The OSI 7 Layer Model

Introduction

The OSI model was created by the International Standards Organisation (ISO). Designed to allow for interconnection between all systems. The model is based on 7 layers. The top 3 layers are concerned with applications & user interaction. The bottom 4 layers facilitate systems interconnectivity & data transfer.

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection

Devices

Application

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, email, application services

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, email, application services

Messages

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, email, application services

Messages

Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection

Devices

Application User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Presentation

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection

Devices

Application User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption

Messages

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG

Session

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG

Session

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG

Session

Messages

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches

Data Link

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches

Data Link

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches

Data Link

Frames

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches

Data Link

Frames

HDLC, frame relay, ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ISDN

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches Switches, Bridges, NICs

Data Link

Frames

HDLC, frame relay, ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ISDN

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches Switches, Bridges, NICs

Data Link

Frames

HDLC, frame relay, ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ISDN

Physical

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing Send & receive bits, specify configuration

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches Switches, Bridges, NICs

Data Link

Frames

HDLC, frame relay, ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ISDN

Physical

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing Send & receive bits, specify configuration

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches Switches, Bridges, NICs

Data Link

Frames

HDLC, frame relay, ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ISDN

Physical

Bits

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing Send & receive bits, specify configuration

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches Switches, Bridges, NICs

Data Link

Frames

HDLC, frame relay, ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ISDN V.35, EIA/TIA232

Physical

Bits

Layer Name

Description

PDU

Protocol, File Type or Connection Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP

Devices

Application

User interface, file, print, e-mail, application services

Messages

Presentation

Compression, translation, encryption / decryption Connection setup, data transfer, connection release, multiple conversations Reliable / unreliable delivery, flow control, error correction, segmentation Route selection, logical addressing Framing data, error detection, media access using physical addressing Send & receive bits, specify configuration

Messages

ASCII, EBCDIC, JPEG, MIDI, GIF, MPEG OS, application, NFS, SQL, RPC, X-Windows

Session

Messages

Transport

Segments

TCP, UDP, SPX

Network

Packets

IP, IPX

Routers, layer3 switches Switches, Bridges, NICs

Data Link

Frames

HDLC, frame relay, ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ISDN V.35, EIA/TIA232

Physical

Bits

Hubs, Repeaters, Modems