this is the continuation of OSI reference model
for layer 5 to 7 here
layer 4 here
Network layer (layer 3)
This
layer take control of the
way the network addressing
works. It deals with
managing IP addressing, tracking
device location, and choose the best path to transmit data. Network
layer again is after sending data to devices that do not belong the
same local network. The Router
(also known as layer 3 device)
routes packages between
different networks.
When
a package arrived at layer 3, the router checked the source and
destination network address (don't worry we will discuss that later)
if it matched? Then the
router has nothing to do with it, because they belong to one
LAN(local area network i.e. The same network) and router only route
packages between different networks or LANs. Take for example, when
making a local call (within the same country) do you need and IDD
(international direct dialing) number? That
+234 stuffs. The ans is
definitely no! Why? Because you are calling a local number! What will
happen if you include it? The telephone interchange system will
definitely discard it and treat it as a local call! That's
the same way router will treat local package! Wooh!!! sound simple!
There
are two types of packets used at the network layer
- Data packets
- Route update packets
Data packets:
This packet is used to transport user data in
the internetwork, Routed
protocols (IP: internet protocol and IPv6: IP version 6) are used to
transport data. IP also known as IPv4 is a 32bit long, which
represent in mathematics as
.
which is equal to
4294967296, around
4.3
billion addresses. The IPv6 is 128bit addresses! This cant be
represented in figures! If if we do using powerful calculators it
can't be read by human because its logically infinity! Due to high
use of networks and devices that needs IP addresses are evolving
every now and the! The IPv4 is might exhaust, that make it compulsory
to come up with solution, and the solution is the IPv6! Will
discuss IPv4 and v6 in a separate article, the most important thing
here is to know about the technology.
Route update packet:
This package is used to
update the neighboring routers if a new router is connected to the
internetwork. This packet works as an announcer to the internetwork.
Good example is, when a new student join you in primary school, the
teacher will introduce the student with his name, so as each and
every student in the class will know his name. That is what routing
packets does! Although routing packets do add addresses after name.
The most common protocols here are RIP(routing information protocol),
RIPv2(version 2), OSPF(open shortest path first) and
EIGRP (Enhanced interior
gateway routing protocol). Route
protocols maintains a table (Routing table) which keep the records of
all the routers connected and how to reach them.
to be continued
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