UDP

[deanwebb]

https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc768

That's it. Nothing more to it. Defined in 1980, never revised, loved and admired by all. All hail UDP, bringer of speed!

Source port? Optional. Checksum? Could be all zeros for applications that don't know or don't care. These packets are going just one way, bucko! That's why they're ideal for high-speed, low-latency communications like voice and video.

I'm posting this here so that folks getting into networking can engage in a few exercises:

1) Read an RFC. This is a very important activity, and RFC 768 is a great, easy way to start. You learn so much by going directly to the RFCs that define the protocols being used on your networks.

2) View a packet header diagram. Another important activity, and it's hard to imagine something simpler than a UDP header. Start here and as other diagrams include other fields, they won't seem as overwhelming.

3) Understanding of a TCP/IP packet. In this, we see that UDP is relying upon IP for source and destination information and is really nothing more than a little box to stuff data in. This, then, highlights the need to understand IP itself and how it handles traffic.

I hope everyone takes about 2 minutes to read through the UDP RFC. You'll be happy to pat yourself on the back, once you've done with it!
<- guy what just read RFC 768, as he now totally understands UDP.

[deanwebb]

OK, so you want more? Then read these pages and get further enlightenment: http://www.tcpipguide.com/free/t_TCPIPUserDatagramProtocolUDP.htm

Again, it's a great place to start as it goes through pretty much all the things one needs to consider about a protocol, but because UDP is so simple, there's not a lot of information to tackle. Once you get UDP figured out, you are ready to look at other areas of networking with increased confidence.

[that1guy15]

good stuff!!

Im sure their is a UDP joke in there somewhere but I didnt get it!

"What do we want!!??

"UDP!!"

When do" "NOW!!"
"we want it!!??"

[icecream-guy]

Once you get UDP figured out, you are ready to look at other areas of networking with increased confidence.

like here, and start contemplating running TCP over UDP.
https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-cheshire-tcp-over-udp-00

[wintermute000]

Is that a gag RFC like the classic Ethernet over fiber channel one

[icecream-guy]

Is that a gag RFC like the classic Ethernet over fiber channel one

Ethernet over WHA?


to quote glendo1 from reddit:

"Does that mean you could do FCoEoFC?! Mind blown."

[deanwebb]

You can do *anything* with encapsulation!