Synchronous Data-Link Control

Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC) is a discipline for managing

synchronous, code-transparent, serial-by-bit information transfer between nodes
that are joined by data links. Data may be sent simultaneously in both directions
(referred to as two-way simultaneous transmission) or alternately, in one direction
at a time (referred to as two-way alternate transmission). The link connection may
have a point-to-point, multipoint, or loop configuration; a point-to-point link may
be no switched or switched. SDLC includes comprehensive detection and recovery
procedures for transmission errors that may be introduced onto the link.

Primary and Secondary Link Stations

A link station comprises procedures and control information that coordinate
the transfer of data between two nodes joined by a link connection. A primary link
station has the responsibility for controlling a data link; it issues commands.
Secondary link stations receive commands from the primary link station and return
responses to it. Each transmission on a link connection is from the primary station
to one or more secondary stations or from a secondary station to the primary
station.


Transmission States

A link connection can be in one of three states:

Transient state
Idle state
Active state.
A link connection can be in only one of these states at a time.

Transient State
The transient state exists when the link connection is being conditioned
before initial transmission and after each transmits-receive reversal (or
turnaround)

Idle State
When a link connection is operational, but no SDLC control or information
is currently being transmitted, it is in the idle state.

Active state
A link connection is in the active state when a link station is transmitting or
receiving either information or data link control signals. The active transmission
state is the non-idle, no transient state. The link connection is also in the active
state when a series of flags is being transmitted. In this case no information is
exchanged, but the link connection is held in the active state


Transmission Frames

All data and control transmissions on an SDLC data link are organized in a
specific format called a transmission frame-also called SDLC frame, or simply
frame. This format carries control information and user data between a transmitting
station and a receiving station and allows a receiving station:

To determine where the frame starts and ends.
To determine whether the frame is intended for that station
To determine what actions to perform with the information received
To detect the occurrence of transmission errors in received frames
To acknowledge its receipt of frames to the transmitting station.


Frame Format

Each SDLC transmission frame has the same specific format. Each frame is
made up of:

A beginning flag (F) that marks the beginning of the frame
An address (A) field that identifies the secondary station that is sending (or is to
receive) the frame
A control (C) field that specifies the function of the particu lar frame
An optional information field that contains information data
A frame check sequence (FCS) field that allows the receiving station to check the
transmission accuracy of the frame
An ending flag (F) that signals the end of the frame.


Fields of the SDLC Transmission Frame, As Transmitted


Flags
The beginning flag and the ending flag enclose the SOLC frame. The beginning
flag serves as a reference for the position of the A (address) and C (control) fields
and initiates transmission error checking; the ending flag delimits the end of the
FCS field and marks the end of the frame.


Address Field
The address field of an SDLC frame follows immediately after the beginning
flag. It serves the same purpose as the address or return address on a letter mailed
through the post office. The address that is sent is always the address of the
secondary station on the link connection. If the primary station is transmitting the
frame, the address is similar to the main address on a letter-it tells where the
message is to go. If a secondary station is transmitting the frame, the address is
similar to the return address on a letter-it tells where the message originated.


Control Field
The control field (C field) follows the address field. The control field defines
the function of the frame and can be in one of the three formats;

Unnumbered (U) Format
Unnumbered frames are used for such functions as:
Establishing and disconnecting the data link
Reporting certain procedural errors
Transferring data (when the location of the data in a sequence of frames is not to
be checked).

Supervisory (S) Format
Supervisory frames assist in the transfer of information, though they do not
carry information themselves. They are used to acknowledge received frames, to
convey ready or busy conditions, and to report frame numbering errors (indicating
that a numbered information frame was received out of its proper sequence).

Information (I) Format
Information frames transfer information. Besides indicating the format, the
control field contains send and receive counts (Ns and Nr). SDLC procedures use
the Ns count to ensure that these frames are received in their proper order; they use
the Nr count to confirm that received information frames are accepted.



Information Field
Following the control field, there may or may not be an information field.
The supervisory frame does not contain an information field. Data to be transferred
on the data link is contained in the information field of a frame. The information
field does not have a set length, but must be a multiple of 8 bits.


Frame Check Sequence (FCS) Field
Following the information field (or control field if no information field is
present) is the frame check sequence (FCS) field. The purpose of this field is to
check the received frame for errors that may have been introduced by the link
connection. This field contains a 16-bit check sequence that is the result of a
computation on the contents of the A, C, and information fields at the transmitter.
The computation method used is called cyclic redundancy checking (CRC).














































Synchronous Data-Link Control
(SDLC)









Mayla Charmaine G. Sanchez


Engr. Jepsie T. So