Osi Model Questions Medium
The Network layer of the OSI Model is responsible for the functions of routing, addressing, and logical network representation.
1. Routing: The Network layer determines the best path for data packets to travel from the source to the destination across multiple networks. It uses routing protocols to make decisions based on factors such as network congestion, speed, and reliability.
2. Addressing: The Network layer assigns unique logical addresses, known as IP addresses, to devices on a network. These addresses are used to identify the source and destination of data packets. IP addresses are hierarchical, allowing for efficient routing and scalability.
3. Logical Network Representation: The Network layer provides a logical representation of the network to higher layers of the OSI Model. It abstracts the underlying physical network infrastructure, allowing different types of networks to interoperate seamlessly.
Additionally, the Network layer encapsulates data received from the Transport layer into packets and adds necessary routing information. It also handles fragmentation and reassembly of packets if the data is too large to fit within a single packet.
Overall, the Network layer plays a crucial role in ensuring efficient and reliable communication between devices on different networks by managing addressing, routing, and logical network representation.