By using TCP/IP, it enables cross-platform, or heterogeneous, networking. For example, a Windows NT/2000 network could contain Unix and Macintosh workstations or even networks mixed in it. TCP/IP also has the following characteristics that make it unique:
- Good failure recovery
- The ability to add networks without interrupting existing services
- High error-rate handling
- Platform independence
- Low data overhead
Because TCP/IP was originally designed for Department of Defense–related purposes, what we now call features or characteristics were actually design requirements. The idea behind “Good Failure Recovery” was that if a portion of the network were disabled during an incursion or attack, its remaining pieces would still be able to function fully. Likewise is the capability of adding entire networks without any disruption to the services already in place. The ability to handle high error rates was built in so that if a packet of information got lost using one route, there would be a mechanism in place to ensure that it would reach its destination using another route. Platform independence means that the networks and clients can be Windows, Unix, Macintosh, or any other platform or combination thereof. The reason TCP/IP is so efficient lies in its low overhead. Performance is key for any network. TCP/IP is unmatched in its speed and simplicity.
