OSI 7 Layers
Description TCP/IP Model
Layer Protocol Data
High-level API (Terminal & Director services, Web, HTTP, FTP,
Application Data
email etc. SSH, DNS
Translation of data between a network services & SSL, SSH,
Presentation Data Application
an application (Compression, encryption) IMAP, FTP
API’s, Sockets
Session Managing communication sessions Data
WinSock
Transmission of data between network nodes
Transport TCP, UDP Segments Transport
(segmentation, acknowledgement)
IP ICMP, IGMP
Network Managing network nodes (routing, addressing) Packets Internet
Router
MAC,
Ensure transmission of data frames between two
Data Link Switch ,Ether Frames
nodes, connected by physical medium)
net Network
Access
Realizes transmission of bit streams between Coax, Fibre,
Physical Bits
nodes Wireless, Hub
Software Layer
Heart of OSI
Hardware Layer
Physical Layer
• Bit synchronization: The physical layer provides the synchronization of
the bits by providing a clock. This clock controls both sender and
receiver thus providing synchronization at a bit level.
• Bit rate control: The Physical layer also defines the transmission rate i.e.
the number of bits sent per second.
• Physical topologies: The physical layer specifies the way in which the
different, devices/nodes are arranged in a network i.e. bus, star, or mesh
topology.
• Transmission mode: The physical layer also defines the way in which the
data flows between the two connected devices. The various
transmission modes possible are Simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex.
Data Link Layer
• The Data Link Layer handles node-to-node data transfers and can be divided into sublayers: Media Access
Control (MAC) Layer and Logical Link Control (LLC) Layer. The MAC Layer determines how a connected
computer accesses data in terms of permissions. On the other hand, the LLC layer controls elements like
flow control, frame synchronization, and scans for errors. Switches work at this layer.
• Framing: Framing is a function of the data link layer. It provides a way for a sender to transmit a set of bits
that are meaningful to the receiver. This can be accomplished by attaching special bit patterns to the
beginning and end of the frame.
• Physical addressing: After creating frames, Data link layer adds physical addresses (MAC address) of
sender and/or receiver in the header of each frame.
• Error control: Data link layer provides the mechanism of error control in which it detects and retransmits
damaged or lost frames.
• Flow Control: The data rate must be constant on both sides else the data may get corrupted thus , flow
control coordinates that amount of data that can be sent before receiving acknowledgement.
• Access control: When a single communication channel is shared by multiple devices, MAC sub-layer of
data link layer helps to determine which device has control over the channel at a given time.
Network Layer
• Network layer works for the transmission of data from one host to the
other located in different networks.
• Routing: The network layer protocols determine which route is
suitable from source to destination. This function of the network layer
is known as routing.
• Logical Addressing: In order to identify each device on internetwork
uniquely, the network layer defines an addressing scheme. The sender
& receiver’s IP address is placed in the header by the network layer.
Such an address distinguishes each device uniquely and universally.
Transport Layer
• the layer responsible for transferring data between end systems and hosts. It dictates what gets sent where, and how much of it gets
sent. At this level, you see protocols like TCP, UDP, and SPX. In the event that something goes wrong, the Transport Layer also has the
responsibility of end-to-end error recovery.
• Segmentation and Reassembly: This layer accepts the message from the (session) layer , breaks the message into smaller units . Each
of the segment produced has a header associated with it. The transport layer at the destination station reassembles the message.
• Service Point Addressing: In order to deliver the message to correct process, transport layer header includes a type of address called
service point address or port address. Thus by specifying this address, transport layer makes sure that the message is delivered to
the correct process.
• Connection Oriented Service: It is a three-phase process which include
• – Connection Establishment
• – Data Transfer
• – Termination / disconnection
• In this type of transmission, the receiving device sends an acknowledgement, back to the source after a packet or group of packet is
received. This type of transmission is reliable and secure.
• Connection less service: It is a one-phase process and includes Data Transfer. In this type of transmission, the receiver does not
acknowledge receipt of a packet. This approach allows for much faster communication between devices. Connection-oriented
service is more reliable than connectionless Service.
Session Layers
• The Session Layer is the layer responsible for establishing, maintaining, and ending
connections between different applications. This layer controls the terms on which
applications interact with each other. A key part of this is simple coordination, as the
Session Layer will dictate how long a system will wait for a response from another
application. Typically you’ll see protocols such as NetBios, NFS, RPC, and SQL operating on
this layer.
• Session establishment, maintenance, and termination: The layer allows the two processes
to establish, use, and terminate a connection.
• Synchronization: This layer allows a process to add checkpoints which are considered as
synchronization points into the data. These synchronization points help to identify the error
so that the data is re-synchronized properly, and ends of the messages are not cut
prematurely and data loss is avoided.
• Dialog Controller: The session layer allows two systems to start communication with each
other in half-duplex or full-duplex.
Presentation Layers
• The Presentation Layer or Layer 6of the OSI model is designed to prepare
and translate data from the network format to the application format or
vice versa. This layer determines how data is presented for each of these
entities in terms of syntax and structure
• Translation: For example, ASCII to EBCDIC.
• Encryption/ Decryption: Data encryption translates the data into another
form or code. The encrypted data is known as the ciphertext and the
decrypted data is known as plain text. A key value is used for encrypting
as well as decrypting data.
• Compression: Reduces the number of bits that need to be transmitted
on the network.
Application Layers
• this layer is focused on end-user processes and delivering any
application the user wants to access.
• The functions of the Application layer are :
• Network Virtual Terminal
• FTAM-File transfer access and management
• Mail Services
• Directory Services