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Data-Link Layer Overview and Functions

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46 views22 pages

Data-Link Layer Overview and Functions

Uploaded by

Nur Mohammad Naim
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Chapter 9

Introduction
To
Data-Link
Layer

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Chapter 9: Outline

9.1 INTRODUCTION

9.2 LINK-LAYER ADDRESSING


9.9.1 Nodes and Links

Communication at the data-link layer is node-to-


node. A data unit from one point in the Internet
needs to pass through many networks (LANs and
WANs) to reach another point. Theses LANs and
WANs are connected by routers. It is customary to
refer to the two end hosts and the routers as nodes
and the networks in between as links. Figure 9.2 is a
simple representation of links and nodes when the
path of the data unit is only six nodes.

9.6
Figure 9.2: Nodes and Links

9.7
9.9.2 Services

The data-link layer is located between the physical


and the network layers. The data-link layer provides
services to the network layer; it receives services
from the physical layer. Let us discuss services
provided by the data-link layer.

9.8
Figure 9.3: A communication with only three nodes

9.9
9.9.3 Two Categories of Links

Although two nodes are physically connected by a


transmission medium such as cable or air, we need
to remember that the data-link layer controls how
the medium is used. We can have a data-link layer
that uses the whole capacity of the medium; we can
also have a data-link layer that uses only part of the
capacity of the link. In other words, we can have a
point-to-point link or a broadcast link.

9.10
9.9.4 Two Sublayers

To better understand the functionality of and the


services provided by the link layer, we can divide the
data-link layer into two sublayers: data link control
(DLC) and media access control (MAC). This is not
unusual because, as we will see in later chapters,
LAN protocols actually use the same strategy.

9.11
Figure 9.3: Dividing the data-link layer into two
sublayers

9.12
5-4 LINK-LAYER ADDRESSING

In Chapter 18, we will discuss IP


addresses as the identifiers at the
network layer. However, in a
internetwork such as the Internet
we cannot make a datagram reach
its destination using only IP
addresses. The source and
destination IP addresses define
the two ends but cannot define
9.13
which links the packet should
Figure 9.5: IP addresses and link-layer addresses in a small
internet

9.14
9.2.2 ARP

Anytime a node has an IP datagram to send to


another node in a link, it has the IP address of the
receiving node. However, the IP address of the next
node is not helpful in moving a frame through a
link; we need the link-layer address of the next node.
This is the time when the Address Resolution
Protocol (ARP) becomes helpful.

9.19
Figure 9.6: Position of ARP in TCP/IP protocol suite

9.20
Figure 9.7: ARP operation

9.21
Figure 9.8: ARP packet

9.22
Example 9.4
A host with IP address N1 and MAC address L1 has a
packet to send to another host with IP address N2 and
physical address L2 (which is unknown to the first host).
The two hosts are on the same network. Figure 9.9 shows
the ARP request and response messages.

9.23
Figure 9.9: Example 9.4

9.24
Figure 9.10: The internet for our example

9.25
Figure 9.11: Flow of packets at Alice site

9.26
Figure 9.12: Flow of activities at router R1

9.27
Figure 9.13: Flow of activities at router R2

9.28
Figure 9.14: Activities at Bob’s site

9.29

Common questions

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ARP functions by mapping IP addresses to their corresponding link-layer (MAC) addresses, which are necessary for the packet to traverse a link . When a device wants to send a packet to another device in the same network, it must know the recipient's MAC address. If it doesn't, it sends out an ARP request, and the target host responds with its MAC address so the sender can encapsulate the packet properly for transmission . Without ARP, IP addresses alone would be insufficient for data delivery across link layers in a network .

The DLC sublayer is responsible for detecting and possibly correcting errors that may occur in the physical layer, ensuring reliable data transfer between network nodes . The MAC sublayer, on the other hand, controls how devices on the network gain access to the medium and permission to transmit data, thereby resolving potential collisions and managing channel access . Dividing the data-link layer into these sublayers enhances its efficiency and functionality, allowing it to cater to different types of network technologies like point-to-point and broadcast links .

Point-to-point links involve a direct connection between two network nodes, which makes the communication straightforward as the data travels through a dedicated channel . Broadcast links, on the other hand, involve multiple network nodes sharing the same communication channel, necessitating mechanisms to manage access and collisions . This distinction is important as it influences how the data-link layer allocates medium resources and manages data transmission, affecting both performance and reliability of the network communication .

Dividing nodes and links in a network helps address the complexity of transferring data across various interconnected networks (LANs and WANs). Nodes, including routers and end hosts, serve as intermediary and terminal points of communication, while links represent the transmission paths between them. This separation allows the network to manage routing and relaying of data packets effectively across diverse network configurations and topologies. It also impacts data transmission by defining the path and dictating how data is switched or routed through various networks until reaching the final destination .

The data-link layer serves as an intermediary between the physical layer and the network layer, integrating their functions to ensure seamless network communication . It receives raw data from the physical layer, encapsulates it with headers for transmission, and manages link-level addressing and error detection. Simultaneously, it receives packets from the network layer, decapsulates them, and prepares them for physical transmission. This interaction ensures reliable transit of data between nodes, maintaining synchronization across network layers .

An ARP request is necessary when a host needs to communicate with another host within the same network but lacks the destination MAC address. The process involves the sender broadcasting an ARP request packet on the network with the target IP address. The host with the matching IP responds with its MAC address. The sender then maps this address in its ARP table for subsequent communications, effectively resolving the IP address to the required MAC address .

LAN protocols deploy the DLC and MAC sublayer division to effectively manage local network communications and medium access. The DLC sublayer ensures error detection and handling at the data-link level, while the MAC sublayer handles addressing and controls who uses the network channel and when . This division facilitates efficient network operations and communication between multiple nodes in a local area network (LAN) where different nodes may seek simultaneous access to shared transmission resources .

The data-link layer supports communication by providing services that ensure data units are transmitted from one node to another across multiple networks. These services include framing, addressing, and error detection, among others . It operates between the physical layer, which handles the actual transmission medium, and the network layer, which manages routing and forwarding .

The data-link layer focuses on node-to-node data transfer, providing services such as framing, link-level addressing, and error detection . In contrast, the network layer is responsible for broader routing of packets across multiple networks, addressing packet forwarding, and ensuring end-to-end data delivery across a heterogeneous network environment . These differences influence network operations by determining how data is managed and transported at different layers, ensuring seamless transmission from source to destination. This includes handling the complexities of various network topologies and ensuring data reaches the correct endpoint efficiently .

Using only IP addresses would hinder the transfer of data across network links, as IP addresses alone are insufficient to move frames through the physical network layer . Without the corresponding link-layer (MAC) addresses, data packets cannot be correctly forwarded by routers or transmitted within local networks, leading to undeliverable packets and increased network congestion and inefficiency . This necessitates protocols like ARP to resolve IP addresses to MAC addresses, ensuring packets reach their intended destinations within a network .

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