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Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
What Is Piggybacking?
3.
Types of Piggybacking
3.1.
Bandwidth Piggybacking
3.2.
Transport Piggybacking
3.3.
Discovery Piggybacking
4.
How to Increase Network Efficiency using Piggybacking?
5.
Why we Need Piggybacking?
6.
How Piggybacking Works?
7.
Advantages Of Piggybacking
8.
Disadvantages Of Piggybacking
9.
Frequently Asked Questions
9.1.
What are some examples of piggybacking in real-world scenarios?
9.2.
Can piggybacking pose security risks?
9.3.
What are the best practices for securing computer networks against piggybacking?
9.4.
How does piggybacking pose security risks?
10.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
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What is Piggybacking in Computer Networks?

Author Abhay Rathi
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Introduction

Hello there, Ninjas! Have you ever wondered how data is effectively transported across the internet? Do you know what is Piggybacking? Piggybacking is a technique used in computer networks to improve network speed, including adding more data to an existing packet being transmitted. 

This article will examine what piggybacking is, how it works, and its benefits and drawbacks. 

what is piggybacking

What Is Piggybacking?

In computer networks, piggybacking works by adding new data to an existing packet between two devices. When one device sends data to another via a protocol such as TCP, the data is divided into packets, each containing a header and a payload.

The receiver typically sends an acknowledgement (ACK) packet to the sender to confirm receipt of the data packet. The ACK packet adds additional data to the packet before it is returned to the sender. This extra data could be another data segment or any other information that must be provided.

Abstract overview of piggybacking

For example, let's consider a scenario where a client requests files from a remote server. 

  1. The server then sends the requested file to the client, divided into several packets.
     
  2. After receiving each packet, the client returns an acknowledgement (ACK) packet to the server to confirm it has been received. 
     
  3. Piggybacking allows the client to add extra data to the ACK packet it sends back to the server. 
     
  4. Then it can include a request for another file that it requires, minimizing the number of packets that must be delivered and enhancing network performance.

Types of Piggybacking

There are three types of piggybacking: bandwidth piggybacking, transport piggybacking, and discovery piggybacking. Let us discuss them one by one below.

Bandwidth Piggybacking

Bandwidth is the maximum capacity of a network connection in terms of the rate of data transfer. In bandwidth piggybacking, a user device can utilize an existing connection's bandwidth. It is beneficial when we want to send data over an already existing connection, but we are not sending enough data that justifies the connection.

Transport Piggybacking

It refers to how the devices are connected. If we are connecting two devices over a network, we can piggyback the connection between them and, further, add a third new device. It is beneficial when two devices are on different networks.

Discovery Piggybacking

In discovery piggybacking, one device uses an already-existing connection to find another device. Like, a server in a data center may not have direct access to the internet. But, it can reach a device connected to the internet and then use that connection to send data to the outer world.

How to Increase Network Efficiency using Piggybacking?

Here are some examples of how piggybacking can be used to boost network efficiency:

  1. Reducing the number of packets: One way to use fewer packets is to attach new packets to ones already allowed access to the network. This reduces the total number of packets that need to be sent. This helps to reduce the amount of network traffic and improve efficiency.
     
  2. Reducing bandwidth usage: Piggybacking can help reduce the bandwidth required for data transmission. By reducing the number of packets that need to be sent, piggybacking can help reduce the bandwidth required.
     
  3. Improving resource utilization: The network can ensure resources are used efficiently by combining packets. This can aid in the optimization of network resources and overall efficiency.

Why we Need Piggybacking?

In the real world, a scenario of communication is not an ideal one in which you can either speak or you can listen but cannot do both at the same time. It is like using a walkie-talkie. But today, communications require both ends to have the capabilities to speak and listen at the same time. This communication where you can either speak or listen but not do both is called a half-duplex communication. Whereas, the one in which you can both listen and speak at the same time is known as full-duplex communication.

