SonicWALL Internet Security Appliances manual Network Protocols

Network Protocols

The method that used to regulate a workstation’s access to a computer network to prevent data collisions. The SonicWALL uses the TCP/IP protocol.

•TCP/IP - Internet Protocol, or "IP", provides connectionless data transfer over a TCP/IP network. Since IP alone does not provide end-to-end data reliability as well as some other services, other protocols such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) can be added to provide these services. In TCP/IP, TCP works with IP to ensure the integrity of the data traveling over the network. TCP/ IP is the protocol of the Internet.

•FTP - File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used to transfer documents between different types of com- puters on a TCP/IP network.

•HTTP - HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a widely used protocol to transfer information over the Internet. Typically, it is used to transfer information from Web servers to Web browsers.

•UDP - User Datagram Protocol (UDP) transfers information using virtual ports between two ap- plications on a TCP/IP network. Slightly faster than TCP, it is not as reliable.

•DNS - Domain Name System (DNS) is a protocol that matches Internet computer names to their corresponding IP addresses. By using DNS, a user can type in a computer name, such as www.sonicwall.com, instead of an IP address, such as 192.168.168.168, to access a computer.

•DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) allows communication between network devices and a server that administers IP numbers. A DHCP server leases IP addresses and other TCP/IP information to DHCP client that requests them. Typically, a DHCP client leases an IP address for a period of time from a DHCP server which allows a larger number of clients to use a set pool of IP addresses.

•WINS - Windows Internet Naming System (WINS), used on Microsoft® TCP/IP Networks, matches Microsoft® network computer names to IP addresses. Using this protocol allows computers on the Microsoft® network to communicate with other networks and computers that use the TCP/ IP suite.

•HTTPS - Secure HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTPS) is a protocol to transfer information securely over the Internet. HTTPS encrypts and decrypts information exchanged between a Web server and a Web browser using Secure Socket Layer (SSL).

•SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is used to send and receive e-mail messages. Typically, SMTP is used only to send e-mail while another protocol, POP3, is used to receive e- mail messages.

•POP3 - Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) is used to receive e-mail messages and storing messages on a server, referred to as a POP server.

•ICMP - Internet Control Messages Protocol (ICMP) reports errors and controls messages on a TCP/IP network. PING uses ICMP protocol to test if a network device is available.

Page 264 SonicWALL Internet Security Appliance Administrator’s Guide