The X.

25 Protocol
CCITT Recommendation X.25
First Published in 1976
Revisions Every 4 Years -- 1980, 1984, 1988
Interface Protocol for Packet Switched Networks
Network Providers Intended to Be Telcos

1
 The X.25 Protocol
The Model
Network Has Multiple Nodes (DCEs)
Host Computers (DTEs) Outside
Hosts Have Addresses Like Phone Numbers
Virtual Call Setup
Virtual Call Clear
Data Transfer

DCE

X.25 DTE
Intra-Network Protocol
X.25 DCE DCE
DTE DCE
X.25

DCE DTE

2
 The X.25 Protocol
The X.25 Protocol Layers

Layer Name Description

Network X.25 Packet Level
Link X.25 Frame Level (LAPB)
Physical RS232, etc

Flag LAPB Hdr Pkt Hdr Data CRC Flag

3
 The X.25 Protocol
Physical Layer Sort of
Flag Character (01111110) at Beginning and End
Data in between is LAPB Frame
Data Passed up to Frame Level
Data Transparency 011111010 011111 10

0
Frame Level (LAPB)

Flag Data CRC Flag

4
 The X.25 Protocol
Frame Level LAPB
Frame Level Header Has Frame Type
Sequence and Acknowledgement Numbers
Error Recovery Procedures
Endpoints Are DTE and Local DCE

Packet Level

LAPB Hdr Information Field

5
 The X.25 Protocol
LAPB Header

Address Control

N(R) is Ack Nr and Counts

Modulo 8
N(R) P/F N(S) 0 Information Frame
N(S) is Seq Nr and Counts
Modulo 8 RR

RR = Receiver Ready N(R) P/F RNR 1 Supervisory Frames

REJ
RNR = Receiver Not Ready
DISC
REJ = Reject
SABM
SABM = Link Setup Req
UA P/F 1 1 Unnumbered Frames
UA = Unnumbered Ack
DM
DM = Disconnected Mode
FRMR
FRMR = Frame Reject

6
 The X.25 Protocol
LAPB Link Setup and Disconnect

Local Local
DTE DCE

SABM = Set Asynchronous

SABM Balanced Mode
UA Acknowledges SABM
UA
DISC Requests Disconnect
UA Acknowledges DISC

Now in Data Transfer Mode Exchange on Local Link Only

DISC

UA

Now in Disconnected Mode

7
 The X.25 Protocol
LAPB Data Transfer

Local Local
DTE DCE

I-Frame Contains Packet

I-Frame #1
Seq from 0 - 7 and back to 0
RR Gives Next Expected I-Frame
RR N(R)=2
I-Frame Can also Acknowledge
I-Frame #2

RR N(R)=3

I-Frame #3

I-Frame #0 N(R)=4

8
 The X.25 Protocol
The X.25 Packet Level
Packet Header Has Packet Type
Channel Number Identifies Logical Connection
Sequence and Acknowledgement Numbers
No Error Recovery -- Data Can Be Lost
Addressing across Multi-Node Network

Application Layer

Pkt Hdr Data

9
 The X.25 Protocol
Packet Level Header

Channel Nr Pkt Type

P(R) P(S) 0 Data Packet

Channel Nr Selects which
Connection RR
P(R) RNR
1 Acknowledgement Packets
P(R) is Ack Nr and Counts
Modulo 8
Call Req
P(S) is Seq Nr and Counts Call Acpt
Modulo 8 Clr Req
RR = Receiver Ready Clr Conf
Reset Req
RNR = Receiver Not Ready Reset Conf
1 1 Other Packets
Intr Req
Intr Conf
Restart Req
Restart Conf
10
 The X.25 Protocol
Call Setup

Local Local Remote Remote

DTE DCE DCE DTE

Call Request Each Channel is Distinct

Select Unused Channel
Locate Remote DCE
Different Channel Numbers on
Incoming Call Each End
End to End is Virtual Circuit
Internal Protocol
VC = Local Chnl + Network
Call Accepted Route + Remote Chnl
Internal Network Protocol Not
Specified
Call Setup is End to End
Call Connected

11
 The X.25 Protocol
Call Clearing

Local Local Remote Remote

DTE DCE DCE DTE

Clear Request Remote DCE from Each Channel is Distinct

Call Setup
Channels Become Available
End to End is Virtual Circuit
Clear Indication
Internal Network Protocol Not
Specified
Internal Protocol
Clearing May be End to End or
Clear Confirm Local
Clear Packet Used to Report
Procedure Errors

Clear Confirm

12
 The X.25 Protocol
Data Transfer w/End to End Ack

Local Local Remote Remote

DTE DCE DCE DTE

Data Packet #1 Remote DCE from Each Channel is Distinct

Call Setup
End to End is Virtual Circuit
Internal Network Protocol Not
Data Packet #1 Specified
Each Data Pkt Has Seq Nr
Internal Protocol
Each RR Has Next Expected
RR P(R)=2 Seq Nr
Example Shows End to End
Acknowledgement

RR P(R)=2

13
 The X.25 Protocol
Data Transfer w/Local Ack

Local Local Remote Remote

DTE DCE DCE DTE

Data Packet #1 Remote DCE from Each Channel is Distinct

Call Setup
End to End is Virtual Circuit
Internal Network Protocol Not
RR P(R)=2 Data Packet #1 Specified
Each Data Pkt Has Seq Nr
Internal Protocol
Each RR Has Next Expected
RR P(R)=2 Seq Nr
Data Packet #2 Example Shows Local
Acknowledgement

Data Packet #2
RR P(R)=3
RR P(R)=3

14