The OSI Model

and

Network Infrastructure Hardware

For additional tutorials on these and related topics see http://www.rad.com/networks/tutorial.htm

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OSI Layer
Information Unit
Functions
Examples
Hardware
7Application MessagesNetwork Request Emissary and Mediator Telnet, X.400, X.500, NFS/Samba, HTTP, FTP, CORBA, PPP, SMTP, POP3, DNS, SNMP, RIP, Ping n/a
6Presentation MessagesData Translator and Sentinel: Encryption/decryption, Compression/ decompression; Protocol Translation, Data authentication and Integrity PKI, IP tunneling over ATM, VPN, logins Gateways:

DSU/CSUs

VPN Firewalls

PIX Firewalls

DSL Modems

5Session MessagesTraffic Cop: Manages data dialogs, Negotiates, sets up, maintans, and terminates end-to-end communications, arbitrates error checking and correction modes, tracks complex message exchanged transactions to completion, makes and accepts internetwork data requests Sun's RPC, Novell's TTS, NDS, ATM Virtual Circuits Converged Data/Voice/Multimedia Gateways

Multiserve Ethernet-Token Ring-ATM Switches

4Transport SegmentsTrusty and reliable gopher, and tireless travel guide, feeds and assuages the data exchange between **processes** (not devices!), ensures any transmission errors are corrected or reported, throttles data flow rates and fragments data into rebuildable bite-size morsels, parcels out data in sequence, w/o loss or duplication TCP, SPX T1 Gateway Channel Multiplexors

Integrated Framer MUX Multiplexors

3Network PacketsPostmaster and Expeditor: routes the data packet across network segments, hides internetwork transmission logistics from upper layers IP, IPX,

X.25

Ethernet Routers

IPS7 Voice/Data Routers

ATM Switches

Layer 3 LAN/MAN/WAN Routing Switches

2Data Link FramesShipping Clerk and Dispatcher: Crates and uncrates data into data frames and labels the frames for delivery Ethernet, Token Ring, SONET

Network Frames

Layer 2 1000BaseT Gigabit Switches

Layer 2 FastEthernet Switches

Token Ring Switches

Token Ring Bridges

Ethernet Bridges

10/100 Hubs/Concentrators

1Physical BitsData Trigger Man and Bit Gunner, fires bit across the medium 10/100BaseT, RS-232, V.90 Repeaters

Wireless USB Network Interface Cards

Wireless PCMCIA Network Interface Cards

ATM PCI Network Interface Cards

10/100BaseT PCI Network Interface Cards

Cat5 Cabling