Chapter 6 Questions

Describe the purpose of the network layer in data communication.

The network layer is the third level of the Open Systems Interconnection Model (OSI Model)
and the layer that provides data routing paths for network communication. Data is transferred in
the form of packets via logical network paths in an ordered format controlled by the network
layer.
Explain why IPv4 protocol requires other layers to provide reliability.
The Network layer, or OSI Layer 3, provides services to exchange the individual pieces of data
over the network between identified end devices. To accomplish this end-to-end transport, Layer
3 uses four basic processes: Addressing Encapsulation Routing Decapsulation
Explain the role of the major header fields in the IPv4 and IPv6 packets.
IPv6 is using two distinct types of headers: Main/Regular IPv6 Header and IPv6 Extension
Headers. The main IPv6 header is equivalent to the basic IPv4 one despite some field differences
that are the result of lessons learned from operating IPv4. Figure 1 presents the IPv4 and IPv6
main headers.
Explain how host devices use routing tables to direct packets to it, a local destination. Or a
default gateway
Routing is the mechanism that allows a system to find the network path to another system. A
route is a defined pair of addresses which represent the destination and a gateway. The route
indicates that when trying to get to the specified destination, send the packets through the
specified gateway. There are three types of destinations: individual hosts, subnets, and default.
The default route is used if no other routes apply.
Compare a host routing table to a routing table in a router.
During the routing process, the routing decisions of hosts and routers are aided by a database of
routes known as the routing table. The routing table is not exclusive to a router. Depending on
the routable protocol, hosts may also have a routing table that may be used to decide the best
router for the packet to be forwarded. IP hosts have a routing table. IPX hosts do not have a
routing table.
Describe the common components and interfaces of a router.
Cisco routers have various components that are controlled by the Cisco IOS. These components
include such things as memory, interfaces, and ports. Each component has a purpose that

provides added functionality to a router. A review of these components will be useful in

understanding each of their roles within a router.
Describe the boot-up process of a Cisco IOS router.
On power on cisco router first will perform the POST (Power on self-test).
The bootstrap looks for and loads the Cisco IOS software.
The IOS software looks for a valid configuration file stored in NVRAM
If a startup-config file is in NVRAM
Any further modification on running router will be stored on RAM, where you need to manually
execute command copy running-config startup-config
Configure initial settings on a Cisco IOS router.
1. enable
2. configure terminal
3. hostname name
4. Verify that the router prompt displays your new hostname.
5. end

Vocabulary
1.
Addressing end devices - In the same way that a phone has a unique telephone number, end
devices must be configured with a unique IP address for identification on the network.
2.

Encapsulation - The network layer receives a protocol data unit (PDU) from the transport layer.

3.
Routing - The network layer provides services to direct packets to a destination host on another
network.
4.
De-encapsulation - When the packet arrives at the network layer of the destination host, the
host checks the IP header of the packet.
5.

Connectionless - No connection with the destination is established before sending data packets.

6.

Best Effort (unreliable) - Packet delivery is not guaranteed.

7.

Media Independent - Operation is independent of the medium carrying the data.

8.

IP Header - Identifies the packet characteristics.

9.

Payload - Contains the Layer 4 segment information and the actual data.

10.
Version - Contains a 4-bit binary value identifying the IP packet version. For IPv4 packets, this
field is always set to 0100.
11.
Differentiated Services (DS) - Formerly called the Type of Service (ToS) field, the DS field is an 8bit field used to determine the priority of each packet.
12.

Time-to-Live (TTL) - Contains an 8-bit binary value that is used to limit the lifetime of a packet.

13.
Protocol - This 8-bit binary value indicates the data payload type that the packet is carrying,
which enables the network layer to pass the data to the appropriate upper-layer protocol.
14.
Source IP Address - Contains a 32-bit binary value that represents the source IP address of the
packet.
15.
Destination IP Address - Contains a 32-bit binary value that represents the destination IP
address of the packet.
16.
Internet Header Length (IHL) - Contains a 4-bit binary value identifying the number of 32-bit
words in the header.
17.
Total Length - Sometimes referred to as the Packet Length, this 16-bit field defines the entire
packet (fragment) size, including header and data, in bytes.
18.

Header Checksum - The 16-bit field is used for error checking of the IP header.

19.

Identification - This 16-bit field uniquely identifies the fragment of an original IP packet.

20.

Flags - This 3-bit field identifies how the packet is fragmented.

21.
Fragment Offset - This 13-bit field identifies the order in which to place the packet fragment in
the reconstruction of the original unfragmented packet.
22.

IP address depletion - IPv4 has a limited number of unique public IP addresses available.

23.
Internet routing table expansion - A routing table is used by routers to make best path
determinations.
24.
Internet routing table expansion - A routing table is used by routers to make best path
determinations.
25.
Lack of end-to-end connectivity - Network Address Translation (NAT) is a technology commonly
implemented within IPv4 networks.