Point to Point Protocol (PPP)

The Point to Point Protocol is a platform that is used to connect any individual computer or a network to the internet service provider. The connection is established between two points only and that is why it is called Point to Point Protocol. The PPP is considered be the only best solution for connecting computers on the internet.

The basic architecture of the PP is layered and the bottommost layer is the LCP or the Link Control Protocol. The Link Control Protocol is responsible for establishing the connection. The Internet Packet control protocol or the IPCP send and receives the packets over the link established by the Link Control Protocol or the LCP.

PPP Features

• The PPP follows an address notification system and using this IP address the dial up client works and the IP address established for the particular link is also requested by there networks. All this takes place automatically in the PPP.

• The PPP provides two methods of authentication; one is the Password Authentication Protocol that uses a password to authenticate or the Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol which uses the handshake of the server with the dial up as an authentication.

• The PPP allows different types of protocols to function on its platform and on the same link.

• The PPP also additionally checks the link established by the protocol and includes something called the link level echo facility which checks if the link is operating properly.

The main tasks of the Point to Point Protocol are to check if the condition of the line or the telephone line that it is operating on is OK. The Point to Point Protocol also checks the password and after going through all these initial checks it establishes the connection with the internet service provider servers and requests for an IP address.

This IP address is used by the PPP on the internet to communicate with all other network protocols and servers as long as the connection lasts. The PPP also transports the packets of information from one server to the other and uses the same IP address to address the computer which has requested for the information.

PPP Frames

There are many protocols that are included in the PPP frame that work in tandem to send and receive data on a network. The packages of data that are being sent and received on the network is called frame. The Point to Point Protocol usually follows a general and a standard format for all the frames that it sends or receives.

In order to understand the network and its functionalities and later trouble shoot a network administrator should be able to understand these frames to be able to diagnose issues related to the protocols.

The Point to Point Protocol follows specified set of formats for different purposes on the network. The formats that are commonly used by the Point to Point Protocol are Link Control Protocol, and other authentication protocols like PAP and CHAP. The Point to Point Protocol also has a varied version called the PPP multilink protocol. All these protocols are used to transport the small bits of data over the link.

Among these three protocols the Link Control Protocol can handle different sizes of packets and information. It also authenticates the peer on the link by recognizing the information that is being sent on the link. This is a helpful feature when there is no authentication procedure is being used and the authentication takes place whiles the handshake itself. The Link Control Protocol also multiplexes and encapsulates information.