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Brain Food - The OSI Model

The 7 Layers of the OSI
Layer 7 Application ( Data )
It is the layer that actually interfaces with applications on your computer that desire to communicate. Everything
at this layer is application-specific. This layer provides application services for file transfers, e-mail, and other
network software services like HTTP, Telnet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
(SMTP), Pop3 and many others. We talk about these protocols as being in the application layer, but in reality,
most of these protocols actually extend down through the session layer. In reality, most services or protocols
can span multiple layers, but we talk about these as being application layer protocols because that is the highest
layer that these protocols function at.

Layer 6 Presentation ( Data )
The presentation layer presents the session layer data to the application, it is a formatting layer. It deals with
things such as syntax, encryption and compression. For example, when we visit a web page using the HTTP
protocol, if we want to use encrypted connection, the presentation layer will perform that encryption. In this
case HTTP uses another protocol, referred to as SSL, to provide that encryption. Other presentation layer
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implementations are encryption (like IPSec), Wep, WPA, Kerberos, ASCII, MIDI, JPEG and MPEG. It is sometimes
called the syntax layer.
Layer 5 Session ( Data )
This layer sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogues between the
applications at each end.. Each client connection is referred to as a session. For example, each client that
connects to some server is identified as a session. It is also possible for that user to create multiple sessions on
the same server, for instance, if the user opens a web page from different browsers. The session layer uses a
session ID to identify each unique session which keeps the data stream from different clients separate. The
session layer is responsible for setting up these communication sessions and terminating them. Termination
happens when a session is idle for some period of time.

Layer 4 TransPort ( Segments )
TCP and UDP work at the transport layer. TCP provides the reliable, in-order delivery of your data, as well as
error correction, sequencing, and windowing (flow control). The transport layer is responsible for segmentation
of that data. With segmentation, larger pieces of data are divided into smaller blocks. Each block is identified
with a sequence number. As these blocks are sent through the network, the sequence number helps the
receiving device reassemble those blocks into the correct order. It also helps the receiving device realize when
one of those segments is missing. Those units of data that are created at the transport layer are called
segments. Flow control means that if the sending device is sending data quickly, the receiving device may not be
able to keep up, in which case it can send a message back to the sending device to slow down or to speed up.
TCP and UDP
Two specific protocols that are used at the transport layer are TCP and UDP. TCP is referred to as a connection
oriented protocol, because it takes advantage of sequencing, error correction and flow control to ensure that
data sent from upper layers is received at the receiving device. UDP is referred to as a connectionless protocol,
because it is more concerned with moving data through the network, without necessarily ensuring that
everything arrives at the destination device. When using UDP, error correction can be preformed somewhere in
the upper layers.
Port Numbers
Another thing that happens at the transport layer is the assignment of port numbers. A port is a number which
identifies an upper layer service running on a server. For example, our server can be a web server, an email
server, a DNS server or it can run any other supported service at the same time. In this case, information
received from lower levels, up to the transport layer, needs to be routed to the appropriate service running on
the server. This is done by the port number. Each service is associated with a unique port number such as 80 for
web server, or 53 for DNS. By using port numbers the transport layer can identify the upper layer protocol that is
used and then send that data to the correct protocol.

Layer 3 Network ( Packets )
The network layer is responsible for moving data between systems throughout the internetwork. Any data at
layer 3 is called a packet.
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The network layer is where the IP part of TCP/IP happens. Because IP works at layer 3, you could also say
that routing and routers work at layer 3 using switching and routing technologies, creating logical paths, known
as virtual circuits, for transmitting data from node to node. Routing takes a message sent from an end device to
a router or through many connected routers, to the final destination device. One of the important things in this
layer is the assignment of the IP address. The IP address is often referred to as a network layer address, or a
layer three address. It's also referred to as a logical address. Layer 3 ( IP based ) switches, routers and bridges
are found at this layer. All the routing protocols IPv4, IPv6, OSPF, ICMP, IGMP and ARP are here.

Layer 2 Data Link ( Frames )
This is where interesting things start to happen. The data link layer involves frames and uses the burned in MAC
addresses that NIC cards and router interfaces have. It's also referred to as a physical address. Ethernet only
knows about MAC addresses, when an IP packet is destined for a host on an Ethernet network, it must have the
IP address translated to a MAC address so Ethernet can deliver it. Layer 2 ( MAC based ) switches route these
Ethernet packets to the proper switched port. To do this, they keep a MAC address table which maps the MAC
address port on the switch. Layer 2 ( MAC based ) switches live on this layer. You also find 802.11, WiFi, ATM,
PPTP, L2TP and ISDN here.

Layer 1 Physical ( Bits )
The physical layer provides the actual connection between devices. Ethernet cables, fiber optic cables and even
WiFi signals work at layer 1. The data that comes down to the physical layer is just a series of bits. Those bits
become electrical impulses, light pulses, sound (in the case of a modem), or some kind of a radio signal with
wireless devices. The physical layer is where cables and patch panels, RJ-45 connectors as well as hubs and
repeaters live.
* We have seen drag and drop questions in the booth, where the right side of your screen has the 7 layers all
mixed up and you must drag and drop them over to the left side of the screen in the proper order. You number
them like floors in an elevator 1
st
at the bottom and 7
th
at the top. Robert

The OSI model compared to the TCP/IP or DOD model.

* There is only one layer that is identical in both models, the
Transport layerit is a test question. -Robert
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The OSI from the perspective of 007




7. Bond receives a message from No. 1


6. Message translated, compressed & encrypted


5. Security checks for message completeness


4. Message broken into smaller packages, combined with
others

3. Bond advised on fastest route


2. Messages placed in special pouch


1. Bond gets into his Aston Martin to deliver

How does the OSI model help you on a practical basis?
While most of us know the OSI model, I believe that most of us do not make the very helpful connection between the
OSI model and the daily, real-world tasks and troubleshooting that a network admin must perform.
Most of us think of the OSI model as some kind of arcane textbook concept that must be learned for the exam and can
then be forgotten. On the contrary, I believe it can be extremely helpful to network admins on a day-to-day basis.
Understanding the network big picture
There are many new network admins out there who may understand how to unlock a switch port or how to configure IP
addressing, but they dont see, really, how the network functions. By understanding the OSI model, you can see the big
picture of how the network really works.
You can understand how bits are sent as electrical signals across copper wires; how those are reassembled into frames
by Ethernet in layer 2; how the frames are switched to the right destination; how that PC disassembles the frame and
packet to verify that it is the right destination IP; how it breaks up the segment at the transport layer, responds with an
acknowledgement (ACK), and sends the data up to the session, presentation, and application layers; and how every tiny
communication requires this whole process to happen many times per second.
It is an amazing processwhen it works