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The protocols file is a local source of information regarding the known protocols used in the DARPA Internet. The protocols file can be used in conjunction with or instead of other protocols sources, including the NIS maps ‘‘protcols.byname’’ and ‘‘"protocols.bynumber’’ and the NIS + table ‘‘protocols’’. Programs use the getprotobyname(3N) routine to access this information.
The protocols file has one line for each protocol. The line has the following format:
Items are separated by any number of blanks and/or TAB characters. A ‘#’ indicates the beginning of a comment; characters up to the end of the line are not interpreted by routines which search the file. Protocol names may contain any printable character other than a field delimiter, NEWLINE , or comment character.
The following is a sample database:
# # Internet (IP) protocols # ip 0 IP # internet protocol, pseudo protocol number icmp 1 ICMP # internet control message protocol ggp 3 GGP # gateway-gateway protocol tcp 6 TCP # transmission control protocol pup 12 PUP # PARC universal packet protocol udp 17 UDP # user datagram protocol