What are two characteristics of IP? (Choose two.)
guarantees delivery of packets
retransmits packets if errors occur
operates independently of the network media
re-assembles out of order packets into the correct order at the receiver end
does not require a dedicated end-to-end connection
The correct answer and explanation is :
The two correct characteristics of IP (Internet Protocol) are:
- Operates independently of the network media
- Does not require a dedicated end-to-end connection
Explanation:
1. Operates independently of the network media:
IP is designed to be a media-independent protocol. It doesn’t concern itself with the specifics of the underlying physical or data link layers, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or fiber optics. Instead, it provides a standard way to address and route packets across diverse types of networks. This flexibility allows IP to work across various network technologies, regardless of whether the network is wired or wireless, or uses different types of physical media. The abstraction of the transport and network layers from the underlying hardware is a core design principle in networking protocols, enabling the interconnectivity of devices regardless of their physical connections.
2. Does not require a dedicated end-to-end connection:
Unlike protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), which requires a dedicated connection to be established before data is exchanged, IP operates in a connectionless manner. This means that IP does not establish a persistent connection between the sender and the receiver before transmitting data. Each packet is routed independently, and there is no requirement for a prior handshake or a continuous path for communication. This connectionless nature makes IP more scalable and flexible, especially in large, dynamic networks like the internet, where maintaining a dedicated connection for each communication would be impractical.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- Guarantees delivery of packets:
IP does not guarantee packet delivery. It is an unreliable protocol, meaning packets may be lost or corrupted during transmission. The responsibility of ensuring reliable delivery lies with higher-layer protocols like TCP. - Retransmits packets if errors occur:
Again, this is the responsibility of higher-level protocols such as TCP, not IP. IP does not handle error detection and correction; it simply forwards packets based on their destination address. - Re-assembles out of order packets into the correct order at the receiver end:
IP does not handle reordering of packets. If packets arrive out of order, it is the responsibility of the transport layer protocol, like TCP, to reorder them.
In summary, IP operates in a connectionless manner and is independent of the specific network media, which makes it highly versatile and scalable for internet communication.