The Open System Interconnection Model

(OSI)
 OSI Model
 Before the OSI model, most networking equipment were proprietary.

 This meant users had to buy their PCs, network interfaces, network connecting
medium and other components from the same vendor.

 Mixed equipment from different vendors caused a lot of troubles & there was a
good chance that network wouldn't work.

 To overcome this problem the OSI model was designed in 1983.

 The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a theoretical way to classify

and explain the complex process of sending data on a network.
 OSI Model
 Without the OSI model, we would still be in a world of proprietary networking.

 Delegates from a bunch of different major computer and telecommunications

companies met and decided that there needed to be a standardized method of
implementing network communications.

 The objective for creating the OSI model was to design a standardized network
communications model to create consistency within the industry.

 Another objective of the OSI model was to make network communications

modular, meaning network products wouldn't be proprietary anymore.
 OSI Model
 OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection. This is the most widely used method
for understanding the network communications.

 It was developed by ISO – ‘International Organization of Standardization‘, in the

year 1983.

 The OSI model describes how the communication takes place (how data is sent
and received over a network).

 It is a 7 layer architecture with each layer having specific functionality to perform.

 The OSI model provides the standard for communication so that different
manufacturers' computers can be used on the same network.
 Advantages of OSI Model
 Provides a common language and reference point for network professionals.

 Divides networking tasks into logical layers for easier comprehension.

 Allows specialization of features at different levels.

 Provides help in troubleshooting networks.

 Promotes standards of interoperability between networks and devices.

 Layers of OSI Model
Layer Name Mnemonic Mnemonic
(Bottom to top) (Top to bottom)
Layer 7 Application Away All
Layer 6 Presentation Pizza People
Layer 5 Session Sausage Seem
Layer 4 Transport Throw To
Layer 3 Network Not Need
Layer 2 Data Link Do Data
Layer 1 Physical Please Processing
 Layers of OSI Model
7 Layers in the OSI Model are hierarchical:
 Seven Layers of OSI Model
Layer Key Responsibilities Explanations
Physical Hardware specifications, Converts data into bits for transmission
Physical Data & converts received bits into usable
Transmission, Topology & data.
Design.

Datalink Physical Addressing Creates, receives and transmits packets.

(MAC), Data framing. Controls the physical layer.
 Seven Layers of OSI Model
Layer Key Responsibilities Explanations
Network Logical addressing (IP Finds a route for transmission of
addressing), Routing, error data. Establishes and maintains
handling & diagnostics. the connection between two
connected nodes.

Transport Addressing, multiplexing/de- Ensures the quality of

multiplexing, Connections, transmission and determines the
segmentations, best route for transmission of data
acknowledgement, using the network layer.
retransmission and flow control.
 Seven Layers of OSI Model
Layer Key Responsibilities Explanations
Session Session establishment, Maintain the Transmission Path by
management & synchronizing packets and controlling
termination. access to the medium by the application
layer.

Presentation Data translation. Supports the functionality of the

Compression & Application Layer by providing services
Encryption. such as formatting & translation of data.

Application User Application Services Graphical User Interface, Command Line

Interface
Protocols & Data of Seven Layers of OSI Model
Layer Example of Protocols Used Handled Data type
Physical Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth Binary Digits (bits)

Datalink Ethernet, IEEE 802.2, IEEE 802.11 Frames

(WLAN, WIFI)

Network IPV4, IPV6, NAT, BGP, IPSec Packet, Datagram

Transport TCP, UDP, NetBEUI Segment, Datagram

Protocols & Data of Seven Layers of OSI Model
Layer Example of Protocols Used Handled Data
type
Session NetBIOS, RPC (Remote Procedure Call) Session Data

Presentation SSL, Shell & Redirections, MIME Encoded User

(multipurpose internet mail extensions) data

Application DNS, DHCP, BOOTTP, SNMP, FTP, SMTP, User Data

POP3, HTTP, Telnet
 The Physical Layer
 The lowest layer of the OSI reference model is the physical layer.

 It is responsible for the actual physical connection between the devices.

 The physical layer contains information in the form of bits. It is responsible

for transmitting individual bits from one node to the next.

 When receiving data, this layer will get the signal received and convert it into
0s and 1s and send them to the Data Link layer, which will put the frame back
together.

 Hub, Repeater, Modem, Cables are Physical Layer devices

 Functions of Physical Layer
 Bit synchronization:

• The physical layer provides the synchronization of the bits by providing a

clock.

• This clock controls both sender and receiver thus providing

synchronization at bit level.

 Bit rate control:

• The Physical layer also defines the transmission rate i.e. the number of
bits sent per second.
 Functions of Physical Layer
 Physical topologies:

• Physical layer specifies the way in which the different, devices/nodes are
arranged in a network i.e. bus, star or mesh topology.

 Transmission mode:

• Physical layer also defines the way in which the data flows between the
two connected devices.

• The various transmission modes possible are: Simplex, half-duplex and

full-duplex.
 Data Link Layer
 The main function of this layer is to make sure data transfer is error-free from
one node to another, over the physical layer.

 When a packet arrives in a network, it is the responsibility of DLL to transmit it to

the Host using its MAC address.

