Application Layer Functionality and Protocols

Editor's Notes

• #4: For a network professional, it is important to know how an application is able to format, transmit and interpret messages that are sent and received across the network. In this chapter, you will learn to: Describe how the functions of the three upper OSI model layers provide network services to end user applications. Describe how the TCP/IP Application Layer protocols provide the services specified by the upper layers of the OSI model. Define how people use the Application Layer to communicate across the information network. Describe the function of well-known TCP/IP applications, such as the World Wide Web and email, and their related services (HTTP, DNS, SMB, DHCP, STMP/POP, and Telnet).
• #5: In this model, information is passed from one layer to the next, starting at the Application layer on the transmitting host, proceeding down the hierarchy to the Physical layer, then passing over the communications channel to the destination host, where the information proceeds back up the hierarchy, ending at the Application layer. The Application layer provides the interface between the applications we use to communicate and the underlying network over which our messages are transmitted. Application layer protocols are used to exchange data between programs running on the source and destination hosts. There are many Application layer protocols and new protocols are always being developed.
• #6: Although the TCP/IP protocol suite was developed prior to the definition of the OSI model, the functionality of the TCP/IP application layer protocols fit roughly into the framework of the top three layers of the OSI model: Application, Presentation and Session layers. The Presentation Layer The Presentation layer has three primary functions: Coding and conversion of Application layer data to ensure that data from the source device can be interpreted by the appropriate application on the destination device. Compression of the data in a manner that can be decompressed by the destination device. Encryption of the data for transmission and the decryption of data upon receipt by the destination. The Session Layer As the name of the Session layer implies, functions at this layer create and maintain dialogs between source and destination applications. The Session layer handles the exchange of information to initiate dialogs, keep them active, and to restart sessions that are disrupted or idle for a long period of time.
• #8: The most widely-known TCP/IP Application layer protocols are those that provide for the exchange of user information. These protocols specify the format and control information necessary for many of the common Internet communication functions. Among these TCP/IP protocols are: Domain Name Service Protocol (DNS) is used to resolve Internet names to IP addresses. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is used to transfer files that make up the Web pages of the World Wide Web. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is used for the transfer of mail messages and attachments. Telnet, a terminal emulation protocol, is used to provide remote access to servers and networking devices. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is used for interactive file transfer between systems.
• #9: When people attempt to access information on their device, whether it is a PC, laptop, PDA, cell phone, or some other device connected to a network, the data may not be physically stored on their device. If that is the case, a request to access that information must be made to the device where the data resides. The Client/Server model In the client/server model, the device requesting the information is called a client and the device responding to the request is called a server. Client and server processes are considered to be in the Application layer. The client begins the exchange by requesting data from the server, which responds by sending one or more streams of data to the client. Application layer protocols describe the format of the requests and responses between clients and servers. In addition to the actual data transfer, this exchange may also require control information, such as user authentication and the identification of a data file to be transferred.
• #10: Peer-to-Peer Applications A peer-to-peer application (P2P), unlike a peer-to-peer network, allows a device to act as both a client and a server within the same communication. In this model, every client is a server and every server a client. Both can initiate a communication and are considered equal in the communication process. However, peer-to-peer applications require that each end device provide a user interface and run a background service. When you launch a specific peer-to-peer application it invokes the required user interface and background services. After that the devices can communicate directly.
• #11: DNS provides a conversion of domain names to IP addresses.
• #12: When a web address (or URL) is typed into a web browser, the web browser establishes a connection to the web service running on the server using the HTTP protocol. Client requests a page. In response to the request, the HTTP returns the code for a web page. The browser interprets the HTML code and displays a web page.
• #13: E-mail, the most popular network service, has revolutionized how people communicate through its simplicity and speed. Yet to run on a computer or other end device, e-mail requires several applications and services. Two example Application layer protocols are Post Office Protocol (POP) and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), shown in the figure. As with HTTP, these protocols define client/server processes. As mentioned earlier, e-mail can use the protocols, POP and SMTP (see the figure for an explanation of how they each work). POP and POP3 (Post Office Protocol, version 3) are inbound mail delivery protocols and are typical client/server protocols. They deliver e-mail from the e-mail server to the client (MUA). The MDA listens for when a client connects to a server. Once a connection is established, the server can deliver the e-mail to the client. The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), on the other hand, governs the transfer of outbound e-mail from the sending client to the e-mail server (MDA), as well as the transport of e-mail between e-mail servers (MTA). SMTP enables e-mail to be transported across data networks between different types of server and client software and makes e-mail exchange over the Internet possible.
• #14: A single application may employ many different supporting Application layer services; thus what appears to the user as one request for a web page may, in fact, amount to dozens of individual requests. And for each request, multiple processes may be executed. For example, a client may require several individual processes to formulate just one request to a server. Additionally, servers typically have multiple clients requesting information at the same time. For example, a Telnet server may have many clients requesting connections to it. These individual client requests must be handled simultaneously and separately for the network to succeed. The Application layer processes and services rely on support from lower layer functions to successfully manage the multiple conversations.
• #16: The Server Message Block (SMB) is a client/server file sharing protocol. IBM developed Server Message Block (SMB) in the late 1980s to describe the structure of shared network resources, such as directories, files, printers, and serial ports. It is a request-response protocol . Unlike the file sharing supported by FTP, clients establish a long term connection to servers. Once the connection is established, the user of the client can access the resources on the server as if the resource is local to the client host. SMB messages can: Start, authenticate, and terminate sessions Control file and printer access Allow an application to send or receive messages to or from another device
• #17: Many P2P applications do not use a central database to record all the files available on the peers. Instead, the devices on the network each tell the other what files are available when queried and use the Gnutella protocol and services to support locating resources. See the figure. When a user is connected to a Gnutella service, the client applications will search for other Gnutella nodes to connect to. These nodes handle queries for resource locations and replies to those requests. They also govern control messages, which help the service discover other nodes. The actual file transfers usually rely on HTTP services. The Gnutella protocol defines five different packet types: ping - for device discovery pong - as a reply to a ping query - for file location query hit - as a reply to a query push - as a download request