Computer Network [1DEC0304]

Unit 2
The Reference Model for Network Communication
2.1 OSI model & function of each Layer
2.2 TCP/ IP model
2.3 Comparison of OSI & TCP/IP Models
2.4 Connection oriented v/s Connectionless approach

2.1 OSI model & function of each Layer

OSI model is Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model for open networking system
that was developed by the ISO (International Standards Organization). The model is called
the ISO OSI Reference Model because it deals with connecting open systems which is open
for communication with other system.

Figure: OSI Reference Model

Its aim was developing commonly excepted networking protocols. It is a model for
understanding and designing a network architecture that is flexible, strong and interoperable.

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OSI model has seven layers are Application, Presentation, Session, Transport, Network, Data-
Link and Physical Layers. Each layer represents categories of related task.

 Physical Layer
It is a bottom layer of OSI model. It is related with transmitting raw bits over a physical
medium. It defines transmission media, signal methods, representation and synchronization of
bits and topology, mechanical and electrical specifications for using transmission medium.

 Data Link Layer

It converts packets into frames with specific frame format. It establishes and closes a
connection between two physically connected nodes on a network. It is responsible for error
correction, flow control, hardware addressing and networking devices.

Data link layer divided into two sub layers.

 Logical Link Control (LLC)
It is upper layer. It establishes and maintains the data links between communicating devices.
 Media Access Control (MAC)
It is lower layer. It is responsible for providing a method for destination to increase access to
the physical medium.

 Network Layer
The network layer is responsible for the source to destination delivery of a packet across
multiple networks. It is responsible for logical addressing and routing, establish and close
connection and paths between two nodes on a network.

 Transport Layer
The transport layer is responsible for source to destination delivery of the complete message.
It is responsible for flow control, packet sequencing, error handling, multiplexing and
establish path and session between two communicating devices.

 Session Layer
The session layer establishes, maintains and closes the connection between communicating
systems. It creates communication channels called sessions.

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 Presentation Layer
The presentation layer is responsible for the syntax (format of data) and semantics (meaning
of each section of bits) between two systems. It is responsible for translation, data encryption,
data decryption, data compression, data decompression and character set conversion.

 Application Layer
The application layer allows user to access the network. It provides user interfaces and
support for services like e-mail, remote file access and transfer, shared database management,
and other types of distributed information services.

Protocols in this layer are HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer
Protocol), POP (Post Office Protocol), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) etc.

2.2 TCP/ IP model& function of each Layer

The TCP/IP model was developed before the OSI model. The TCP/IP model is the set of
communications protocols used for the Internet and other related networks. It has four layers
such as host- to- Host layer, Internet layer, Data Link layer and Physical layer.

Figure: TCP/IP model

 Host-to-Host Layer
Its functionality is almost same as physical layer and data link layer in OSI model.

 Network Layer or Internet Layer or IP Layer

It is also known as IP Layer. The main task of the internet layer is to send the packets from
any network, and they reach at the destination any of the routes they take. The protocols in
this layer are: IP, ICMP, IGMP, ARP and RARP.

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 IP (Internet Protocol): It is responsible for delivering packets from the source to the
destination by looking at the IP addresses in the packet headers. Packet in IP layer is
called Datagram. It is connection less and unreliable protocol.

 ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol): It is used to handle control and error
messages in the IP layer.

 IGMP (Internet Group Message Protocol): It is used to help a multicast router

identify the nodes in a LAN that are members of a multicast group. There are two
types of communications.
 Unicasting: one to one communication
 Multicasting: one to many communications

 ARP (Address Resolution Protocol): It is used to find physical address of the node
when IP address is known.

 RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol): It is used to find IP address of the

node when physical address is known.

 Transport Layer
The transport layer is responsible for the reliability, flow control and correction of data that is
sent through the network. The protocols in this layer are:
 TCP (Transmission Control Protocol): It provides a full transport layer services to
applications. It is connection oriented and reliable protocol. The packet in TCP is
called segment.

 UDP (User Datagram Protocol): It is connectionless and unreliable protocol. The

packet in UDP is called datagram.

