Answer to Question #272270 in Computer Networks for may

Question

Differentiate echo services of TCP and UDP .

Answer 1

TCP

The Transmission Control Protocol, or TCP, is as OG as it gets. TCP was part of the initial network transmission program that eventually gave way to the Internet Protocol used in modern networking.

TCP is widely used for its reliability, ordered nature (the packets are processed in a fixed sequence, not just as they arrive), and error correction. TCP is used for a ton of things, like email, file transfers, and any other operation where ordered, error-free data is more important than pure speed.

TCP is best used when testing specific situations where a TCP-like segment fails or struggles to reach its destination. A great example is with FTP. If you’re noticing your FTP traffic is being restricted or blocked, you can start using a trace with TCP to see where along the route FTP is being hindered.

UDP

The User Datagram Protocol, or UDP, is a bit different from what you might expect from a transport protocol. Unlike TCP, UDP is a connectionless communication method. This means UDP datagrams can be sent without establishing a connection between two devices, allowing them to be sent without consideration for rate or sequence.

For UDP, the primary focus is speed. Since UDP datagrams are coordinated by the application and not the protocol, they can be received and processed as they come. This is critical for things like video streams or VOIP, where processing info as fast as possible is more critical than reassembling the data in perfect order.

UDP is used to test things like livestreams or other time-sensitive applications that can give you a better idea where your data is being held up.