OSI Model Key Terms Table

NTC/245 Version 1

University of Phoenix Material

OSI Model Key Terms Table
Define the key terms related to the OSI Model. Describe the functions of any hardware
connectivity devices and tools listed.
TERM

DEFINITION

Physical layer

The physical layer of the OSI

model represents the physical
cables to transfer information
between locations. It specifies
wire speeds and sends and
receives bits.

Data link layer

The data link layer assembles

frames from bits or bits from
frames. The layer also
provides error detection. Two
of the protocols that can be
found at this layer are logical
link control (LLC) and media
access control (MAC).
The network layer uses a
logical network addressing
and naming in order to route,
handle errors, and
encapsulate data. This is the
layer a user would access to
find the physical Mac address
for a PC.

Network layer

Transport layer

Session layer

Presentation layer

The transport layer provides a

control of the flow of
information between networks
or nodes. The transport layer
also handles errors that can
be encountered when
transmitting information. TCP
and UDP can be found at this
level.
The session layer manages
time frames associated to
granted access or data
transfer. This layer works in
conjunction with the transport
layer and presentation layer.
The presentation layer deals

FUNCTION
(IF APPLICABLE)
Fiber-optic cable and Cat5
cable alongside any other
medium of transportation.
These are two of the cables
that allow information to be
transmitted from point a to
point B.
In this layer you will find
switches and bridges that
allow for filtering of Mac
addresses. These devices also
help from collisions occurring.
Hubs can also be found at this
layer.
A router can be found at this
level of the OSI model. A
router allows logical
addressing and granted
access to certain nodes. For
example Mac address blocking
or routing to other networks.
Routers will not forward
broadcasts from other nodes.
Any routing protocols are used
at this level, for example IP or
IPX.

OSI Model Key Terms Table

NTC/245 Version 1

Application layer

Signaling
Synchronous

Asynchronous

Bandwidth

Point-to-point topology

Multipoint connection
MAC

LLC

SAP

with data and converts it into a

standard that the other layers
below can understand. In this
layer you will deal with JPG,
PNG, GIF, MP4, MPEG, and
many other formats general
users are used to dealing with.
The application layer is the
first layer you will encounter as
a user. This is the layer that
interacts with the operating
system allowing a user to take
advantage of the data stored
on the PC. Any program or
application will fall under this
layer to start with.
I had difficulty finding this one
but I believe it is associated to
ping.
Synchronous communication
is communication that is done
in real time. For example a
phone call.
Asynchronous communication
is communication that does
not occur in real time. An
example of this is something
like a discussion board or email.
Bandwidth is the maximum
amount of data transfer a
medium can handle before
maxing. For example it the net
can handle 10 Mb per second
at its peak.
A point-to-point topology
connects to nodes directly
together. An example of this is
to computers communicating
through a modem. I believe
another good example of this
is an ATM system.
Media access control or IEEE
802.3 states where packets
are placed while being
transmitted over the medium.
Logical link control or IEEE
802.2 will tell the network layer
what protocols the information
is using such as IP.
A Service access points
distinguish our points on

I would have to list a mouse

here as an essential tool
alongside the keyboard. Most
programs and applications
have a GUI interface design
for a mouse. As newer
technologies are being
developed touch screen is
leading the way.

The different types of cabling

will all have different
bandwidth limitations with the
best type being fiber-optic.

IEEE 802.3 can be handled by

a Hub.
IEEE 802.2 can be handled by
a Hub.
These ports can be found on
many different devices such as

OSI Model Key Terms Table

NTC/245 Version 1

Access method
CSMA/CD

Gateway

Hubs

Bridges

Token passing

Polling

network in which an individual

application can access. It is
basically a port that has been
open for services.

switches

Carrier sense multiple access

with collision domain or
CSMA/CD provides an
algorithm that prevents
collisions on the network.
Since multiple devices will be
using the same network a
method for a limiting collisions
is to wait until the line is free
before transmitting data. If two
devices have been waiting and
start transmission at the same
time they will stop and wait a
random amount of time before
retrying.
Gateway is very similar to a
router with the only difference
being that a gateway
understands and translates
one system protocol to
another.
A Hub is designed to repeat
information, this can be useful
for maintaining data signal
strength across a network.
One downside is it will not
break broadcast or collision
domain.
Bridges allows multiple
Network segments to be
connected. This allows
networks to send information
independently. Bridges can be
found at the data link layer.
Token passing refers to a
digital token is passed from
one node to another allowing
either data transfer to occur or
to get this to its destination for
example through a physical
ring topology.
Polling refers to a device that
is actively sampling the status
of another to ensure that the
device is either ready to
accept data or that the device
is on.

Switches solve this problem

because switches do not
broadcast data to all devices
on the network. Switches send
information only to where they
are designated thusly
eliminating collisions.