Serial Line Internet Protocol

communications, protocol (SLIP) Software allowing the

Internet Protocol (IP), normally used on Ethernet, to be

used over a serial line, e.g. an EIA-232 serial port

connected to a modem. It is defined in RFC 1055.

SLIP modifies a standard Internet datagram by appending a

special SLIP END character to it, which allows datagrams to be

distinguished as separate. SLIP requires a port configuration

of 8 data bits, no parity, and EIA or hardware flowcontrol. SLIP does not provide error detection, being

reliant on other high-layer protocols for this. Over a

particularly error-prone dial-up link therefore, SLIP on its

own would not be satisfactory.

A SLIP connection needs to have its IP address configuration

set each time before it is established whereas Point-to-PointProtocol (PPP) can determine it automatically once it has

started.

See also SLiRP.

(1995-04-30)