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OSI Model

Article · February 2022

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Ahmed Hammoudi
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Master of Science in Cybercrimes and Digital Evidences Analysis
(Network Forensics)

Submitted by
Ahmed G.I. Hammoudi

Supervisor
(Prof. Khalid Khanfar)

This case study was presented in response to the fulfilment

of the Network Forensics requirements.

Faculty of Graduate Studies

Palestine Technical University–Kadoorie
2022
Abstract
The seven­layer OSI (Open System Interconnection) network model is an important mile­
stone for Network Development (ISO) definition of the ISO. The OSI reference model is a log­
ical definition, which is a specification, dividing the network logically into seven layers. The
physical devices, such as routers, switchs, etc., are associated to each layer. It not only serves as
the basis for assessing and analyzing various network technology before and after, but also for
designing and unifying network protocols. The data transmission mechanism of the OSI model
is therefore of great importance to explore.

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Contents
Page

1 Introduction 1

2 OSI Model 2
2.1 OSI Model Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1.1 Application Layer – Layer 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1.1.1 Functions of Application layer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1.1.2 List of network protocols for Application Layer . . . . . . . 3
2.1.2 Presentation Layer – Layer 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.2.1 Functions of Presentation Layer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.2.2 List of network protocols for Presentation Layer . . . . . . . 5
2.1.3 Session Layer – Layer 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1.4 Transport Layer – Layer 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1.5 Network Layer – Layer 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1.6 Data Link Layer – Layer 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.1.7 Physical Layer – Layer 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

References 6
List of Figures

2.1 OSI Model (Open Systems Interconnection) Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2.2 OSI Model (Application Layer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.3 OSI Model (Presentation Layer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

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List of Tables

iv
1 Introduction
In 1947, IBM introduced the world’s first system network architecture, which is called sys­
tem network architecture. Since then, various companies have come up with their own network
architecture. Due to the complexity of the task involved in establishing and maintaining net­
works, the concept of the OSI reference model was proposed (Zhang et al., 2018).
The goal of this model (OSI) is to provide a uniform approach for addressing the compatibil­
ity problem of network interconnection. It eliminates the complexity of identifying the various
components of the network interface, service, and protocol. The separation of the network’s lay­
ers allows the providers of the same service to maintain their own protocols without affecting the
operation of the adjacent layers. It simplifies the work of the network engineers by separating
the various responsibilities of the network.

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2 OSI Model
2.1 OSI Model Architecture
The model OSI or Open System Interconnection defines a networking environment for the pro­
tocols to be implemented in seven levels. Control is transferred from one layer to the next, from
the application layer in one station to the lowest, from the channel to the next station, and back
up the hierarchy.
ISO divides the whole communication function into seven levels according to the dividing and
conquer principle, including physical layer, data link layer, network layer, transmission layer,
conversation layer, presentation layer and application layer. The principal principles for the di­
vision of levels are: All nodes in a network have the same level, and each layer has the same
function. There are no differences between the layers within the network. Each layer can com­
municate with the other layer through an interface see fig 2.1 (Help, 2014).

Figure 2.1: OSI Model (Open Systems Interconnection) Architecture

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Mechanism of OSI Model student ID (201920383)

2.1.1 Application Layer – Layer 7

In this layer, an interface with the running application is provided. The network applications
that work in this layer are email, FTP, web browsers. Furnish applications with services and
protocols. An application layer is a window that lets users and processes access the network’s
services. It acts as a bridge between the end­user and the network’s administrators.

2.1.1.1 Functions of Application layer:

1. An application layer permits a user to access and manage files stored in a remote computer.
This allows a user to retrieve the files from a remote computer and transfer them to a local
storage device see Fig 2.2 (Javatpoint, 2021).

Figure 2.2: OSI Model (Application Layer)

2. Services: The e­mail forwarding and storage facility is provided by an application layer.
3. Directory Services: An application provides the distributed sources of the database and
it provides global information about different objects.

2.1.1.2 List of network protocols for Application Layer

1. SOAP, Simple Object Access Protocol.

2. Simple Service Discovery Protocol, A discovery protocol employed by UPnP.
3. ATCAP, Transaction Capabilities Application Part.
4. Universal Plug and Play
5. DHCP.
6. DNS Domain Name System.
7. HTTP.
8. HTTPS.

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Mechanism of OSI Model student ID (201920383)

9. NFS.
10. POP3.
11. SMTP.
12. SNMP.
13. FTP.
14. NTP.
15. IRC.
16. Telnet.
17. SSH.
18. TFTP.
19. IMAP.
20. Gemini.

2.1.2 Presentation Layer – Layer 6

The presentation layer translates the data collected by the application layer into formats that the
system accepts. It can also handle encryption and decryption see Fig 2.3 .

Figure 2.3: OSI Model (Presentation Layer)

2.1.2.1 Functions of Presentation Layer:

1. Translation: the processes exchange data in two systems in the form of strings, numbers...
The presentation layer deals with the interoperability of the various encoding methods in
various computers. It translates sender­dependent data in a standard format and at the
receiving end it changes the standard format into recipient­dependent format.
2. Encryption: Encryption to maintain confidentiality is needed. Encryption is a process of
transferring the information transmitted to the sender and sending the resulting informa­

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Mechanism of OSI Model student ID (201920383)

tion over the Internet.

3. Compression: Data compression is a compression process, which reduces the amount
of bits to be transmitted. Compression: In multimedia like text, audio, and video, data
compression is very important.

2.1.2.2 List of network protocols for Presentation Layer

1. TLS Transport Layer Security.

2. AFP Apple Filing Protocol.
3. SSL Secure Sockets Layer.
4. FTP.
5. SSH.

2.1.3 Session Layer – Layer 5

2.1.4 Transport Layer – Layer 4
2.1.5 Network Layer – Layer 3
2.1.6 Data Link Layer – Layer 2
2.1.7 Physical Layer – Layer 1

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 References
Help, P. (2014). ISO OSI and TCP/IP Model Comparison. Available from: http://programmerhelp404.
blogspot.com/2014/01/iso-osi-layer-model-tcpip-model.html.
Javatpoint (2021). OSI Model. Available from: https://www.javatpoint.com/osi-model.
Zhang, W., Yuan, Y., Hu, Y., Huang, S., Cao, S., Chopra, A., and Huang, S. (2018). A Privacy­
Preserving Voting Protocol on Blockchain. IEEE International Conference on Cloud Com­
puting, CLOUD [online]. 2018­July.April, pp. 401–408. ISSN: 21596190. DOI: 10.1109/
CLOUD.2018.00057.

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