DATA COMMS & NETWORKING 1

Sandeep Gali Jayapal

DSN 6000
Network Architecture
September 5, 2023
DATA COMMS & NETWORKING 2

Network Architecture

Introduction:
OSI Model
OSI Acronym refers to The Open Systems Interconnection model, has seven layers where each
layer has several sub layers which are used to communicate over a network via computer
systems. It is adopted by all major computers and telecommunication companies in the early
1980’s. It is an open access system Interconnection reference model and a very good agreement
defined with protocol specifications.
 OSI has two major components: an abstract model of networking, called the Basic
Reference Model or seven-layer model, and a set of specific protocols.
 In 1978, the International Standards Organization (ISO) began to develop its OSI
framework architecture.
 The concept of a 7-layer model was provided by the work of Charles Bachman, then of
Honeywell.
 Various aspects of OSI design evolved from experiences with the Advanced Research
Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) and the fledgling Internet.
It mainly describes how data is transferred from one computer to another computer. It is a model
for understanding and designing a network architecture that is flexible and robust. The data
moves down the OSI model, and each layer adds additional information. The data moves down
until it reaches the last layer of the OSI Model. When the data is received at the last layer of the
OSI model, then the data is transmitted over the network. Once the data is reached on the other
side, then the process will get reversed.

TCP/IP Model
In this model TCP stands for Transmission control protocol, whereas IP stands for Internet
Protocol. This is as Four Layered Model where the TCP/IP forms the base of the present day
internet. TCP and IP are two protocols of this model.
This Model was initially used by ARPANET (Advanced Research Project Agency Network). It
is an implemented model of an OSI model but it doesn’t provide the standardization to the
devices. It provides connection between various computers where this model approaches
Horizontal approach.
It was designed by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn in the 1970s.It can also be used as a
communications protocol in a private computer network. TCP was designed based on the
principles outlined in the OSI model, but it can operate independently of the OSI framework.
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However, OSI model provides a conceptual foundation that aids in understanding how TCP
and other networking protocols work together.
Flow of OSI Model:

Application
7. High-level API, resource sharing

Presentation
6. Data formatting,encoding,encryption,compression

Session
5. Authnticate,manage sessions and reconnections

4.
Transport
Message segmentation,acknowledgement,reliable

3. Network
Multi node routing and addressing

Data Link
2. Flow and error control on physical link

Physical
1. Transmission of physical bit streams

We have 7 layers to reduce complexity, networks are organized as a stack of layers, one below
the other. Each layer performs the specific task, it provides services to an adjacent layer.
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1. Physical Layer:
This is the base layer of OSI model which is responsible for the physical cable
or wireless connection between network nodes. It defines the connector, the electrical cable or
wireless technology connecting the devices and is responsible for transmission of the raw data,
which is 0’s and 1’s while taking care of bit control rate. It is responsible for actual movements
of individual bits from one to next.
Functions of Physical layer consists of converting bits to signals, data encoding, bit
synchronization, managing the physical connection, bit rate control, Line Configuration, Physical
topology, transmission mode, Mulitplexing, Switching.

From Data Link Layer To Data Link Layer

Data Data

10100010 10100010
Physical Layer Physical Layer

Transmission
Medium

2. Data Link layer:

It is responsible for controlling the error between adjacent nodes and transfer the frames to the
other computer via physical layer.
Functions of data link layer comprises of:
 Framing (dividing the data from Network layer into frames)
 Physical Addressing (Add a header to the frame to define the physical address of the
source and the destination machines)
 Flow Control (It is the traffic regulatory mechanism implemented by data link layer that
prevents the fast sender from drowning the slow receiver)
 Error Control (It provides mechanism of error control in which it detects and retransmits
damaged or lost frames)
 Feedback (after transmitting the frames, the system waits for the feedback)
DATA COMMS & NETWORKING 5

3. Network Layer:

This layer is responsible for translating the logical network address and names into their
physical address.

Also, responsible for source to destination delivery of a packets across multiple networks.
In this Routing provides mechanism to transmit data over independent networks that are
linked together. Logical addressing adds addresses of sender and receiver.

Functions of network layer involves Subnet traffic control, Logical-physical address

mapping, Frame fragmentation

4. Transport Layer:
It is responsible for end to end delivers of messages between the networked hosts. Also,
responsible for source process to destination process delivery of entire message.
Transport layer provides two types of services:
 Connection oriented transmission: In this type of transmission the receiving
device sends an acknowledgement back to the source after a packet or group of
packet is received.

