Point to Point protocol (PPP)
• Point to point, wired data link easier to manage than broadcast link: no
Media Access Control
• Several Data Link Protocols: PPP, HDLC…
• PPP (Point to Point Protocol) is very popular: used in dial up
connection between residential Host and ISP; on SONET/SDH
connections, etc
• PPP is extremely simple (the simplest in the Data Link protocol
family) and very streamlined
PPP requirements
• Pkt framing: encapsulation of packets
• bit transparency: must carry any bit pattern in the data field
• error detection (no correction)
• multiple network layer protocols
• connection liveness
• Network Layer Address negotiation: Hosts/nodes across the link must
learn/configure each other’s network address
PPP non-requirements
• error correction/recovery
• flow control
• sequencing
• multipoint links (eg, polling)
PPP Data Frame
• Flag: delimiter (framing)
• Address: does nothing (only one option)
• Control: does nothing; in the future possible multiple control fields
• Protocol: upper layer to which frame must be delivered (eg, PPP-LCP,
IP, IP-CP, etc)
•
Byte Stuffing
For “data transparency”, the data field must be allowed to include the
pattern <01111110> ; ie, this must not be interpreted as a flag
• to alert the receiver, the transmitter “stuffs” an extra < 01111101>
byte after each < 01111110> data byte
• the receiver discards each 01111101 after 01111110, and continues
data reception
•
PPP Link Control Protocol
PPP-LCP establishes/releases the PPP connection; negotiates options
• Starts in DEAD state
• LCP Options: max frame length; authentication protocol
• Once PPP link established, IP-CP (Contr Prot) moves in (on top of
PPP) to configure IP network addresses etc.