A protocol is a group of rules that allow computers to connect across a network. Protocols are the grammar of the language that computers use when they speak to each other across a network. The standard protocol when you connect to the Internet is the IP (Internet Protocol). This protocol is the usual language of computers on the Internet.
A protocol also tells how data is sent through a network. The most frequently used protocols are TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol). TCP/IP is the basic protocol used by computers that connect to the Internet.
You must know some of the TCP/IP settings when you set up your Firebox. For more information about TCP/IP settings, go to Find Your TCP/IP Properties.