 Data Link Layer is divided into two sub layers :

• Logical Link Control (LLC)
• Media Access Control (MAC)

Note: Packet in Data Link layer is referred as Frame. Data Link layer is handled by the NIC
(Network Interface Card) and device drivers of host machines.
*** Switch & Bridge are Data Link Layer devices
 Functions of Data Link Layer
 Framing:

• It provides a way for a sender to transmit a set of bits that are meaningful
to the receiver.

• This can be accomplished by attaching special bit patterns to the beginning

and end of the frame.

 Physical addressing:

• After creating frames, Data link layer adds physical addresses (MAC
address) of sender and/or receiver in the header of each frame.
 Functions of Data Link Layer
 Error control:
• Data link layer provides the mechanism of error control in which it detects
and retransmits damaged or lost frames.

 Flow Control:
• The data rate must be constant on both sides else the data may get
corrupted thus , flow control coordinates that amount of data that can be
sent before receiving acknowledgement.

 Access control:
• When a single communication channel is shared by multiple devices, MAC
sub-layer of data link layer helps to determine which device has control over
the channel at a given time.
 Network Layer
 Network layer works for the transmission of data from one host to the other
located in different networks.

 It also takes care of packet routing i.e. selection of the shortest path to transmit
the packet, from the number of routes available.

 The sender & receiver’s IP address are placed in the header by the network layer.

 Network layer is implemented by different networking devices such as routers.

 Segments of Network Layer is known as Packet.

 Functions of Network Layer
Routing:
• The network layer protocols determine which route is suitable from
source to destination.

• This function of network layer is known as routing.

Logical Addressing:
• In order to identify each device on internetwork uniquely, network
layer defines an addressing scheme.

• The sender & receiver’s IP address are placed in the header by

network layer.
 Transport Layer
 Transport Layer is called as Heart of OSI model.

 It provides services to application layer and takes services from network layer.

 The data in the transport layer is referred to as Segments.

 It is responsible for the End to End Delivery of the complete message.

 The transport layer also provides the acknowledgement of the successful data
transmission and re-transmits the data if an error is found.
 Functions of Transport Layer
 Segmentation and Reassembly:

• This layer accepts the message from the (session) layer , breaks the
message into smaller units.

• Each of the segment produced has a header associated with it.

• The transport layer at the destination station reassembles the message.

 Functions of Transport Layer
 Service Point Addressing:

• In order to deliver the message to correct process, transport layer header

includes a type of address called service point address or port address.

• By specifying this address, transport layer makes sure that the message is
delivered to the correct process.
 Transport Layer Protocols
The two transport layer protocols include:

• Transmission control protocol (TCP)

• User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

 Transport Layer Protocols : TCP
 TCP is a connection-oriented and reliable protocol.

 In this protocol, firstly the connection is established between the two hosts of
the remote end, only then the data is sent over the network for communication.

 The receiver always sends an acknowledgment of the data received or not

received by the sender once the first data packet is transmitted.

 This layer provides an error correction mechanism and flow control.

 Transport Layer Protocols : UDP
 UDP is a connectionless and unreliable protocol.

 Once data is transmitted between two hosts, the receiver host doesn’t send
any acknowledgment of receiving the data packets.

 Thus the sender will keep on sending data without waiting for an
acknowledgment.

 This type of protocol is widely used in video streaming, online games, video
calls, voice over IP where when some data packets of video are lost then it
doesn’t have much significance,
 Session Layer
 The Session layer manages the sessions in which data are transferred.

 A session refers to each client connection.

 A server can concurrently maintain thousands of sessions.

 Sessions are maintained by assigning a session ID number to each session to

keep data streams separate.
 Functions of Session Layer
 Session establishment, maintenance and termination:
• The layer allows the processes to establish, use and terminate a
connection.

 Synchronization :
• This layer allows a process to add checkpoints which are considered
as synchronization points into the data.

 Dialog Controller :
• The session layer allows two systems to start communication with
each other in half-duplex or full-duplex.
 Presentation Layer
 Presentation layer is also called the Translation layer.

 The Presentation layer formats (presents) data in a form compatible for receipt
by the Application layer or the destination system.

 Specifically, the Presentation layer:

• Formats and translates data between systems.
• Negotiates data transfer syntax between systems.
• It converts character sets to the correct format.
• Encapsulates data into message envelopes. It encrypts and compresses
the data.
• Restores data through decryption and decompression.
 Functions of Presentation Layer
 Translation :
Provides translation of data in to understandable format.

 Encryption/ Decryption :
• Data encryption translates the data into another form or code.

• The encrypted data is known as the cipher text and the decrypted data is
known as plain text.

 Compression:
Reduces the number of bits that need to be transmitted on the network.
 Application Layer
 At the very top of the OSI Reference Model stack of layers, we find Application
layer which is implemented by the network applications.

 This layer also serves as a window for the application services to access the
network and for displaying the received information to the user.

 Most Application layer protocols operate at multiple layers down to the

Session and even Transport layers.

 Application Layer is also called as Desktop Layer where the users work such as
browsing network, using e-mails services, uploading & downloading files (FTP),
etc.
 Application Layer
 The Application layer integrates network functionality into the host operating
system and enables communication between network clients and services.

 Services typically associated with the Application layer include:

• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
• Telnet
• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
• Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)
• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
Relationship Between Each Layers of OSI Model