Data and Computer Communication

- Networking Principles -

By
P.H.S.S. Wijayarathna
Department of Information and Communication Technology
University of Vocational Technology
 Layered Network Architecture
Host 1 Host 2
Layer 5 Protocol
Layer 5 Layer 5
Layer 4/5 interface
Layer 4 Protocol
Layer 4 Layer 4
Layer 3/4 interface
Layer 3 Protocol
Layer 3 Layer 3
Layer 2/3 interface
Layer 2 Protocol
Layer 2 Layer 2
Layer 1/2 interface
Layer 1 Protocol
Layer 1 Layer 1

Physical Transmission Medium

 Layered Network Architecture

• Reduce the design complexity of networks, layers are

organized or arrange as a series of layers or levels
• In a Layered Architecture
• number of the layers
• name of each layers
• contents of each layers
• functions of each layer are differ from network to network
• In Networks purpose of each layer is to offer certain
services to higher layer
 Layered Network Architecture

• Layer N on one machine carries on a conversation with layer

N on another machine
• The rules and conventions used in this conversation are
known as layer N Protocol
• The Protocol is an agreement between the communication
parties on how communication is proceed.
• Key elements of a protocol
• Syntax – include such things as the data format coding and signal levels
• Semantics – includes control information for co-ordination and error handling
• Timing – includes speed machine and sequencing
 Layered Network Architecture
Host 1 Host 2
Layer 5 Protocol
Layer 5 Layer 5
Layer 4/5 interface
Layer 4 Protocol
Layer 4 Layer 4
Layer 3/4 interface
Layer 3 Protocol
Layer 3 Layer 3
Layer 2/3 interface
Layer 2 Protocol
Layer 2 Layer 2
Layer 1/2 interface
Layer 1 Protocol
Layer 1 Layer 1

Physical Transmission Medium

 Layered Network Architecture

• A five layer networks is illustrated in the slide above

• The entities comprising the corresponding layers on different
machines are called peers and peers are communicate with
each other using protocols
• Between two layers there is an interface
• A set of layers and protocols is called a network architecture
(The details of an implementation and specification are not part of the architecture and they
are not visible to the outside)

• A list of protocols are use by a certain system, and one

protocol per layer is called as protocol stack
 Layered Network Architecture

• In reality, no data will transfer from layer N in machine to

layer N on another machine.
• Each Layer passes data and control information on the layer
immediately below it until the lowest layer.
• Between two pairs of adjacent layers there is an interface
• The interface define which operations and services offer to
the upper layer
• Because of this architecture developer can completely remove the layer and
implement new layer or completely different implementation
• Below the layer 1 there is a physical transmission medium
which actual transmission occurs.
 Information Flow and Protocol Hierarchy

Source machine Destination machine

M Layer 5 protocol M

Layer 4 protocol
H4 M H4 M

Layer 3 protocol
H3 H4 M1 H3 M2 H3 H4 M1 H3 M2

Layer 2 protocol
H2 H3 H4 M1 T2 H2 H3 H4 M1 T2

H2 H3 M2 T2 H2 H3 M2 T2

Layer 1 protocol
 Layered Network Architecture

• The slide above demonstrate how massage is sent from top layer of one
machine (from fifth layer)to the top layer of another machine (to fifth
layer)
• A message M is produce by the protocol entity in layer 5 of the Sender
• This message is past to the layer 4 in the Sender machine
• Layer 4 is attach the header in front of the message to identify it, the
hearer includes control information
• This control information is required to send the message in a proper
sequence or order in Destination machine
(in some headers include size, time and other control information)

• This message with header is pass to the layer 3 and

 Layered Network Architecture

• Layer 3 must break the message in to smaller units call

packets
• In above example, message is break in to two parts such
as M1 and M2. Then layer 3 add layer 3 header to each
packet.
• Then layer 3 pass the packets to the layer 2
 Layered Network Architecture

• Layer 2 add not only the layer 2 header but also add trailer for each
packet.
• Resulting units send to the layer 1 for physical transmission.
• At the destination machine in layer 1 send the message send to the layer
2 and remove the layer 2 header
• Then send it to the layer 3, then remove the layer 3 header and send to
the layer 4
• In layer 4 assemble the message and send to the layer 5 for processing
• Non of the header or trailer are never pass to the layer N+1
 Layered Network Architecture

• Please Do Not Touch Silva’s Pet Alligator