There is a very long list of network protocols, but I wanted to include a comprehensive list, with its descriptions. As mentioned this is a short list that is only including the most common and basic protocols
As you progress in your learning you will notice more protocols, based on the things that you are trying to achieve. Mostly it comes down to your infrastructure requirements and environment.
We can think of this list as a quick list to get us started, as these are the most common protocols
| Protocol | Definition |
|---|---|
| TCP | Transmission Control Protocol, a connection-oriented protocol that ensures reliable data transfer. |
| UDP | User Datagram Protocol, a connectionless protocol that is faster and has lower overhead than TCP. |
| IP | Internet Protocol, a network-layer protocol responsible for routing packets of data through a network. |
| HTTP | Hypertext Transfer Protocol, a protocol used for transmitting data on the World Wide Web. |
| HTTPS | HTTP Secure, a combination of HTTP and SSL/TLS protocol and it is used for secure communication over the internet. |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol, a protocol used for transferring files between computers on a network. |
| DHCP | Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, a protocol used for automatically assigning IP addresses to devices on a network. |
| DNS | Domain Name System, a protocol used for translating domain names into IP addresses. |
| SMTP | Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, a protocol used for sending email messages between servers. |
| SNMP | Simple Network Management Protocol, a protocol used for managing and monitoring network devices. |
About the Author:
Andres Sarmiento, CCIE # 53520
With over 18 years of professional experience, Andres is a specialist in Unified Communications and Collaboration technologies, Enterprise Networks, and Network Security. He has consulted for numerous companies in South Florida, including Financial Institutions, on behalf of Cisco Systems. Andres has played a key role in several high-profile implementations, utilizing Cisco technologies such as Data Center, UC & Collaboration, Contact Center Express, Routing & Switching, Security, and Hosted IPT Service Provider infrastructures.