TCP/IP architecture

This course on the architecture of DoD Internet version 4, also known as the IPv4 protocol family or TCP/IPv4 (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol version 4), is divided into two modules: this one and its sequel "TCP/IP 2 Architecture" (ER6RE113).
After an introduction to the historical aspects that led to the TCP/IPv4 protocol family and its original addressing scheme, this course focuses on the protocols of the TCP/IPv4 family up to the transport level, and on the current addressing scheme. Practical work concludes this module to illustrate the concepts studied in class. They also provide practical skills and enable the deployment of simple networks using this protocol family, as well as the resolution of common construction and configuration errors.
This module covers aspects from the physical to the network level, while the "TCP/IP 2 Architecture" module focuses on the main transport protocols.

• Know and understand the origins of the TCP/IPv4 protocol family, to be aware of its advantages and limitations compared to other protocol families, and the need to implement solutions to overcome these limitations.
• Understand the notion of IPv4 interconnection of low-level communications networks, and learn about, understand and implement the three main mechanisms for adapting these low-level communications networks to IPv4: connected and unconnected modes, and, above all, the ARP protocol and IPv4's fragmentation and reassembly mechanism.
• Know and understand the protocol elements of IPv4, as well as IPv4 addressing and routing mechanisms, to be able to set up simple networks using the TCP/IPv4 protocol family, which can also use a subtle addressing scheme.

• Know and understand the main IPv4 options and ICMPv4 features, not only to use them as such but also to help troubleshoot simple errors in building and configuring networks using the TCP/IPv4 protocol family.

• Module ER5RE112 "Introduction to networks".

• Introduction to TCP/IPv4 architecture
  
  • Historical foundations
    From ARPANET and NSFNET to the TCP/IPv4 protocol family (DoD Internet).
  • TCP/IPv4 protocol family standardization organization and associated bodies
  • Notion of network interconnection
  • Data routing in packet-switched networks
    - Notions of data circuits and virtual circuits.
    - Notions of connected and unconnected data transfer.
  • Interconnection of heterogeneous low-level communication networks over IPv4 in unconnected mode
  • Need for adaptation between IPv4 and the heterogeneous low-level communication networks used
  • IPv4 protocol stack and comparison with the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model
  • General principle of IPv4 data packet routing
  • Original IPv4 addressing scheme
  • Simplified IPv4 packet routing principle
  • Opening up to the evolution of IPv4 addressing and routing to their current forms
• TCP/IPv4 architecture link layer: interaction with low-level communication networks
  
  • Need to adapt IPv4 to the transmission of its packets over low-level communication networks with varying characteristics
    - Transfer mode, connected or unconnected, of low-level communication networks.
    - Maximum packet size that can be transmitted by low-level communication networks (maximum payload).
    - Resolution (conversion) of IPv4 addresses into addresses used by the low-level communication networks used.
  • Principles of address resolution
    - Background.
    - Purpose.
    - Main possible methods: advantages and disadvantages.
  • Overview of Ethernet / IEEE 802.3 communication networks
  • Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
    - How ARP works
    - Protocol elements
    - Structure of an ARP packet
    - Application to Ethernet / IEEE 802.3.
  • IPv4 multicast address resolution (group addresses)
    Example of a solution adapted to Ethernet / IEEE 802.3.
  • Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP)
• TCP/IPv4 architecture Internet layer: IPv4 and ICMPv4
  • Purpose and main principles of the IPv4 protocol
  • An informal overview of IPv4 features
  • Structure of an IPv4 packet (datagram)
  • IPv4 protocol elements
    - Quality of service management: original "TOS" (Type Of Service) and "DS" (Differenciated Services) operation, retro-inherited from IPv6.
    - Congestion control: original operation and "ECN" (Explicit Congestion Notification), retro-inherited from IPv6.
    - Datagram lifetime limitation.
    - Fragmentation and datagram reassembly: adaptation of datagram size to the maximum payload of the low-level communication networks used. Datagram fragmentation and reassembly: adapting datagram size to the maximum payload of the low-level communication networks used.
    - Progressive construction of current datagram routing: subaddressing, network mask, variable-length network mask, overaddressing, address and network aggregations, CIDR notation, notion of network prefix and use, notion of default route and use, summary of current general IPv4 routing and possible backward compatibility problems with older protocols and equipment.
  • IPv4 options
    Main current IPv4 options, protocol elements and roles.
  • ICMPv4 protocol
    Main current ICMPv4 messages, protocol elements and roles.

• Official DoD documentation Internet: https: //www.rfc-editor.org
• D. E. Comer, "Internetworking With TCP/IP Volume 1: Principles, Protocols, and Architecture - 6th edition", Pearson, 2014.
• Non-exhaustive course handouts (note-taking compulsory) and practical texts.