OSI Physical Layer

Layer 1 of the OSI model or we know it OSI Physical Layer controls how data is transmitted on the communication media. Physical layers usually use copper cable, wireless and fiber as the basic form of network media. And this make the main purpose of this layer is to create the electrical, microwave or optical signals that represent the bits in each frame. OSI physical layer has three fundamental functions such the physical components, data encoding and signaling. The physical elements are about the hardware devices such electronic, media and connectors devices that transmit and carry the signals to represent the bits. Encoding is about method to knowing a stream of data bits. Signaling is about generating electrical, wireless or optical signal that represent by 0 or 1 and what it means. Another important topic in OSI physical layers is about speed of data transfer that can be measured by bandwidth, throughput and goodput. Digital bandwidth measures the amount of information that can flow from one place to another in a given amount of time. Throughput is the measure of the transfer of bits across the media over a given period of time. Goodput is the measure of usable data transferred over a given period of time, and is therefore the measure that is of most interest to network users. OSI physical layer is concerned with network media. Today mostly used network media is cable, wireless and optical media. Cable mostly used is UTP (Unshield Twisted Pair), wireless mostly used is WLAN 802.11a, b, g, n, and gsm, gprs or cdma. Fiber optic cables can be broadly classified into two types: single-mode and multimode.

OSI Data Link Layer

Layer 2 of the OSI model or we know OSI data link layer has a role to prepare packet of Network layer for transmission and control access to the physical media. Data link layer protocols describe methods for exchanging data frames between devices over a common media. OSI data link layer prepares a packet for transport across the local media by encapsulating it with a header and trailer to create a frame. From that we can know that a frame contains data, header and trailer. Data is about the packet from network layer, header contains control information about addressing that located at the beginning of the frame and trailer contains control information about error control that located at the end of the frame. OSI data link layer usually use some protocols such Ethernet, point to point protocols (PPP), high level data link control (hdlc), frame relay and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) which each protocols performs media access control for specified data link layer logical topologies. Logical topologies typically used in network are point to point, multi access and ring topologies.

OSI Network Layer

Layer 3 of the OSI model known as OSI Network Layer has a role to carry data from the source address to destination address regardless of the type of data. The protocols of the network layer specify addressing and processes that enable transport layer data to be packaged and transported. Usually we call this process end to end transport. To accomplish this transport OSI network layer uses four basic processes such addressing, encapsulation, routing and decapsulation. Addressing is about mechanism that network layer must provide for addressing the end devices. Encapsulation is about adding a layer 3 header or label to layer 4 data and after encapsulation process we call this data as a packet. Routing is about services to direct the packet to destination, routing process will occur if the destination and source address not in the same network. Decapsulation is about removing layer 3 header before forwarding to layer 4. Protocols implemented at the OSI Network layer that carry user data include: Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), Novell Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX), Apple Talk and Connectionless Network Service (CLNS/DECNet). The most widely-used protocol is Internet Protocol, others protocol maybe used for specific product with a minimal discussion.

OSI Transport Layer

Layer 4 of the OSI model known as OSI Transport Layer prepares application data for transport over network and processes network data for use by application. The transport layer makes multiple applications on single application at the same time to communicate over the network. If required this layer ensure reliable transfer of the data. Beside that this layer employs error handling mechanisms for data, tracking individual conversations, segmentation, desegmentation and identifying applications. Typical examples of the OSI transport layer are the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol). TCP described in RFC 793 is a connection oriented protocol. TCP has additional function such flow control, reliable delivery and same order delivery. TCP segment add 20 bytes in the header encapsulating to gain its function. Applications that use TCP protocol such web browser, email, file transfers. UDP described in RFC 768 is connectionless protocol. The datagrams are the pieces of communication in UDP and sent as "best effort". Applications that use UDP protocol such DNS (Domain Name System), video streaming, and VoIP (Voice over IP). To identify the proper application OSI Transport layer both UDP and TCP have header field that use unique identifiers call port numbers. The IANA assign port numbers. Different types of port numbers known as Well known ports (0 -1023): reserved for service and application. Registered Port (1024-49151): assigned to user processes or

application. Dynamic Port (49152-65535):assigned dynamically to client application when initiating a connection.

OSI Session Layer

Layer 5 of OSI model known as OSI Session layer has a function to create and maintain connection between source applications and destination application. This layer handles the exchange of information to initiate the connection dialogs, keep it active and when needed to restart session that idle for a long time or disrupted. All the services provided are to serve presentation layer. Examples of OSI session layer protocol are X.225, ISO 8327, NetBIOS (Network Basic Input Output System), PAP (Password Authentication Protocol) and many more. Services provided by layer 5 are commonly used in for make remote procedure calls that some application environments use it. For some case when connection loss, some protocols of session layer has ability to recover the connection or close the connection when not used and re-open the connection.

OSI Presentation Layer

Layer 6 of OSI model known as OSI Presentation layer has three main functions such:

Conversion and coding of application layer data to ensure data from the source host can be interpreted by the suitable application on the destination host. Encryption and decryption of data for transmission. Compression at the source host and decompression at the destination host.

Examples of OSI presentation layer are the standard for videos and graphics. Mostly used standards for video such Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and QuickTime. MPEG is a methodology standard for video compression and coding. QuickTime is an Apple computer standard for video and audio. Mostly used standards for graphic images are Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), Join Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) and Tagged Image File Format (TIFF). JPEG and GIF are the standard for graphic images compression and coding, and TIFF is a standard coding format for graphic images.

OSI Application Layer

Layer 7 of OSI model known as OSI Application Layer is the closest layer to the end user. The users interact directly with this layer with the application layer software that has a two form: applications and services. Applications are designed to interact with users and services are background programs that perform a particular function in the data networks.

OSI Application layer used protocols that are implemented within application and services. Application layer protocols must be used during a communication session at the source and destination devices. For successful communication the Application layers protocol implemented at the source device and destination device must match. Protocols have a function:

Establish consistent rules between application and services at the source and destination device for exchanging data. Specify data types and structure that are sent between participating devices. Implement multiple protocols for specific communication; one protocol may specify how to initiate the connection and another for the process of the data transfer.

Basically OSI Application Layer chooses the proper application base on the Transport layer address called port number. Server programs generally use predefine port numbers that are commonly known by the clients. Some example of Application Layer services such File Transfer Protocol (FTP) port 20 and 21 TCP, Telnet port 23 TCP, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) port 25 TCP, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) port 67 and 68 UDP, Domain Name System (DNS) port 53 TCP/UDP, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) port 80 TCP, Post Office Protocol (POP) port 110 TCP.