ESCUELA PROFESIONAL DE INGENIERÍA

ELECTRÓNICA Y TELECOMUNICACIONES

Alumno:

-Alexander Mártin Valdivia Anca

IR

2023

“El alumno declara haber realizado el presente trabajo de acuerdo a las

normas de la Universidad Católica San Pablo”
 OSI NSAP
Introduction:

In the field of computer networks, the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model provides a
conceptual framework for understanding how network protocols interact. Within this model,
NSAP addresses play a crucial role in the unique identification of network services.

An NSAP address is an address used at the network layer of the OSI model to uniquely identify
a service. NSAP, in this context, stands for Network Service Access Point. It is a hierarchical
identification that is used to route data through a network.

NSAP Management Structure:

The NSAP address is made up of several fields that indicate information about the location and
identity of the service on the network. These fields include the Domain Identifier (DI), Area
Selector (AA), System Selector (ES), and others, depending on the specific implementation.

An OSI NSAP address can be up to 20 octets long and consists of the following parts, as
shown in the figure:

• Initial Octet:
o The first octet of the NSAP address is reserved for the Initial Domain Identifier
(IDI). The IDI specifies the addressing authority and initial format of the
address.
• AFI (Authority and Format Identifier):
o The Authority and Format Identifier (AFI) follows the Initial Octet. It indicates
the authority responsible for the administration of the address and defines the
format of the subsequent fields.
• Initial Domain Identifier (IDI):

o This field provides information about the addressing authority and the initial
format of the address. It can be used to identify the network or organization to
which the address belongs.
• DSP (Distinguished Name Selector):
o The Distinguished Name Selector (DSP) is responsible for specifying the routing
domain or area within the network.
• AFI Extension Identifier (AEI):
 o The AFI Extension Identifier (AEI) is an optional field that may follow the DSP. It
provides additional information about the format of the address.
• System ID:
o The System ID uniquely identifies a specific system within the network or area.
It is used to route messages to the correct destination system.
• SEL (NSAP Selector):
o The NSAP Selector (SEL) field allows for further refinement of the address,
enabling the identification of a particular application or service on the
destination system.
• G (Global/Local):
o The Global/Local (G) bit indicates whether the NSAP address is globally unique
or locally administered. If set, the address is globally unique; otherwise, it is
locally administered.

This structure is designed to provide a hierarchical and structured approach to addressing in

OSI networks. The various fields allow for the identification of the addressing authority,
routing information, specific systems, and even particular services within a network. It's worth
noting that specific implementations may introduce variations or additional elements
depending on the context of use and the specific requirements of the network.

Function in the OSI Model:

In the OSI model, NSAP addresses are essential to the operation of the network layer (layer 3).
These addresses allow for the unique identification of services in a global network and are
used to route data from the source to the destination.

Advantages of NSAP:

Uniqueness: The hierarchical structure of NSAP addresses ensures uniqueness in the

identification of services in a network.

Scalability: The hierarchy allows for effective scalability as the network grows.

Practical Implementations:

NSAP addresses have been implemented in several networks, especially those that follow the
OSI model. Although not as common in internet environments, some more specialized
networks use this approach to ensure unique and efficient identification.
Example:

Consider an NSAP address with a simplified structure:

Initial Octet: 47 (hexadecimal), representing the Initial Domain Identifier (IDI) and indicating an
ISO assigned authority.

AFI: 47 (hexadecimal), indicating the ISO NSAP format.

Initial Domain Identifier (IDI): 00 (hexadecimal), which could represent a specific ISO-identified
network or organization.

DSP (Distinguished Name Selector): 01 (hexadecimal), specifying a particular routing domain or

area within the network.

AEI (AFI Extension Identifier): Not used in this example.

System ID: 1122334455 (hexadecimal), uniquely identifying a specific system within the
defined routing domain.

NSAP Selector: 0102 (hexadecimal), allowing for further refinement, perhaps specifying a
particular application or service.

Global/Local (G) bit: Set to 1, indicating that the NSAP address is globally unique.

Putting these components together, a hypothetical NSAP address might look like this:

47 47 00 01 11223344550102 1

Please note that this is a simplified example for illustrative purposes. In real-world scenarios,
NSAP addresses can be more complex and may vary based on the addressing authority,
network structure, and specific implementation requirements. Actual NSAP addresses used in
networks would follow the guidelines set by the relevant authorities and adhere to the specific
addressing plan of the organization or standard being applied.

Conclusions

• NSAP addresses play a crucial role in the OSI model, providing a structured and unique
way to identify services in a network. Although its implementation may not be as
common in all network environments, it is still a critical component for those following
the OSI model.
• The NSAP address structure incorporates a hierarchical approach, enabling the
identification of addressing authorities, routing domains, specific systems, and even
application or service types. This hierarchy contributes to the uniqueness of NSAP
addresses, making them suitable for global or local identification based on the G bit.
• The presence of optional fields, such as the AFI Extension Identifier (AEI), provides
flexibility in the NSAP address structure. Networks can adapt their addressing schemes
to include additional information if needed. This adaptability ensures that the NSAP
addressing format can accommodate various requirements and evolving network
designs.