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Medium Access Control Sublayer (MAC sublayer)

The Medium Access Control (MAC) sublayer is part of the data link layer in the OSI model, responsible for flow control, multiplexing, and managing data packet transmission over shared channels. It encapsulates frames, resolves addressing, performs collision resolution, and generates frame check sequences to protect against transmission errors. MAC addresses serve as unique identifiers for network interface controllers, facilitating data transmission within network segments like Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

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43 views

Medium Access Control Sublayer (MAC sublayer)

The Medium Access Control (MAC) sublayer is part of the data link layer in the OSI model, responsible for flow control, multiplexing, and managing data packet transmission over shared channels. It encapsulates frames, resolves addressing, performs collision resolution, and generates frame check sequences to protect against transmission errors. MAC addresses serve as unique identifiers for network interface controllers, facilitating data transmission within network segments like Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

Uploaded by

pranjalghatge18
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3/11/24, 2:51 PM Medium Access Control Sublayer (MAC sublayer)

Medium Access Control Sublayer (MAC sublayer)


Computer Network Computer Engineering MCA

The medium access control (MAC) is a sublayer of the data link layer of the open
system interconnections (OSI) reference model for data transmission. It is responsible
for flow control and multiplexing for transmission medium. It controls the transmission of
data packets via remotely shared channels. It sends data over the network interface card.

MAC Layer in the OSI Model


The Open System Interconnections (OSI) model is a layered networking framework that
conceptualizes how communications should be done between heterogeneous systems. The
data link layer is the second lowest layer. It is divided into two sublayers −

The logical link control (LLC) sublayer

The medium access control (MAC) sublayer

The following diagram depicts the position of the MAC layer −

Functions of MAC Layer

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3/11/24, 2:51 PM Medium Access Control Sublayer (MAC sublayer)

It provides an abstraction of the physical layer to the LLC and upper layers of the OSI
network.

It is responsible for encapsulating frames so that they are suitable for transmission
via the physical medium.

It resolves the addressing of source station as well as the destination station, or


groups of destination stations.

It performs multiple access resolutions when more than one data frame is to be
transmitted. It determines the channel access methods for transmission.

It also performs collision resolution and initiating retransmission in case of collisions.

It generates the frame check sequences and thus contributes to protection against
transmission errors.

MAC Addresses
MAC address or media access control address is a unique identifier allotted to a network
interface controller (NIC) of a device. It is used as a network address for data
transmission within a network segment like Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

MAC address is assigned to a network adapter at the time of manufacturing. It is hardwired


or hard-coded in the network interface card (NIC). A MAC address comprises of six groups of
two hexadecimal digits, separated by hyphens, colons, or no separators. An example of a
MAC address is 00:0A:89:5B:F0:11.

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