 Application Layer
It is responsible for handling high level protocols and issues of representation. It allows user
to interact with the application.The protocols in this layer are:

 SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): SMTP is used to send data to another e-
mail address.

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 FTP (File Transfer Protocol): FTP is used for copies files from one computer to
another computer.

 TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol): TFTP Simplified version of the FTP
protocol. It has no security features. TFTP copies the file. There are two operations.
 Reading: It means copying a file from server to client.
 Writing: It means copying a file from client to server.

 SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol): It is used to provide a set of

fundamental operations for managing the devices in the internet by using the TCP/IP
protocol suite.

 TELNET (Terminal Network): It establishes connection between client server

applications program used for remote system.

2.3 Comparison of OSI Model & TCP/IP Model

OSI Modelion) TCP/IP Model
OSI is Open System Interconnection. TCP/IP is Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol.
It was developed by ISO as a first step It is used in connection with IP and operates
toward international standardization of the at the transport layer. IP is the set of
protocol used in various layers. It deals with convention used to pass packets from one host
connecting open system. to another.
The model was developed before the The protocol came first and model was
protocols were developed. developed using existing protocols.
It has 7 layers. It has 4 layers.
It follows horizontal approach. It follows vertical approach.
It is less reliable. It is more reliable.
It is connection less and connection oriented It only connection less in network layer.
in network layer.
It is connection oriented in transport layer. It is connectionless and connection oriented in
transport layer.
It provides quality services. It does not provide quality services.
The transport layer guarantees delivery of The transport layer does not guarantee

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packets. delivery of packets.

It clearly defines services, interfaces and It does not clearly define services, interfaces
protocols. and protocols.
Inter-networking not supported. Inter-networking supported.
Protocol independent standard. Protocol dependent standard.
Packets are reliably delivered. Packets are reliably delivered in TCP but
packets do not reliably deliver in IP.

2.4 Connection oriented v/s Connectionless approach

Data communication is a telecommunication network to send and receive data between two
or more computers on the same or different network. There are two ways to establish a
connection before sending data from one computer to another computer.
 Connection Oriented Service
 Connectionless Service

 Connection Oriented Service

Connection oriented service is related to the telephone system. It includes connection
creation and termination of the connection for sending the data between two or more devices.
A prior connection needs to be established.

Connection oriented service gives a guarantee of reliability. In this service, packets follow
the same path to reach their destination.

 Advantages
 It is reliable.
 There is no duplication of data packets.
 Sequencing of data packets is guaranteed.
 There are no chances of congestion.

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 These are suitable for long connections.

 Disadvantages
 Allocation of resources is required before communication.
 The speed of connection is slow.
 In case network congestion or router failures, it has no any path for data transmission.

 Connection less Service

Connection less service is related to the postal system. It does not require to establishing
any connection and termination process for transferring the data in a network. No prior
connection is needed.

Connection less Service does not give a guarantee of reliability. In this service, packets do
not follow the same path to reach their destination.

 Advantages
 There are generally low overheads.
 It helps to broadcast or multicast messages to multiple receivers.
 There is no circuit setup. It takes a piece of a time to establish a connection.
 In case network congestion or router failures, it has other path for data transmission.

 Disadvantages
 There is congestion in the network.
 It is not reliable as there is the chance of data packet loss, wrong delivery of packets
or duplication is high.
 Each data packet needs lengthy fields because these are supposed to hold all the
destination addresses and the routing information.

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 Difference between Connection Oriented Service and Connectionless Service

Connection Oriented Service Connectionless Service

It is designed on the basis of the telephone It is designed on the basis of the postal
system. system.
A prior connection needs to be established. No prior connection is needed.
Packets follow the same path. Packets do not follow the same path.
Packets travel to the destination node is in a Packets travel to the destination node is in
sequential manner. a random manner.
Retransmission of lost data bits is possible. Retransmission of lost data bits is not
possible.
It is feasible. It is not feasible.
Congestion is not possible. Congestion is possible.
It gives the guarantee of reliability. It does not give a guarantee of reliability.
It requires authentication. It does not require authentication.
It requires a bandwidth of a high range. It requires a bandwidth of low range.
A virtual path is present between receiver No virtual path is present between receiver
and server. and server.
Ex: TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) Ex: UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

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