How does a TCP make a network more reliable?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

To make a network more reliable, TCP (as well as most transport layer protocols) performs the following six functions:* Create a connection-The TCP header includes a port address that indicates a particular application on a machine. Used in conjunction, the port address and the IP address identify a particular application of a particular machine. When TCP creates a connection between a sender and a receiver, the two ends of the connection use a port number to identify the particular application's connection. This port number is found within the TCP datagram and is passed back and forth between sender and receiver.* Release a connection-The TCP software can also dissolve a connection after all the data has been sent and received.* Implement flow control-To make sure the sending station does not overwhelm the receiving station with too much data, the TCP header includes a field, called the Window value, that allows the receiver to tell the sender to slow down. This Window value is similar in operation to the sliding window used at the data link layer. The difference between the two window operations is that the data link layer's sliding window operates between two nodes or between a workstation and a node, while the TCP window operates between the two endpoints (sender and receiver) of a network connection.* Establish multiplexing-Because the TCP header includes a port number instead of an IP address, it is possible to multiplex multiple connections over a single IP connection. This multiplexing can be done by creating a different connection that has a port number different from a previous connection.* Perform error recovery-TCP numbers each packet for transmission with a sequence number. As the packets arrive at the destination site, the receiving TCP software checks these sequence numbers for continuity. If there is a loss of continuity, the receiving TCP software uses an acknowledgment number to inform the sending TCP software of a possible error condition.* Establish priority-If the sender has to transmit data of a higher priority, such as an error condition, TCP can set a value in a field (the Urgent Pointer) that indicates that all or a portion of the enclosed data is of an urgent nature.