http://www.rgtechnologies.net/downloads/whitepapers/OSIModel.

pdf

http://www.citap.com/documents/tcp-ip/tcpip006.htm

http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/dheeraj/cs425/lec02.html

http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/dheeraj/cs425/index.html

OSI 7 Layers Reference Model For Network Communication

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model is a reference model developed by ISO

(International Organization for Standardization) in 1984, as a conceptual framework of standards
for communication in the network across different equipment and applications by different
vendors. It is now considered the primary architectural model for inter-computing and
internetworking communications. Most of the network communication protocols used today
have a structure based on the OSI model. The OSI model defines the communications process
into 7 layers, which divides the tasks involved with moving information between networked
computers into seven smaller, more manageable task groups. A task or group of tasks is then
assigned to each of the seven OSI layers. Each layer is reasonably self-contained so that the tasks
assigned to each layer can be implemented independently. This enables the solutions offered by
one layer to be updated without adversely affecting the other layers.  

The OSI 7 layers model has clear characteristics. Layers 7 through 4 deal with end to end
communications between data source and destinations. Layers 3 to 1 deal with communications
between network devices. 

On the other hand, the seven layers of the OSI model can be divided into two groups: upper
layers (layers 7, 6 & 5) and lower layers (layers 4, 3, 2, 1). The upper layers of the OSI model
deal with application issues and generally are implemented only in software. The highest layer,
the application layer, is closest to the end user. The lower layers of the OSI model handle data
transport issues. The physical layer and the data link layer are implemented in hardware and
software. The lowest layer, the physical layer, is closest to the physical network medium (the
wires, for example) and is responsible for placing data on the medium.

The OSI Reference Model

Jul 15, 2000 - © Muhammad Ahsan

(Open Systems Interconnection)

BACKGROUND
In 1978, the International Standards Organization (ISO) released a set of specifications that
described network architecture for connecting dissimilar devices. The original document applied
to systems that were open to each other because they could all use the same protocols and
standards to exchange information.

In 1984, the ISO released a revision of this model and called it the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model. The 1984 version has become the standard and serves
as a guide for networking.

This model is the best known and most widely used guide to describe networking environments.
Vendors design network products based on the specifications of the OSI model. It provides a
description of how network hardware and software work together in a layered fashion to make
communications possible. It also helps with troubleshooting by providing a frame of reference
that describes how components are supposed to function.

A LAYERED ARCHITECTURE

The OSI model is an architecture that divides network communication into seven layers. Each
layer covers different network activities, equipment, or protocols. The layers are as follow:

Layering specifies different functions and services at different levels. Each OSI layer has well-
defined networking functions, and the functions of each layer communicate and work with the
functions of the layers immediately above and below it. Each layer provides some service or
action that prepares the data for delivery over the network to another computer. The layers are
separated from each other by boundaries called interfaces.
2.4    TCP/IP PROTOCOL 
SUITE  

The  layers in the TCP/IP protocol suite do

not exactly match those in the OSI model. The
original TCP/IP protocol suite was defined as
having four layers: host-to-network, internet,
transport, and application. However, when
TCP/IP is compared to OSI, we can say that
the TCP/IP protocol suite is made of five
layers: physical, data link, network, transport,
and application. 
Physical  and Data Link Layers 
Network Layer 
Transport Layer
Application  Layer 
Topics  discussed  in  this  section:
 
 
 
 

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Figure  2.16 TCP/IP and OSI model 

TCP/IP  Protocol Suite
 
 
 
 

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Physical  and Data Link Layers 
    At the physical and data link layers,
TCP/IP does not define any specific
protocol.
 It supports all the standard and
proprietary protocols.
 A network in a TCP/IP internetwork
can be a local-area network or a
wide-area network.
 
 
 
 

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Network  Layer 
   TCP/IP supports the Internetworking
Protocol.
 IP uses four supporting protocols :
ARP, RARP, ICMP, and IGMP.
o IP (Internetworking Protocol)

o ARP (Address Resolution

Protocol)
o RARP (Reverse Address

Resolution Protocol)
 o ICMP (Internet Control Message
Protocol)
o IGMP (Internet Group Message
Protocol)
 
 
 
 

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Transport  Layer 
   The transport layer was represented
in TCP/IP by two protocols : TCP and
UDP.
o IP is a host-to-host protocol

o TCP and UDP are transport level

protocols responsible for delivery

of a message from a process to
another process.
 UDP (User Datagram Protocol)
 TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)
 SCTP (Stream Control Transmission
Protocol)
 
 
 
 

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Application  Layer 
   The application layer in TCP/IP is
equivalent to the combined session,
presentation, and application layers
in the OSI model.
 Many protocols are defined at this
layer.
 
