What are PPP and SLIP protocols and what are they used for?

In this article, you will learn what are different types of protocols and what are they used for.

Before the globalization of wireless networks, most people in the world, who didn't have lines (cable or Ethernet) linked directly to the Internet, had to use telephone lines, the most widely used network back in the day, to connect to the Internet. But how does it work? This connection is made using a modem, a device capable of converting digital data from the computer into analog signals that can circulate on telephone lines by amplitude or frequency modulation, in the same way as voice when you use the telephone. Considering that only two computers are communicating and the speed of a telephone line is slow in comparison to that of a local network, it is necessary to use a protocol enabling standard communication between the different machines using a modem. It is also important not to overload the telephone line. These protocols are called modem protocols.

What is the concept of a Point-to-Point link?

Via a standard telephone line, a maximum of two computers can communicate using a modem, in the same way, that it is impossible to call two people simultaneously using the same telephone line. This is, thus, called a point-to-point link, meaning a link between two machines reduced to its most simple expression. In this exchange, there is no need to share the line between several machines as each one speaks and responds in turn:

As such, many modem protocols have been developed. The first of them allowed for a single transmission of data between two machines, then some of them were equipped with error control. With the growth of the Internet, many were equipped with the ability to address machines. As a result, there are now two main modem protocols: SLIP, an old protocol that is low in controls; and PPP, the most widely used protocol for accessing the Internet via a modem and that authorizes addressing machines.

What is the SLIP protocol?

SLIP means Serial Line Internet Protocol. SLIP is the result of the integration of modem protocols prior to the suite of TCP/IP protocols. It is a simple Internet link protocol conducting neither address nor error control, which is why it became quickly obsolete compared to PPP.

Data transmission with SLIP is very simple: this protocol sends a frame composed only of data to be sent followed by an end of transmission character (i.e. the END character, the ASCII code 192). A SLIP frame looks like this:

What is the PPP protocol?

What is “PPP Protocol”? PPP means Point to Point Protocol. Advantages of “PPP Protocol” include that it is a much more developed protocol than SLIP, as it can transfer additional data and is better suited to data transmission over the Internet. (The addition of data in a frame is mainly due to the increase in bandwidth).

In reality, PPP is a collection of three protocols:

• A datagram encapsulation protocol.
• An LCP, or Link Control Protocol, enabling testing and communication configuration.
• A collection of NCPs, or Network Control Protocols, allowing integration control of PPP within the protocols of the upper layers.

Data encapsulated in a PPP frame is called a packet. These packets are generally datagrams, but they can also be different (hence the specific designation of packet instead of datagram). As such, one field of the frame is reserved for the type of protocol to which the packet belongs. A PPP frame looks like this:

The padding data is used to adapt the length of the frame for certain protocols.

A PPP session takes place as follows:

• Upon connection, an LCP packet is sent.
• In the event of an authentication request from the server, a packet relating to an authentication protocol may be sent, namely. </bold>PAP (Password Authentication Protocol), CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol), or Kerberos.
• Once the communication is established, PPP sends configuration information using the NCP protocol.
• Datagrams to be sent are transmitted as packets.
• Upon disconnection, an LCP packet is sent to end the session.