TCP/IP Internet Protocol Suite

TCP/IP is a widely used protocol suite for internetworking, a term that refers to the connection of various physical networks to form one large virtual network. Any system connected to a TCP/IP internetwork should be able to communicate with any other system within the internetwork, regardless of the physical network on which the systems actually reside. Networks are linked together by a system that functions as a gateway between systems.

While TCP/IP has a closely associated history with UNIX systems, the TCP/IP protocols themselves are independent of the operating system, the network topology, and the connection medium. TCP/IP operates on Ethernet and Token Ring local area networks (LANs), across wide area links such as X.25, and serial connections. Support for TCP/IP networking has been an integral part of SunOS in all versions of the operating system.