Some famous protocols like "stop and wait" and "Go Back N ARQ" only allow for half-duplex communication, but real-world situations often demand full-duplex communication. To enable full-duplex communication, we introduce the concept of "piggybacking." Even the TCP packets use full-duplex mode, and piggybacking is crucial for their transmission. In full-duplex communication, both sides must operate as pairs of simplex communication. Each link requires a forward channel for sending Data and Information and a backward channel for receiving data and information. However, the configuration described earlier effectively doubles the traffic load for each data unit transmission, with half dedicated to acknowledgment transmission.
Thus, Piggybacking is a protocol designed to optimize network bandwidth usage. It involves delaying acknowledgments until no data frames are available for transfer. This approach efficiently utilizes available bandwidth by attaching acknowledgments to the data frames being transmitted. By delaying the acknowledgments and incorporating them into the data frames, we successfully reduce the bandwidth overhead. While acknowledgment frames typically require several bytes, the acknowledgment field within the data frame is of a few bits only. So, this strategy accomplishes our goal of conserving bandwidth effectively.
So, this is why we need piggybacking due to the fact that full-duplex communications are better than both simplex and half-duplex communication models.

How Piggybacking Works?

Here's a step-by-step explanation of how piggybacking works in computer networks:

  1. A device, such as a computer or mobile device(client), initiates a network communication with another device by utilizing a protocol such as TCP.
     
  2. The server then divides the data into smaller packets; each packet is attached with a header and a payload and sends them to the receiving device.
     
  3. When the client receives a packet, it sends an acknowledgement(ACK) packet back to the server to confirm it has received it.
     
  4. Piggybacking allows the client to include additional information in the ACK packet it sends back to the sending device. This additional data might be another data segment, a request for more data, or any other information that must be transmitted.
     
  5. The server receives and processes the ACK packet with the additional data accordingly.
     
  6. Piggybacking reduces the packets needed to transmit the same data, thus improving network efficiency and reducing latency.
Detailed procedure of piggybacking

Note: Piggybacking is a valuable technique for transferring data efficiently in computer networks. However, appropriate security measures must be implemented to prevent unauthorized piggybacking and to protect against cyber threats.

Advantages Of Piggybacking

There are many advantages of piggybacking; some of them are:

  1. Piggybacking reduces the packets needed to transmit data, reducing network overhead.
     
  2. Piggybacking increases network efficiency by lowering the number of packets and acknowledgements that must be sent. This contributes to lower latency and better network performance.
     
  3. Because multiple packets can be sent in a single transmission, piggybacking allows for faster data transmission. 
     
  4. Piggybacking improves network reliability by reducing the number of lost or dropped packets. The piggybacked packet includes an ACK for the previous packet, confirming that the last packet was successfully received.
     
  5. Piggybacking can help improve network security by minimizing the number of packets sent and lowering the danger of packet interception and data theft.

Disadvantages Of Piggybacking

There are many disadvantages of piggybacking. Some of them are:

  1. Piggybacking can lead to packet delays. This happens because the receiving device waits to send an ACK packet until it has more data to share.
     
  2. Piggybacking can also cause network congestion since vast volumes of data are carried in a single packet.  
     
  3. Piggybacking can save network resources if there's little data to carry out. 
     
  4. Piggybacking in a network can be complicated, requiring careful data management and ACK packets. This can make network design and management more difficult.
     
  5. Piggybacking increases the amount of data transmitted in a single packet; piggybacking can also pose security risks. This raises the possibility of packet interception and data theft.
     

Must Read Subnetting in Computer Networks

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some examples of piggybacking in real-world scenarios?

There are many examples of real-world scenarios. E.g., Online file sharing services often use piggybacking to transfer large files efficiently, and email communication often uses piggybacking to send multiple emails in a single transmission.

Can piggybacking pose security risks?

Yes, piggybacking can increase the amount of data transmitted in a single packet, which increases the risk of packet interception and data theft. 

What are the best practices for securing computer networks against piggybacking?

You could implement robust encryption protocols to protect data packets from interception and unauthorized access. You can also segment the network into different zones based on security requirements to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.

How does piggybacking pose security risks?

Piggybacking can pose security risks as it increases the amount of data transmitted in a single packet, increasing the risk of packet interception and theft. 

Conclusion

In this article, we learned what is Piggybacking, and how it works. We learned that Piggybacking is a computer network technique that combines numerous data packets into a single transfer to boost efficiency and reduce delay. It's similar to hopping on a current packet to save time and resources! Despite the potential risks, piggybacking is used in many real-world scenarios, including online file sharing, email communication, mobile networks, and online gaming.

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