Network Access Layer

Rey Angelo E. Elumir

ACON II; CS 351
Definition:

It is the lowest layer of the TCP/IP protocol hierarchy.

It is often ignored by users as it is well hidden by the

better known mid-level protocols such as IP, TCP, and
UDP, and higher level protocols such as SMTP, HTTP,
and FTP.
Usually performed in this level:
Encapsulation of IP datagram's into the frames
transmitted by the network.

Mapping of IP addresses to the physical addresses

used by the network.
Examples of RFCs that define
network access layer protocols
are:
RFC 826, Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) :
which maps IP addresses to Ethernet addresses.

RFC 894, A Standard for the Transmission of IP

Datagram's over Ethernet Networks : which
specifies how IP datagram's are encapsulated for
transmission over Ethernet networks
In addition:
As implemented in UNIX, protocols in this layer often
appear as a combination of device drivers and
related programs.

The modules that are identified with network device

names usually encapsulate and deliver the data to
the network, while separate programs perform related
functions such as address mapping.
Source:
1. Hunt, C. (1999, February 03). TCP/IP Network
Administration. Retrieved July 15, 2017, from
https://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/networking/tcpip/ch01_
04.htm

2. Whipple, W. L. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2017, from

http://www.webhart.net/garry/html/TC0200.html