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NCP Explained

NCP Explained

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When a PPP link has been initiated, the LCP passes control to the appropriate Network Control Protocol (NCP). NCP is a set of protocols that form part of PPP. PPP is a data link layer protocol that can transmit multiprotocol data between two point-to-point. 

PPP’s modular model allows LCP to set up the link and then transfer the details of a network protocol to a particular NCP. Each network protocol has a corresponding NCP and corresponding RFC. For example, IPv4, IP6, IPX, and many others have corresponding NCPs. These NCPs use the same packet as the LCPs. 

After the LCP configuration and authentication in the basic link, the inappropriate Network Control Protocol is called on to complete the particular configuration of the network layer protocol. After the network layer protocol’s successful Network Control Protocol configuration, the network protocol is in the open state on the established LCP link. From there, PPP can carry the corresponding network-layer protocol packets.

Internet Protocol Control Protocol (IPCP) 

When LCP has established the link, the routers exchange IPCP messages for option negotiation. IPCP is responsible for configuring, enabling, and disabling the IPv4 modules on both ends of the PPP link. The same responsibilities are allocated to IPV6CP for IPv6 addresses. IPCP negotiates two options:

  • Compression—The compression protocol allows devices to negotiate an algorithm to compress TCP and IP headers and save bandwidth. For compression, the Van Jacobson TCP/IP header compression is used. The Van Jacobson TCP/IP header compression compresses the size of the TCP/IP headers to 3 bytes. Which is the important improvement on slow serial lines, particularly for interactive traffic? This compression method is similar in concept to the Protocol-Field-Compression and Address-and-Control-Field-Compression (ACFC) options in LCP.
  • IP-Address- IP address allows the initiating device to send the Configure-Request. To specify an IP address, it needs to be used for routing IP over the PPP link or to request that the other device supply it with one. This is most commonly used for dial-up networking links before the advent of broadband technologies such as DSL and cable modem services. 

After the Network Control Protocol process is completed, the link goes into the open state, and LCP gets the link in the maintenance phase. Link traffic contains possible LCP, NCP, and network-layer protocol packet combinations. After the data transfer is completed, the Network Control Protocol terminates the protocol link, and the LCP terminates the PPP connection. The different NCPs are; 

  • Internet Protocol Control Protocol (IPCP) 
  • OSI Network Layer Control Protocol (OSINLCP) 
  • Internetwork Packet Exchange Control Protocol (IPXCP) 
  • DECnet Phase IV Control Protocol (DNCP) 
  • NetBIOS Frames Control Protocol (NBFCP)
  • IPv6 Control Protocol (IPV6CP)  
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) Components

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) Components

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A layered architecture is a logical model that aids in communication between interconnecting layers. We can map the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) layer model with the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model. Both Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) and OSI models share the same physical layer although the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) distributes the functions of Link Control Protocol (LCP) and Network Control Protocol (NCP) differently.

We can configure a range of interfaces at the physical layer including Asynchronous serial, Synchronous serial, HSSI and ISDN. Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) operates across any DTE/DCE interface including RS-232, RS-422, RS423 or V.35. The figure below illustrates the layered model of the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP). LCP and NCP mostly work in the data-link layer and network layer. The LCP sets up the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) connection including connection parameters. It is also responsible for connection termination. The NCPs handle higher layer protocol configurations.

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)

Link Control Protocol (LCP)

The Link Control Protocol (LCP) establishes, configures, and tests data-link connections. PPP send and receive LCP packet before establishing communications over a point-to-point link. The LCP packet may be accepted or rejected based on a linked peer, packet size and other configuration. The LCP packet checks the identity of its linked peer, sets the packet size limits, and also check for common configuration errors. Once the LCP packet accepts the link, traffic can be forwarded on the network. If the LCP packet found the link is not working correctly, it terminates the link. The LCP packet has three different types.

  • Link configuration packets
  • Link termination packets
  • Link maintenance packets

The LCP provides automatic configuration of the interfaces at each end. The LCP also negotiates and sets up control options on the WAN data link, which are handled by the NCPs. When the link is established, PPP also uses the LCP to agree automatically on encapsulation formats such as authentication, compression, and error detection.

Network Control Protocol (NCP)

Network Control Protocol (NCP) was an early protocol implemented by ARPANET. The ARPANET is the world’s first operational packet-switching network that later evolved into what became the Internet. Network Control Protocol (NCP) is the part of Point − to − Point Protocol (PPP). It is a data link layer protocol used for transmitting multi-protocol data between two point-to-point devices. PPP uses a separate NCP for each network layer protocol. For example, IPv6 uses the IPv6 Control Protocol (IPv6CP) and IPv4 uses IPv4 Control Protocol (IPCP). Each NCP manages the particular needs required by its relevant network-layer protocols. Different components of NCP encapsulate and negotiate options for multiple network-layer protocols.

NCP allowed access and use to remote devices at remote locations and to transmit files between devices and computers. NCP is the part of the protocol stack, and enabled application services such as email and file transfer. TCP/IP was replaced NCP in the 1980s.

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) Frame

PPP is a byte-oriented protocol. A PPP frame contains six fields. Each PPP frame is composed of one or more bytes. The fields of a PPP frame are illustrated in the figure below:-

Flag – Flag field marks the beginning and the end of the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) frame. It flags field standard HDLC field containing 8 bits. The bits pattern of the flag field is 01111110.

Address – It is a bit field that contains the binary sequence. In case of broadcast, the sequence is set to 11111111, PPP does not assign individual station addresses.

Control – This is a one-byte long field with the binary sequence 00000011. The value 00000011 shows that the frame does not contain any sequence numbers. It provides a connectionless link service for a point-to-point link. So, for PPP, the Address field is set to 0xFF, the broadcast address. If both Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) peers agree to do address and control field compression during the LCP negotiation, the Address field is not included.

Protocol – Protocol field is either one bit or two bits long that identify the protocol encapsulated in the information field of the frame. If the field is 2-byte, the field identifies the protocol of the PPP payload. If both PPP peers agree for the compression of the protocol field during LCP negotiation, the Protocol field is reduced to one byte for the protocol identification. The up-to-date values of the Protocol field are specified in the most recent Assigned Numbers Request For Comments (RFC).

Data/Payload – Data field is variable in length. It specifies the kind of packet in the data field i.e. what is being carried in the data field. The data field can contain user data or other information. If the length is not negotiated using LCP during line setup, a default length of 1500 bytes is used.

Frame Check Sequence (FCS) – FSC stands for Frame Check Sequence. It is a 2 byte or 4 bytes frame check sequence for error detection. The 2-byte frame is standard; however, LCPs can negotiate modifications to the standard PPP frame structure.