In this section we briefly describe the functions of each layer in the OSI model.
Physical Layer
The physical layer coordinates the functions required to carry a bit stream over a physical medium. It deals with the mechanical and electrical specifications of the interface and transmission media. It also defines the procedures and functions that physical devices and interfaces have to perform for transmission to occur.
The physical layer is responsible for moving individual bits from one (node) to the next.
The physical layer is also concerned with the following:
Physical characteristics of interfaces and media. The physical layer defines the characteristics of the interface between the devices and the transmission media. It also defines the type of transmission media
Representation of bits. The physical layer data consists of a stream of bits (sequence of 0s or 1s) with no interpretation. To be transmitted, bits must be encoded into signals electrical or optical. The physical layer defines the type of encoding (how 0s and 1s are changed to signals).
Data rate. The transmission rate the number of bits sent each second is also defined by the physical layer. In other words, the physical layer defines the duration of a bit, which is how long it lasts.
Synchronization of bits. The sender and receiver must not only use the same bit rate but must also be synchronized at the bit level. In other words, the sender and the receiver clocks must be synchronized.
Line configuration. The physical layer is concerned with the connection of devices to the media. In a point-to-point configuration, two devices are connected together through a dedicated link. In a multipoint configuration, a link is shared between several devices.
Physical topology. The physical topology defines how devices are connected to make a network. Devices can be connected using a mesh topology (every device connected to every other device), a star topology (devices are connected through a central device), a ring topology (each device is connected to the next, forming a ring), or a bus topology (every device on a common link).
Transmission mode. The physical layer also defines the direction of transmission between two devices: simplex, half-duplex, or full-duplex. In the simplex mode, only one device can send; the other can only receive. The simplex mode is a one way communication. In the half-duplex mode, two devices can send and receive, but not at the same time. In a full duplex (or simply duplex) mode, two devices can send and receive at the same time.
Data Link Layer
The data link layer transforms the physical layer, a raw transmission facility, to a reliable link. It makes the physical layer appear error-free to the upper layer (network layer). Other responsibilities of the data link layer include the following:
Framing. The data link layer divides the stream of bits received from the network layer into manageable data units called frames.
Physical addressing. If frames are to be distributed to different systems on the network, the data link layer adds a header to the frame to define the sender and/or receiver of the frame. If the frame is intended for a system outside the sender’s network, the receiver address is the address of the connecting device that connects the network to the next one.
Flow control. If the rate at which the data is absorbed by the receiver is less than the rate produced at the sender, the data link layer imposes a flow control mechanism to prevent overwhelming the receiver.
Error control. The data link layer adds reliability to the physical layer by adding mechanisms to detect and retransmit damaged or lost frames. It also uses a mechanism to recognize duplicate frames. Error control is normally achieved through a trailer added to the end of the frame.
Access control. When two or more devices are connected to the same link, data link layer protocols are necessary to determine which device has control over the link at any given time.
Network Layer
The network layer is responsible for the source-to-destination delivery of a packet, possibly across multiple networks (links). Whereas the data link layer oversees the delivery of the packet between two systems on the same network (link), the network layer ensures that each packet gets from its point of origin to its final destination.
If two systems are connected to the same link, there is usually no need for a network layer. However, if the two systems are attached to different networks (links) with connecting devices between the networks (links), there is often a need for the network layer to accomplish source-to-destination delivery.
Other responsibilities of the network layer include the following:
Logical addressing. The physical addressing implemented by the data link layer handles the addressing problem locally. If a packet passes the network boundary, we need another addressing system to help distinguish the source and destination systems. The network layer adds a header to the packet coming from the upper layer that, among other things, includes the logical addresses of the sender and receiver.
Routing. When independent networks or links are connected together to create internetworks (network of networks) or a large network, the connecting devices (called routers or switches) route or switch the packets to their final destination. One of the functions of the network layer is to provide this mechanism.
