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Protocol Hierarchies

A protocol hierarchy organizes network communication into layers, with each layer offering services to higher layers and communicating with its peer layer in another device. Data passes through each layer of Device A and Device B, with adjacent layers communicating directly and peer layers communicating virtually. This layered architecture provides advantages like interoperability, compatibility, portability, scalability and mobility between devices, while potentially impacting performance and increasing complexity compared to a non-layered design.

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Manasa Vanam
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190 views4 pages

Protocol Hierarchies

A protocol hierarchy organizes network communication into layers, with each layer offering services to higher layers and communicating with its peer layer in another device. Data passes through each layer of Device A and Device B, with adjacent layers communicating directly and peer layers communicating virtually. This layered architecture provides advantages like interoperability, compatibility, portability, scalability and mobility between devices, while potentially impacting performance and increasing complexity compared to a non-layered design.

Uploaded by

Manasa Vanam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Protocol Hierarchies

A protocol is a standard which controls or enables the


connection, communication, and data transfer between
computing endpoints. Protocols can be implemented by
hardware, software, or a combination of the two.
Generally to reduce the complexity of network software
design , most networks are organized as a series of
"layers" or "levels”. The different number of layers, the
name of each layer, and the function of every layer differ
from network to network.
The purpose of every layer is to offer a certain service to
the higher layers, shielding those layers from the details
of how the offered services are actually implemented.
Layer n in one machine carries on a conversation with
layer n on another machine, the rules and conventions
used in this conversation are collectively known as layer n
"protocol".
The above figure represents communication between
Device A and Device B. The data stream from one device
to the other is not sent directly but has to pass through a
number of layers. The layers in the same levels are called
peers and have a set of protocols for communication.
Between each adjacent layer is an interface that defines
the services that are being offered by a lower layer to the
next higher layer. The dotted arrows depict virtual
communication between peer layers, while the solid
arrows represent the physical communications between
the adjacent layers.

A set of layers and protocols is called a network


architecture. A list of protocols used by certain system,
one protocol per one layer is called the protocol stack
Let us consider a situation where Device A wants to send
a message to Device B. Device A passes its information to
the highest layer. As soon as a data stream reaches a layer,
it performs some specified functions on it and passes it to
the layer below. This continues until the data stream
reaches the lowest layer. Layer 1 passes a bit stream of 0s
and 1s to the physical medium that communicates it to the
Layer 1 of the receiving end. Each layer in the receiving
end performs certain functions on the data stream
adhering to the protocol with its peer and passes it to the
layer above. This continues until the information reaches
the highest layer. The highest layer then conveys the
message to Device B in the same format sent by Device
A.

Advantages of a layered architecture:

Interoperability - Layering promotes greater interoperability


between devices from different manufacturers and even
between different generations of the same type of device from
the same manufacturer.

Greater Compatibility - One of the greatest benefits of using a


hierarchal or layered approach is the greater compatibility
between devices, systems and networks.
Portability - Layered networking protocols are much easier to
port from one system or architecture to another.
Scalability - Experience has shown that a layered or hierarchal
approach to networking protocol design and implementation
scales better than the horizontal approach.
Mobility - Greater mobility is more readily delivered
whenever we adopt the layered and segmented strategies into
our architectural design.
Task Segmentation - Breaking a large, complex system
into smaller, more manageable subcomponents allows for
easier development and implementation of new
technologies
Disadvantages of a layered architecture:
* There might be a negative impact on the performance as we
have the extra overhead of passing through layers instead of
calling a component directly.

* Development of user-intensive applications can sometimes


take longer.

* The use of layers helps to control and encapsulate the


complexity of large applications, but adds complexity to
simple applications.

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