"network stack" ISO STUFF, good links

[ArkAoss]

i've heard the term stack in association with tcp/ip, and networking a few times, and also such things as "corrupted stack" could some one explain how i could check my "stack" and more info on this stack thingy.



iso thread

 

[divideby0]

TCP/IP Stack refers to the TCP/IP communications software residing on your computer. Ever since Windows95, Windows has come with the TCP/IP stack built in. Prior to that with 3.1 you had to install 3rd Party TCP/IP software such as Chameleon, Trumpet Winsock, etc.

TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol. These protocols allow your computer to communicate with other computers on a LAN/WAN running IP. The "Stack" portion refers to structure of the communications software on your computer as it relates to the OSI Reference Model and the ability for applications to communicate with other hosts on a network.

OSI Reference Model

Layer 7: Application
Layer 6: Presentation
Layer 5: Session
Layer 4: Transport
Layer 3: Network
Layer 2: Data Link
Layer 1: Physical

In this model, the physical cabling would be Layer 1, your NIC cards MAC Address resides at layer 2, your IP Address resides at layer 3, your Applications TCP Port operates at layer 4, don't worry about layers 5&6, and your application such as email, web browser, telnet application, ftp application, etc. resides at layer 7. Hope this isn't overkill. For more info do some research on the OSI reference model on the net.

- Jason

 

[smp]

hmmm.. nice reply.. I might have to print that for reference..

 

[ArkAoss]

K, how would one go about figuring if its corupted, and repairing that? osi layer. . .its coming back to me, time to re read tcp/ip for dummies

 

[Ladi]

You can repair simply by deleting/reinstalling your NIC or dialup adapters or the TCP/IP protocol itself, since that will force a (usually effective) rebuild of the network stack. I believe that a *complete* rebuild involves digging out a few files from win*/system32/ and regedit, but it's been a while since I've needed to go that far.

~Ladi