A Practical Introduction to Serial Protocals

Abstract

This chapter discusses how addressing information, control information, and data are encapsulated in a serial packet or frame. It shows the bit-level detail of an IEEE 802.3 Ethernet frame, an IP packet, and a TCP packet and shows how these protocols are used to create a sample protocol stack. The GNU-licensed and Windows-based application Packetyzer is used to explore a sample TCP/IP packet contained in an Ethernet frame. Once the student has studied the material of this chapter and has completed the hands-on experiment, he or she will have the skills to examine any packet or frame and, using the description of its protocol, extract the details of the message.