SCTP
Short for stream control transmission protocol, SCTP is a transport layer protocol that facilitates communication between two endpoints on a network. It was designed as an alternative to TCP (transmission control protocol) and UDP (user datagram protocol) and embodies positive aspects of both.
For instance, SCTP provides reliable message delivery with congestion control like TCP while also including message-oriented features similar to UDP. SCTP also provides multi-homing, allowing a connection to span multiple network paths, which enhances fault tolerance and distributes loads more evenly. SCTP implements a 4-way handshake (compared to TCP's 3-way handshake) to establish a connection for better security.
SCTP supports multiple streams of messages within a single connection, allowing for efficient and independent communication between a network's endpoints. This feature is beneficial in applications where different types of data is transmitted at the same time.
Like TCP fingerprinting, SCTP packets can find system and network configuration details. Firewalls and IDS (intrusion detection systems) must be additionally configured to correctly handle SCTP packets.
Where is SCTP used?
SCTP is commonly used in telecommunications and other real-time communication applications. It works well in scenarios where reliability and ordered delivery of messages are important, but the more connection-oriented nature of TCP might not be ideal.