Networking - Explain the services provided by IP (Internet Protocol)

Explain the services provided by IP (Internet Protocol) - Addressing, Fragmentation, Packet timeouts and options

1. Addressing: For the purpose of delivering datagram packets, IP needs to know about the address of the destination. By including the host addressing, this task is carried out by IP. As IP operates in an internet, its systems are designed to accept the addressing of devices which are unique.

2. Fragmenting: The datagram packets are sent to the data link layer for the purpose of transmission on the network. The physical network frame size that uses IP may be different. To resolve this, IP fragments the datagram into certain pieces. So that, each piece can be carried on the network. The receiving systems use these pieces and reassemble the whole IP datagram again.

3. Packet timeouts: A timeout packet is the time for waiting next instruction from the command station. If the command is not sent by the station, it shuts down.