What are the key features of the OSI Model's Data Link layer?

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What are the key features of the OSI Model's Data Link layer?

The key features of the OSI Model's Data Link layer are as follows:

1. Framing: The Data Link layer divides the stream of bits received from the Physical layer into manageable data units called frames. These frames include both data and control information.

2. Physical Addressing: The Data Link layer adds a header to the frame that contains the physical addresses of the source and destination devices. These addresses are used to identify the devices on the local network.

3. Error Detection and Correction: The Data Link layer is responsible for detecting and, if possible, correcting errors that may occur during transmission. It uses techniques like checksums or cyclic redundancy checks (CRC) to ensure data integrity.

4. Flow Control: The Data Link layer manages the flow of data between the sender and receiver to prevent overwhelming the receiving device. It uses techniques like sliding window protocol to ensure efficient and reliable data transmission.

5. Access Control: The Data Link layer determines which device has access to the physical transmission medium at any given time. It uses protocols like Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) or Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) to avoid data collisions.

6. Media Access Control (MAC): The Data Link layer defines the rules and procedures for accessing the physical transmission medium. It specifies how devices on the same network share the available bandwidth.

7. Logical Link Control (LLC): The Data Link layer provides a common interface for the network layer above it. It handles the establishment, maintenance, and termination of logical links between devices.

Overall, the Data Link layer ensures reliable and error-free transmission of data over the local network, addressing issues related to framing, addressing, error detection and correction, flow control, access control, and media access control.