Lecture 3

Protocol Layers
OSI Reference Model
The International Standards Organization (ISO)
proposal for the standardization of various
protocols used in computer networks is called the
Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model.

Although the OSI model is a just a model (not a

specification), it is generally regarded as the most
complete model.

Protocol Layers 2
OSI 7 Layer Model:

7 Application High level protocols

6 Presentation
TCP/IP Model
5 Session
4 Transport
3 Network
2 Data-Link
1 Physical
Low level protocols

Protocol Layers 3
Simplified Network Model

Application Application
Interface Protocols

Transport Transport
Peer-to-peer Protocols

Network Network

Data Link Data Link

Protocol Layers 4
The Physical Layer
 Responsibility:
 transmission of raw bits over a communication
channel

 Issues:
 mechanical and electrical interfaces
 time per bit
 distances

Protocol Layers 5
The Data Link Layer
 Responsibility:
 provide an error-free communication link

 Issues:
 framing (dividing data into chunks)
• header & trailer bits
 addressing

10110110101 01100010011 10110000001

Protocol Layers 6
The Data Link Layer

 Data Link Control sublayer

 Medium Access Control sublayer

 needed by mutiaccess networks.

 MAC provides Data Link Control with

“virtual wires” on multiaccess networks.

Protocol Layers 7
The Network Layer
 Responsibilities:
 path selection between end-systems (routing).
 flow control.
 fragmentation & reassembly
 translation between different network types.

 Issues:
 packet headers
 virtual circuits

Protocol Layers 8
The Transport Layer
 Responsibilities:
 provides virtual end-to-end links between peer
processes.
 end-to-end flow control
 Multiplexing

 Issues:
 headers
 error detection
 reliable communication

Protocol Layers 9
The Session Layer
 Responsibilities:
 It establishes, manages, and terminates the
connections between the local and remote
application
 close of sessions,

 Many protocol suites do not include a

session layer.
 Not in TCP/IP model

Protocol Layers 10
The Presentation Layer
 Responsibilities:
 data encryption
 data compression
 data conversion

 Many protocol suites do not include a

Presentation Layer.
 Not in TCP/IP model

Protocol Layers 11
The Application Layer
 Responsibilities:
 anything not provided by any of the other layers
 TCP/IP model
• Session and Presentation Layer functions

 Issues:
 application level protocols
 appropriate selection of “type of service”

Protocol Layers 12
Layering & Headers
 Each layer needs to add some control information
to the data in order to do it’s job.

 This information is typically prepended to the data

before being given to the lower layer.

 Once the lower layers deliver the data and control

information - the peer layer uses the control
information.

Protocol Layers 13
Headers

Application DATA Application

Transport H DATA Transport

Network H H DATA Network

Data Link H H H DATA Data Link

Protocol Layers 14
What are the headers?
Physical:
 no header - just a bunch of bits

Data Link:
 address of the receiving endpoints
 address of the sending endpoint
 length of the data
 checksum

Protocol Layers 15
What are the headers?
 Network:
 Protocol
 Protocol version
 type of service
 packet identifier
 time to live
 source network address
 destination network address
 length of the data
 fragment number
 header checksum
Protocol Layers 16
Connection-Oriented vs.
Connectionless Service
 A connection-oriented service includes the
establishment of a logical connection between
2 processes.
 establish logical connection
 transfer data
 terminate connection.

 Connectionless services involve sending of

independent messages.

Protocol Layers 17
Sequencing
 Sequencing provides support for an order
to communications.

 A service that includes sequencing requires

that messages (or bytes) are received in
the same order they are sent.

Protocol Layers 18
Error Control
 Some services require error detection
 it is important to know when a transmission error
has occured.

 Error control sometimes involves notification

and retransmission.

 Checksums provide a simple error detection

mechanism.

Protocol Layers 19
Flow Control
 Flow control prevents the sending process
from overwhelming the receiving process.

 Flow control can be handled a variety of ways

 this is one of the major research issues

Protocol Layers 20
Byte Stream vs. Message
 Byte stream implies an ordered sequence of
bytes with no message boundaries.

 Message oriented services provide

communication service to chunks of data
called datagrams.

Protocol Layers 21
Full- vs. Half-Duplex
 Full-Duplex services support the transfer
of data in both directions.

 Half-Duplex services support the transfer

of data in a single direction.

Protocol Layers 22