PPP
/ˌpiː-piː-ˈpiː/
n. “The protocol that wraps network packets for point-to-point links.”
PPP, short for Point-to-Point Protocol, is a data link layer protocol used to establish direct connections between two networked devices over serial links, telephone lines, or other point-to-point connections. It encapsulates network layer packets (like IP) into frames for transmission and provides features like authentication, compression, and error detection.
Key characteristics of PPP include:
Ethernet
/ˈiːθərˌnɛt/
n. “The wired network that connects computers in a LAN.”
Ethernet is a family of networking technologies used to connect devices in local area networks (LANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), and even wide area networks (WANs). It defines the physical and data link layers of the network, including how devices format data, detect collisions, and physically transmit signals over cables or fiber optics.
Key characteristics of Ethernet include:
ZMODEM
/ˈziːˌmoʊdɛm/
n. “The speedy, robust file transfer protocol that learned from its predecessors.”
ZMODEM is a file transfer protocol developed in the mid-1980s as an advancement over XMODEM and YMODEM. It was designed for faster, more reliable transfers over serial connections and early modems, incorporating features like error recovery, batch file transfers, and streaming to maximize efficiency.
Key characteristics of ZMODEM include:
YMODEM
/ˈwaɪˌmoʊdɛm/
n. “The faster, smarter cousin of XMODEM.”
YMODEM is a file transfer protocol developed as an improvement over XMODEM, designed to efficiently send larger files over serial connections, modems, and early networks. It retains the block-based reliability of XMODEM but adds support for batch transfers, larger block sizes, and enhanced error detection.
Key characteristics of YMODEM include:
XMODEM
/ˈɛksˌmoʊdɛm/
n. “One of the classic protocols for sending files over serial lines.”
XMODEM is a simple file transfer protocol developed in 1977 by Ward Christensen for transferring files over serial connections, such as modems or serial ports. It became widely used in the early days of personal computing and bulletin board systems (BBSs) because it introduced basic error detection and reliability for transferring data between computers.
Key characteristics of XMODEM include:
SYN-ACK
/sɪn-æk/
n. “The TCP handshake’s polite ‘hello back’.”
SYN-ACK is a flag combination in the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) header used during the three-way handshake to establish a reliable connection between two devices. It signals both synchronization and acknowledgment: the server acknowledges receipt of the client’s initial SYN request and simultaneously sends its own SYN to start communication in the opposite direction.
Key characteristics of SYN-ACK include:
NAK
/næk/
n. “The TCP or protocol signal that says ‘Nope, try again.’”
NAK, short for Negative Acknowledgment, is a control signal used in networking and communication protocols to indicate that a data packet or message was not received correctly or could not be processed. Unlike ACK, which confirms successful receipt, NAK tells the sender that the transmitted data needs to be retransmitted.
Key characteristics of NAK include:
ACK
/æk/
n. “The TCP nod that says ‘I got it.’”
ACK, short for Acknowledgment, is a flag in the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) header that confirms receipt of data or the successful completion of a step in the TCP handshake. Whenever a device receives data, it sends an ACK packet back to the sender to indicate that the information was received correctly, helping ensure reliable, ordered communication.
Key characteristics of ACK include:
SYN
/sɪn/
n. “The TCP handshake’s polite ‘hello’.”
SYN, short for Synchronize, is a flag in the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) header used to initiate a connection between two devices on a network. It signals the beginning of the TCP three-way handshake, allowing both the client and server to synchronize sequence numbers and prepare for reliable data transfer.
Key characteristics of SYN include:
RST
/ˌɑːr-ɛs-ˈtiː/
n. “The TCP reset signal that ends a connection abruptly.”
RST, short for Reset, is a flag in the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) header that indicates an immediate termination of a TCP connection. When a device sends a packet with the RST flag set, it signals that something went wrong or that the connection should be closed immediately without following the usual graceful teardown process.
Key characteristics of RST include: