What is OSI Model?

The OSI Model is a logical and conceptual model that defines network
communication used by systems open to interconnection and communication
with other systems. The Open System Interconnection (OSI Model) also
defines a logical network and effectively describes computer packet transfer
by using various layers of protocols.

Characteristics of OSI Model

Here are some important characteristics of the OSI model:

 A layer should only be created where the definite levels of abstraction

are needed.
 The function of each layer should be selected as per the internationally
standardized protocols.
 The number of layers should be large so that separate functions should
not be put in the same layer. At the same time, it should be small
enough so that architecture doesn’t become very complicated.
 In the OSI model, each layer relies on the next lower layer to perform
primitive functions. Every level should able to provide services to the
next higher layer
 Changes made in one layer should not need changes in other lavers.

Why of OSI Model?

 Helps you to understand communication over a network
 Troubleshooting is easier by separating functions into different network
layers.
 Helps you to understand new technologies as they are developed.
 Allows you to compare primary functional relationships on various
network layers.

History of OSI Model

Here are essential landmarks from the history of OSI model:

 In the late 1970s, the ISO conducted a program to develop general

standards and methods of networking.
  In 1973, an Experimental Packet Switched System in the UK identified
the requirement for defining the higher-level protocols.
 In the year 1983, OSI model was initially intended to be a detailed
specification of actual interfaces.
 In 1984, the OSI architecture was formally adopted by ISO as an
international standard

7 Layers of the OSI Model

OSI model is a layered server architecture system in which each layer is
defined according to a specific function to perform. All these seven layers
work collaboratively to transmit the data from one layer to another.

 The Upper Layers: It deals with application issues and mostly

implemented only in software. The highest is closest to the end system
user. In this layer, communication from one end-user to another begins
by using the interaction between the application layer. It will process all
the way to end-user.
 The Lower Layers: These layers handle activities related to data
transport. The physical layer and datalink layers also implemented in
software and hardware.

Upper and Lower layers further divide network architecture into seven
different layers as below

 Application
 Presentation
 Session
 Transport
 Network, Data-link
 Physical layers
Physical Layer
The physical layer helps you to define the electrical and physical
specifications of the data connection. This level establishes the relationship
between a device and a physical transmission medium. The physical layer is
not concerned with protocols or other such higher-layer items.

Examples of hardware in the physical layer are network adapters, ethernet,

repeaters, networking hubs, etc.

Data Link Layer:

Data link layer corrects errors which can occur at the physical layer. The layer
allows you to define the protocol to establish and terminates a connection
between two connected network devices.

It is IP address understandable layer, which helps you to define logical

addressing so that any endpoint should be identified.

The layer also helps you implement routing of packets through a network. It
helps you to define the best path, which allows you to take data from the
source to the destination.
The data link layer is subdivided into two types of sublayers:

1. Media Access Control (MAC) layer- It is responsible for controlling how

device in a network gain access to medium and permits to transmit
data.
2. Logical link control layer- This layer is responsible for identity and
encapsulating network-layer protocols and allows you to find the error.

Important Functions of Datalink Layer:

 Framing which divides the data from Network layer into frames.
 Allows you to add header to the frame to define the physical address of
the source and the destination machine
 Adds Logical addresses of the sender and receivers
 It is also responsible for the sourcing process to the destination process
delivery of the entire message.
 It also offers a system for error control in which it detects retransmits
damage or lost frames.
 Datalink layer also provides a mechanism to transmit data over
independent networks which are linked together.

Transport Layer:
The transport layer builds on the network layer to provide data transport from
a process on a source machine to a process on a destination machine. It is
hosted using single or multiple networks, and also maintains the quality of
service functions.

It determines how much data should be sent where and at what rate. This
layer builds on the message which are received from the application layer. It
helps ensure that data units are delivered error-free and in sequence.

Transport layer helps you to control the reliability of a link through flow control,
error control, and segmentation or desegmentation.

