SSV - CP/386LN

THE CP/386LN IN TCP/IP NETWORKS

Computer network protocols are formal rules of behavior that govern network communications. The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) are just two of the data communication protocols encompassed by the Internet Protocol Suite. This protocol suite is usually referred to as TCP/IP partly because TCP and IP are two of the most important protocols of the collection. TCP/IP includes a set of standards that specify how networked computers communicate and how data is routed through the interconnected computers. TCP/IP provides the user with two primary services: connectionless packet delivery and reliable stream transport. TCP/IP has several distinguishing features that have led to its popularity, including:

Network Topology Independence: TCP/IP is used on bus, ring, and star networks. It´s used in local- area networks (LANs) with Ethernet or Token Ring as well as wide- area networks (WANs).

Physical Network Hardware Independence: TCP/IP can utilize Ethernet, Token Ring, or any number of physical hardware variations.

Open Protocol Standard: The TCP/IP protocol suite standard is freely available for independent implementation on any computer hardware platform or operating system. TCP/IP´s wide acceptance and the fact that TCP/IP is available on platforms ranging from supercomputers to PCs makes it an ideal set of protocols to unite different hardware and software.

Universal Addressing Scheme: Each computer on a TCP/IP network has an address that uniquely identifies it so that any TCP/IP enabled device can communicate with any other on the network. Each packet of data sent across a TCP/IP network has a header that contains the address of the destination computer as well as the address of the source computer.

Powerful Client-Server Framework: TCP/IP is the framework for powerful and robust client- server applications that operate in local- area networks and wide- area networks.

Application Protocol Standards: TCP/IP doesn´t just provide the user with a method for moving data around a network among custom applications. It also provides many application- level protocols that implement such common functionality as email and file- transfer capabilities (i.e. the FTP - File Transfer Protocol application level service).

Probably the most common medium over which TCP/IP systems operate is Ethernet. The CP/386LN with the on-board Crystal CS8900 IEEE 802.3 Ethernet controller is ready for the integration into Ethernet based TCP/IP networks. For using the CP/386LN in TCP/IP networks, you need TCP/IP network drivers. If you running the Microsoft MS-DOS operating system on the CP/386LN, you can use the PC/TCP for DOS driver package from FTP Software, Inc. You can order this software at:

FTP Software, Inc.
100 Brickstone Square
Andover, MA 01810
USA
Tel. (508) 685-3300
Fax. (508) 794-4488
e-mail: info@ftp.com
http://www.ftp.com

The next figure shows a typical sample configuration for the CP/386LN in a Ethernet based TCP/IP network. The CP/386LN Ethernet 10BASE-T LAN interface is connected with an 10BASE-T HUB (twisted- pair concentrator). Other computers in this Ethernet based TCP/IP network are also connected with the 10BASE-T HUB.

With the PC/TCP for DOS driver package from FTP Software, Inc., you can use the FTP - File Transfer Protocol application level service of TCP/IP. With FTP, you can transfer files between different computers in the network. FTP was designed to provide a service for applications that want to move files between networked computers. It provides the basic application layer services needed to move files. FTP requires a reliable communication service, so it uses the TCP transport service of TCP/IP.

FTP also requires an FTP client and an FTP server. In the sample configuration, the CP/386LN is the FTP client. A desktop PC in the network is the FTP server. The PC/TCP for DOS driver package from FTP Software, Inc. offers the necessary software for the FTP client and the FTP server and the Support Disk CS8900 LAN CONTROLLER SUPPORT DISK offers the necessary Packet Driver for using the TCP/IP protocol with the CP/386LN on-board Crystal CS8900 IEEE 802.3 Ethernet controller.