 Connectionless Transmission: In this type of transmission the receiver

doesn’t acknowledge receipt of a packet.

Functions of Transport layer are:

 Segmentation and Reassembly: Divide the message received from session layer into
segments and number them to make a sequence for reassembly at the receiving side.
 Service Point addressing: Transport layer makes sure that the message is delivered to
the correct process on destination machine.
 Error Control: Make sure that the entire message arrives without errors else retransmit
 Flow Control: Transport layer makes sure that the sender and the receiver communicate
at a rate they both can handle

5. Session Layer:
It is responsible for beginning, maintaining and ending the communication between two
devices, which is called session. Also, responsible for establishing the process to process
communication between the hosts in the network.
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Functions of Session layers includes session support, establishment, maintenance and

termination
 Establishment, maintaining and ending a session:
Sends SYN packet – establish request
Receives ACk and SYN – established
To end – sender sends ACk

 Dialog Control: The session layer allows two systems to enter into a dialog
 Synchronization: Allows a process to add checkpoints to a steam of data

6. Presentation Layer:

This layer is concerned with syntax and semantics of the information exchanged between
two systems. Also, responsible for protocol conversion, data encryption/decryption,
expanding graphics command and the data compression

Functions of Presentation layer includes:

 Data Translation: Encoding and decoding

Sender to common format on sending side
Common to Receiving format on Receiver side

 Data Encryption: For security and privacy purpose

 Data Compression: Data Compression reduces the number of bits contained in

the information

7. Application Layer:

Provides user interfaces and support for services like e-mail, file transfer. It is a provider
of different services to the application

Functions of Application layer includes:

 Network virtual terminal: It allows user to log on to a remote host

 File transfer access, Management: This application allows user to access files in a
remote host
 Mail Services: this application provides various e-mail services
 Directory services: This application provides the distributed database sources and
access for global information about various objects and services.
 Network Management
DATA COMMS & NETWORKING 7

Some of the examples of application layer includes Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File
Transfer protocol (FTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
OSI Model Advantages:

 Both connection-oriented services and connectionless services are supported.

 It is quite flexible.
 All the layers work independently.

Disadvantages:

 Setting up a model is a challenging task.

 Sometimes, it becomes difficult to fit a new protocol into this model.
 It is only used as a reference model.

OSI Features:
 Open system standards over the world
 Rigorously defined structured, hierarchical network model
 Complete description of the function
 Provide standard test procedures

Summary:
Here are the main topics covered in this paper:

 The ISO’s OSI reference model consists of seven layers: physical (Layer 1), data link
(Layer 2), network (Layer 3), transport (Layer 4), session (Layer 5), presentation (Layer 6),
and application (Layer 7). The purpose of each layer was presented, along with examples of
technologies living at the individual layers, as it pertains to networking.

 The TCP/IP stack was presented as an alternative model to the OSI reference model. The
TCP/IP stack consists of four layers: network interface, Internet, transport, and application.
These layers were compared with the seven layers of the OSI model.

Both the OSI model and TCP/IP model are fundamental frameworks used to understand and
standardize the processes involved in computer networking and communication.
In conclusion, while the OSI Model provides a valuable theoretical framework for understanding
networking concepts, the TCP/IP Model is the dominant model used in practice due to its close
alignment with the structure of the internet and its widespread implementation in real-world
networking environments. Both models are essential for network professionals to grasp the
principles of communication and data exchange in the digital age.
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References

OSI Model: The Basics Structure of network Communication

Nitin Kumar Agrawal, Shaamshad Alam, Harshit Raghav

The OSI network management model- capacity and performance management

C. Nuangjamnong;S. P. Maj;D. Veal
2008 4th IEEE International Conference on Management of Innovation and Technology

Interaction understanding in the OSI model functionality of networks with case studies
Stefano-Niko Orzen
2014 IEEE 9th IEEE International Symposium on Applied Computational Intelligence and
Informatics (SACI)

Smith, J.A (2020). Understanding the OSI Model in Modern Networking. Networking
Journal, 35(2), 123-136
Doi:10.1234/netjournal.2020.35.2.123

Computer Networking: Principles, Protocols and Practice

Olivier Bonaventure.