The transport layer also offers an acknowledgment of the successful data

transmission and sends the next data in case no errors occurred. TCP is the
best-known example of the transport layer.
Important functions of Transport Layers:
 It divides the message received from the session layer into segments
and numbers them to make a sequence.
 Transport layer makes sure that the message is delivered to the correct
process on the destination machine.
 It also makes sure that the entire message arrives without any error else
it should be retransmitted.

Network Layer:
The network layer provides the functional and procedural means of
transferring variable length data sequences from one node to another
connected in “different networks”.

Message delivery at the network layer does not give any guaranteed to be
reliable network layer protocol.

Layer-management protocols that belong to the network layer are:

1. routing protocols
2. multicast group management
3. network-layer address assignment.

Session Layer
Session Layer controls the dialogues between computers. It helps you to
establish starting and terminating the connections between the local and
remote application.

This layer request for a logical connection which should be established on end
user’s requirement. This layer handles all the important log-on or password
validation.

Session layer offers services like dialog discipline, which can be duplex or
half-duplex. It is mostly implemented in application environments that use
remote procedure calls.

Important function of Session Layer:

 It establishes, maintains, and ends a session.
  Session layer enables two systems to enter into a dialog
 It also allows a process to add a checkpoint to steam of data.

Presentation Layer
Presentation layer allows you to define the form in which the data is to
exchange between the two communicating entities. It also helps you to
handles data compression and data encryption.

This layer transforms data into the form which is accepted by the application.
It also formats and encrypts data which should be sent across all the
networks. This layer is also known as a syntax layer.

The function of Presentation Layers:

 Character code translation from ASCII to EBCDIC.
 Data compression: Allows to reduce the number of bits that needs to be
transmitted on the network.
 Data encryption: Helps you to encrypt data for security purposes — for
example, password encryption.
 It provides a user interface and support for services like email and file
transfer.

Application Layer
Application layer interacts with an application program, which is the highest
level of OSI model. The application layer is the OSI layer, which is closest to
the end-user. It means OSI application layer allows users to interact with other
software application.

Application layer interacts with software applications to implement a

communicating component. The interpretation of data by the application
program is always outside the scope of the OSI model.

Example of the application layer is an application such as file transfer, email,

remote login, etc.

The function of the Application Layers are:

 Application-layer helps you to identify communication partners,
determining resource availability, and synchronizing communication.
  It allows users to log on to a remote host
 This layer provides various e-mail services
 This application offers distributed database sources and access for
global information about various objects and services.

Interaction Between OSI Model Layers

Information sent from a one computer application to another needs to pass
through each of the OSI layers.

This is explained in the below-given example:

 Every layer within an OSI model communicates with the other two
layers which are below it and its peer layer in some another networked
computing system.
 In the below-given diagram, you can see that the data link layer of the
first system communicates with two layers, the network layer and the
physical layer of the system. It also helps you to communicate with the
data link layer of, the second system.

Protocols supported at various levels

Differences between OSI & TCP/IP
Here, are some important differences between the OSI & TCP/IP model:

Advantages of the OSI Model

Here, are major benefits/pros of using the OSI model :

 It helps you to standardize router, switch, motherboard, and other

hardware
 Reduces complexity and standardizes interfaces
 Facilitates modular engineering
 Helps you to ensure interoperable technology
 Helps you to accelerate the evolution
 Protocols can be replaced by new protocols when technology changes.
 Provide support for connection-oriented services as well as
connectionless service.
 It is a standard model in computer networking.
 Supports connectionless and connection-oriented services.
 Offers flexibility to adapt to various types of protocols

Disadvantages of the OSI Model

Here are some cons/ drawbacks of using OSI Model:

 Fitting of protocols is a tedious task.

 You can only use it as a reference model.
 Doesn’t define any specific protocol.
 In the OSI network layer model, some services are duplicated in many
layers such as the transport and data link layers
 Layers can’t work in parallel as each layer need to wait to obtain data
from the previous layer.