Serial Line Internet Protocol


Serial Line Internet Protocol

(communications, protocol)(SLIP) Software allowing theInternet Protocol (IP), normally used on Ethernet, to beused over a serial line, e.g. an EIA-232 serial portconnected to a modem. It is defined in RFC 1055.

SLIP modifies a standard Internet datagram by appending aspecial SLIP END character to it, which allows datagrams to bedistinguished as separate. SLIP requires a port configurationof 8 data bits, no parity, and EIA or hardware flow control. SLIP does not provide error detection, beingreliant on other high-layer protocols for this. Over aparticularly error-prone dial-up link therefore, SLIP on itsown would not be satisfactory.

A SLIP connection needs to have its IP address configurationset each time before it is established whereas Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) can determine it automatically once it hasstarted.

See also SLiRP.