mputer Networks Prof.

Hema A Murthy

A Layered Approach to Computer

Networks
• Physical Layer
• Data Link Layer
• Different layer of
• Network Layer abstraction
• Transport Layer • Different error control
mechanisms at different
• Session Layer layers
• Presentation Layer
• Application Layer

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layer n+2 protocol

Ln+2 Ln+2

Layer n+1 protocol

Ln+1 Ln+1

L1 L1

Physical Layer

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layer to Layer Communication

• Layer n on ‘A’ talks to Layer n on ‘B’.
– No data transferred directly between layers at
the same level.
– Data and control flow from one layer to the
layer below it until it reaches Physical Layer.
– All transmission only at the Physical Layer.

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Design of a Network
• Layer to Layer interface must be well
understood.
• A set of layers and protocols constitute a
network architecture.
• A list of protocols used by a system, one per
layer is called a protocol stack.

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

L5 protocol
M M Application

L4 protocol
H4 M H4 M Transmission

L3 protocol
H3 H4 M1 H3 M2 H3 H4 M1 H3 M2 NW Layer

DLL
H2 H3 H4 M1 T1 H2 H3 M2T1 H2 H3 H4 M1 T1 H2 H3 M2T1
src dest

L2 protocol Physical

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Design of a Network
• Addresses for source and destination
– multiple machines with multiple processes
– a process on one machine must know the
identity of process on the other machine that it
wants to talk to
• Machine Address
• Process Address

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Design of a Network
• Virtual communication between peers except
Physical Layer.
• Each layer thinks that there is a horizontal
communication.
• At each layer:Procedures:
– Send To Other Side
– Get From Other Side
– each communicates with lower layers.
– each layer needs a mechanism to identify senders and
receivers

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Design of a Network (Continued)

• Modes of data transfer
– Simplex, duplex, half-duplex
• Number of logical channels
– Minium two
• One for data, one for control

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Design of a Network (Continued)

• Layers of abstraction
• Packet format at each layer
• Mechanisms for error control at each layer
• Sequencing of packets at each layer
• Support multiple protocols at each layer

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Example of Multiple protocols a the

same layer
File Digital Video File Digital Video
app Lib appl app Lib appl

RRP MSP RRP MSP

HHP HHP

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Different requirements for different

Applications
• protocol stack for:
– file application:
• RRP / HHP
Must ensure reliable
– Digital Library transmission
• RRP / HHP
– Video Application:
• MSP / HHP - enable QoS, jitter, delay
video on demand / video conferencing

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layering in a Network
• Abstracting details away from physical
layer:
– keeps switches in the middle of the Network as
simple as possible
• Compare with telephone network: put intelligence in
switch
– telephone handsets as simple as possible
– A single physical connection to multiplex
different conversations

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layering in a Network
• flow and control:
– prevented sender from swamping receiver.
• message formats:
– different sizes at different levels
– assemble / disassemble messages

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layer to Layer Communication

• Each layer provides service to the layer
above it
– Layer n provides services for Layer n+1
– Layer n service provider
– Layer n+1 service user

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Interfaces between Layers

• Service access point (SAP)
– place where Layer n+1 accesses Layer n
services
• unique address
– SAP in telephone NW
• telephone jack or socket
– SAP address:
• telephone number

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Exchange of information between

wo layers. (IDU)

IDU
ICI SDU

control Service Data Unit

(Interface Data Unit)

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Interfaces and Services

• SDU transmitted across Network
• Control useful for lower layer to do their job
• e.g. number of bytes
• Layer n fragments data into PDUs (Protocol
Data Unit – packets)
– each PDU has a header.
• PDUs are used by peers to carry out peer control.

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Services and Protocols

• Services:
– set of primitives or operations that a layer
provides to the layer above it.
• Protocols:
– set of rules governing the format and meaning
of frames, packets, messages exchanged
between peers.

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Types of Services
• connection oriented service
– Telephone system
• connection less – postal system
– (second message come before first – no
acknowledgement)
• Two letters posted at the same time to same address
• reply paid telegram
• Acknowledgement received for message

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layers and their functions

• Physical layer:
– Transmits bits 0 & 1
• what voltage to use
• width of a bit
– connection establishment
– tearing down of connection
– number of pins on Network connector and use
of each pin on the connector

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layers and their functions

• Data Link Layer:
– convert it to a line that appears free of
undetected transmission errors to the layer
above it.
• data frames, ack frames
– handshaking between transmitter, receiver
– control access to the shared channel

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layers and their functions

• Network Layer:
– operation of the subnet
– routing of packets src to destination
– static / dynamic routing;
– congestion control

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layers and their functions

• Transport Layer:
– split data from session passes to Network
Layer, pieces arrive correctly at the other end.
– flow control
• Session Layer (not used):
– allows uses on different machines to establish a
session between them.
– synchronisation, check parity

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

Layers and their functions

• Presentation Layer (not used):
– coding standards machine to Network and back
• Example: ASCII to Unicode and vice versa
• Application Layer:
– variety of protocols required
• File transfer protocol, Simple Mail Transfer
Protocol, Directory Server, Simple Network
Management Protocol

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

The TCP/IP Protocol Stack

TELNET FTP SMTP DNS SNMP Application

TCP UDP Transport

IP NetWork

ARPANET SATNET Packet LAN Radio Physical +

DLL

dian Institute of Technology Madras

mputer Networks Prof. Hema A Murthy

A Simple Network
• Connecting two machines directly to
physical medium
– Encoding
– Framing and error detection
– Link should appear reliable
– shared link
• medium access

dian Institute of Technology Madras