PDF of this tutorialOver the past few decades, packet-switched networks have merged with new technologies to facilitate more efficient communication channels within network systems. The popularity of Internet protocol (IP)–based networks is attributed to the emergence of the Internet and a host of highly popular network applications. IP networks and telephony-based networks are converging to support the inter-working of applications and services. In addition, integrated services digital networks (ISDN), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, and mobile networks are increasingly routing their signaling traffic via IP networks. SCTP provides flexible delivery and reliable transfer within IP networks.
Large-scale interexchange carriers (IXCs) are realizing that more and more of their network traffic is data rather than voice. Therefore, the scope of present networks must be extended to accommodate application signaling and data services. The primary goal of several IXCs is to carry data and voice using the same transport, thereby reducing additional infrastructure costs.
SCTP provides numerous advantages over user datagram protocol (UDP) and transmission control protocol (TCP). For instance, SCTP combines the datagram orientation of UDP with the sequencing and reliability of TCP. Additionally, SCTP uses multi-stream, message-oriented routing in multi-homed environments.
