Identify the communication protocol which establishes a dedicated and direct connection between two communicating devices. This protocol defines how two devices will authenticate each other and establish a direct link between them to exchange data.

Correct option is A

The communication protocol that establishes a dedicated and direct connection between two communicating devices, ensuring both devices authenticate each other and create a direct link for data exchange, is PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol). PPP is used to establish direct connections between two devices over a serial link, like in dial-up or VPN connections. It is widely used in environments where authentication, compression, and error detection are needed to maintain a stable, direct communication link.
Important Key Points:
1. Point-to-Point Connection: PPP is designed to establish a direct link between two devices, ensuring they can communicate directly.
2. Authentication: PPP supports authentication mechanisms like PAP (Password Authentication Protocol) and CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol), allowing devices to authenticate each other before establishing a connection.
3. Error Detection: It includes error-checking mechanisms to ensure data integrity during transmission.
4. Flexibility: PPP can operate over various types of physical media, such as serial cables, phone lines, and fiber optic links.
5. Data Compression: It also supports compression of data to optimize transmission efficiency.
Knowledge Booster:
· Option (b): SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending emails between servers and does not establish a direct, dedicated connection for two-way data exchange.
· Option (c): TELNET is a protocol used for remote access to devices over a network, allowing command-line interface access. While it establishes a connection, it does not focus on creating a dedicated link for secure data exchange like PPP.
· Option (d): FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used to transfer files over a network. While it allows data exchange between devices, it does not establish a dedicated, authenticated connection between them in the same way PPP does.