Chapter 4

Data Link Layer

The data link layer is concerned with providing error-free communication between adjacent
nodes in a communication network. To be more specific, its goal is to transfer information bits
from the network layer on a source node to the network layer on an adjacent destination node.
The main functions of the data link layer are the following.

• Framing: The data link layer breaks up the information bit strings passed on from the
network layer into smaller bit strings and encapsulates them into frames. This framing of
the information enables the next three functions of the data link layer possible.

• Error control: Since the combination of the physical channel between adjacent nodes and
the physical layers in the nodes behaves like an unreliable bit pipe, the data link layer is
responsible for converting this into an error-free bit pipe.

• Flow control: The data link layer regulates the flow of data between adjacent nodes such
that buffer overflows do not occur.

• Medium access control: When the channel between adjacent nodes is a multiple access
channel, a sublayer of the data link layer called the MAC layer coordinates the channel
access.

4.1 Framing

The network layer at a node passes information bit strings called packets to the data link layer
to transfer to the adajcent node along the way to the final destination node. The data link layer
breaks every packet into smaller bit strings and encapsulates them into frames. If the packets
are small enough, breaking of the packets may not be necessary and encapsulation may be
sufficient. Each frame consists of a header preceding the information bits and a trailer following
the information bits. The information bit string between the header and trailer is sometimes
referred to as the payload but this terminology is not restricted to the data link layer. The
whole frame is then passed on to the physical layer for transmission over the physical channel.
This is illustrated in Figure 4.1. The framing operation allows the data link layer to provide the
error control, flow control and medium access control capabilities. For instance, the CRC bits
which are used for error detection are typically stored in the trailer appended by the data link

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