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DataLink Layer Design Issues

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39 views

DataLink Layer Design Issues

Useful for Diploma students

Uploaded by

uk496989
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DataLink Layer Design Issues

Before going through the design issues in the data link layer. Some of its sub-layers and their functions
are as following below.

The data link layer is divided into two sub-layers :

1. Logical Link Control Sub-layer (LLC) –


Provides the logic for the data link, Thus it controls the synchronization, flow control, and error
checking functions of the data link layer. Functions are –
● (i) Error Recovery.
● (ii) It performs the flow control operations.
● (iii) User addressing.

2. Media Access Control Sub-layer (MAC) –


It is the second sub-layer of data-link layer. It controls the flow and multiplexing for
transmission medium. Transmission of data packets is controlled by this layer. This layer is
responsible for sending the data over the network interface card.
Functions are –
● (i) To perform the control of access to media.
● (ii) It performs the unique addressing to stations directly connected to LAN.
● (iii) Detection of errors.

The Data Link Layer, the second layer of the OSI model, is responsible for the reliable transmission of data
across a physical link. Designing this layer involves addressing several key issues to ensure efficient and
error-free communication. Some of these issues include:
1. Services provided to the network layer –
The data link layer act as a service interface to the network layer. The principle service
is transferring data from network layer on sending machine to the network layer on
destination machine. This transfer also takes place via DLL (Data link-layer).
It provides three types of services:
1. Unacknowledged and connectionless services.
2. Acknowledged and connectionless services.
3. Acknowledged and connection-oriented services

Unacknowledged and connectionless services.


● Here the sender machine sends the independent frames without any
acknowledgement from the sender.
● There is no logical connection established.

Acknowledged and connectionless services.


● There is no logical connection between sender and receiver established.
● Each frame is acknowledged by the receiver.
● If the frame didn’t reach the receiver in a specific time interval it has to be
sent again.
● It is very useful in wireless systems.
Acknowledged and connection-oriented services
● A logical connection is established between sender and receiver before data
send.
● Each frame is numbered so the receiver can ensure all frames have arrived
and exactly once.

1. **Frame Structure**: Designing the format of the data frames used for transmission, including fields
for addressing, error detection, and control information.

2. **Error Detection and Correction**: Implementing mechanisms to detect and, if possible,


correct errors that may occur during transmission, such as CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) or checksum
algorithms.

3. **Flow Control**: Managing the flow of data between sender and receiver to prevent overwhelming
the receiver or the network, typically using techniques like buffering, sliding window protocols, or pacing
mechanisms.

4. **Media Access Control (MAC)**: Handling access to the shared communication medium in
cases of shared physical links, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi, including protocols like CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense
Multiple Access with Collision Detection) or CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision
Avoidance).

5. **Addressing**: Assigning unique addresses to devices on the network to facilitate communication


and identify the source and destination of data frames. This may involve MAC addresses or other
addressing schemes.

6. **Error Recovery**: Implementing mechanisms for recovering from transmission errors, such as
retransmission of lost or corrupted frames, acknowledgement mechanisms, and timeout handling.

7. **Medium Dependent Interface (MDI)**: Designing interfaces that handle the physical
connection between devices and the transmission medium, including considerations for different types of
media (e.g., copper, fiber optics, wireless).

8. **Duplexing**: Managing simultaneous communication in both directions (full-duplex) or only one


direction at a time (half-duplex), and designing protocols accordingly.

9. **Protocols and Standards**: Adhering to established protocols and standards (e.g., Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11) to ensure interoperability and compatibility with other devices and networks.

10. **Efficiency and Performance**: Optimizing the design for efficient data transmission, minimal
overhead, and high throughput, considering factors such as frame size, protocol overhead, and processing
requirements.

By addressing these design issues effectively, network engineers can ensure that the Data Link Layer
provides reliable and efficient communication between devices on a network.

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