What is the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)?

The core internet protocol suite (IP, TCP, and UDP) is primarily concerned with moving data between computers on the internet. But it also includes another protocol that is entirely dedicated to control traffic: the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP). Despite the fact that ICMP is not concerned with carrying data, it does enable several tools that we can use to find out more about the internet’s structure.

Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).

Part of the https://www.internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.