Question

Difficulty: EasyConnection-Oriented vs Connectionless Protocols

A network administrator is configuring a real-time voice streaming service for an office network. The application requires minimal protocol overhead and low latency, and it can tolerate minor packet loss without requiring retransmissions. Which transport layer protocol is best suited for this application?

  1. User Datagram Protocol (UDP)Answer
  2. B
    Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
  3. C
    Internet Protocol (IP)
  4. D
    Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)

Answer

User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is the correct choice because it is a connectionless transport layer protocol optimized for speed and low latency.
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is a connectionless Layer 4 protocol. It operates without establishing a session, tracking sequence numbers, or retransmitting missing packets, providing the lightweight, low-latency delivery required for real-time voice traffic.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the application requirements described in the scenario.
The application prioritizes minimal latency and low header overhead over guaranteed delivery, accepting occasional dropped packets.
Real-time communication traffic such as Voice over IP (VoIP) degrades if delayed by packet retransmissions.
2
Select the protocol operating at the transport layer that meets these criteria.
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) provides connectionless, unacknowledged delivery without session establishment overhead.
Connectionless protocols eliminate handshaking delays and retransmission buffers, ensuring fast transmission.

Key Concept

Connectionless vs Connection-Oriented Transport Protocols
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