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Data-Link Layer Introduction

The Data Link Layer is the second layer of the OSI Model, responsible for facilitating communication between directly connected hosts by converting data streams into signals and framing them for transmission. It includes two sub-layers: Logical Link Control, which manages protocols and error control, and Media Access Control, which handles media access. Key functionalities include framing, addressing, synchronization, error control, flow control, and multi-access management to prevent data collisions.

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9 views2 pages

Data-Link Layer Introduction

The Data Link Layer is the second layer of the OSI Model, responsible for facilitating communication between directly connected hosts by converting data streams into signals and framing them for transmission. It includes two sub-layers: Logical Link Control, which manages protocols and error control, and Media Access Control, which handles media access. Key functionalities include framing, addressing, synchronization, error control, flow control, and multi-access management to prevent data collisions.

Uploaded by

sachinghatke921
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Data-link Layer Introduction

Data Link Layer is second layer of OSI Layered Model. This layer is one of the most complicated
layers and has complex functionalities and liabilities. Data link layer hides the details of
underlying hardware and represents itself to upper layer as the medium to communicate.

Data link layer works between two hosts which are directly connected in some sense. This direct
connection could be point to point or broadcast. Systems on broadcast network are said to be on
same link. The work of data link layer tends to get more complex when it is dealing with multiple
hosts on single collision domain.

Data link layer is responsible for converting data stream to signals bit by bit and to send that over
the underlying hardware. At the receiving end, Data link layer picks up data from hardware which
are in the form of electrical signals, assembles them in a recognizable frame format, and hands
over to upper layer.

Data link layer has two sub-layers:

Logical Link Control: It deals with protocols, flow-control, and error control

Media Access Control: It deals with actual control of media

Functionality of Data-link Layer


Data link layer does many tasks on behalf of upper layer. These are:

Framing
Data-link layer takes packets from Network Layer and encapsulates them into
Frames.Then, it sends each frame bit-by-bit on the hardware. At receiver’ end, data link
layer picks up signals from hardware and assembles them into frames.

Addressing
Data-link layer provides layer-2 hardware addressing mechanism. Hardware address is
assumed to be unique on the link. It is encoded into hardware at the time of
manufacturing.
Synchronization
When data frames are sent on the link, both machines must be synchronized in order to
transfer to take place.
Error Control
Sometimes signals may have encountered problem in transition and the bits are
flipped.These errors are detected and attempted to recover actual data bits. It also
provides error reporting mechanism to the sender.

Flow Control
Stations on same link may have different speed or capacity. Data-link layer ensures flow
control that enables both machine to exchange data on same speed.
Multi-Access
When host on the shared link tries to transfer the data, it has a high probability of
collision. Data-link layer provides mechanism such as CSMA/CD to equip capability of
accessing a shared media among multiple Systems.

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