 
 
 

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2-5    ADDRESSING  

Four  levels of addresses  are used in an 

internet employing the  TCP/IP protocols:
physical, logical, port, and specific. 
Physical  Addresses 
Logical Addresses 
Port Addresses 
Specific Addresses 
Topics  discussed  in  this  section:
 
 
 
 

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Figure  2.17 Addresses in TCP/IP 

Addresses
 
 
 
 

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Figure  2.18 Relationship of layers and

addresses in TCP/IP 
Physical  Addresses
 
 
 
 

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Physical  Addresses 
    The physical address, also known
as the link address, is the address of
a node as defined by its LAN or WAN.
 It is included in the frame used by the
data link layer.
o The physical addresses have

authority over the network (LAN

or WAN).
o The size and format of these

addresses vary depending on the

network.
 
 
 
 

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In  Figure 2.19 a node 
with physical address  10 sends a frame 
to a node with  physical address 87. 
The two nodes are  connected by a link 
(bus topology LAN).  As the figure shows, 
the computer with physical  address 10 is the
sender, and the computer with physical
address 87 is the receiver. 
Example  2.1  

Physical  Addresses (cont’d)
 
 
 
 

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Figure  2.19 Physical addresses 

Physical  Addresses (cont’d)
 
 
 
 

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As  we will see in  Chapter 13, most local-

area  networks use a 48-bit (6-byte) physical
address written as 12 hexadecimal digits; every
byte (2 hexadecimal digits) is separated by a
colon, as shown below: 

Example  2.2  

07:01:02:01:2C:4B 
 A  6-byte (12 hexadecimal 
digits) physical address. 
Physical  Addresses (cont’d)
 
 
 
 

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Logical  Addresses 
   Logical addresses are necessary for
universal communications that are
independent of underlying physical
networks.
o Physical addresses are not

adequate in an internetwork
environment where different
networks can have different
address formats.
o A universal addressing system is

needed in which host can be

identified uniquely, regardless of
the underlying physical network.
 
 
 
 

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Figure  2.20 shows a part 
of an internet with  two routers connecting 
three LANs. Each device 
(computer or router)  has a pair of addresses 
(logical and physical)  for each connection. 
In this case, each  computer is connected 
to only one link  and therefore has only 
one pair of addresses. 
Each router, however,  is connected to three 
networks (only two are  shown in the figure). 
So each router has  three pairs of addresses, 
one for each connection.  

Example  2.3  

Logical  Addresses (cont’d)
 
 
 
 

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Figure  2.20 IP addresses 
The  physical addresses will 
change from hop to  hop,
but  the logical addresses 
usually remain the same. 
Logical  Addresses (cont’d)
 
 
 
 

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Port  Addresses 
   The IP and the physical address are
necessary for a quantity of data to
travel from a source to the
destination host.
 The end object of Internet
communication is a process
communicating with another
process.
 For these processes to receive data
simultaneously, we need a method to
 label assigned to a process is called
a port address.
 A port address in TCP/IP is 16 bits in
length.
 
 
 
 

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Figure  2.21 shows two computers 
communicating via the 
Internet. The sending  computer is running 
three processes at this 
time with port addresses  a, b, and c. The 
receiving computer is  running two processes 
at this time with  port addresses j and 
k. Process a in the sending computer needs to
communicate with process j in the receiving
computer. Note that although physical
addresses change from hop to hop, logical and
port addresses remain the same from the
source to destination.  

Example  2.4  
 Port  Addresses (cont’d)
 
 
 
 

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Figure  2.21 Port addresses 

The  physical addresses will 
change from hop to  hop,
but  the logical and port 
addresses usually remain  the same. 
Port  Addresses (cont’d)
 
 
 
 

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Example  2.5  

As  we will see in  Chapter 23, a port 

address is a 16-bit  address represented by 
one decimal number as  shown. 
 753 
A 16-bit port address represented  
as one single number. 
Port  Addresses (cont’d)
 
 
 
 

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Specific  Addresses 
   Some applications have user-
friendly addresses that are designed
for that specific address.
o E-mail address

o URL (Universal Resource Locator)