Networking fundamentals Prof.

Ayesha Nawaz

Introducing the OSI and IEEE 802 Networking Models

The Open Systems Interconnection reference model was developed by the

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1984. The OSI model
consists of seven layers, each responsible for a specific function in the
communication process between two devices. The OSI model is a theoretical
model, and it does not represent any specific implementation of a network protocol.

Role of a Reference Model

The role of a reference model is to provide a common language and structure to

describe the complex interactions between different components of a system. A
reference model also provides a way to organize standards development efforts.

Structure of the OSI Model

The seven layers of the OSI model are the Application layer, Presentation layer,
Session layer, Transport layer, Network layer, Data Link layer, and Physical layer.
The layers are ordered from top to bottom, with each layer relying on the layer
below it for services.

Application Layer (Layer 7)

The Application layer is responsible for providing services to end-users, such as

email and file transfer.

Examples:

1|Page
Networking fundamentals Prof. Ayesha Nawaz

 email

 web browsing

 DNS, FTP, SNMP

 Remote Access

Presentation Layer (Layer 6)

The Presentation layer is responsible for the formatting and encryption of data that
is exchanged between applications.

Examples:

 internet web browser code like HTML, XML, PHP…

 data formats like ASCII, UNICODE

 image formats like GIF, JPG, TIF, PNG…

 encryption protocols like TLS, SSL

Session Layer (Layer 5)

The Session layer is responsible for managing the communication session between
two devices, including the establishment, maintenance, and termination of the
session.

Example:

2|Page
Networking fundamentals Prof. Ayesha Nawaz

 NetBIOS

Transport Layer (Layer 4)

The Transport layer is responsible for end-to-end communication between

applications, including error recovery and flow control. The Transport layer is also
responsible for fragmenting and reassembling data into smaller units called Protocol
Data Units (PDUs).

Example:

 TCP

 UDP

 Firewalls

 Load balancers

Networking Layer (Layer 3)

The Network layer is responsible for routing and addressing, including the selection
of the best path for data transmission and the management of congestion control.

Examples:

 routers

 multilayer switches

3|Page
Networking fundamentals Prof. Ayesha Nawaz

 IPv4 and IPv6

 ICMP

Data Link Layer (Layer 2)

The Data Link layer is responsible for the reliable transmission of data over a
physical link. This layer provides access control and error detection and correction.

Examples:

 Network Interface Cards (NIC)

 bridges

 switches

Physical Layer (Layer 1)

The Physical layer is responsible for the transmission and reception of raw data
over a physical medium, such as copper wire or fiber optic cable. The Physical
layer specifies the encoding and decoding of data, as well as the electrical and
mechanical properties of the physical medium.

Examples:

 Cables like ethernet and fiber optic

 radio frequencies like Wi-Fi and bluetooth

4|Page
Networking fundamentals Prof. Ayesha Nawaz

 infrastructure devices like hubs, wireless access points, and media converters

Summary of the OSI Model

The OSI model provides a logical framework for network communication, and it
serves as a guide for the development of networking standards. The OSI model is
not a protocol, and it does not specify any particular implementation of a network
protocol.

IEEE 802 Networking Standards

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a professional

association that develops standards for a wide range of industries, including
computer networking. The IEEE 802 family of standards defines
the physical and data link layers of network communication.

IEEE 802 Specifications

The IEEE 802 specifications cover a range of networking technologies, including

Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The IEEE 802 standards define the electrical and
mechanical properties of the physical medium and the protocols for data
transmission over the medium.

IEEE 802 Extensions to the OSI Reference Model

The IEEE 802 standards extend the OSI reference model with two sublayers: the
Logical Link Control (LLC) sublayer and the Media Access Control (MAC)
sublayer. The LLC sublayer is responsible for error control and flow control, while
the MAC sublayer is responsible for media access control and is specific to the type
of physical medium used, such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
5|Page
Networking fundamentals Prof. Ayesha Nawaz

The MAC sublayer provides the protocol for accessing the medium and
transmitting data, including the framing of data into frames and the management of
collision detection and resolution. The MAC sublayer also includes addressing
information, such as the source and destination MAC addresses, which are used for
data transmission and reception.

The IEEE 802 standards are widely used in networking technologies and have
evolved to support higher speeds and greater efficiency. The most recent IEEE
802.11 standard, for example, supports wireless communication at speeds up to 10
Gbps.

6|Page