OSI Reference Model

How to Remember
All

- Application

People

- Presentation

Seems

- Session

To

- Transport

Need of

- Network

Data

- Data Link

Processing

- Physical

Why a Layered Network

Model?
7

Application

Presentation

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

Reduces complexity (one big

problem to seven smaller
ones)
Standardizes interfaces
Simplifies teaching and
learning

Devices Function at
Layers
NIC Card

Application

Presentation

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

Hub

Host Layers
7

Application

Presentation

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

Host layers: Provide

accurate data delivery between
computers

Media Layers
7

Application

Presentation

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

}
}

Host layers: Provide

accurate data delivery between
computers

Media layers: Control

physical delivery of messages
over the network

Application Layer
7

Application

Provides network services to application

processes (such as electronic mail, file
transfer, and terminal emulation)

Presentation Layer
7

Application

Network services to applications

Presentation

Data representation
Ensures data is readable by
receiving system
Format of data
Negotiates data transfer
syntax for application layer

Session Layer
7

Application

Network services to applications

Presentation

Data representation

Session

Inter-host communication
Establishes, manages, and
terminates sessions between
applications

Transport Layer
7

Application

Network services to applications

Presentation

Data representation

Session

Transport

Inter-host communication
End-to-end connection reliability
Concerned with data transport
issues between hosts
Data transport reliability
Establishes, maintains, and
terminates virtual circuits
Fault detection and recovery
Information flow control

Network Layer
7

Application

Network services to applications

Presentation

Data representation

Session

Transport

Network

Inter-host communication
End-to-end connection reliability
Addresses and best path
Provides connectivity and path
selection between two end
systems
Domain of routing

Data Link Layer

7

Application

Network services to applications

Presentation

Data representation

Session

Transport

Network

Addresses and best path

Data Link

Access to media

Inter-host communication
End-to-end connection reliability

Provides reliable transfer of data

across media
Physical addressing, network
topology, error notification, flow
control

Physical Layer
7

Application

Network services to applications

Presentation

Data representation

Session

Transport

Network

Addresses and best path

Data Link

Access to media

Physical

Binary transmission
Wires, connectors, data rates

Inter-host communication
End-to-end connection reliability

Communications
Host A

Host B

Application

Application

Presentation

Presentation

Session

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

Segments
Packets
Frames
Bits

Transport
Network
Data Link
Physical

Data Encapsulation

Host A

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport

} {
Data

Host B

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport

Network

Network

Data Link

Data Link

Physical

Physical

Data Encapsulation

Host A

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport
Network

} {
Data

Network Data
Header

Host B

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport
Network

Data Link

Data Link

Physical

Physical

Data Encapsulation

Host A

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport
Network
Data Link
Physical

} {
Data

Network Data
Header

Frame Network
Header Header

Data

Host B

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport
Network

Frame
Trailer

Data Link
Physical

Data Encapsulation

Host A

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport
Network
Data Link
Physical

} {
Data

Network Data
Header

Frame Network
Header Header

Data

Host B

Application
Presentation
Session
Transport
Network

Frame
Trailer

0101101010110001

Data Link
Physical

Layers 1 & 2:
Physical & Data Link
Layers

MAC Address
24 bits

24 bits

Vendor Code

Serial Number

0000.0c12. 3456
ROM
RAM
MAC address is burned into ROM on a
network interface card

Layer 3:
Network Layer

1999, Cisco Systems, Inc.

www.cisco.com

Network Layer: Path

Determination

Which
Which Path?
Path?

Layer 3 functions to find the best

path through the internetwork

Layers 47:
Transport, Session,
Presentation, and Application
Layers

Transport Layer

Segments upper-layer applications

Establishes an end-to-end connection
Sends segments from one end host to another
Optionally, ensures data reliability

Transport Layer
Establishes Connection
Sender

Receiver

Synchronize
Negotiate Connection
Synchronize
Acknowledge

Connection Established
Data Transfer
(Send Segments)

Transport Layer
Sends Segments with Flow Control
Transmit
Sender

Stop

Go

Receiver

Not Ready

Buffer Full
Process
Segments

Ready
Resume Transmission

Buffer OK

Transport Layer
Reliability with Windowing
Send 1
Sender

Sender

Window Size = 1

Receive 2
Ack 3

Send 2

Send 1
Send 2
Send 3
Send 4

Receive 1
Ack 2
Receiver

Window Size = 3
Receive 1
Receive 2
Receive 3
Ack 4

Receiver

Transport Layer
An Acknowledgement Technique
Sender

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Receiver

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Send 1
Send 2
Send 3
Ack 4
Send 4
Send 5
Send 6
Send 5

Ack 5
Ack 7

Transport to Network Layer

End-to-End Segments

Routed Packets

Session Layer

Network File System (NFS)

Structured Query Language (SQL)
Remote-Procedure Call (RPC)
AppleTalk Session Protocol (ASP)
DEC Session Control Protocol (SCP)

Service Request
Service Reply

Coordinates applications as
they interact on different hosts

Presentation Layer

login:

Text
Data

ASCII
EBCDIC
Encrypted

Sound
MIDI

Video

MPEG
QuickTime

Provides code formatting and

conversion for applications

Graphics
Visual images
PICT
TIFF
JPEG
GIF

Application Layer
COMPUTER
APPLICATIONS
Word Processor

NETWORK
APPLICATIONS

Presentation Graphics Electronic Mail

INTERNETWORK
APPLICATIONS

Spreadsheet

File Transfer

Electronic Data Interchange

Database

Remote Access

World Wide Web

Design/Manufacturing

Client-Server Process

E-Mail Gateways

Project Planning

Information Location

Special-Interest Bulletin Boards

Others

Network Management

Financial Transaction Services

Others

Internet Navigation Utilities

User Interaction

Conferencing (Voice, Video, Data)

Others

Summary
OSI reference model describes building
blocks of functions for program-toprogram communications between similar
or dissimilar hosts
Layers 47 (host layers) provide accurate
data delivery between computers
Layers 13 (media layers) control physical
delivery of data over the network