OSI LAYERS

The OSI model takes the task of internetworking and divides that up into what is
referred to as a vertical stack that consists of the following seven layers.
1. Physical Layer
2. Data Link Layer
3. Network Layer
4. Transport Layer
5. Session Layer
6. Presentation Layer
7. Application Layer
OSI LAYER - FUNCTIONS
Each layer in OSI model performs a specific function for processing the data before it is passed to the
layer either above or below.
1. A layer should be created where a different abstraction is needed.
2. Each layer should perform a well-defined function.
3. The function of each layer should be chosen with an eye toward defining internationally
standardized protocols.
4. The layer boundaries should be chosen to minimize the information flow across the
interfaces.
5. The number of layers should be large enough that distinct functions need not be thrown
together in the same layer out of necessity and small enough that the architecture does
not become unwieldy.
OSI REFERENCE
MODEL
Layer 1 : PHYSICAL LAYER
The physical layer performs services requested by the data link layer, which is the layer directly
above it. Its major functions and services are:

 The establishment and termination of connections to a communications medium (e.g., twisted pair
cable or optical fiber cable),
 Conversion between the representation of digital data in computers (or other network devices) and
the corresponding signals transmitted over the communications medium .
 Participation in the efficient sharing among multiple devices of the communications medium
through the use of flow control and collision resolution (i.e., recovery from simultaneous
transmission by two or more devices).
 Physical layer defines the transmission rate called Bit rate control. i.e number of bits sent in one
second.
 This layer defines the way in which the different devices or nodes are arranged in a network. i.e bus,
star etc.
LAYER 2: DATA LINK LAYER
The main functions of the Data Link layer are to deal with,
 Transmission errors
 Regulate the flow of data
 Provide a well-defined interface to the Network layer.
 Framing
 Addressing
 Synchronization
 Error Control
 Flow Control
 Multi-Access Control
Data Link Layer consists of two sub-layers:
LAYER 3: NETWORK LAYER
Network layer takes the responsibility for routing packets from source to destination within or
outside a subnet.
The functions of Network Layer are
 Routing is the decision taken by the network layer when there are several possible
routes available to send the data from the source to destination. These networks are
interconnected through a device called Routers or Gateways that route the packet to
their final destination. Network layer concentrate on providing route to the frames to
travel.
 Addressing : Data link layer provides physical addressing ,but network layer resolves
another addressing called Logical addressing that deals with transfer of data across the
network. When the data is transferred outside the network , this layer adds the logical
address along with the packets and transmitted across the network. These logical
address are termed as IP address.
LAYER 4: TRANSPORT LAYER

Transport layer provides two types of services between the source and the destination.
1. Connection oriented connection (TCP)
2. Connectionless connection (UDP)
Functions of Transport Layer

1. Divides the message into small segments called packets from the sender and reassembles
them into a message at the receiver side.
2. Establishing the connection between the sender and receiver, by providing connection
oriented or connectionless connections using TCP or UDP protocols.
3. Provides the point-point delivery services which includes the address of both sender and
receiver called Service Access Point(SAP) or Port Address.
4. Controls the flow of data between the source and the destination .Ensures to prevent the
source from sending data packets faster than the destination can handle. Controls the
errors during transmission and retransmits the data when an error has occurred.
LAYER 5: SESSION LAYER
FUNCTIONS OF SESSION LAYER:
 Establishing, maintaining and ending the session using SYN (synchronization)
packet to the destination to establish the connection. The receiver sends ACK
(Acknowledgement) packet to the sender once It receives the packet.
 Controls the dialog between the sender and the receiver during the data
transmission.
 Maintaining the synchronization of the data flow. If a packet is lost during
transmission. It ensures that the packets are retransmitted in the order by using some
check points.
LAYER 6: PRESENTATION LAYER
The presentation layer is responsible for the delivery and formatting of information to the
application layer for further processing or display.
FUNCTIONS OF PRESENTATION LAYER:
1. Translation : Before being transmitted, information in the form of characters and
numbers should be changed to bit streams. The presentation layer is responsible for
interoperability between encoding methods as different computers use different
encoding methods. It translates data between the formats the network requires and the
format the computer.
2. Encryption : It carries out encryption at the transmitter and decryption at the
receiver.
3. Compression : It carries out data compression to reduce the bandwidth of the data to
be transmitted. The primary role of Data compression is to reduce the number of bits to
be transmitted. It is important in transmitting multimedia such as audio, video, text etc.
LAYER 7: APPLICATION LAYER
Several protocols are associated with application layer that provides different services to the
user.
FTP File Transfer Protocol

DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

DNS Domain Name System

NFS Network File System

SMTP Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

POP3 Post Office Protocol-3

SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol

HTTP Hyper Text Transfer Protocol

BGP Border Gateway Protocol

RIP Routing Information Protocol