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Advance Computer Network
About Subject ACN ( elective ) -:
In Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) diploma programs, an elective
subject is a course that students can choose from a set of options, in addition to the core
curriculum. Elective subjects allow students to tailor their education to their interests and
career goals by selecting topics that are not mandatory but are available as part of the broader
curriculum. These subjects often provide specialized knowledge and skills that can enhance a
student's expertise in a particular area of their field.
The "Advanced Computer Network" subject in a diploma or engineering program typically covers in-
depth topics related to computer networking. The curriculum aims to provide students with a
comprehensive understanding of advanced networking concepts, protocols, and technologies.
Chapters / Syllabus
1. Network Layers & Protocols
2. Next Generation IP
3. Unicast & Multicast Routing Protocols
4. Transport Layer Protocols
5. Application Layer Protocols
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Chapter 1 -: Network Layers & Protocols ( Part 3 )
3.1 Explain ICMPv4 -:
ICMPv4 (Internet Control Message Protocol for IPv4) is a core protocol of the Internet
Protocol Suite, used by network devices like routers and computers to send error messages
and operational information. It is part of the IPv4 protocol and is defined in RFC 792.
Key Functions of ICMPv4:
1. Error Reporting:
o Destination Unreachable: Indicates that a packet cannot reach its destination.
Reasons can include a network, host, or protocol being unreachable.
o Time Exceeded: Informs that a packet's time to live (TTL) has expired, which
usually happens if a packet is caught in a routing loop.
o Source Quench: A request to reduce the rate at which data is sent. This
message is deprecated and rarely used today.
2. Diagnostics:
o Echo Request and Echo Reply: Commonly used by the ping command to
check if a host is reachable and how long it takes to receive a response.
o Timestamp Request and Reply: Provides the time-stamp of when a message
was sent and received, used for time synchronization and round-trip time
calculation.
3. Network Information:
o Redirect Message: Informs a host that a better route is available for a
destination, prompting the host to update its routing table.
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How ICMPv4 Works:
• ICMPv4 messages are encapsulated within IP packets. When a network device needs
to send an ICMP message, it wraps it in an IP header and sends it to the appropriate
destination.
• ICMPv4 is primarily used for network diagnostics and error reporting rather than data
transmission. It plays a crucial role in network management and troubleshooting.
ICMP Message Format
ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) messages are structured to carry different types of
information about network conditions. The ICMP message format is simple but varies
slightly depending on the type of message being sent. Below is a general breakdown of the
ICMP message format, which applies to both ICMPv4 (for IPv4) and ICMPv6 (for IPv6),
though some fields and types are specific to each version.
General ICMP Message Format
Each ICMP message consists of the following fields:
1. Type (8 bits):
o Specifies the type of the ICMP message. For example, a Type 8 message is an
Echo Request (used by ping), and a Type 0 message is an Echo Reply.
2. Code (8 bits):
o Further classifies the message within the Type. For example, within the
Destination Unreachable Type (Type 3), different codes indicate whether the
network, host, or protocol is unreachable.
3. Checksum (16 bits):
o Used to detect errors in the ICMP message. The checksum covers the entire
ICMP message, starting with the Type field.
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4. Rest of Header (32 bits):
o The content of this field varies depending on the Type and Code. It often
includes information such as identifiers, sequence numbers, or pointers used in
more specific message types.
5. Data (Variable length):
o Contains additional information, which varies by the type of ICMP message.
For example, in Echo Request and Echo Reply messages, this field contains
the data that is echoed back to the sender. In error messages, this field
typically contains the beginning of the original IP packet that caused the error.
Types of ICMP Messages
ICMP messages can be broadly categorized into two groups: Error Reporting Messages and
Query Messages. Here's an explanation of each type:
ICMP Error Reporting Messages
These messages are used to report issues with the transmission of data packets. They inform
the sender about problems encountered during the delivery process.
• Destination Unreachable (Type 3):
o Indicates that the destination is unreachable for various reasons, such as a
network failure, unreachable host, or the destination port being closed.
o Example Codes:
▪ Code 0: Network unreachable
▪ Code 1: Host unreachable
▪ Code 2: Protocol unreachable
▪ Code 3: Port unreachable
• Source Quench (Type 4):
o Used to indicate congestion in the network. It tells the sender to slow down the
transmission of data packets. However, this message type is deprecated and
not commonly used in modern networks.
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• Time Exceeded (Type 11):
o Sent when a packet's Time to Live (TTL) value reaches zero. This typically
happens when a packet loops in the network or takes too long to reach its
destination.
o Example Codes:
▪ Code 0: TTL exceeded in transit
▪ Code 1: Fragment reassembly time exceeded
• Parameter Problem (Type 12):
o Indicates that there was an issue with the IP header of a packet, such as a
missing or invalid parameter.
o Example Codes:
▪ Code 0: Pointer indicates the error
▪ Code 1: Missing a required option
• Redirect (Type 5):
o Informs the sender that there is a better route available for sending packets to a
particular destination. The sender should update its routing table accordingly.
o Example Codes:
▪ Code 0: Redirect for the network
▪ Code 1: Redirect for the host
2. ICMP Query Messages
These messages are used to request information from another host or router, and the response
provides the requested information. They are primarily used for diagnostic and
troubleshooting purposes.
• Echo Request (Type 8) and Echo Reply (Type 0):
o Echo Request (Type 8): Sent by a host to check if another host is reachable.
This is commonly used in the ping command.
o Echo Reply (Type 0): Sent by the destination host in response to an Echo
Request, indicating that it is reachable.
• Timestamp Request (Type 13) and Timestamp Reply (Type 14):
o Timestamp Request (Type 13): A message sent to request the current time
from another host.
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o Timestamp Reply (Type 14): The response with the current time, which can
be used to calculate the round-trip delay between the hosts.
• Address Mask Request (Type 17) and Address Mask Reply (Type 18):
o Address Mask Request (Type 17): Sent by a host to obtain the subnet mask
of the network it is on.
o Address Mask Reply (Type 18): Sent in response with the requested subnet
mask.
• Router Solicitation (Type 10) and Router Advertisement (Type 9):
o Router Solicitation (Type 10): Sent by a host to discover available routers on
the network.
o Router Advertisement (Type 9): Sent by routers to announce their presence
and provide information about available routes to the hosts on the network.
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