OSI MODEL

THE 7 OSI LAYERS

 HISTORY
Rapid growth of computer networks caused
compatibility problems
ISO recognized the problem and released the
OSI model in 1984
OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection
and consists of 7 Layers
The use of layers is designed to reduce
complexity and make standardization easier
 What is OSI?
• The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) is a
model that was developed by the ISO
(International Organization for Standards ) and
it describes how information from a software
application in one computer, moves through a
network medium to a software application in
another computer.
 7 Layers of the OSI Model
Layer Responsible For:
7.) Application Provides Services to User Apps
6.) Presentation Data Representation
5.) Session Communication Between Hosts
4.) Transport Flow Ctrl, Error Detection/Correction
3.) Network End to End Delivery, Logical Addr
2.) Data Link Media Access Ctrl, Physical Addr
1.) Physical Medium, Interfaces, Puts Bits on Med.
 Examples

Layer Example
7.) Application HTTP, FTP, SMTP
6.) Presentation ASCII, JPEG, PGP
5.) Session BOOTP, NetBIOS, DHCP, DNS
4.) Transport TCP, UDP, SPX
3.) Network IP, IPX, ICMP
2.) Data Link Ethernet, Token Ring, Frame Relay
1.) Physical Bits, Interfaces, Hubs
 Flat Addressing
• Flat addressing schemes do not provide
anything other than a unique identifier. They
provide no real information about where the
object being addressed resides.
• Example: SSN# (may provide insight to where
the person was born, but not to where they
are now)
 Hierarchical Addressing
• Hierarchical addressing schemes provide
layers or a hierarchy to the address that
provide information about where the
addressed object exists within the hierarchy.
• Example: phone numbers (area code, local
prefix, and four digit number unique to that
area code/prefix combination).
 Encapsulation
• Data exists at each layer contained within a
unit called a Protocol Data Unit (PDU).
• PDU’s are referred two ways: N-PDU, and by
special names.
• The process by which data moves between
PDU types is called Encapsulation
• PDU move through interfaces between layers
using Service Access Points (SAP)
PDU’s And the OSI Model
Layer PDU Name
7.) Application Data
6.) Presentation Data
5.) Session Data
4.) Transport Segment
3.) Network Packet
2.) Data Link Frame
1.) Physical Bits
DATA TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE OSI LAYERS
OSI MODEL

Tasks involved in sending a letter

2.11
OSI MODEL

What is OSI?

• The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) is a model

that was developed by the ISO (International
Organization for Standards ) and it describes how
information from a software application in one
computer, moves through a network medium to a
software application in another computer.
OSI MODEL

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model

International standard organization (ISO) established
a committee in 1977 to develop an architecture for
computer communication.
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model
is the result of this effort.
In 1984, the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)
reference model was approved as an international
standard for communications architecture.
Term “open” denotes the ability to connect any two
systems which conform to the reference model and
associated standards.
OSI MODEL

THE LAYERS OF OSI

The Upper Layers:
This deals with Application issues and generally are
implemented only in software.
The highest layer, application layer is closest to the end
user.
This layer is where communication from one end user to
another begins through the interaction between the
application layer processes and the end user.
The Lower layers:
This handles Data transport issues. The physical layer and
Data link layers are implemented in hardware and
software.
OSI MODEL