Transport Layer
The transport layer is responsible for process-to-process delivery of the entire message. A process is an application program running on the host. Whereas the network layer oversees source-to-destination delivery of individual packets, it does not recognize any relationship between those packets. It treats each one independently, as though each piece belonged to a separate message, whether or not it does. The transport layer, on the other hand, ensures that the whole message arrives intact and in order, overseeing both error control and flow control at the source-to-destination level.
Other responsibilities of the transport layer include the following:
Service-point addressing. Computers often run several programs at the same time. For this reason, source-to-destination delivery means delivery not only from one computer to the next but also from a specific process (running program) on one computer to a specific process (running program) on the other. The transport layer header must therefore include a type of address called a service-point address (or port address). The network layer gets each packet to the correct computer; the transport layer gets the entire message to the correct process on that computer.
Segmentation and reassembly. A message is divided into transmittable segments, with each segment containing a sequence number. These numbers enable the transport layer to reassemble the message correctly upon arriving at the destination and to identify and replace packets that were lost in transmission.
Connection control. The transport layer can be either connectionless or connection oriented. A connectionless transport layer treats each segment as an independent packet and delivers it to the transport layer at the destination machine. A connection oriented transport layer makes a connection with the transport layer at the destination machine first before delivering the packets. After all the data are transferred, the connection is terminated.
Flow control. Like the data link layer, the transport layer is responsible for flow control. However, flow control at this layer is performed end to end rather than across a single link.
Error control. Like the data link layer, the transport layer is responsible for error control. However, error control at this layer is performed process-to-process rather than across a single link. The sending transport layer makes sure that the entire message arrives at the receiving transport layer without error (damage, loss, or duplication). Error correction is usually achieved through retransmission.
Session Layer
The services provided by the first four layers (physical, data link, network and transport) are not sufficient for some processes. The session layer is the network dialog controller. It establishes, maintains, and synchronizes the interaction between communicating systems. Specific responsibilities of the session layer include the following:
Dialog control. The session layer allows two systems to enter into a dialog. It allows the communication between two processes to take place in either half duplex (one way at a time) or full-duplex (two ways at a time) mode.
Synchronization. The session layer allows a process to add checkpoints (synchronization points) into a stream of data. For example, if a system is sending a file of 2,000 pages, it is advisable to insert checkpoints after every 100 pages to ensure that each 100-page unit is received and acknowledged independently. In this case, if a crash happens during the transmission of page 523, the only pages that need to be resent after system recovery are pages 501 to 523. Pages previous to 501 need not be resent.
Presentation Layer
The presentation layer is concerned with the syntax and semantics of the information exchanged between two systems. Specific responsibilities of the presentation layer include the following:
Translation. The processes (running programs) in two systems are usually exchanging information in the form of character strings, numbers, and so on. The information should be changed to bit streams before being transmitted. Because different computers use different encoding systems, the presentation layer is responsible for interoperability between these different encoding methods. The presentation layer at the sender changes the information from its sender-dependent format into a common format. The presentation layer at the receiving machine changes the common format into its receiver-dependent format.
Encryption. To carry sensitive information a system must be able to assure privacy. Encryption means that the sender transforms the original information to another form and sends the resulting message out over the network. Decryption reverses the original process to transform the message back to its original form.
Compression. Data compression reduces the number of bits contained in the information. Data compression becomes particularly important in the transmission of multimedia such as text, audio, and video.
Application Layer
The application layer enables the user, whether human or software, to access the network. It provides user interfaces and support for services such as electronic mail, remote file access and transfer, shared database management, and other types of distributed information services. Specific services provided by the application layer include the following:
Network virtual terminal. A network virtual terminal is a software version of a physical terminal and allows a user to log on to a remote host. To do so, the application creates a software emulation of a terminal at the remote host. The user’s computer talks to the software terminal, which, in turn, talks to the host, and vice versa. The remote host believes it is communicating with one of its own terminals and allows you to log on.
File transfer, access, and management (FTAM). This application allows a user to access files in a remote host (to make changes or read data), to retrieve files from a remote computer for use in the local computer, and to manage or control files in a remote computer locally.
E-mail services. This application provides the basis for e-mail forwarding and storage.
Directory services. This application provides distributed database sources and access for global information about various objects and services.
