Module Title:

Computer
Networks
Module Code: COM5014M
Level: 5
Credits: 20
Week 2

Network
OSI Layers
 OSI Model Review
• The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model was developed by the ISO
(International Organization for Standardization) and formalized in 1984.
• The OSI model is a conceptual framework used to describe the functions of a
networking system.
• The OSI model defines how networks send data from a sender to a recipient. In other
words: it gives detailed guidelines on how communication between network devices
should be done.
• It provides a universal set of rules and functions that are necessary for designing a
network to be interoperable.
• All these rules and functions in OSI model are organized into 7 layers, with each layer
representing a specific networking function.
 OSI Model
1. Physical layer
2. Data link layer
3. Network layer
4. Transport layer
5. Session layer
6. Presentation layer
7. Application layer

• Each layer has a responsibility to

perform specific tasks concerning
sending and receiving data.
How OSI Model
Works
• To get a better
understanding of layered
operation of OSI model, we
consider the tasks involved in
a scenario that a friend, as
the sender, sends a letter to
her friend, as the receiver.
How OSI Model Works
a) The process (data flows) starts at
layer 7 (Application layer), then
moves from layer to layer in
descending, sequential order. Dx: Data Unit at layer x
D7: Data Unit at layer 7,
b) At each layer, a header (H), or Hx Header at layer x
H7 Header at layer 7
possibly a trailer (T, only at layer 2) T2 Trailer at Layer 2
can be added to the data unit.
c) Through the layer 1 (Physical layer),
it is changed into an
electromagnetic signal and
transported along a physical link.
How OSI Model Works
d) Upon reaching its destination, the
signal passes into layer 1 and is
transformed back into digital form.
Dx: Data Unit at layer x
e) Once data reaches the next higher D7: Data Unit at layer 7,
layer, the headers and trailers Hx Header at layer x
H7 Header at layer 7
attached to it at the corresponding T2 Trailer at Layer 2
sending layer are removed.
f) By the time it reaches layer 7, the
message will be sent to recipient in
the form of an appropriate
application.
How OSI Model Works - Encapsulation
• If one computer (host A) wants to send data to another computer (host B), the data
must first be packaged through a process called encapsulation.

• Encapsulation:
o The process of adding
Header to the actual
data when data is
traveling from upper
layer to the lower layer
in OSI.
How OSI Model Works - Decapsulation
• Decapsulation: The exact reverse process of encapsulation.
o Process: The Header added on the sender’s side gets removed by the
corresponding layer when it travels on the receiver’s side from the Physical layer
to the Application layer.
How OSI Model Works - Encapsulation & Decapsulation
Encapsulation?

Decapsulation?
How OSI Model Works - Process Review
At sender, the data encapsulation method works like this:
1) User information is converted to data for transmission on the network.
2) Data is converted to segments and a reliable connection is set up between the
transmitting and receiving hosts.
3) Segments are converted to packets or datagrams, and a logical address is placed in
the header so each packet can be routed through an internetwork.
4) Packets or datagrams are converted to frames for transmission on the local network.
MAC addresses (Ethernet) are used to uniquely identify hosts on a local network
segment.
5) Frames are converted to bits, and a digital encoding and clocking scheme is used.
 OSI Model – Physical Layer
• The major function of the physical layer is to handle the transmission of individual bits
over a communication link (transmission medium).
• Transmission medium can be wired or wireless.
 OSI Model – Data Link Layer
• The data link layer is responsible for transmitting data (frames) between adjacent
nodes that are directly linked, called hop-to-hop (node-to-node) delivery.
• Flow and Error Control on node-to-node delivery (across a single link).
• Date link layer is also responsible for framing.
 OSI Model – Data Link Layer - Framing
• Framing refers to dividing data steam of bits into manageable units called frames.
• Indeed, data Link layer packs bits into frames, so that each frame is
distinguishable from another.
• Our postal system practices a type of framing.
• The simple act of inserting a letter into an envelope separates one piece of
information from another.
• The envelope serves as the delimiter.
• Framing include information about
• Which nodes (e.g., computers) are in communication with each other.
• When communication between individual computers begins and when it ends.
OSI Model – Data Link Layer - Hop-to-Hop Delivery
The concept of hop-to-hop or
node-to-node or host-to-host
delivery refers to the delivery
between two nodes
connected to the same
network by a link.
OSI Model – Data Link Layer - Sublayers
• Data Link layer, to support a wide variety of network functions, is often divided into
two sublayers:
• Logical Link Control (LLC)
• LLC tells the data link layer what to do with a frame.
• It is responsible for identifying layer 3 protocols and encapsulating them.

