POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 110 (unsecured) / 995 (with SSL/TLS)
  • Purpose: Protocol for receiving email
  • Features: Downloads mail to a local computer, usually deletes it from the server
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 143 (unsecured) / 993 (with SSL/TLS)
  • Purpose: Protocol for working with email
  • Features: Stores mail on the server, allows working with it from different devices
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 4 (Transport)
  • Ports: 0-65535
  • Purpose: Reliable data transfer between applications
  • Features: Guarantees delivery and correct packet order, flow control
UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 4 (Transport)
  • Ports: 0-65535
  • Purpose: Fast data transfer without delivery guarantee
  • Features: Does not establish a connection, does not guarantee packet order
ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: Does not use ports
  • Purpose: Sending service messages and network diagnostics
  • Features: Used by ping and traceroute utilities
DNS (Domain Name System)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 53
  • Purpose: Converting domain names to IP addresses
  • Features: Hierarchical system, uses caching
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 67 (server) / 68 (client)
  • Purpose: Automatic configuration of network parameters
  • Features: Assigns IP addresses, subnet masks, gateways, and DNS servers
SSH (Secure Shell)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 22
  • Purpose: Secure remote access to systems
  • Features: Data encryption, authentication, tunneling
RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 3389
  • Purpose: Remote desktop access
  • Features: Support for graphical interface, audio transmission, printers
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 161 (agent) / 162 (manager)
  • Purpose: Monitoring and management of network devices
  • Features: Statistics collection, equipment configuration, event tracking
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 389 (unsecured) / 636 (LDAPS)
  • Purpose: Access to directory services
  • Features: Hierarchical data structure, user authentication
NTP (Network Time Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 123
  • Purpose: Time synchronization between computers
  • Features: Hierarchical system of time servers, high accuracy
RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 1812 (authentication) / 1813 (accounting)
  • Purpose: User authentication and authorization
  • Features: Often used for VPN and Wi-Fi networks
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 5060 (unsecured) / 5061 (with TLS)
  • Purpose: Establishing media sessions
  • Features: Used for IP telephony and video conferencing
RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Ports: Dynamic (usually 16384-32767)
  • Purpose: Real-time audio and video transmission
  • Features: Works with RTCP for transmission quality control
MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 1883 (unsecured) / 8883 (with TLS)
  • Purpose: Message exchange between IoT devices
  • Features: Lightweight protocol, supports QoS
WebSocket
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 80 (WS) / 443 (WSS)
  • Purpose: Two-way communication between browser and server
  • Features: Persistent connection, full-duplex communication
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 2-3 (Data Link-Network)
  • Port: Does not use ports
  • Purpose: Determining MAC addresses from IP addresses
  • Features: Uses broadcast requests, has local cache
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 4 (Transport)
  • Port: 179
  • Purpose: Routing between autonomous systems
  • Features: Main routing protocol on the Internet
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 443
  • Purpose: Secure web data transmission with encryption
  • Features:
    • Uses TLS/SSL for encryption
    • Supports X.509 certificates
    • Ensures data confidentiality and integrity
    • Protects against man-in-the-middle attacks
    • Supports various encryption and hashing methods

Here’s the translation of the protocols information:

IPsec (Internet Protocol Security)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: Does not use standard ports
  • Purpose: Protection of IP communications
  • Features: Authentication and encryption of IP packets
Telnet
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 23
  • Purpose: Remote access to command line
  • Features: Unsecured protocol, outdated
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 69
  • Purpose: Simplified file transfer
  • Features: Uses UDP, no authentication
PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 2 (Data Link)
  • Port: 1723
  • Purpose: Creating VPN tunnels
  • Features: Supports PPP encapsulation
L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 2 (Data Link)
  • Port: 1701
  • Purpose: Tunneling at the data link layer
  • Features: Often used with IPsec
GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: Protocol 47
  • Purpose: Encapsulation of various protocols
  • Features: Tunneling different types of traffic
EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: Does not use ports
  • Purpose: Routing in local networks
  • Features: Proprietary Cisco protocol
OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: 89
  • Purpose: Dynamic routing
  • Features: Uses Dijkstra’s algorithm
RIPv2 (Routing Information Protocol version 2)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: 520
  • Purpose: Routing in small networks
  • Features: 15 hop limitation
IS-IS (Intermediate System to Intermediate System)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: Does not use ports
  • Purpose: Routing in large networks
  • Features: Supports IPv4 and IPv6
MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching)
  • OSI Layer: 2-3
  • Port: Does not use ports
  • Purpose: Fast packet switching
  • Features: Uses labels instead of IP addresses
SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 4 (Transport)
  • Port: Dynamic
  • Purpose: Reliable data transmission
  • Features: Multi-homing and multi-streaming
CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 5683
  • Purpose: Interaction with IoT devices
  • Features: Lightweight HTTP alternative
XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 5222 (client), 5269 (server)
  • Purpose: Instant messaging exchange
  • Features: Extensible XML protocol
AMQP (Advanced Message Queuing Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 5672
  • Purpose: Message exchange between applications
  • Features: Reliable message delivery
QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connections)
  • OSI Layer: 4 (Transport)
  • Port: 443
  • Purpose: Fast data transmission
  • Features: Reduced latency, multiplexing
STUN (Session Traversal Utilities for NAT)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 3478
  • Purpose: Determining public IP address
  • Features: Operation through NAT
TURN (Traversal Using Relays around NAT)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 3478
  • Purpose: Media traffic relay
  • Features: Assistance with complex NAT
ICE (Interactive Connectivity Establishment)
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: Uses STUN/TURN
  • Purpose: Establishing P2P connections
  • Features: Combines STUN and TURN
WebRTC
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: Dynamic
  • Purpose: Media transmission in browser
  • Features: P2P communication, video/audio
SNMPv3
  • OSI Layer: 7 (Application)
  • Port: 161/162
  • Purpose: Secure network monitoring
  • Features: Encryption and authentication
IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: Does not use ports
  • Purpose: Management of multicast groups
  • Features: Support for IPv4 multicast
PIM (Protocol Independent Multicast)
  • OSI Layer: 3 (Network)
  • Port: Does not use ports
  • Purpose: Multicast routing
  • Features: Different operation modes (SM, DM)
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