Chapter 3

OSI 7 Layer Model

OSI 7 Layer Model
OSI 7 Layer model is an example of
taxonomy




Taxonomy
The science of classification

Scientific tool

Major categories of a phenomenon
Taxonomy
Examples:

In biology/animal science:
See
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0776195
.html
http://www.indianchild.com/animal_kingdom
.htm
Taxonomy
In biology/animal science:
There are billions of different kinds of living things (or organisms) on earth.
To help study them, biologists have devised ways of naming and
classifying them according to their similarities and differences.
The system most scientists use puts each living thing into seven groups (or
taxons), organized from most general to most specific. Therefore, each
species belongs to a genus, each genus belongs to a family, each family
belongs to an order, etc.
From largest to smallest, these groups are:
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Taxonomy
Purposes :

Helping us understand complex phenomenon

Helping us explain complex phenomenon

OSI 7 Layer Model is a taxonomy
that is widely used in networking
Networking is Complex
Complex process = involving a lot of
activities
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model (OSI Model)
Taxonomy

Grouping networking activities into 7 major
groups

Outlining of what it takes to send data from
one computer to another
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection)
Seven-Layer Model
Mnemonic phrase: Please Do Not Throw
Sausage Pizza Away
Layer 7 = Application Layer
Layer 6 = Presentation Layer
Layer 5 = Session Layer
Layer 4 = Transport Layer
Layer 3 = Network Layer
Layer 2 = Data Link Layer
Layer 1 = Physical Layer
This Picture Shows How OSI Model is
Used in Actual Data Communication
Packet
Frame
Packet
Frame
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection)
Seven-Layer Model
Understand the sequence of the activities

Networking activities performed in the
senders computer will also be performed in
the receivers computer in reverse

Understand the encapsulation and the
decapsulation of the message
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 7: Application Layer (The first layer at the sender,
the last layer at the receiver)

Taking command from the user (at the SENDER)

Executing the command (at the RECEIVER)

OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 6: Presentation Layer

Converting the command from the format that is
used by the Application layer into the format that
can be processed further by the lower layers of
the OSI model (at the SENDER)

Converting the code that is received from the
lower layers of the OSI model into the format
that is used by the Application layer (at the
RECEIVER)
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 6: Presentation Layer

Encrypting information that is received from the
Application layer (at the SENDER)

Decrypting encrypted information that is received
from the lower layers of the OSI model (at the
RECEIVER)
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 6: Presentation Layer

Compressing information that is received from the
Application layer (at the SENDER)

Decompressing the compressed information that is
received from the lower layers of the OSI model (at the
RECEIVER)
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 5: Session Layer

Establishing connection, determining the type of
connection, managing multiple connections, and
terminating the connection

The types of connection
Full duplex: Two way, simultaneous
Half duplex: Two way, NOT simultaneous
Simplex: One way
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 4: Transport Layer

Breaking/disassembling information into packets
(segmentation) (at the SENDER)
Sequence numbering

Reassembling packets (at the RECEIVER)
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 3: Network Layer

Adding source and destination logical addresses
(e.g., IP addresses) to each of the packets (at the
SENDER)
Destination address: to allow the packet to be sent to the right
party
Source address: to allow the receiver to contact the sender if
there is a problem with the packet received

Decapsulating the packets (at the RECEIVER)
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 2: Data-Link Layer

Creating a frame = packet + source and destination
physical addresses (e.g., MAC address) + error
checking/detection information (e.g., Cyclic Redundancy
Check (CRC)) (at the SENDER)

Determining which computer has access over the
communication medium (at the SENDER)

Decapsulating the frames (at the RECEIVER)
OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Seven-Layer
Model
Layer 1: Physical Layer

Converting the binary code of the frame into
actual electrical signal/light/radio wave (at the
SENDER)

Converting the electrical signal/light/radio wave
back into the binary code of the frame (at the
RECEIVER)

Physically sending the electrical
signal/light/radio wave from one computer to
another over communication medium
Networking Protocol (Protocol)
Every activity(ies) in each layer must be performed based on certain
rules (Protocol)

For two (or more) computers to exchange resources successfully, all
computers must use the same (compatible) protocol

A set of protocols is called Protocol Suite/Protocol Stack

Example: TCP/IP is a protocol suite that governs networking
activities in Network layer to Application layer. Ethernet is a protocol
suite that governs networking activities in Data Link layer to Physical
layer

For two (or more) computers to exchange resources, more than one
protocol (even more than one protocol suite) must be used.
Why? No protocol controls all networking activities
OSI Seven-Layer Model and Protocol Suite
(Protocol Stack)
Networking Protocol (Protocol)
OSI 7 layer model is also used to group:
Networking protocols (Protocols)

Application layer protocol:
Protocols that specify how Application layer activities must be
performed. Examples: Telnet, SMTP, POP3, FTP, NNTP, HTTP

Presentation layer protocol:
Protocols that specify how Presentation layer activities must be
performed. Examples: Telnet, SMTP, POP3, FTP, NNTP, HTTP

And so on.
Benefits of OSI Seven-Layer Model
OSI Seven-Layer Model is a taxonomy to organize:
Networking activities (processes)
Networking protocols
Network devices (technology) (hardware and software)

Example: Web browser takes the command from the user (e.g.,
www.uah.edu), uses a set of rules (i.e., HTTP) to compose a
request message, and then passes the request message to the
lower layers of the OSI model. Because this activity/process, i.e.,
taking the command from the user and passing it to the lower
layers of the OSI model, is included in the Application layer, Web
browser is considered to be Application layer software

Example: UTP cable carries electrical signal carrying data from
one computer to another. Because this activity/process, i.e.,
carrying electrical signal from one computer to another, is included
in the Physical layer, UTP cable is considered to be Physical
layer device