Previously, we saw SLIP, i.e. the Serial Line Internet Protocol, a simple data link layer protocol. Within this article, we’ll take a look at the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) another data link layer protocol as well, but it’s more powerful than the SLIP and a little complicated as well.
The Point-to-Point Protocol was under development until the SLIP was registered. PPP is a robust way of providing complete IP transmission over the data link layer.
Some of the key features that the SLIP lacked but are included in PPP are Error Detection, Data Compression, Authentication, and Encryption.
Although PPP, is called a protocol and is generally considered part of TCP / IP, it is really more of a protocol-suite since its function is focused on procedures specified in several different protocols.
PPP Function and Architecture
Point-to-Point Protocol, a data link layer protocol (layer 2), is connection-oriented that allows layer 2 connections over separate physical layer connections.
PPP can operate both in half-duplex or full-duplex.
Main Components of Point-to-Point Protocol
PPP falls into the TCP/IP Paradigm in the network interface layer whose primary role is to take data from the network layer and provide its operation and make it usable with machine communication.
PPP can be broken down into a variety of modules or sub-protocols (can be named, but not in the documentation).
Data Encapsulation
PPP takes the higher-layer data, for example, IP Datagrams, and encapsulates them for transmission over the Physical layer. PPP uses HDLC framing design for data Encapsulation.
Link Control Protocol (LCP)
This protocol within PPP is responsible for creating, sustaining, and terminating the connection between devices.
LCP itself uses several protocols, defined in PPP, during the process of connection setup.
Authentication Protocols like Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) and Password Authentication Protocol (PAP).
Compression Protocol like Compression Control Protocol (CCP), Encryption Protocol like Encryption Control Protocol (ECP).
CCP allows data to be sent in a compressed way and thus saving bandwidth of the medium, ECP allows data security by sending data in an encrypted form.
This was a simple overview of the PPP, from the next blog, I will discuss each core protocol involved in PPP.