Computer Networks

The Layered Model

(2nd Edition)

John Morton
 Layered Architecture
 Networking software is designed in a layered fashion: start
with the services offered by the underlying hardware, and
add a sequence of software layers, each providing a
higher (more abstract) level of service.

 The services provided by high layers are implemented

using services provided by low layers.

 This is of course the general principle of building any

complex software system.

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 Layered Architecture

Application programs L3 Application programs

Process-to-Process channels L2 Request/reply Message stream
Host-to-host connectivity L1 Host-to-host connectivity
Hardware L0 Hardware

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 Layered Architecture
 A given layer implements one (or more) protocol. Each
protocol defines two interfaces:
 Service interface: defines operations provided by this protocol for
layer Li+1
 Peer-to-peer interface: defines messages exchanged with peer
(between Li)
 Note: entities at the same level are called peer entities

Li+1 Service
interface

Protocol Protocol
Li

Peer-to-peer
interface
Peer-to-peer
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 Layered Architecture
 At the hardware level peer-to-peer communication is
directly over a link
 At higher level (say Li), Li to Li communication is only
conceptual; in reality it happens by each Li making use of
the services of Li-1. A technique known as encapsulation
is used for using lower level services:
Application Application
program program

Data Data

RRP RRP

RRP Data
RRP Data

HHP HHP

HHP RRP Data

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 Layered Architecture

 Let us consider how application on host 1 sends a

message to an application on host 2 (in practice this
would be equivalent to the application making a procedure
call to Request Reply Protocol software module):
 RRP attaches some control information (RRP specific header
information) to data so that its peer RRP will know what to do
when the data is received by it. This combined message is sent to
local Host-to-Host protocol.
 HHP attaches HHP specific header, and the entire message is
sent to host 2
 So each layer attaches a header (encapsulates the message) as
the message ‘goes down’.
 At host 2, each layer removes its header, performs header specific
processing and passes the message ‘up’.

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 Services and Protocols
 Services:
 A set of primitives provided to the layer above (Li+1).
 A definition visible to the user layer.
 Protocols:
 A set of rules governing the format and meaning of the frames,
packets or messages exchanged by peer entities.
 An implementation hidden from the user layer.

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 ISO Model Layers

Layer 7 Application
Layer 6 Presentation
Layer 5 Session
Layer 4 Transport
Layer 3 Network
Layer 2 Data Link
Layer 1 Physical

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 ISO Model Overview 1
1. Physical Layer:
 Network hardware
 Mechanical and electrical connections.
2. Data Link Layer:
 Managed the transmission of data across the physical network
 Framing, data transparency and error control.
3. Network Layer:
 These protocols define how addresses are assigned and how data
is forwarded from one network to another
 Routing
4. Transport Layer:
 Provides reliable, transparent transfer of data between end points.
 End to end Error recovery and flow control

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 ISO Model Overview 2
5. Session Layer:
 Provides the control structure for communication between applications.
 Establishing, manages and terminates dialogues between application
entities.
 Specification for security details
6. Presentation Layer:
 Provides independence to the application process from differences in
data representation
7. Application Layer:
 Each protocol specifies how a particular application uses the network.
 The protocol specifies how an application program on one computer
makes a request and how the application on another machine responds

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 OSI v TCP/IP
OSI TCP/IP

Application
Presentation Application

Session TCP (Transmission Control

Protocol) and UDP (User
Transport Datagram Protocol)

Network Internet Protocol IP

Data Link Network layer of the
Physical Internet

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