• Media Access Control (MAC)

• MAC controls how data is placed and
received from the media.
• The MAC sublayer is where your MAC
address resides.
 OSI Model – Network Layer
• The network layer is responsible for the delivery of individual packets from the
source host to the destination host, possibly across multiple networks (links).
• Logical Addressing (IP address)
• Routing: It is the process of selecting a path across one or more networks for packets
delivery from a machine to another machine.
 OSI Model – Network Layer
• Provide switching and routing
facilities.
• The concept of Source-to-Destination
delivery (end-to-end delivery).
• If two computers are connected
to the same link, there is usually
no need for a network layer
addressing.
 OSI Model – Transport Layer
• This layer responsible for the process-to-process message delivery.
o A process is an application program running on a host.
• Service-point addressing for process-to-process delivery:
o It refers to date delivery from a specific process (running program) on one
computer to a specific process (running program) on the other computer.
o Keep in mind, computers often run several programs at the same time.
• Service-point addressing refers to Port Address.
o The transport layer header must therefore include a type of address called a
service-point address (or port address).
 OSI Model – Transport Layer
Other Functions:
• Converts data into segments, called Segmentation.
o Segmentation and Reassembly (Sequence number)
• Connection-oriented v.s. Connectionless
• Flow Control & Error Control at the source-to-destination level
o i.e., flow and error control at process-to-process or end-to-end level.
o Flow control: send that amount of data which can be handled by destination.
o If data packet lost, then resend.
o Error Control: Ensures data is delivered error free and in order.
OSI Model – Transport Layer
 OSI Model – Session Layer
• The session layer is responsible for synchronization and dialog control.
o It establishes, maintains, and synchronizes the interaction among communicating
devices.
• Dialog Control: Dialog between two parties for communication to take place in either
half or full duplex mode.

• Synchronization: refers to
adding Synchronization
Points to stream of data.
• If session fails, only the data
which was not delivered
will be send, NOT whole
message.
 OSI Model – Presentation Layer
• The presentation layer is responsible for translation, compression, and encryption.
• In other words, it is concerned with the syntax and semantics of the information
exchanged between two systems.
• Translation refers to interoperability between different encoding system.
• Encryption & decryption:
ensuring privacy

• Data compression
& Decompression.
 OSI Model – Application Layer
• The application layer is responsible for providing services to the user.
• It provides user interfaces and support for services such as File Transfer, Mail Services,
Database Management.
OSI Model – Summary of layers
Why are Network Protocols Layered?
• A protocol suite is a group of interrelated network protocols that are necessary to
perform communication functions on a network.
• A protocol stack is a complete set of interrelated network protocols that are divided
into layers and work together to provide networking capabilities.
• Protocols are sets of rules.
o What do you want to do? (Application)
o Where are you going? (Addressing)
o How do you get there? (Media types)
o Did you get there? (Acknowledgments, Error checking)
References
1. Forouzan, B. A., & Fegan, S. C. (2007). Data communications and networking (4th. ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

2. Stallings, W. (2003) Data and Computer Communications. 7th Ed. Prentice Hall

3. Tanenbaum, A. (2002) Computer Networks. Prentice Hall PTR.

4. Olifer, N. and Olifer, V. (2005) Computer Networks: Principles, Technologies and Protocols for Network Design.
John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Note: Images for these slides are captured from reference 1.

Thank You
Hamidreza Bagheri
[email protected]