OSI Reference Model: 7 Layers

 Layer 1: The Physical Layer
• Defines physical medium and interfaces
• Determines how bits are represented
• Controls transmission rate & bit
synchronization
• Controls transmission mode: simplex, half-
duplex, & full duplex
• PDU: Bits
• Devices: hubs, cables, connectors, etc…
 Layer 2: The Data Link Layer
• PDU: Frames
• Keeps Link alive & provides connection for
upper layer protocols
• Based on physical (flat) address space
• Physical addresses are fixed and don’t change
when the node is moved
• Medium/media access control
 The Data Link Layer (cont.)
• Flow control and error detection/correction at
the frame level. Think collisions…
• Topology
• Ex: Ethernet, Token Ring, ISDN
• Sublayers: MAC (framing, addressing, & MAC)
& LLC (logical link control – gives error control
& flow control)
• Devices: switches, bridges, NIC’s
 Layer 3: The Network Layer
• PDU: Packet
• End to end delivery of packets
• Creates logical paths
• Path determination (routing)
• Hides the lower layers making things
hardware independent
• Uses logical hierarchical addresses
 The Network Layer (cont.)
• Logical hierarchical addresses do change when
a node is moved to a new subnet
• Devices: routers, firewalls
 Layer 4: The Transport Layer
• PDU: Segment
• Service Point Address (more often called a port) used
to track multiple sessions between the same
systems. SPA’s are used to allow a node to offer
more than one service (i.e. it could offer both mail
and web services)
• This layer is why you have to specify TCP or UDP
when dealing with TCP/IP
 The Transport Layer (cont.)
• Must reassemble segments into data using
sequence numbers
• Can use either connectionless or connection
oriented sessions
• Connectionless sessions rely on upper layer
protocols for error control and are often used
for faster less reliable links
• Ex: UDP (used by things like NFS & DNS)
 The Transport Layer (cont.)
• Connection oriented sessions require the sender to
first request a connection, the receiver to
acknowledge the connection, and that they negotiate
how much data can be sent/received before its
reception is acknowledged
• Uses acknowledgements & retransmission for error
correction
• Example: TCP (used by things like telnet, http)
 Layer 5: The Session Layer
• PDU: Data (from here on up)
• Sometimes called the dialog controller, this
layer establishes, maintains, and terminates
sessions between applications
• Sets duplex between applications
• Defines checkpoints for acknowledgements
during sessions between applications
 The Session Layer (cont.)
• Provides atomization – Multiple connections can be
treated as one virtual session. If one fails or is
terminated, all should be terminated.
• Identifies raw data as either application data or
session control information
• Uses fields provided by layers 3 & 4 to track dialogs
between applications / services
• Provides translations for naming services
• Ex: RPC, X-Windows, LDAP, NFS
 Layer 6: The Presentation Layer
• Data formatting, translation, encryption, and
compression
• Ex: ASCII, EBCDIC, HTML, JPEG
 Layer 7: The Application Layer
• Provides communication services to
applications
• Ex: HTTP, FTP, SMTP
 How Does It All Work Together
• Each layer contains a Protocol Data Unit (PDU)
– PDU’s are used for peer-to-peer contact
between corresponding layers.

– Data is handled by the top three layers, then

Segmented by the Transport layer.

– The Network layer places it into packets and

the Data Link frames the packets for
transmission.

– Physical layer converts it to bits and sends it

out over the media.

– The receiving computer reverses the process

2
using the information contained in the PDU.
OSI layers
An exchange using the OSI model
 Network Design & Admin Issues
• Examining network protocols and how they
relate to the OSI model help aide network
administers design networks and help admins
troubleshoot strange behavior.
• If you don’t understand what mechanisms
your network is using to communicate, you
are more likely to introduce new problems
while trying to fix old ones.
 TCP/IP vs OSI
TCP/IP OSI
Application Application
Presentation
Session (Layers 7-5)
Transport Transport (Layer 4)
Internet Network (Layer 3)
Network Interface Data Link
Physical (Layers 1-2)
 IEEE Standards
• IEEE project 802 started in 1985
• Adopted by ANSI in 1987
• Recognized as an international standard by the ISO as ISO
8802
• Deals with layers 1 & 2
• At the data link layer (layer 2), defines MAC and LLC sub
layers
• LLC covers media independent topics (802.2 is the LLC
standard)
• MAC topics are dependent on media (802.3, 802.11, 802.5)
• At the physical layer (layer 1), defines a PMI and PMD
OSI MODEL

