86 TCP/IP Overview ENWW
User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
UDP provides similar services to TCP. However, UDP does not
acknowledge data receipt and supports request/reply transactions
with no added reliability or guarantee of delivery. UDP is used when
acknowledgment and reliability are not required, such as during a
“discovery broadcast.”
IP Address
Every host (workstation or node) on an IP network requires a
unique IP address for each network interface. This address is a
software address that is used to identify both the network and
specific hosts located on that network. Each IP address can be
divided into two separate parts: the network portion and the host
portion. It is possible for a host to query a server for a dynamic IP
address each time the device boots-up (see the section “
Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).”)
Note When assigning IP addresses, always consult the IP
address administrator. Setting the wrong address
can disable other equipment operating on the
network or interfere with communications.
IP Address: (Network Portion)
Network addresses are managed by an organization in Norfolk,
Virginia recognized as InterNIC. InterNIC has been contracted by
the National Science Foundation to manage the Internet addresses
and domains. Network addresses are distributed to organizations
that are in turn responsible for making sure all attached devices or
hosts on the network are properly numbered. The network address
is a four-byte address although some bytes may be expressed
as
zeros.