Physical layer

2.34
OSI MODEL

Physical Layer
Provides physical interface for transmission of
information.
Defines rules by which bits are passed from one
system to another on a physical communication
medium.
Covers all - mechanical, electrical, functional and
procedural - aspects for physical communication.
Such characteristics as voltage levels, timing of
voltage changes, physical data rates, maximum
transmission distances, physical connectors, and
other similar attributes are defined by physical layer
specifications.
OSI MODEL

Data link layer

2.36
OSI MODEL

Data Link Layer

Data link layer attempts to provide reliable
communication over the physical layer interface.
Breaks the outgoing data into frames and
reassemble the received frames.
Create and detect frame boundaries.
Handle errors by implementing an acknowledgement
and retransmission scheme.
Implement flow control.
Supports points-to-point as well as broadcast
communication.
Supports simplex, half-duplex or full-duplex
communication.
OSI MODEL

Network layer

2.38
OSI MODEL

Network Layer
Implements routing of frames (packets) through the
network.
Defines the most optimum path the packet should
take from the source to the destination
Defines logical addressing so that any endpoint can
be identified. Handles congestion in the network.
Facilitates interconnection between heterogeneous
networks (Internetworking).
The network layer also defines how to fragment a
packet into smaller packets to accommodate
different media.
OSI MODEL

Source-to-destination delivery

2.40
 How Does It All Work Together
• Each layer contains a Protocol Data Unit (PDU)
– PDU’s are used for peer-to-peer contact
between corresponding layers.

– Data is handled by the top three layers, then

Segmented by the Transport layer.

– The Network layer places it into packets and

the Data Link frames the packets for
transmission.

– Physical layer converts it to bits and sends it

out over the media.

– The receiving computer reverses the process

2
using the information contained in the PDU.
OSI layers
An exchange using the OSI model
OSI MODEL

Transport layer

2.44
OSI MODEL

Transport Layer
Purpose of this layer is to provide a reliable
mechanism for the exchange of data between two
processes in different computers.
Ensures that the data units are delivered error free.
Ensures that data units are delivered in sequence.
Ensures that there is no loss or duplication of data
units.
Provides connectionless or connection oriented
service.
Provides for the connection management.
Multiplex multiple connection over a single channel.
OSI MODEL

Reliable process-to-process delivery of a message

2.46
OSI MODEL

Session layer

2.47
OSI MODEL

Session Layer
Session layer provides mechanism for controlling the dialogue
between the two end systems. It defines how to start, control
and end conversations (called sessions) between applications.
This layer requests for a logical connection to be established
on an end-user’s request.
Any necessary log-on or password validation is also handled by
this layer.
Session layer is also responsible for terminating the
connection.
This layer provides services like dialogue discipline which can
be full duplex or half duplex.
Session layer can also provide check-pointing mechanism such
that if a failure of some sort occurs between checkpoints, all
data can be retransmitted from the last checkpoint.
OSI MODEL

Presentation layer

2.49
OSI MODEL

Presentation Layer
Presentation layer defines the format in which the
data is to be exchanged between the two
communicating entities.
Also handles data compression and data encryption
(cryptography).
OSI MODEL

Application layer

2.51
OSI MODEL

Application Layer
Application layer interacts with application
programs and is the highest level of OSI model.
Application layer contains management functions
to support distributed applications.
Examples of application layer are applications such
as file transfer, electronic mail, remote login etc.
OSI MODEL

Interaction Between OSI Model Layers

Information sent from a software application

in one system to a software application in
another, must pass through each of the OSI
layers.
An example of this is shown in the diagram
below:
OSI MODEL

The interaction between layers in the OSI model

2.54
OSI MODEL

An exchange using the OSI model

2.55
OSI MODEL

DATA TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE OSI

LAYERS
OSI MODEL

Summary of layers

2.57
OSI MODEL

REFERRED FROM

• WWW.WICKYPEDIA.COM

• DATA COMMUNICATION AND

NETWORKING BY FEROUZAN